Review of Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5 (MKII)

According provided by lens Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5 (MKII) huge thanks to the store www.fotika.com.uawhere you can find a huge number of different used photographic equipment, including this model.

Review of Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5 (MKII)

Review of Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5 (MKII)

There are three completely different Nikon '35 -105 / 3.5-4.5 AF 'class lenses:

  1. Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5 (MKI) - The very first, produced from 1986 to 1991. It has a classic design, a plastic narrow focus ring. Optical design of 16 elements in 12 groups. Overview can be viewed here.
  2. Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5 (MKII) - the second version, made in the 'push-pull' style, has a rubberized and wider focusing ring. Produced from 1991 to 1994. Optical design 16 elements in 12 groups. This lens will be discussed in my review.
  3. Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5D (MKIII) - the third version, 'push-pull', but with internal focusing 'IF'. Produced from 1994 to 2001. Unlike the first two models, it can transmit focus distance into the camera. Optical design of 13 elements in 10 groups, including aspherical elements. Overview can be viewed here.

All lenses differ mechanically. Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5 (MKII) is a classic all-rounder of the old school, with very good build quality and good image quality. The Nikon 35-105 / 3.5-4.5 (MKII) came to my review with a practically new one, while it does not change the focal length spontaneously under its own weight.

The Nikon 35-105 / 3.5-4.5 (MKII) design is classic for those times - 'push-pull': to change the focal length, you should pull the front part of the lens 'towards you' or push 'away from you'. Moreover, this is a 'correct push-pull', i.e. in the shortest position it has the shortest focal length, and in the longest position it has the greatest (for example, Nikon AF Nikkor 35-70mm 1: 2.8D all the way around).

Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5 (MKII) in Macro mode

Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5 (MKII) in Macro mode

Nikon 35-105 / 3.5-4.5 (MKII) has a macro shooting mode. To switch to macro mode, set the focal length equal to 35mm, press a special button and turn the wide rubberized ring to the mark 'M f = 35'. In this position, the front of the lens extends slightly forward (as shown in the illustration below), allowing you to shoot macro at the maximum magnification. 1: 3.5 (the focusing distance is 38 cm).

For example, modern full-time zoom Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor with manual focusing, it allows you to get a much higher magnification - 1: 2.8. In macro mode, the Nikon 35-105 / 3.5-4.5 (MKII) focus ring becomes almost useless, and to focus on the focus you will have to move the entire camera. Yes, of course auto focus in macro mode does not work with this lens.

I think that the macro mode of the Nikon 35-105 / 3.5-4.5 (MKII) lens is not its strongest side, since shooting macro at 35mm focal length is a dubious thing, and the lens turns into a manual lens without a focusing ring. Macro mode at the 'short end' is available on several other older Nikkor zooms, for example Nikon AF Nikkor 28-85mm 1: 3.5-4.5, Nikon AF Nikkor 35-70mm 1: 2.8D etc. If you want to easily and painlessly use the macro mode with a similar lens, then I advise you to look towards the wonderful Nikon AF Nikkor 28-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5D.

Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5 (MKII) at 105 mm and when focusing on MDF

Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5 (MKII) at 105 mm and when focusing on MDF

Nikon 35-105 / 3.5-4.5 (MKII) has fast auto focus. But the MDF (in the normal state of the lens) is as much as 1.4 meters, which is very, very bad when shooting small objects, because you don't really want to switch to the inconvenient manual macro mode.

A little bit of nostalgia. The focusing time for Nikon 35-105 / 3.5-4.5 (MKII) (and for many old screwdriver zooms), from infinity to MDF and back, is almost exactly the same as, for example, on a modern and very expensive Nikon 24-70mm 1: 2.8G ED AF-S N Nikkor... At the same time, I compared the speed of Nikon 35-105 / 3.5-4.5 (MKII) on not the TOP camera - Nikon D700... As you know, more advanced cameras, the Nikon D1-D4 series, have a slightly higher rotation speed of the focus motor, and I am sure that with these cameras the focusing speed will be even higher with the Nikon 35-105 / 3.5-4.5 (MKII). The bottom line is that the new AF-S SWM lenses are not far behind the old 'screwdriver' technology in speed. Of course, speed is not the only criterion, you also need to take into account focusing accuracy and volume :).

The rubberized focusing ring rotates during autofocus and must not be touched. The ring travel is 90 degrees. During focusing, the front lens element extends forward and rotates. During zooming, the rear lens moves inside the lens. Nikon 35-105 / 3.5-4.5 (MKII) uses small standard 52mm filters.

Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5 (MKII)

Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5 (MKII), the black screw on the lens mount serves as a kind of mark for quickly mounting the lens on the camera.

It's important: auto focus with this lens is available only when using him on cameras with built-in motor focusing.

Exact list Nikon DSLR cameras with a built-in focus motor, on which this lens will focus automatically:

Exact list Nikon DSLR cameras without a built-in focus motor, on which this lens will not focus automatically:

Only auto focus and sound confirmation of focus will not work with these cameras, all other important functions, such as automatic exposure metering and automatic iris control, will work well.

You will find a lot of useful information on the types of cameras and lenses Nikon here.

There is no focus mode switch on the lens itself; to put the lens in manual focus mode, you must put the camera in manual focus mode using the switch located near the camera mount.

The lens has an aperture control ring. So that he starts working normally on modern Nikon cameras, you need to set the value F / 22, using the aperture control ring on the lens itself, and fix it with a special lever, which is located near the F / 3.5 mark. After such manipulation, it will be possible to control the aperture directly from the camera, for more details in the section about Non-G Lenses. In addition, the lens has a scale of focusing distances and two marks (35 and 70 mm) for focusing in the infrared spectrum.

Please note that Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5 (MKII) does not transmit focus distance values into the camera, which may give errors in exposure, especially when shooting with flash in TTL auto modes.

Nikon AF NIKKOR 28-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5D and Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5

Nikon AF Nikkor 28-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5D and Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5

Surprisingly, the Nikon 35-105 / 3.5-4.5 (MKII) produces images with good image quality. In the center of the frame, it is sharp already from the open aperture, with a little distortion and vignetting. The lens can catch a lot of 'bunnies' in the backlight. Overall, I think the Nikon 35-105 / 3.5-4.5 (MKII) is one of the best 'dark' and inexpensive zooms. In addition, the f / 4.5 at the long end is half a stop lighter than the f / 5.6 of other similar lenses.

Thanks to Anna for an interesting lecture and workshop on mehendi ( link).

Here link to the archive with the originals - 450 MB, 38 photos in .NEF format (RAW) from the camera  D700 (FX). Some photos were taken using a Nikon flash. SB-900At the same time, in TTL mode, I still had to play with power correction due to the Non-D lens.

On Nikon DX cameras EGF the lens will be 53-158mm, as a result, it will turn from a universal lens into a short telephoto :(. For crop, it is better to look for something else, although those who need 35 mm will be enough can be content with similar focal lengths.

Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5 (MKII) on Nikon AF N8008S

Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5 (MKII) on the Nikon AF N8008S

List of all Nikon FX 35-XXX autofocus lenses:

  1. Nikon AF Nikkor 35-70 mm 1: 2.8 (MKI)
  2. Nikon AF Nikkor 35-70 mm 1: 2.8D (MKII)
  3. Nikon AF Nikkor 35-70 mm 1: 3.3-4.5 (MKI)
  4. Nikon AF Nikkor 35-70 mm 1: 3.3-4.5 (MKII)
  5. Nikon AF Nikkor 35-80 mm 1: 4-5.6D (MKI)
  6. Nikon AF Nikkor 35-80 mm 1: 4-5.6D (MKII)
  7. Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105 mm 1: 3.5-4.5 (MKI)
  8. Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105 mm 1: 3.5-4.5 (MKII)
  9. Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105 mm 1: 3.5-4.5 D (MKIII)
  10. Nikon AF Nikkor 35-135 mm 1: 3.5-4.5 (MKI)
  11. Nikon AF Nikkor 35-135 mm 1: 3.5-4.5 (MKII)

The catalog of modern universal lenses for Nikon can be look at this link.

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Results

Despite its age, the Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5 (MKII) turned out to be a good lens with a nice picture, great build and small size. He would have a slightly wider angle (for example, 28mm) and a slightly smaller MDF, then he would not have had a price.

Personally, I like the most out of old universal zooms Nikon AF Nikkor 28-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5D, and which I often recommend as a good and, at the same time, super-budget version of the universal lens for Nikon FX full-length cameras.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

Add a comment: Alexander Trekhsotkovich

 

 

Comments: 47, on the topic: Review of Nikon AF Nikkor 35-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5 (MKII)

  • Eugene

    Strong baby and how to remove!

  • 10111

    I have one. Somehow, after fixes, it’s not at all impressive, and in terms of quality compared to the same 50 / 1.4 it is very mediocre. Plus only in the chip and autofocus, well, the focal ones are convenient.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      funny, with fixes to compare.

      • 10111

        There are great zooms, there are bad fixes.

        • Arkady Shapoval

          Well, name at least one Nikkor autofocus prime in the 35-105 range, which will be worse than 35-105 / 3,5-4,5 at the same apertures. There is no such thing, therefore there is no need to compare.

      • Andrey Dolzhenko

        You need to get a Tamron 24-70 review. :)

        • Arkady Shapoval

          Send.

          • Andrey Dolzhenko

            I’m far from the Smolensk region. Is it really that everyone in Kiev will give? :)

  • Jackie

    Funny, in the photo of people through the passage, not a single person seems to have cut through the photographer with the camera.

    • Oleg

      Yes, this is not Tair-3 from the previous review, wherever the photographer would have glances already on the way to the transition))

      • Arkady Shapoval

        I shot with Tair-3 with another person who was shooting with some kind of zoom next to me, and everyone immediately understood that they were just freak photographers and no one said anything.

        • Michael

          In our cattle-town, it’s not going to shoot passers-by like that, by the cabbage soup it’s easy to get, even without a camera you’ll remain. If someone with a large camera passes, or somewhere they shoot, with softboxes, plates, etc. then they look at it so if Spielberg would come here to shoot a movie))

          • Arkady Shapoval

            Zomg TEH DRAMA

          • Yarkiya

            I take a big risk, but still ask, Petropavlovsk? :))

            • Alexander Trekhsotkovich

              Yarkiy you guessed it))) There is such a thing in our city too. I once took pictures with an assistant with a photo umbrella, so there passers-by crowded and pointed their fingers at us and said "look photographer !!!" And if you go out at night, you can return home without a camera) This is not Europe))) This is a former scoop, here the main law is “the strongest survives” that is why I regularly go to the gym.

              • Vyacheslav

                I shot several days in Lviv. In the evening and at night. With a tripod. I became impudent in the middle of an intersection. He shot people at point blank range. Zero reaction, even from drunk. Drivers simply circled, did not even signal.

          • Jackie

            What kind of city is this hellishly intolerant of photographers, where you can stay without a camera for a photo? I really wanted to go there, take the photographer’s survival course in extreme conditions :)

  • Sergei

    “A super budget versatile lens for Nikon DX full-frame cameras”
    Probably it would be necessary to "super-budget version of the universal lens for full-frame Nikon FX cameras"
    I bought myself after your recommendation 28-105 and I'm not happy (though on the d300). Thanks for your hobby and sharing your results with us!

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Fixed

  • Yarkiya

    You write “For example, the modern Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor stock zoom with manual focus allows you to get a much higher magnification - 1: 2.8.”
    How to calculate this coefficient? Is there any formula?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Maybe there is, usually indicated in the TX. You can calculate it yourself by photographing a ruler on an MDF and dividing the number of centimeters that fell into the frame by the physical size of the matrix.

      • Yarkiya

        Thanks Arkady, about the line is a well-known thing, I thought maybe there is some kind of super-duper-duper on the floor of the calculation page. :))

        • Arkady Shapoval

          Probably there is, but because of the “Focus Breathing”, which is different for each lens, it will be difficult to accurately calculate by MDF and focal length.

          • Roderick

            So which of the two is still better in image quality-28-105 / 3.5-4.5 or 35-105 / 3.5-4.5?

  • Vladislav

    This review describes the 2nd version, in two adjacent 1st and 3rd, I wonder what my lens is: 2+ or 2nd restyling or transitional ....... :))))) Fully fits the description to the 2nd version, with a few exceptions: at the end there is a letter D. What thoughts will you have about this?

  • Vladislav

    Arkady serial do not see where he is? The lens was acquired only yesterday.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      On the diaphragm ring, there are inconspicuous numbers. If not there, just inspect the entire lens carefully, the serial number must be mandatory :)

  • Vladislav

    Found !!!!!!!! ;-)))) 3053206

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Then you have exactly the same as in this review, MK2, and someone just drew the letter D and added it more expensive to you. To make sure that the letter D should not be, take a picture and look at the parameters of the focusing distance, for example, with this tool http://regex.info/exif.cgi I'm sure there will be either zero or some kind of delusional number :)

  • Vladislav

    On Sat700 the distance is confirmed….

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Ahaha, this is not it. Do as I say.

      • Vladislav

        Make: Nikon Corporation
        Model: Nikon D700
        Strip Offsets: 116608
        Orientation: Normal
        Samples per Pixel: 3
        Rows Per Strip: 120
        Strip Byte Counts: 57600
        XResolution: 300,00
        YResolution: 300,00
        Planar Configuration: 1
        Resolution Unit: Inch
        Software: Ver.1.01
        Date Time: 2015: 06: 03 10:52:26
        artist:
        Sub IFDS: 174228, 174348
        Reference Black White: 0/1, 255/1, 0/1, 255/1, 0/1, 255/1
        Copyright:
        EXIF OFFSET: 600
        Exposure Time: 1/60 SEC
        FNumber: F4,5
        Exposure Program: Aperture Priority
        ISOSpeed ​​Ratings: 400
        Date Time Original: 2015: 06: 03 10:52:26
        Date Time Digitized: 2015: 06: 03 10:52:26
        Exposure Bias Value: 0 EV
        Max Aperture Value: F4,3
        Metering Mode: Multisegment
        White Balance Presset: Auto
        Flash: On, strobe return, forced
        Focal Length: 105,00 mm
        Maker Note: "Nikon"
        User Comment: Not Possible to Define
        Sub Sec Time: 97
        Sub Sec Time Original: 97
        Sub Sec Time Digitized: 97
        Sensing Method: OneChipColorArea
        File Source: "."
        Scene type: "."
        CFAPattern: ""
        Custom Rendered: Normal Process
        Exposure Mode: Auto Exposure
        White Balance: Auto
        Digital Zoom Ratio: 1/1
        Unknown: 105
        Scene Capture Type: Standard
        Gain control: low gain up
        Contrast: Normal
        Saturation: normal
        Sharpness: Normal
        Photometric Interpretation :: Not Possible To Define
        New Subfile Type: 1
        Image Width: 160
        Image Length: 120
        Subject Distance Range: Unknown
        GPSINFO: 174208
        Date Time Original: 2015: 06: 03 10:52:26
        TIFF / EPStandard ID: 1, 0, 0, 0
        Type of Image: Nikon Raw
        Bits Per Pixel: 12

        --- Additional section ---

        ISO Speed: 400
        Quality: Raw
        White Balance Presset: Auto
        Focus Mode: AF-C
        Flash setting: normal
        Auto Flash Mode: Optional, TTL
        Fine Tune White Balance: 0, 0
        AE Bracket Compensation: 0/6
        Lens Information: 35 - 105mm F / 3.5-4.5
        Flash Used: Fired (External Flash)
        Bracketing Mode: Not Ussed
        Auto Bracket Release: Manual Release
        Noise Reduction: Off
        Total Number of Shutter Releases: 28442

        • Arkady Shapoval

          Well, “Subject Distance Range: Unknown” - “distance to the object: unknown”, wash off the letter D and accept.

          • vlad

            Arkady good evening. Tell me how much the exposure of 35-105 μ2 will be incorrect (considering that the lens does not transmit the focusing distance to the camera) They offered me this lens, cameras (nikon d300s and nikon f801s - American) in excellent condition, cheaply in excellent condition ??? with flash in TTL mode, as I understand it will not be a miracle either ?? Thank you in advance for your answer (I know you are a very busy person and you cannot always answer) Sincerely, Vlad.

            • Arkady Shapoval

              In TTL + BL mode, it will be good, only in normal TTL (i-TTL), or with non-native flashes.

              • vlad

                Thank you very much for your help !!! your regular reader. Regards, Vlad.

            • Valentine

              Vlad, I used some non-D lenses together with native and non-native flash in TTL mode. The misses in the exposition were not private, so this did not give any serious problems. I then shot in jpeg, and for this reason I discarded 10 percent of the material, no more. And I would shoot in raw, then almost everything would be working. I don’t know this particular lens, but if possible, try it before buying. Even from the histogram it will become clear how much the lack of distance transmission to the camera can complicate your life. Please note that some native bursts automatically turn on TTL + BL when the metering on the camera is set to matrix or center-weighted (they have pure TTL only for spot metering). Try TTL + BL and just TTL.

              • vlad

                Thank you so much for the help !!! I'll try of course. I have a nikon sb-700 flash? I hope there will not be too many mistakes. Thank you for your help !!!

              • vlad

                Thank you so much for the help !!! I'll try of course. I have a nikon sb-700 flash? I hope there will not be too many mistakes.

        • The Hedgehog

          The world is cruel …

        • Jury

          if you look closely, you can see that the letter is finished. The first time I see this, how much more expensive can you sell a lens so that you are not too lazy to finish painting the letter?

  • Vladislav

    Someone smacked into a pancake ....: (((((And on the other hand: clean glasses, no dust particles inside, cosmetics for a solid five, I think it's okay for 70 “green” rubles!;))))

  • Vladislav

    Arkady once again thank you so much for your reviews !!!

  • Oleg

    Today I bought this lens (specifically MKII) as a "plug" for Nikon F5 ... only paid for the carcass ... Initially I was going to sell the lens ....
    Both the camera and the lens are “made in Japan” ...
    Let me, I think, I'll test it ...

    And I liked the lens ...
    Recommended 28-105 I have ... with him and compared ...
    They seemed different to me ... I'll leave both! (They don't ask for bread, but only "go for a walk with them ..."

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