Nikkor-O 35/2 on Nikon F - film samples

[luisalegria]

New e-bay toys for Christmas !
I got the Nikon F and the 35mm f/2 Nikkor-O for an excellent price a few weeks ago.



I've never had a Nikon -F, so while browsing ebay as usual when I found a "for parts/repair" deal I thought I'd take a chance.
What the heck, at least I'd get to see the guts of one of these finally. Turns out the meter was inoperable, but the shutter and nearly everything else was working great. I am pretty sure the lightseal at the baseplate/tripod mount is no good, but a piece of electricians tape over that takes care of it. Its a bit beat up, a bit brassed, a bit chipped, but - well, thats how they should be, no?

Worst problems are in the finder with just a bit of lost silvering on the pentaprism, and of course it doesn't respond to a battery, even with some contact cleaning. I understand that nearly all of these are dead, but some people have ways of fixing them. I don't think I will bother. My cell phone works fine as a lightmeter with the David Quiles app - that's new for me, and a real revelation. Its an excellent meter.

This is a 1967-68 model, and the finder is an FTN.

The Nikkor-O I found for what I think is a bargain. In the category of 35mm f/2 lenses these must be the cheapest things going, they are regularly found for well under US$100 on US ebay. Mine is apparently a 1973. It seems to have been AI'd with a proper kit.

What do I think ? The F is a monster but not as heavy as its said to be. It does not feel like a solid piece of brass, etc. I think the Ricoh Singlex actually seems more dense than the F. It has a wonderfully smooth cock and wind, about the best I have tried, and the rewind is also one of the best I have used on a manual camera. The ergonomics are - meh. The shutter button is in the wrong place, the removable back is nice for the option of accessory backs, but even an Exakta is more convenient. The speed dial is not easily visible with this finder, and they aren't repeated on the top of the speed dial extension as they are with the Pentax S/V meter heads. The shutter is of course titanium. The only thing likely to last longer than this thing may be the extra quality Copal square shutter on the Nikkormats of the same era, but we will have to wait a few more decades to find out. Its remarkably quiet, which was a surprise. It does not go off like a cannon.
So a mixed bag. Its a very cool camera to carry though.

I shot several rolls of expired Fujicolor 200 just to check the camera and lens, as AI'd Nikkors like this one sometimes aren't usable on my Pentax - non-AI generally is better for that trick. Between my scanner and the film quality I don't think I got pixel-peeping sharpness out of it and film sometimes gave me eccentric colors. Still, I rather like the bokeh from what I can see, and its probably as sharp as anyone could use. If I can figure out how to mount it on a Pentax I may give it another test on digital.

Apertures from f/2 to f/8, depending.

[kds315*]

oh, very nice!!

[uddhava]

[blotafton]

Looks good

[LucisPictor]

That's a very nice lens! Still one of the most pleasant 35mm lenses I know, with a very nice character.

Is anybody interested in buying one? I am selling my copy, it's even the O-C version (with better coating).
I only sell it because I got the 1.4/35 some time ago and thus the 2.0/35 rather stays in my cabinet now.
(I know, I will regret it some day - again. I had the 2/35, sold it and bought it again, because I missed it.)

[Gardener]

It was probably one of my favorite 35/2's. Not the sharpest, not the best best bokeh, but there was just something about the picture.

[bhargav]

Very nice results Luis. Like the portraits the most.