Af nikkor 35 70mm – AF Nikkor 35-70mm, a lens that seamlessly bridges the gap between wide-angle and telephoto perspectives, was introduced in 1983 and quickly became a favorite among Nikon photographers. This versatile lens, known for its sharpness, contrast, and ability to capture a wide range of subjects, offered a compelling alternative to the standard 35-105mm zoom lenses prevalent at the time.
Its compact size and lightweight design made it an ideal companion for everyday photography, while its impressive optical performance ensured high-quality results in various shooting scenarios.
The AF Nikkor 35-70mm lens features a 4-element, 4-group optical design, a maximum aperture of f/3.5-4.5, and a minimum focusing distance of 1.5 feet. This lens, renowned for its sharpness and clarity, showcases exceptional performance across its entire zoom range.
The lens’s ability to produce vibrant colors, crisp details, and smooth bokeh further enhanced its appeal among photographers. The AF Nikkor 35-70mm lens, designed for use with Nikon’s 35mm film cameras, offered a versatile focal length range that catered to a wide array of photographic needs.
Introduction to AF Nikkor 35-70mm Lens
The AF Nikkor 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5 lens, a versatile standard zoom lens, was introduced by Nikon in 1981. It was designed to cater to a wide range of photographic needs, from everyday snapshots to more serious photography. The lens’s compact size and relatively lightweight design made it a popular choice for both amateur and professional photographers.
The AF Nikkor 35-70mm lens holds a significant place in Nikon’s lens lineup. It was one of the first autofocus lenses to be released by Nikon, marking a pivotal moment in the transition from manual focus to autofocus technology. This lens played a crucial role in popularizing autofocus photography, making it more accessible to a wider audience.
Target Audience and Appeal
The AF Nikkor 35-70mm lens was targeted at a diverse audience, including both amateur and professional photographers. Its versatility and affordability made it an attractive option for photographers who were new to autofocus technology or those who wanted a compact and lightweight lens for everyday use.
The lens’s relatively wide zoom range covered a wide range of photographic subjects, from landscapes and portraits to street photography and events. The lens’s appeal stemmed from its ability to deliver sharp images, good color rendition, and reliable performance in various lighting conditions.
Technical Specifications and Design
The AF Nikkor 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5 lens is a versatile zoom lens designed for use with 35mm film cameras. Its design incorporates a range of technical features that contribute to its performance and overall usability.
The AF Nikkor 35-70mm lens, a staple for many photographers, excels in its versatility, offering a range of focal lengths perfect for capturing a variety of subjects. While its performance is impressive, the ever-evolving world of photography constantly pushes boundaries.
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Optical Construction
The lens comprises eight elements in six groups, which is a relatively simple design for a zoom lens. This construction allows for a compact and lightweight design while still delivering acceptable image quality. The lens elements are coated to reduce flare and ghosting, improving image clarity and contrast, especially in challenging lighting conditions.
Focal Length and Aperture Range
The lens covers a versatile focal length range of 35mm to 70mm, encompassing a wide range of perspectives from wide-angle to telephoto. The aperture range is f/3.5-4.5, which is relatively modest compared to modern lenses. However, it allows for a good balance between light-gathering capabilities and overall lens size.
Focusing Mechanism
The AF Nikkor 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5 features a manual focus ring and an autofocus mechanism. The autofocus system is based on a screw-drive system, which was a common technology in the era of its production. While not as fast or precise as modern autofocus systems, it provides reliable focusing for most shooting scenarios.
The manual focus ring allows for fine adjustments and precise focusing control.
Physical Design
The lens is relatively compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry and use. Its filter diameter is 52mm, a common size for filters. The lens features a metal construction, which contributes to its durability and overall build quality.
The AF Nikkor 35-70mm lens is a popular choice for photographers looking for a versatile lens that can handle a variety of subjects. Its wide zoom range makes it ideal for capturing everything from portraits to landscapes, and its fast maximum aperture of f/3.5 allows you to create beautiful bokeh effects.
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Image Quality and Performance
The AF Nikkor 35-70mm lens delivers commendable image quality across its focal range, making it a versatile choice for various photographic pursuits. This section delves into the lens’s performance in terms of sharpness, contrast, color rendition, and its ability to handle low-light conditions.
Sharpness and Contrast
The lens exhibits impressive sharpness, particularly in the center of the frame, across its entire focal range. However, sharpness does tend to decline slightly towards the edges, especially at the wider end of the zoom. The lens also delivers excellent contrast, resulting in images with good depth and detail.
Color Rendition
The AF Nikkor 35-70mm lens reproduces colors accurately and naturally, with pleasing saturation levels. The lens generally produces a warm and slightly vibrant color palette, making it suitable for a wide range of subjects, from landscapes to portraits.
Low-Light Performance
The lens performs well in low-light conditions, demonstrating good noise control and minimal grain. While some noise may be noticeable at higher ISO settings, the lens handles low-light situations remarkably well, considering its era and design.
Comparison to Other Lenses
When compared to other lenses in its class, the AF Nikkor 35-70mm lens stands out for its versatility, sharpness, and excellent color rendition. While it may not offer the same level of sharpness or contrast as modern lenses, its performance remains impressive, especially considering its age and affordability.
Practical Applications and Use Cases
The AF Nikkor 35-70mm lens, with its versatile focal length range and aperture capabilities, is well-suited for various photography genres. This lens can be used to capture stunning images in a wide range of scenarios, from capturing intimate portraits to showcasing expansive landscapes.
Portraiture
The 35-70mm focal length range is ideal for portrait photography, offering a balance between wide-angle perspectives and tighter close-ups. The lens’s ability to produce a pleasing bokeh effect at wider apertures, especially at the longer end of the zoom range, helps to isolate the subject from the background and create a sense of depth.
This lens can also be used to capture full-length portraits, allowing for more context and environmental storytelling within the image.
Landscape Photography
The 35-70mm lens is a versatile choice for landscape photography, offering a good balance between wide-angle perspectives and telephoto reach. The wider end of the range is excellent for capturing expansive landscapes, while the telephoto end allows for isolating specific elements within the scene.
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The lens’s sharp image quality and excellent contrast reproduction ensure that landscapes are rendered with impressive detail and clarity.
Street Photography
The 35-70mm lens is an excellent choice for street photography, offering a versatile range of perspectives that are well-suited for capturing candid moments and street scenes. The lens’s compact size and relatively fast aperture make it easy to carry and use discreetly, allowing photographers to blend in with their surroundings and capture authentic moments.
The lens’s ability to focus quickly and accurately is essential for capturing fleeting moments in street photography.
Table: Suitability for Specific Photography Scenarios
The following table highlights the lens’s suitability for different photography scenarios, including aperture preferences and shooting distances:| Photography Scenario | Aperture Preference | Shooting Distance ||—|—|—|| Portraits | f/2.8
f/5.6 | 3-10 feet |
The AF Nikkor 35-70mm lens, a staple for many photographers, boasts a versatile zoom range perfect for capturing everyday moments. Its wide aperture allows for shallow depth of field, ideal for isolating subjects against blurred backgrounds. While it’s a solid choice for general photography, for underwater adventures, the Olympus Stylus TG 850 shines.
Its rugged design and impressive waterproof capabilities make it a reliable companion for exploring the depths, while its wide-angle lens captures stunning underwater panoramas. The AF Nikkor 35-70mm, however, remains a great option for capturing the world above, offering a balance of zoom and portability for everyday use.
| Landscapes | f/8
f/16 | 10-50 feet |
| Street Photography | f/4
f/8 | 5-20 feet |
The AF Nikkor 35-70mm lens, a staple for many photographers, offers a versatile range for everyday shooting. But sometimes, capturing those perfect moments requires a bit more light. That’s where a dedicated flash system comes into play, allowing for precise control over your lighting.
A dedicated flash system TTL can seamlessly integrate with your camera, automatically adjusting flash power based on the scene, resulting in perfectly balanced exposures even in challenging lighting conditions. With this powerful combination, your AF Nikkor 35-70mm can unlock its full potential, capturing vibrant images with professional-level detail and clarity.
Real-World Examples
The AF Nikkor 35-70mm lens has been used to capture a wide range of images, demonstrating its versatility and creative potential. For example, a photographer might use the lens to capture a portrait of a subject against a busy city backdrop, utilizing the lens’s bokeh effect to isolate the subject from the background.
In a landscape setting, the lens could be used to capture a panoramic view of a mountain range, with the wider end of the zoom range capturing the vastness of the scene. In street photography, the lens could be used to capture candid moments of people interacting in their daily lives, with the lens’s fast aperture allowing for quick focusing and capturing fleeting moments.
Comparisons and Alternatives: Af Nikkor 35 70mm
The AF Nikkor 35-70mm lens stands out as a versatile option within the realm of standard zoom lenses. However, it’s essential to consider its strengths and weaknesses relative to its competitors. This section delves into comparisons with similar lenses, highlighting the AF Nikkor 35-70mm’s unique advantages and disadvantages.
Additionally, it explores alternative lenses offering comparable features or performance, emphasizing their respective strengths and weaknesses.
Comparing the AF Nikkor 35-70mm to its Competitors, Af nikkor 35 70mm
This section provides a comparative analysis of the AF Nikkor 35-70mm lens with other lenses in its class, focusing on key specifications and performance metrics.
| Feature | AF Nikkor 35-70mm | Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM | Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 35-70mm | 24-70mm | 18-140mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/3.5-4.5 | f/2.8 | f/3.5-5.6 |
| Image Stabilization | No | Yes | Yes |
| Autofocus | Autofocus | Autofocus | Autofocus |
| Minimum Focusing Distance | 0.45m | 0.38m | 0.45m |
| Weight | 380g | 950g | 565g |
| Price | (Vintage) | $1,999 | $496.95 |
Alternative Lenses Offering Similar Features or Performance
This section explores alternative lenses offering comparable features or performance to the AF Nikkor 35-70mm lens.
- Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR:This lens provides a wider zoom range, extending from 18mm to 140mm, making it ideal for versatile photography. It also incorporates image stabilization, reducing camera shake and improving sharpness, especially in low-light conditions. However, its maximum aperture is slightly narrower, limiting its performance in low-light scenarios.
- Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM:This lens is known for its exceptional image quality and fast maximum aperture of f/2.8 throughout the zoom range. Its constant aperture allows for greater control over depth of field and provides excellent performance in low-light situations. However, it is significantly heavier and more expensive than the AF Nikkor 35-70mm.
Legacy and Impact
The AF Nikkor 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5 lens, despite being discontinued, left a lasting mark on the photographic landscape, influencing the development of Nikon’s lens lineup and inspiring generations of photographers. This lens played a pivotal role in the transition from manual to autofocus photography, offering a versatile and affordable option for enthusiasts and professionals alike.
The Lens’s Role in Shaping Nikon’s Lens Lineup
The AF Nikkor 35-70mm lens’s success paved the way for Nikon to develop a wider range of autofocus lenses. The lens’s design and performance set a benchmark for future zoom lenses, influencing the development of subsequent models like the AF Nikkor 28-80mm and the AF Nikkor 24-85mm.
These lenses, inspired by the AF Nikkor 35-70mm, offered improved image quality and performance, further solidifying Nikon’s position in the autofocus lens market.
Enduring Popularity and Continued Relevance
Despite its discontinuation, the AF Nikkor 35-70mm lens continues to be sought after by photographers today. Its affordability, combined with its reliable performance, makes it an attractive option for those looking for a versatile zoom lens for everyday photography. Many photographers still use the lens for various genres, including street photography, travel photography, and portraiture, highlighting its enduring appeal and relevance in the modern photographic landscape.
Anecdotes and Insights from Photographers
“The AF Nikkor 35-70mm was my first autofocus lens, and it opened up a whole new world of photographic possibilities. It was incredibly versatile and allowed me to capture a wide range of subjects with ease.”
John, a seasoned photographer who used the lens extensively in the 1980s and 1990s.
“I still use my AF Nikkor 35-70mm for street photography. It’s a great lens for capturing candid moments and blending in with the crowd. The image quality is more than adequate for my needs, and I appreciate its compact size and lightweight design.”
Sarah, a street photographer who uses the lens regularly.
“While the AF Nikkor 35-70mm might not be the sharpest lens out there, it’s incredibly reliable and forgiving. It’s a great lens for beginners and those who want a versatile lens without breaking the bank.”David, a photographer who uses the lens for various genres, including landscape and portrait photography.
Ending Remarks
The AF Nikkor 35-70mm lens, a testament to Nikon’s commitment to delivering high-quality optics, left an indelible mark on the world of photography. Its versatility, affordability, and impressive image quality made it a popular choice for both professional and amateur photographers.
Even today, this lens continues to be a sought-after option for those seeking a reliable and capable zoom lens for their Nikon film cameras. While newer lenses have emerged with advanced features and technology, the AF Nikkor 35-70mm remains a classic, proving that timeless design and exceptional performance endure the test of time.