I bought my 43-86 3.5 Nikkor in the early '80's to go on my FM, FE, FM2 and FE2. It was my most used lens, and took awesome portraits wide open at 86mm. My biggest blow up, 30x40 inch, still hangs on my wall, shot with this lens on Kodachrome 64, 1/90 sec, f8, polarizer, of two horses in a field, old rustic ban in the background. My lens was very sharp and has given me some of my best photos of that era.
At that time, I opted out of the Nikon zoom, and got a third party lens. I got the Tokina 35-105 f3.5/4 zoom. It was a push/pull zoom, and had a close up feature that you push a tab to turn the ring for close ups. You also needed an adapter to mount the lens to the Nikon Body. However, I sold all my older F lenses to fund the purchase of my Z8.
I had the newer model, from 1979 I believe. Very bad at 43mm in the corners, especially at f/3.5. A lot of distortion: barrel at 43, pincussion at 86. Still a useful lens, and very well engineered.
Well, not to instigate any negativity here, but for 80-90% of people using Nikon film gear, these 43-86mm zooms are going to give them compositional versatility in an instant. Anyone shooting in a professional setting would be using primes anyway. For me, these (I have both versions) have been very adequate.. not the sharpest crayon in the box, but definitely worth the current low prices. I too have been filming for over 50 years and, having them as a convenient tool for people just getting started in film photography, I think these are perfectly fine. Sharpness, in my opinion, only really comes into play when making enlargements, or when close scrutiny is involved. When it’s snapshots of family or quick documentation of events.. or “casual” use, the slightly less sharpness of images shot with these will rarely become an issue. That being said, I do prefer the 35-105mm Nikkors if I’m carrying a zoom with me. I enjoy your content sir! Thank you.
I agree with most of what you say. Todays zooms are far superior to the zooms of the sixties and I know many pros who use them. The 43-86 is fine if printing small. The reason I made this video is because for years I have read how poor the original 43-86 was. I had one sitting around and wanted to see for myself. I didn’t appreciate that I was called a liar by that poster. He could have just said that I was mistaken and his copy was sharp.
@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 agreed about that “liar” poster.. waay too harsh. Everyone os entitled to their opinion, but gee whiz.. he was ridiculously hostile, in my opinion!
LIAR! I have both of these lenses, and they are Sharp, Ok, Have the chrome ring in which had that lens to AI converted, and then got the AI version lens, In which I took the Chrome Ring AI converted to Japan, and the Philippines as in which the sharpness still held in all apertures, yes I know about the the Flare issue, Dude have you heard of an lens attachment called the Lens HOOD?? See the problem that I am seeing TODAY are these so called Nikon Shooters when I was working at a camera store that they think that they know stuff but they do not, Working there at the store for 33 fricking years and seeing Liars Wanna be Shooters with cameras with NO FILTERS, NO LENS HOODS, NO SENSE IN WHY???? THEY BRING A CAMERA BODY WITH A VERY LONG ZOOM LENS. OK I love these Lenses, and they gave me great shots on my Film Nikon's, and also my Digital Nikon's, and Fuji... And yes I also do have a 35~105mm Tokina but somehow the lens optics as a Slight Green Cast in which that I have a 70~200 Tokina Zoom in which it HAS A HEAVY GREEN CAST AS IT TURNS ALL MY COLOR SLIDE FILMS SHOTS GREEN.. SO I now have the ALL Nikkor lenses that I can use on my Nikon Gear Which includes the 43~86mm Zoom. And Last I do not like the NIKON Z Line, I prefer the Nikon F mount ever since I started using it back in 1975.
Liar? Why would I lie. The original 43-86 is not sharp. There is sample variation. So maybe you have a better one. Many people agree that the lens is not very sharp. You are entitled to your opinion but don’t call me a liar. I have been shooting Nikon since 1972 and I love most of their Cameras and lenses but not this one. I also worked in a camera store/photo lab in the 1970’s. Have a nice day.
@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 I agree with you. I owned this lens and it was softer than a pillow. It was like my old 35-70mm AI, it also wasn't sharp. Keep up the good work, I enjoy your videos!
Ken Rockwell regarding the original (pre-AI) Nikon zoom: "It's worse than the worst" because it tainted the reputation of other Nikon zooms. Moose Peterson says the early version was not sharp but the later AI models are sharper although not up to todays standards (1998). Thanks Jules for the great video (as always) and a faithful review that I trust completely. As much as I love the old Nikkor glass and the way they work on a mirrorless body with stabilization and FTZ adapter, I can't justify using a soft zoom when the primes are sharp and render amazingly.
@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 So Have I started my photography in high school in 1972, and working at the camera store in San Francisco for 33 years, and as since the store closed in which I am seeing alot of these fine camera stores closing, including Photo Labs as for a final note that when working at the store that I have the pleasure in helping students to get their photographic Needs Without bragging, as hearing this: "What You sell film - What is that - I have a Sony. As I responded to him: "Hey can you get FM on that??" Sorry I called it when I see it, Sorry that my opinion OK, and Nice seeing you - I want to see Photography - Got IT PHOTOGRAPHY!! History, Photos, Photographers using their Art in the way that I Love it, So I will have to say UNSUBSCRIBE - Your my 5th person going Bye Bye...
I bought my 43-86 3.5 Nikkor in the early '80's to go on my FM, FE, FM2 and FE2. It was my most used lens, and took awesome portraits wide open at 86mm. My biggest blow up, 30x40 inch, still hangs on my wall, shot with this lens on Kodachrome 64, 1/90 sec, f8, polarizer, of two horses in a field, old rustic ban in the background. My lens was very sharp and has given me some of my best photos of that era.
At that time, I opted out of the Nikon zoom, and got a third party lens.
I got the Tokina 35-105 f3.5/4 zoom. It was a push/pull zoom, and had a close up feature that you push a tab to turn the ring for close ups. You also needed an adapter to mount the lens to the Nikon Body.
However, I sold all my older F lenses to fund the purchase of my Z8.
Good move. I love the Z8.
I had the newer model, from 1979 I believe. Very bad at 43mm in the corners, especially at f/3.5. A lot of distortion: barrel at 43, pincussion at 86. Still a useful lens, and very well engineered.
@@h.e.hazelhorst9838 I’m not crazy about push pull zooms, although the 35-70 2.8 was excellent optically. Thanks for watching.
Actually I don’t think any zoom up to Ais were a little disappointing compared to the great fixed focal lengths
Well, not to instigate any negativity here, but for 80-90% of people using Nikon film gear, these 43-86mm zooms are going to give them compositional versatility in an instant. Anyone shooting in a professional setting would be using primes anyway. For me, these (I have both versions) have been very adequate.. not the sharpest crayon in the box, but definitely worth the current low prices. I too have been filming for over 50 years and, having them as a convenient tool for people just getting started in film photography, I think these are perfectly fine. Sharpness, in my opinion, only really comes into play when making enlargements, or when close scrutiny is involved. When it’s snapshots of family or quick documentation of events.. or “casual” use, the slightly less sharpness of images shot with these will rarely become an issue. That being said, I do prefer the 35-105mm Nikkors if I’m carrying a zoom with me. I enjoy your content sir! Thank you.
I agree with most of what you say. Todays zooms are far superior to the zooms of the sixties and I know many pros who use them. The 43-86 is fine if printing small. The reason I made this video is because for years I have read how poor the original 43-86 was. I had one sitting around and wanted to see for myself. I didn’t appreciate that I was called a liar by that poster. He could have just said that I was mistaken and his copy was sharp.
@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 agreed about that “liar” poster.. waay too harsh. Everyone os entitled to their opinion, but gee whiz.. he was ridiculously hostile, in my opinion!
Fascinating! Thank you 😊
Very enjoyable. Thank you.
Dont zoom, use your feet!
My AI version is not that bad but I will double check it ...
The AI version is better.
LIAR! I have both of these lenses, and they are Sharp, Ok, Have the chrome ring in which had that lens to AI converted, and then got the AI version lens, In which I took the Chrome Ring AI converted to Japan, and the Philippines as in which the sharpness still held in all apertures, yes I know about the the Flare issue, Dude have you heard of an lens attachment called the Lens HOOD?? See the problem that I am seeing TODAY are these so called Nikon Shooters when I was working at a camera store that they think that they know stuff but they do not, Working there at the store for 33 fricking years and seeing Liars Wanna be Shooters with cameras with NO FILTERS, NO LENS HOODS, NO SENSE IN WHY???? THEY BRING A CAMERA BODY WITH A VERY LONG ZOOM LENS. OK I love these Lenses, and they gave me great shots on my Film Nikon's, and also my Digital Nikon's, and Fuji... And yes I also do have a 35~105mm Tokina but somehow the lens optics as a Slight Green Cast in which that I have a 70~200 Tokina Zoom in which it HAS A HEAVY GREEN CAST AS IT TURNS ALL MY COLOR SLIDE FILMS SHOTS GREEN.. SO I now have the ALL Nikkor lenses that I can use on my Nikon Gear Which includes the 43~86mm Zoom. And Last I do not like the NIKON Z Line, I prefer the Nikon F mount ever since I started using it back in 1975.
Liar? Why would I lie. The original 43-86 is not sharp. There is sample variation. So maybe you have a better one. Many people agree that the lens is not very sharp. You are entitled to your opinion but don’t call me a liar. I have been shooting Nikon since 1972 and I love most of their Cameras and lenses but not this one. I also worked in a camera store/photo lab in the 1970’s. Have a nice day.
@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 I agree with you. I owned this lens and it was softer than a pillow. It was like my old 35-70mm AI, it also wasn't sharp. Keep up the good work, I enjoy your videos!
@@davecrissinger8967 thank you Dave.
Ken Rockwell regarding the original (pre-AI) Nikon zoom: "It's worse than the worst" because it tainted the reputation of other Nikon zooms. Moose Peterson says the early version was not sharp but the later AI models are sharper although not up to todays standards (1998). Thanks Jules for the great video (as always) and a faithful review that I trust completely. As much as I love the old Nikkor glass and the way they work on a mirrorless body with stabilization and FTZ adapter, I can't justify using a soft zoom when the primes are sharp and render amazingly.
@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 So Have I started my photography in high school in 1972, and working at the camera store in San Francisco for 33 years, and as since the store closed in which I am seeing alot of these fine camera stores closing, including Photo Labs as for a final note that when working at the store that I have the pleasure in helping students to get their photographic Needs Without bragging, as hearing this: "What You sell film - What is that - I have a Sony. As I responded to him: "Hey can you get FM on that??" Sorry I called it when I see it, Sorry that my opinion OK, and Nice seeing you - I want to see Photography - Got IT PHOTOGRAPHY!! History, Photos, Photographers using their Art in the way that I Love it, So I will have to say UNSUBSCRIBE - Your my 5th person going Bye Bye...