Vintage Nikon Lenses on Modern Digital Cameras ~ Chasing the Flaws

My Nikon & Vintage Camera Gear Setup

My Experience Shooting with My Dad’s Vintage Nikon Lenses

The Zooms

Introduction

Following on from my exploration of my father's prime lenses, this second post tackles the other half of his camera bag: his zoom lenses.

Stepping into my father’s photographic footsteps with zoom lenses felt completely different than working with the primes. In his camera bag, I found two very different lenses: the classic, all-metal 43-86mm f/3.5 C version and the lightweight, plastic 35-80mm AF-D. Testing them side-by-side changed my pace in a completely new way, as each lens introduced its own unique constraints and quirks to an organic style of shooting.

I took these zooms out into the field with my Nikon D100, D750, and mirrorless Z6 to see how they would render on different sensors

Era: 1990s (Introduced in 1993)

Key Feature: Ultra-compact, lightweight design, which was engineered as a highly portable and affordable "kit" lens for 35mm film SLRs which can be used on FX/DX format DSLRs

Paired With: Nikon D100 and Nikon D750

I fell in love with this lens the moment I put it on my camera. Structurally, it's made from plastic, my dad's copy rattles at every joint, and the rubber lens hood constantly falls off. Yet, despite its physical flaws, it has become a permanent fixture in my bag as an everyday walkaround companion.

What makes this lens special is its soft, flat rendering and beautiful, painterly background. When used wide open at its 0.35m minimum focusing distance, the optics completely transform, allowing you to isolate intimate, organic details while the background drops into a nostalgic wash of colour. It stays beautifully sharp right on your subject, but it never feels sterile or clinical.

That magic multiplies when you add a Kood close-up filter to the front, instantly transforming it into a macro lens that lets you get even closer to those small details.

Finding this kind of creative joy doesn’t require a massive investment. You can easily find this lens on used sites like MPB for around £30 to £40.

Nikkor Auto 43-86mm f/3.5 C (Pre-AI)

Era: Mid-1970s (Introduced 1977)

Key Feature: Constant maximum aperture of f/3.5 throughout the entire zoom range, paired with the introduction of Nikon's early "C" multi-coating

Paired With: Nikon Z6 and FTZ II adapter (Crucial Note: Do not try to mount a pre-AI lens directly onto a modern DSLR body like the D750 or D800. It can physically crush the camera’s delicate aperture tab).

I was so excited to find the all-black C-version of the Zoom-Nikkor 43-86mm f/3.5 in my dad's collection [radojuva.com]. I already own the original silver-ringed version of this lens, so finding his version immediately made me wonder how it would perform out in nature in comparison to the original version.

The moment I began shooting with my dad's black C-version, the updates in design were instantly obvious. It is much sharper across the frame, beautifully picking up the fine details of leaves. It also just seems much easier to manual focus. I often spend ages turning the barrel and hunting for focus with my silver-ring version, but with this black C-version, finding that crisp focus point feels pretty immediate.

Nikon's early multi-coating also completely changes how it handles light. Where my older silver-ring model flares with a distinct warm-to-red tone, my dad’s version tames that intensity. When it catches the light, the flare is much more neutral in tone, offering a controlled, gentle atmosphere that retains a beautiful, nostalgic feel.

Despite these upgrades, the lens keeps it's wonderful vintage soul. The background rendering is very similar to the original version with its fascinating, distinct "ghosting" effect to the overlapping leaves on the branches. It still builds a busy, beautifully layered texture in the out-of-focus areas that gives the natural world an active, swirling energy, again, just like the original silver-ring version.

I definitely wouldn't be able to give up either the original silver-ring or black C-version of this lens, they both have something different yet familiar to offer.

Behind the Lens

Slow Shutter - Wild Land

If you like photography, don't forget to check back on 8th September and 8th December for my quarterly photo newsletter all about the gear I use.

Coming on 8th September ~ The Nikkor-C 500mm f/8 Reflex Lens.

Until next time...