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Abbreviations

Model history (5)

Specification

Sources of data

• Manufacturer's technical data.
• Nikon/Nikkormat Sales Manual (March 1972).
• Nikon F2 Photography Guide.
• Nikkor lenses for Nikon and Nikkormat cameras.

Manufacturer description #1

In creating this fastest wide-angle lens ever produced for any slr, Nikon designers opened up a new world of picture opportunities. With double the light transmission of the 35mm f2, it offers truly fantastic speed for low-light situations, using color as well as black and white. Equally important, its minimal depth-of-field at f1.4 permits focusing speed and accuracy never before possible with wide angle optics.

Like the 24mm f2.8 and 28mm f2, this lens employs an independent rear lens group movement to assure exceptional picture quality at close focusing distances.

Manufacturer description #2

This is the fastest wideangle lens in the Nikkor lens system. The high speed of f/ 1.4 and 62° angle of view make this lens one of the most essential pieces of optical equipment for every photographer. The rear group of lens elements shifts its relative position to other elements according to focused distance. This system, called "floating elements" correction, is required of large aperture wideangle lenses in particular to maintain image quality at close focusing distance.

The multi-layer coating, applied on each glass-to-air surface of the optical elements of the lens, is designed to give optimum photographic results.

The new 35mm f/1.4 lens will prove very useful for indoor or outdoor photography where the lighting condition is poor and flash light cannot be utilized.

An ideal lens for professional photographers as well as creative amateurs.

From the Popular Photography magazine (January 1971)

Photokina '70

A world speed record for 63-degree retrofocus wide-angle was established by the 35-mm Auto Nikkor f/1.4. Despite a complex nine-element, seven-group construction and an infinity-to-12-in. focusing mount, the lens is smaller than one might expect and weighs only 24.6 oz.

From the editor

Although capable of producing excellent sharpness at close range there is a noticeable amount of barrel distortion when focused this close. Whilst acceptable wide open the lens suffers from internal flare, which reduces overall image contrast, but this has all but disappeared by f2.8.

A feature of the AI version is the reduced aperture range, down from f22 to f16, which is also seen in the more recent AI-S type, but otherwise the lens design has remained unchanged.

Early version of this lens has 9 aperture blades.

·C (multi-coated) version of this lens was introduced in 1973. The specification is exactly the same as for the single-coated version.

Notes

• This non-AI lens was designed for Nikon F, F2, Nikkormat FS, FT, FT2, FTN, EL, ELW 35mm film SLR cameras.
• Non-AI lenses cannot be used on Nikon digital SLR cameras (except for the Df) or late (AI) film SLR cameras. However, non-AI lenses can be fitted to Nikon FM, FE, EL2, F3, F4 and Nikkormat FT3 cameras which used the AI metering system but allowed the metering coupling lever to be disengaged. The F5 could have this mechanism fitted as an optional extra. Non-AI lenses can be also fitted to the Nikon F2A and F2AS cameras because the AI mechanism was fitted to the removable metering prism.

Other wide-angle prime lenses in the Nikon F system

Lenses with similar focal length