For the opportunity to review the old interesting and vintage Nippon Kogaku Japan Zoom-Nikkor Auto 1: 3.5 lens f = 43mm-f = 86mm many thanks Ivan Mogilyak.
Nikon 43-86mm F3.5 review NON AI first sample
TTX Nikon 43-86mm f / 3.5 Zoom-Nikkor Auto
- Focal Length: 43-86mm
- Aperture: F / 3.5
- Number of aperture blades: 6 pieces
- Front Filter Diameter: 52mm
- Weight: about 400g
- Optical design: 9 elements in 7 groups
- Mount: Nikon F, Pre-ai
The lens has been available since 1963 and is one of the first Nikon zoom lenses. The lens was quite popular and was produced right up to 1981, which is a rarity in lens construction. Nikon 43-86mm f / 3.5 Zoom-Nikkor had several modifications, including a modification with a modified optical design. The main modification is Nikon 43-86mm f / 3.5 Zoom-Nikkor AI versions, in which there are already 11 elements in 8 groups.
View Nippon Kogaku Japan Zoom-Nikkor Auto 1: 3.5 f = 43mm-f = 86mm
This review presents exactly the old Nippon Kogaku Japan Zoom-Nikkor Auto 1: 3.5 f = 43mm-f = 86mm. Yes, the name Nikon is not present in the name of this lens. Nikon prefix is still present on some lenses 43-86mm f / 3.5 first sample.
View Nippon Kogaku Japan Zoom-Nikkor Auto 1: 3.5 f = 43mm-f = 86mm on the Nikon D40
In general, Nikon 43-86mm f / 3.5 Zoom-Nikkor Auto Is a rather unusual lens, here's why:
- The lens focus ring and zoom are combined. This is very convenient for the photographer, with the help of the same ring you can focus and zoom. Now you will not meet such modern lenses. True, the zoom system is very unusual, with piston zoom... Usually, photographers call this method of zooming "rambon", as it is necessary to make characteristic movements, as when playing the ram. The essence of zooming is that you just need to move back and forth part of the lens by simply pushing it back and forth. At the same time, 86mm focal length is achieved with a fully extended "trunk" of the lens. There are also lenses with a "rambon" focusing with reversible focal length control, for example, as in Nikon 35-70mm f / 2.8 AF-D ZOOM-NIKKOR
Bokeh on Nikon 43-86mm f / 3.5 Zoom-Nikkor Auto
- Focusing is very smooth. When focusing, the entire front of the lens rotates, therefore, using gradient and polarization filters will be problematic. The MDF of the lens is only 1.2 meters, which is not a very good indicator.
Example photo on Nikkor 43-86mm f3.5 Zoom-Nikkor Auto
- The lens is very compact, in length, it is almost the same as the whale lens 18-55mm. Modern autofocus lenses with a constant aperture much larger in size.
Photo at Nikon 43-86mm f / 3.5 Zoom-Nikkor Auto
- Nikon 43-86mm f / 3.5 Zoom-Nikkor Auto has a constant maximum aperture over the entire focal length, which brings it closer to the professional line of lenses. True, instead of F2.8, the lens has only F3.5. The difference in aperture between F2.8 and F3.5 is one and a half times. But even F3.5 is a good indicator.
Example photo on Nikkor 43-86mm f3.5 Zoom-Nikkor Auto
- On Nikon DX cameras EGF will be equal to 64.5-129mm. In general, the lens has a very non-standard set of focal lengths for our days. Nikon 43-86mm f / 3.5 Zoom-Nikkor Autoon DX cameras it turns into a normal, and partly a tele-zoom lens. By the way, the lens is perfect for full-frame Nikon cameras, as it was designed for film cameras.
Photo at Nikon 43-86mm f / 3.5 Zoom-Nikkor Auto
- Nikon 43-86mm f / 3.5 Zoom-Nikkor Auto has a standard front thread diameter of 52mm - making it easy to find a filter. By the way, the AUTO prefix does not imply autofocus, but semi-automatic aperture control.
Sample photo on 43-86 mm f 3.5 Zoom-Nikkor Auto
- The lens comes with a wonderful case, in the middle lined with velvet. It is very pleasant to use a lens of this class, now manufacturers are seriously saving on cases and boxes.
One of those scary bunnies on the Nikon 43-86mm f / 3.5 Zoom-Nikkor Auto
How to use on modern cameras?
It's very simple - just install and remove. I have no problem using the lens on my camera Nikon D40... How to do this is described in detail in my article about PRE AI lenses. Difficulties arise only with econometrics.
Attention: this lens will not be able to mount on a number of old and new Nikon digital cameras. For example, Nikon 43-86mm f / 3.5 Zoom-Nikkor Auto could not settle on Nikon D200, D80. The reason is his Non AI compatibility. In more detail about cameras with which there will be no problems when working with Nikon 43-86mm f / 3.5 Zoom-Nikkor Auto can be found in my article about old PRE AI lenses.
Nikon 43-86mm f3.5 Zoom-Nikkor Auto sample photo
Disadvantages
- A mechanism for changing the focal length, which is inconvenient for many people. However, it should be noted that the "trunk" of the lens does not change its position under its own weight. Usually lenses "ramps" suffer from this ailment.
- The lens cannot work with some modern Nikon cameras. More details in the section PRE AI
- The lens doesn't have very good image quality. The biggest drawback is not backlight compatibility. The lens gives out just an exorbitant number of "bunnies". At the same time, the contrast of the image drops significantly. Also, the lens has quite a lot of distortion, even at 86mm focal length. Ken Rockwell included this lens in his 6 worst lenses from Nikon.
Nikon 43-86mm f3.5 Zoom-Nikkor Auto sample photo
Sample photos:
All photos were taken on Nikon D40, as on my other cameras Nikon 43-86mm f / 3.5 Zoom-Nikkor Auto could not install due to its old version Pre-ai... All photos without processing, RAW -> JPEG Q80%, 1600 * 1200, added watermark with data from EXIF. Photo taken in the city of Lviv.
Image quality
The image quality is mediocre. Nikon 43-86mm f / 3.5 Zoom-Nikkor Auto has very strong chromatic aberration... The lens shows too much distortion - even at 86mm, therefore, it is not suitable for a portrait. The lens is not sharp enough at F3.5, but at F5.6 sharpness is quite decent. Most importantly, the lens is not at all friendly with the backlight.
Example photo on Nikon 43-86mm f3.5 Zoom-Nikkor Auto
Personal impressions
Nikon 43-86mm f / 3.5 Zoom-Nikkor Auto nice to use, but image quality is not happy. Also, it is worth noting that it needs to be redone for AI compatibility, for use on modern Nikon central control centers.
Bokeh on Zoom-Nikkor Auto 1: 3.5 43-86mm
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Conclusions:
Nippon Kogaku Japan Zoom-Nikkor Auto 1: 3.5 f = 43mm-f = 86mm - vintage lens with double zoom. Has a good maximum constant aperture over the entire range of focal lengths. Very compact. But, the image quality is poor.
Material prepared Arkady Shapoval.
Interesting article! I like to read your forum, I find a lot of interesting and useful for myself. Thanks!
I want to ask you advice that it is better to take: Nikon 43-86mm (2700 rubles) or Tamron 19-35 or Tokina 19-35 (3500 each)? I have a Tamron70-300 screwdriver zoom, pretty good) The first one gives out though not clear but quite interesting pictures) But the second and third are wide-angle ones and I don’t know about them yet, for starters, take landscapes, how are they?
Nikon 43-86mm does not have autofocus, the rest have, I recommend Tamron 19-35.
Thank you, I just stopped on it myself, and his condition is better!) Thank you :) I’ll be in Kiev, I'll let you test;)
By the way, he is under the brand name Phoenix :)
Can you please review the new version of this lens?
can you provide it for review, thank you, please?
I want to add that the dust drives terribly into the camera. And I have a very sharp somewhere with f5.6. In general, an interesting lens.
I also have it very sharp at f5.6. Camera d5100.
Already written, it turns out to be thoroughly vacuumed.
Guys, do not tell me the rear lens is movable? Do you have a vacuum cleaner effect? I want to buy 43 ~ 86mm 1: 3.5 without marking the car.
Bob Guccione used as his primary lens in 1970 for Penthouse Magazine.
Marvelously, on my d200 becoming without problems. Super mechanics. Yakіst in front of the picture yak at kit. Without auto focus zagaglі gesture)))
this zoom has gone through 11 versions in its “life”!
Ai - 11 elements in 8 groups, length 73,5mm (1977-1982)
the latest version was amazing in drawing and sharpness ... this version had an aperture of 22 orange
I have a non-Ai version, also with orange 22. Lens with MS enlightenment.
Awesome sharp in the entire range already at 3.5. The picture is very high quality. I was even shocked by the chromatism, the unclear picture and the hares on the lens that was tested here. And I shot at 32 megapixels and not at 6, as in these tests. Probably still the second version with 11 elements and not with 9, and even MS, transformed the lens. Glass is simply magnificent for a portrait and for a subject. Very good focal range.
Perhaps it will not be too good for architectural photography, yet there is sometimes noticeable distortion.
This lens has been upgraded many times over the course of its release. The optical scheme was recalculated. And the latest options were optically better. I have a similar but latest version. Shoots great. Naturally, some limitations must be taken into account. Old zooms for architectural photography should not be used. By the way, the new ones are also not very suitable for this. I use this Nikkor as the main one when shooting on film (Nikon-F and Nikon-FE) on walks with my family. By the way. When it went on sale, it cost as much as three Nikkor 1.4/50s.