Nikon Series E 28mm f2.8 AI-S

Nikon Series E 

28mm f2.8 AI-S
s/n: 2059305

I bought my copy because I’ve read (in the links below) that the Nikon Series E 28mm f2.8 is a bad lens.

Why would I use a bad lens?

Because there are a lot of photographers taking great pictures with it.

Besides that, I want a utility 28mm lens. 

The Series E is the lens I choose for my second EDC (every day camera.) I have a Nikkor 50mm f1.8 mounted to my other FG. I have two of the same camera body so I have uniformity in choices. One FG is shiny and the other is  black, 28mm on the shiny, 50mm on the black. B&W film loaded in one, color reversal in the other. A camera for a friend on an outing or a second camera with a chosen lens on the other. Yin and yang, brother and sister or choices. Both camera and lenses make up my everyday cameras. Not to mention winders or a motor drive. 

There is a lot more to the choices for my kit…

But this isn’t about my choices, this is about the lens.

My copy of the Series E 28mm f2.8 arrived today. Upon close inspection, the lens does not have the usual overall quality of the Nikkor 28mm f2.8 AI, it has a plastic feel in comparison. There is a slot that exposes the inner barrel to show the focal distances, as seen below, definitely not optimal. But I like the idea of this particular line of lens, it looks nice and I’m excited to take pictures with it.

I am sure it’s going to hold up to where I set it down every day and the ergonomics of how I’ll use it. 

Using a camera like the FG with a Series E just makes sense to me, searching around online, it makes sense to others as well. My F3 and my other camera, the FE2 are my favorites and they are in great shape. I’ve taken great care in finding each one, cleaning them meticulously, taking them to Nikon certified technicians to have them looked at and placed back into spec. I enjoy shooting these two cameras during my travels and on purposeful photography targets. I choose to use the F3 and FE2 with premium film and lenses.

The FG’s and Series E go with me everywhere. I choose them for their utility. The Series E are easy to maintain and contain all the quality in a lens, the optical spec that I need. If I drop one? Bummer, but these lenses are replaceable. The are relatively inexpensive and built to take abuse. I would go so far that I would say expendable however, I carry this configuration without fear of losing it due to theft or damage while the camera and optics are at a minimum, every day quality.

The Nikon HR-6 rubber fold back lens hood.

I’m not a fan of the cut out but it works

Resources

Ken Rockwell 10 Worst Nikkor Lens (mentioned)

Nikon Series E Lenses (mentioned)

EV @ -.75 I will zero it out

Note to self: no photos into the sun (even with exposure compensation button pressed)

Velvia 50 above

camera | lens | film | flash

Nikkor 50mm f1.8 AI-S Japanese Pancake Version

Nikkor 50mm f1.8 AIS

s/n 2264423

edit: I sold the first one and regretted this decision. It had taken some effort to find the right one and it was interesting figuring it all out. I really enjoyed the Series E experience. All of these 50mm f1.8 are nice lenses yet the Japanese version is the best of them all. I sold mine and truly regretted after a while, not having one in my kit. The whole idea behind the fifty millimeter lens perspective is it is central to my understanding of photography and ultimately focal lengths. It’s actually a pretty important lens to me and I made a mistake in selling my favorite one. I sold it because I was trying to reduce my kit and I had sold the FG. That’s the camera it was stuck on. But after selling all my manual focus cameras and my AI and AI-S lenses, I just missed not having it on my shelf or on any of my Nikons. It is beautiful and I knew I had made a mistake. The Japanese Pancake 50mm f1.8 AI-S was my most used manual focus lens and the focal length I started out with. I’ll use this lens on each of my FG, the D780 and my F6. I have now bought this lens twice. The only other lenses I’ve purchased twice are AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 D, the Series E 50 and the Nikkor 35-70 f3.3-4.5 AIS which I have a feeling that will be the only lens that I’ll purchase three times, maybe not. That’s my decision to make.

…and that’s a different story.

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Nikkor 50mm f1.8 AIS

s/n *2249351

The lens I choose is the most important aspect of my photography. For my everyday camera, I used a Nikon Series E 50mm f1.8 AIS. I used it because it is small, light and compact. It’s also an inexpensive kit lens found on the Nikon EM, FG and the FG-20. It is readily available and in a focal length that I started my photography. This lens is perfect for travel and street. I’m comfortable shooting it and now have quite a bit of experience behind and through this particular lens. 

From my reading the Internet, I understood that Nikon produced a Nikkor branded version that had the same focal length but in addition, focused down to 1.5 feet. At the time of release, it was only available to the Japanese market. 

The Series E 50 is actually not my first choice to use from my collection of Nikkor manual focus AI and AIS lenses. That would be two other 50mm focal lengths, the f1.2 and f1.4. Quality wise these two are a widely accepted and a much better version of a Nikkor 50mm lens. My favorite film cameras, the Nikon F3 and the FE2 had these two as resident lenses. 

I choose the FG ~ Series E out of utility, durability, availability and affordability.

Comparatively, the Series E has a cheap plasticly feeling. The optics are relatively good but the operation is by far incomparable to the feeling of a similarly configured Nikkor.

The Nikkor Japanese pancake version contains all the aspects of the Series E 50mm, the operation is more precise and the fit and finish are the same Nikkor quality of all their lenses. The Nikkor version costs more but are not cost prohibitive. These lenses can be found on auctions or mounted on the EM/FG as the Series E is. 

Finally, I bought the Nikkor Japanese pancake version and I’m so happy I did.

I started by finding out how to identify the Nikkor version with the 1.5’ minimum focus length. There are three varieties and the one I wanted was originally sold only in the Japanese market. It’s the serial number that is key when insuring you get the version you want. The focus ring grip being similar to the Series E but the focus mechanism is precise and the rotation is a greater throw. 

I found mine on eBay where I source 95% of my lenses. I studied what was available, made my purchase waiting for delivery. The lens arrived shortly and yes, the focus goes down to 1.5’ and the focus is smooth, like a fine Nikkor helicoid should be, the Series E is loose in comparison. The Nikkor 50mm f1.8 Japanese pancake version is exactly what I expected and comparing the two, it addresses the shortcomings of the Series E that I had accepted.

I have no regrets with owning and operating the Series E version. It performs its intended job very well and it served its purpose of helping understand what I wanted from an everyday film camera.

I had two Series E 50 f1.3 AIS that were extra lenses in my inventory. I also have a Nova 2 bag that has two other focal lengths of the Series E. This is a perfect kit for my son and his wife. One of the extra 50mm will go in that kit. I still have an extra one left, I’m wondering what will I do with it?

The is how a lens junky thinks.

I admit it.

Most people would stop at one. Me? No. I bought one of the Series E for a few bucks and cleaned it up. Eventually I had it CLA’d, not because I was going to use it but because it was worthy and in my possession, has the potential to be placed in a kit to be used or given to one of my family. I used this lens and another came on a camera I purchased. I wanted a fast quality Nikkor 50mm so I bought the 50mm f1.2. Another quality Nikkor 50mm came on a replacement camera! My DSLR is such a great camera that I wanted an AF lens for it. That’s six 50mm lenses in my kit.

I have used the Series E extensively to know its capabilities and can compare it to the qualities of the Nikkor version. If I must have just one lens for every day, this is it. It’s small, light and compact, easy to use, and the Nikkor version is a quality lens without compromise.

The 50mm f1.8 AIS produces great photo quality. I also enjoy the minimal size it projects on an already compact camera; the blacked out Nikon FG that goes with me everywhere. Again, I choose the Nikkor version because the slight increase in close focus. This adds so many more options. The first thing that comes to mind is no longer the cheap helicoid, that has been replaced by nice focusing feel. My everyday beater camera feels more like the precision of my F3, not really but really.

Addendum: the additional close focus of the Nikkor version, the extra throw in focusing is an advantage in nailing sharp photos. The ergonomics with the HR-4 rubber lens hood is much better too. More of the focus ring is available to my fingertips. I keep the nesting rubber hood mounted all the time. Folded back, it acts as a bumper but does not get in the way at infinity focus, the lens barrel in the nested position. I typically have a Nikon circular polarizer filter, an A2 or a NC filter mounted on the business end of the rubber lens hood. The folded back hood allows the use of either type of 52mm lens cap, no need for a pinch cap.

In closing; 50mm is how I see things every day. I bring a compact film SLR where ever I go. I take far fewer photos with my iPhone and that was one of my goals. This particular Nikkor 50mm is not my favorite 50 but it is the one I want to use most. I can have my 50mm lens pancake and eat it too! Ha ha!  The feel, the close focus and precision is worth the effort in using the Nikkor version for my everyday 35mm film camera.

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Resources 

Ken Rockwell Nikkor 50mm f1.8 AIS Pancake Review

Analog Cafe Nikon AI-S Nikkor 50mm f1.8 Lens Review: And it’s Five Siblings

Nikkor - The Thousand and One Nights No. 60

Your Thoughts on the Nikkor 50/1.8 AI-S Japanese Pancake Version

My Complete Nikon ~ Nikkor Lens Collection

Nikon FG

Nikon Series E 50mm f1.8 AIS 

Nikkor 50mm f1.2 AIS

Nikkor 50mm f1.4 AIS

AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 D

 

       

Kodak Portra 800 above

       

Kodak Pro Image 100

camera | lens | film | flash

Lens Hoods

Nikkor 20mmf2.8 AIS and the obnoxious HK-14

Nikkor 28-50mm f3.5 AIS And the rare HK-12

I use Nikkor AIS lens with my D780, F3, FE2 and FG. I used to think it was cool to have a lens flare or a ghost in my images, I used to lean on that and hammer it if I saw it happening. I used to create it as a part of some of my images. Now, I don't want any un-wanted light, ghosts or flares. I use the matching hood for each one of my Nikkor lens. 

My Nikkor lenses are typically 30 to 40 years old and the lens hoods are considered an accessory, some are often difficult to find and are not cheap. The pursuit for the Nikkor 28-50mm f3.5 AIS hood took months. It was a known rarity as Nikon did not make a lot of that lens and fewer hoods were available. I finally acquired a mint one for $25! I’m pretty sure the guy who priced it didn’t know the rarity of it.

Anyway…

I think the coolest hoods are the HR series, a sort of folding or telescoping rubber lens hood that kind of acts like a bumper. I’m getting better about using them. The problem is, I don’t keep them attached in my bag and I get excited to take pictures and often forget to attach before use. I had to write down which hood goes to which lens as I carry so many lenses and the hoods are separate in a bag.

I’m getting better about it.

I have 19 lenses now and if there isn’t a built in hood, I’ve got a separate dedicated hood for each lens.

There you go, my pursuit of the lens hoods.

The HR-1 rubber collapsible hood, serves also as a bumper.

Painting my lens hoods is something I have decided to do. 

I like a little personalization. It’s relaxing to do and in the field it keeps me thinking of home, at home it reminds me of taking pictures in the field. You are not supposed to do this. But I do. I like it.

This is my favorite lens or one of my favorites. I chose a third meadow on the Little Colorado at Mt.Baldy thought. This is one of my favorite areas to fly fish. The fish are small and it’s not the best place for catching but it is sure one of the best places to go fishing.

 

Quite some time ago, I learned how to apply Japanese philosophy to my Japanese camera kit. It has helped me in many decisions. I have found peace in taking care of my equipment. Wabi Sabi and now my first faux attempt at the aesthetic in Kintsugi.

I use the lens hood for each lens in my kit. If I am outside, almost 100% of the time, a lens hood is on my lens. Inside, I do not use them unless they are small and unobtrusive or rubber and I can fold it back.

Wabi Sabi is a Japanese philosophy of embracing imperfection. No, I will not embrace broken equipment. But a scratch? A marred finish? Brassing or paint rubbed off and the brass showing through is honest wear and is embraced as earned.

The HN-1 I had in my spare parts bin. I recently obtained the lens for it and I tapped out the dents, shaped it to round and painted the scratches in gold to mimic the Kintsugi technique.

It is fun and I do it for me.

I don’t care what you think, that is none of my business.

But I do care what I think and I’m having fun with my camera and lenses.

  

Often I’m sitting up on a rock having climbed to get there to an advantage point and my lens hood brings me back to the kitchen where I am painting. When I’m painting I am thinking of sitting, resting on a rock high up on a slope.

The circle completed.

…and I return to live in the moment.

This hood goes to my 80-400mm lens. It’s for searching and bringing in close what I may not be able to get to. A favorite that I use on my rock art hunts.

I decided to give it the Martha’s Butte beauty treatment.

 

 

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Resources

Nikon Lens Hood Compilation and Specifications + Lens Hoods

Lens Hood Compatability Chart

From: The Complete Nikon System by Peter Braczko

camera | lens | film | flash

Nikon FG

Shiny and Black

*Nikon FG - Shiny - Black - Black

s/n 8416448 - s/n 8585876 - s/n 8528344

MD-E

s/n 2219934

Note: The Nikon FE has replaced the FG as my primary manual focus film camera. Although the FG is a great camera and has served its purpose, at this time, the FE is a far better choice for me and what I want from a manual focus camera.

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I started to look at which Nikon camera I wanted to use every day. Already owning a F3 and a FE2, I knew Nikon made a more compact camera, the EM, FG and the FG-20. 

I want simple, compact, inexpensive and durable.

I read about the EM and purchased one and started carrying it. In short, it’s like Ken Rockwell says, Nikon’s first crappy camera. Mass produced and inexpensive, on my third one, servicing each with light seals replaced, cleaning, ugh, they all broke. I had purchased the flash and motor drive for the EM. I read that the FG and the FG-20 would mount these accessories. So I started to research the difference between the FG and FG-20.

The FG had nearly everything I wanted in a camera. At the time, I was going to carry it every day. P mode or Program mode, the camera does everything for you, aperture and shutter speed settings. It had A mode or Aperture control, you set the aperture and the camera sets the shutter speed. It has an M mode or manual mode where you set everything. The meter indicator in the viewfinder is a series of red LEDs that displays shutter speeds. It also has a little beep that sounds if you are about to take a picture out of proper exposure.

I now have shot about a dozen rolls of film through my FG. It’s a nice camera that has a lot under the hood but it doesn’t have an exposure lock. That can be a little tricky with difficult lighting but I seem to manage without it. It has a +2 EV compensation button that can be used for backlighting or any other momentary situation where you might want to hold the button down to lighten the exposure.

On my FG, I use the MD-E motor winder and I choose a Nikkor 50mm f1.8 AI-S Japanese pancake version. I used to use the ill spoken Ed Series E 28mm f2.8 AI-S but I finally bought my copy of the Nikkor 20mm f4 AI. I am excited to put this wide angle lens to good use. I have a feeling that this will be my primary lens attached to the FG.

My FG kit consist of the Nikkor 50mm f1.8 AI-S, the new to me Nikkor 20mm f4 AI, and the Nikkor 35-200 f3.5-4.5 AIS. The MD-E motor winder is always used and I’m going to figure out what speedlight (flash) I want to use. Either the SB-E, SB-18, 19, 20. 22 (22s) or the 23. I like to geek out and study, each one has a different look and will work in different modes. I had a SB-15 that worked fine but I kind of want to try something else. Right now it looks like the SB-19. I’m not in a hurry and each are relatively inexpensive. I’ll decide after further consideration.

Edit: The Nikon Speedlight SB-800 that I own will work on all of my cameras. Perhaps at a later date I will dedicate a flash to the FG.

Nikon EM & FG Maintenance & Repair

Battery: alkaline-manganese batteries (LR-44 type) or one 3V lithium battery (CR-I 3N type)

Specs

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Resources

Nikon FG Service Manual

Nikon FG Review and How To. Nikon’s Smallest SLR?

David Hancock: Nikon FG Beginner Tutorial Walkthrough and Review - part 2

Nikon EM & FG/FG-20

Nikon FG-Camera Review

Nikon FG - A brief outline of the Nikon FG manual focus SLR film camera
Nikon FG - Bite Size - Photo Thinking Camera Review

Nikon FG, the SLR that irked everyone but me

Camera Review Blog No.15 Nikon FG

The Nikon FG is a Great All Around 35mm Film Camera

Richard Haw: Nikon FG

MIR: Nikon FG - SB-E + MD-E (Flash + Power Winder)

Camera Wiki: Nikon FG

Below are a few photographs that I took with my FG cameras.

                 

camera | lens | film | flash