I bought a mint condition Ai Nikkor 28 f2.8 while in Japan. It is the 7 element one, not the legendary Ai-s 8 element model, that would have likely set me back $600+, but for a quarter of that I got 85% of it, maybe more.
Not sure why I bought it other than it was one of many lenses of interest that has popped up in my travels and the price ($135au) was good. I remember from the Nikon collectors guide that I had for years, all the 28’s of that era, even the cheap “E” series were good.
Very first shot, f4 I think (really need to take note). Anyway, not wide open but near it.
Yeah, its sharp with very pleasant contrast.
The front lemon had a near blown highlight patch that recovered effortlessly.
Lots of fruit around here at the moment.
Wide open it has good rendering, colours are smooth and harmonious.
Bokeh is……… interesting. More of a win for video I think.
At f8 I was still able to separate a plane of focus.
Easier at f2.8, but I did miss the leaf I was actually aiming for.
The most flare I could get up, the little line of blue streaks is nice.
Thoughts;
Fun to use and the K&F adapter is as tight as a drum both ends. I really felt at home with it, which is interesting as I shot Canon FD/EF and Olympus OM for thirty years, Olympus and Panasonic for the next 15, but this Nikon’s manual focussing and aperture ring felt natural.
This is a problem.
All my cine glass, my Lumix and various other bits focus “push in” and “pull out”, which I always struggle with no matter how hard I practice. I get it, then like driving a car on the opposite side of the road you were bought up with, my mind betrays me and I get lost. It’s better with a focus assist, but hard to crack. This thing goes the other way and felt as natural as mothers milk.
Shit.
I might get a MFT adapter as well, but for now, I have a neat, classy, retro bit of kit for the S5’s, and another arrow in my video quiver. I also got vibes of the little Pen-F 25 f2.8, so maybe a decently matched pair?