Lens: Nikon 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5 AIS
Vintage: 1984-2005
Lens Mount: Nikon F-mount
Needed Adapters: Reversing ring
Preferred Mounting: Reversed
Filter Thread: 52 mm
Controls: This lens has standard aperture, zoom and focus controls. When mounted in
reverse configuration, the focus works fine suggesting that the focus works by adjusting the
focal length (at least partly). This lens does suffer from pretty bad focus and zoom creep when
mounted vertically. I solve this problem by using a piece of tape across the rings. Not ideal, but
workable.
reverse configuration, the focus works fine suggesting that the focus works by adjusting the
focal length (at least partly). This lens does suffer from pretty bad focus and zoom creep when
mounted vertically. I solve this problem by using a piece of tape across the rings. Not ideal, but
workable.
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Resolution vs Aperture:
This is a somewhat complex graph, but I chose to
perform all tests on three focal lengths 35 mm,
50 mm, and 70 mm.
At 70 mm the lens is sharpest and resolves the
most detail at f/5.6.
At 50 mm lens is sharpest between f/5.6 and f/8
and resolves th most detail at F/5.6.
At 35 mm the sharpest aperture is f/8 and
resolves the most at f/5.6.
In general, you will want to use f/5.6 at longer
focal lengths and f/8 at shorter focal lengths.
This is a somewhat complex graph, but I chose to
perform all tests on three focal lengths 35 mm,
50 mm, and 70 mm.
At 70 mm the lens is sharpest and resolves the
most detail at f/5.6.
At 50 mm lens is sharpest between f/5.6 and f/8
and resolves th most detail at F/5.6.
At 35 mm the sharpest aperture is f/8 and
resolves the most at f/5.6.
In general, you will want to use f/5.6 at longer
focal lengths and f/8 at shorter focal lengths.
Corner Sharpness vs Aperture:
With this lens, corner sharpness is all about focal
length, and thus about magnification. The shorter
the focal length and the higher the magnification,
the better the corner sharpness.
At 70 mm, the corner sharpness at f/5.6 is not so
hot and you may want to bump the aperture up to
f/8. You will lose a little resolution, but not too
much.
At 50 mm, the lens has decent corner sharpness
at f/5.6, so no adjustments are necessary.
At 35 mm the corner sharpness is very good
across the board.
With this lens, corner sharpness is all about focal
length, and thus about magnification. The shorter
the focal length and the higher the magnification,
the better the corner sharpness.
At 70 mm, the corner sharpness at f/5.6 is not so
hot and you may want to bump the aperture up to
f/8. You will lose a little resolution, but not too
much.
At 50 mm, the lens has decent corner sharpness
at f/5.6, so no adjustments are necessary.
At 35 mm the corner sharpness is very good
across the board.
Sharpness and Resolution vs Magnification:
At lower magnification, the resolution and
sharpness in the center is pretty good with the
resolution slightly outperforming the detector.
The problem at lower magnification is that the
corner sharpness isn't so hot.
At 1:1 magnification, this lens performs pretty well
in the center of the field, as good as many macro
lenses although to get to 1:1 you will need to get
the focal length down in the range of 50 mm.
That means relatively limited working distance.
Adequate, but limited.
Around a magnification of 2:1, the sharpness and
resolution is good, but not as good as a good
bellows lens. The working distance is actually
pretty good because of retrofocus design
required to work on an SLR. At this magnification,
the corner sharpness is very good.
At lower magnification, the resolution and
sharpness in the center is pretty good with the
resolution slightly outperforming the detector.
The problem at lower magnification is that the
corner sharpness isn't so hot.
At 1:1 magnification, this lens performs pretty well
in the center of the field, as good as many macro
lenses although to get to 1:1 you will need to get
the focal length down in the range of 50 mm.
That means relatively limited working distance.
Adequate, but limited.
Around a magnification of 2:1, the sharpness and
resolution is good, but not as good as a good
bellows lens. The working distance is actually
pretty good because of retrofocus design
required to work on an SLR. At this magnification,
the corner sharpness is very good.
Street Price: ~$50 - $70 in good used condition
Chromatic Aberration: This lens show minimal color fringing in the center
(about 0.10 - 0.60 pixel) and fairly severe on the periphery (2.3 - 3.4 pixels).
Anything below 1.0 pixel is good.
(about 0.10 - 0.60 pixel) and fairly severe on the periphery (2.3 - 3.4 pixels).
Anything below 1.0 pixel is good.
Image Contrast: Image contrast is good across the magnification range, not
a problem for this lens.
a problem for this lens.
Flare: There is no significant flare associated with this lens. There is a
problematic reflection evident when working at 70 mm. It seems to be related
to light reflecting off of the bright metal mounting ring. It shows in the
periphery of the image. This can be fixed by adding a Nikon BR-6 ring that
has a matte black finish. If using this ring, the aperture will be defaulted to
open and the aperture control lever on the ring will need to be deployed. The
BR-3 ring will also work.
problematic reflection evident when working at 70 mm. It seems to be related
to light reflecting off of the bright metal mounting ring. It shows in the
periphery of the image. This can be fixed by adding a Nikon BR-6 ring that
has a matte black finish. If using this ring, the aperture will be defaulted to
open and the aperture control lever on the ring will need to be deployed. The
BR-3 ring will also work.
Conclusion:
The Nikon 35-70 mm f/3.3-4.5 AIS works pretty well as a macro lens when used in reversed
configuration. The zoom provides variable magnification without the addition of extension or a
teleconverter. It provides a magnification range from 0.20:1 to about 2.2:1.
The center field sharpness and resolution is pretty good across the range. The corner
sharpness is not so hot at low magnification and quite good at higher magnification. There is
quite a bit of chromatic aberration present across the range. This level of performance seems
typical for non-macro lenses when drafted into higher magnification work.
The working distance is OK at lower magnification and actually pretty good at higher
magnification.
This lens shows that older zooms lenses are a relatively cheap option for macro work. They
won't replace a good macro lens, but for the price, are a pretty decent substitute. You will need
to get one with an aperture ring as newer lenses don't always have one. The brand doesn't
even have to be that of your camera body, most any one will do.
The Nikon 35-70 mm f/3.3-4.5 AIS works pretty well as a macro lens when used in reversed
configuration. The zoom provides variable magnification without the addition of extension or a
teleconverter. It provides a magnification range from 0.20:1 to about 2.2:1.
The center field sharpness and resolution is pretty good across the range. The corner
sharpness is not so hot at low magnification and quite good at higher magnification. There is
quite a bit of chromatic aberration present across the range. This level of performance seems
typical for non-macro lenses when drafted into higher magnification work.
The working distance is OK at lower magnification and actually pretty good at higher
magnification.
This lens shows that older zooms lenses are a relatively cheap option for macro work. They
won't replace a good macro lens, but for the price, are a pretty decent substitute. You will need
to get one with an aperture ring as newer lenses don't always have one. The brand doesn't
even have to be that of your camera body, most any one will do.
Basic Function: In reversed configuration can be used straight on the camera or with
extension tubes/bellows. Focusing is best controlled by adjusting the working distance or
bellows extension, since the focus control tends to move all by itself when mounted vertically.
extension tubes/bellows. Focusing is best controlled by adjusting the working distance or
bellows extension, since the focus control tends to move all by itself when mounted vertically.
Appearance:
Aperture: 7 blades.
Image Samples:
About 0.74:1 magnification, 70 mm, f/5.6, resized:
About 0.74:1 magnification, 70 mm, f/5.6, 1 to 1
crop:
Good pixel level detail.
crop:
Good pixel level detail.
About 1.34:1, f/5.6, 50mm, resized:
About 1.34:1 magnification, 50 mm, f/5.6, 1 to 1
crop:
Again, good detail, no problems.
crop:
Again, good detail, no problems.
About 2.19:1, f/8, 35mm, stack of 8 images, resized:
About 2.19:1 magnification, 35 mm, f/8, 1 to 1
crop of a single source image from above:
Again, good detail, no problems.
crop of a single source image from above:
Again, good detail, no problems.
Performance: Sharpness vs Magnification:
This is a new graph that I recently constructed. I
have 4 lines that represent levels of performance
from outstanding (top) to fair (bottom). This
shows where this lens fit into the hierarchy that I
have created.
The Nikon 35-70 rev show sharpness
performance that is very good at 70mm, very
good to good at 50mm, and good to fair at 35mm.
This is a new graph that I recently constructed. I
have 4 lines that represent levels of performance
from outstanding (top) to fair (bottom). This
shows where this lens fit into the hierarchy that I
have created.
The Nikon 35-70 rev show sharpness
performance that is very good at 70mm, very
good to good at 50mm, and good to fair at 35mm.
Performance: Resolution vs Magnification:
This is a new graph that I recently constructed. I
have 4 lines that represent levels of performance
from outstanding (top) to fair (bottom). This
shows where this lens fit into the hierarchy that I
have created.
The Nikon 35-70 rev show resolution
performance that is very good at 70mm, very
good at 50mm, and good at 35mm.
This is a new graph that I recently constructed. I
have 4 lines that represent levels of performance
from outstanding (top) to fair (bottom). This
shows where this lens fit into the hierarchy that I
have created.
The Nikon 35-70 rev show resolution
performance that is very good at 70mm, very
good at 50mm, and good at 35mm.
