The Limbo Connection's photos with the keyword: Thomas Pindelski

In the picture is a Nikkor-H Auto 85mm f/1.8 lens made circa 1971. Nikon never provided these lenses in Ai configuration and their production run was terminated in 1977, having been available in F mount from 1964. You can see from the prongs that this one has been converted to Ai status. It took a long time to find one like this. They seem to be highly prized. Thomas Pindelski reckons it is superior to the AF-D version which came later: pindelski.org/Photography/2013/02/22/nikkor-h-85mm-f1-8-lens and almost everyone agrees the f/2 version which was the immediate successor when Ai came in is a poor job by comparison.

It took a long time to find a Nikkor-H 85mm lens which had been properly modified to AI standard (there are plenty which have been butchered with files and power tools). The one I bought was cosmetically not encouraging, but it works well enough. Here I used it on a Nikon D2Xs with a TC-16A teleconverter. Thomas Pindelski believes the old Nikkor-H eclipses the more recent AF-D 85mm f/1.8 - pindelski.org/Photography/2013/02/22/nikkor-h-85mm-f1-8-lens I think he could be right. But the AF version is pretty good, and availability is better. (Besides which, you don't have to twiddle a focussing ring with all the attendant uncertainty and doubt).

Nikon D700 with Nikkor O-C. 35mm f/2 lens. This is a very capable lens, and trying to track one down can be compared to the Quest for the Golden Fleece. Thomas Pindelski reckons this lens is fully the equal of any Leitz or Leica 35mm Summicron. The lens was made for many years and later versions are in the AI line. (NB the AF version is not to the same high optical standard). It is curious how infrequently they appear in secondhand dealers' lists. I like the old pattern, with its metal scalloped focus ring, because it might lead observers to suppose I must have covered the Crimean War as a young photojournalist and therefore be a photographer of great experience and ability.

The cover of a photography magazine photographed with a Nikon D700 and a Nikkor-O.C Auto 35mm f/2 lens. I have shied away from getting a Nikkor AF 35mm f/2 since reading of oil getting on the aperture blades. Furthermore, Bjørn Rørslett says that the AF version has a much simpler optical formula where centre sharpness is great but corner quality isn't outstanding. www.naturfotograf.com/lens_wide.html Similarly, Thom Hogan is critical of the 35/2 AF Nikkor's performance on the corners: www.bythom.com/Nikkor-35mm-D-lensreview.htm In 2011 Nikon introduced a 35mm f/1.4 G AF-S Nikkor lens which looks nice but currently costs around £1,400. So I turned my attention to finding an old 35mm f/2 Nikkor-O which had been factory AI’d and would therefore be safe to use on a modern digital Nikon camera whilst providing decent functionality. Thomas Pindelski pindelski.org/Photography/2012/05/05/nikkor-o-35mm-f2-lens/ reckons this lens is fully the equal of any Leitz or Leica 35mm Summicron and adds, ‘there is one huge difference compared to the Leica optic. The latter will run you $3,200 new and not much less used.’ I was lucky to obtain the later ‘C’ version with multicoating which keeps flare at bay. The contrast this lens provides is quite remarkable. When 35mm film dominated photography, many fixed lens film cameras ('compact' cameras) had 35mm lenses. They were very popular for family holidays and general purpose photography. On full-frame you can photograph all sorts of things with a focal length of 35mm. What's more, 35mm lenses are compact in size and light in weight, and provide wonderful bokeh.

A close up of the astrolabe, an instrument to locate and predict the future locations of the sun, moon, stars and planets. Nikon D2Xs + Nikkor-O.C Auto f/2 35mm lens. According to Thomas Pindelski, (see pindelski.org/Photography/2012/05/05/nikkor-o-35mm-f2-lens/) 'This lens is fully the equal of any Leitz or Leica 35mm Summicron on a Leica M, regarded by many as the standard at this focal length. Having owned and used 8 element and 6 element spherical Summicrons and the Aspherical model, I can testify to this.'