43-86/f3.5 - How much better was the AI version

<p>I have the pre-AI version of this lens which came with my Nikkormat FTn. I like the build quality, size, weight and zoom range of this lens but have found it a bit softer than my 50 mm/f2.0. How much better, optically, was the AI version and how does it compare with a lens like the 35-70/f3.5 AI?</p>

<p>I had the ai version and thought that it was a much better lens than the non ai version. But my opinions was based on eyballing images rather than any real tests.</p>

<p>Much better. Better coating for one thing, and the optical design had an additional decade of Nikon's design experience (and what a decade!) to tweak it. You can find one for very cheap, and with the high ISO digital bodies its a very useful lens, great for portraits. Check out the Nikon story about it at <br>

http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/technology/nikkor/n04_e.htm</p>

<p>The easiest way to spot the optical change is by the design of the front of the lens. The newer design has a black filter ring and the lens info engraved around the outside of the filter threads. The older design with a bright finish filter threads has the info on the lens info on the ring inside of the filter threads.</p>

 

<p>ALL 43-86/3.5s get dissed on the reputation of the old NAI version. The AI is just fine. It's a nice walk-around lens but then you already know that. It's better stopped down, sure, but it's not emabarrassingly soft wide open, either. Works nicely with 3T and 4T diopters, too. They're usually very inexpensive, thanks to the bum rap.</p>

<p>I had a 43-86mm AI lens, but it had too much barrel distortion for me. I returned it for another lens.</p>

<p>I did a quick search on Ebay and KEH and I see what you mean about the location of the letteing and the color of the filter ring. It appears that they made an intermediate change, however because mine and a few other non-AI versions that I found have a black filter ring with the lens information inside of the ring. </p>

<p>I used to know a photog in who worked out of Dallas - a fashion guy - and the ONLY lens he used was the 43-86. He developed a small following of A/D's who liked his ever-so-slightly-fuzzy-soft fashion stuff. Funny thing was - the reason he stayed with that lens was that was all he had in the beginning - and word got around this dude had his own "style". I say "funny" because in truth he didn't have a clue what he was doing. That lens is infamously the worst lens Nikon ever made.</p>

<p>I used to know a photog in who worked out of Dallas - a fashion guy - and the ONLY lens he used was the 43-86. He developed a small following of A/D's who liked his ever-so-slightly-fuzzy-soft fashion stuff. Funny thing was - the reason he stayed with that lens was that was all he had in the beginning - and word got around this dude had his own "style". I say "funny" because in truth he didn't have a clue what he was doing. That lens is infamously the worst lens Nikon ever made.</p>