Nikkor-S Auto 35mm f/2.8 Lens

On a full-frame camera the 35mm focal length is an alternative standard lens to the ubiquitous 50mm. It’s usually not as fast, but it has other qualities. Far more than the 50mm lens, the 35mm is the all-purpose universal optic capable of photographing landscapes, portraits, and groups of people. It imbues your pictures with a sense of your involvement, as though you were there in the thick of it. It provides context for your subject by showing their environment and activity. Like a 50mm, it is mostly free of distortion, but the depth-of-field is greater, making automatic focus less important, particularly if you stop down a bit.
This particular 35mm lens dates from around 1971. It has been converted to AI standard and therefore works nicely on a modern digital camera like the D700 - without the conversion it might have broken the AI follower tab in the camera (some old lenses fit alright; some modern digital cameras don’t have an AI tab to break: it’s a subject ripe for research). It lacks contemporary lens coatings but against that, it’s light, small, exceptionally well engineered and built to last. The filter size is 52mm which was the Nikkor standard for ages, and affordable too. The contrast it gives is decent, and its resolution is acceptable, maybe even good when stopped down a bit. Best of all, its handling and wonderfully retro appearance make me feel like a proper photographer, which is misleading, but fun.