Another joyless jaunt: Nikkor 135mm f/2.8 AI-S Service/Repair

The 135mm f/2.8 AI-S debutted in 1981, replacing the AI version, with a lengthy production run that last into the new millenium and continued to be the high consumer end medium telephoto. It lived in the shadow of the more famous peers - the 105mm f/2.5 AI-S, 180mm f/2.8 AI-S and various fast 85mms - and probably suffered reputational confusion like the 85mm f/2 AI-S.

This 135mm f/2.8 AI-S is a direct upgrade to the AI version with no change in optical formula and outwardly looks very similar to its older sibling. The AI version was painful to service but how does the AI-S compare?

Short Tele, Alternative Legacy: The 85mm f/2 AI-S

When discussing short Nikkor telephotos or classic portrait lenses, a number of lenses come to mind: the 105mm f/2.5 AI-S and the 85mm f/1.4 AI-S. However there was another: the 85mm f/2 AI-S.


^{85mm f/2 AI-S sitting between a 105mm f/2.5 AI-S and 50mm f/1.8 AI-S pancake}

A joyless jaunt: 135mm f/2.8 AI Repair/Service

The 135mm f/2.8 AI was produced from the 1977 - 1981 and lived in the shadow of its faster f/2 sibling and also had competition from the 105mm variants. Its a compact rugged lens but its not a lens I'd seek out myself except to rip it apart for curiousity

An old zoomer today: Nikkor 80-200mm f/4.5 AI

The Nikkor 80-200mm f/4.5 AI was a compact professional grade zoom produced from ~1977-1981 - it was regarded highly at the time with some preferring this iteration over the latter f/4 AI-S. This lens is fairly ubiquitous on the second hand market and its price is relatively low so it may seem to be a safe bet when picking up something used in this range. But how safe is this bet?

Another Legacy Legend: Nikkor 180mm f/2.8 ED AI-S

The Nikkor 180mm f/2.8 ED AI-S released in 1981 seems to have acquired lengendary status over years but this lens but this prime focal length has perhaps fallen out of mainstream use over the last couple of decades due to the various overlapping zooms but how does it handle and perform today

A junk-bin Nikkor 135mm f/2.8 AI revived

The Nikkor 135mm f/2.8 AI was released ~1979, and whilst it seemed to have been shadowed somewhat by its 105mm f/2.5 AI-S sibling, still had a lengthy production run stretching into the early 2000s. Whilst I didn't have a need for this focal length, when I saw a junk condition lens for £15, it was hard to turn down even if was just to tear it down to see how these lenses worked.

Going Long: Nikkor 200mm f/4 AI

A 200mm can be a useful focal length in the bag, albiet a less frequently used length. However the modern and autofocusing xx-200mm zooms are heavy and expensive and therefore options to satisfy the 200mm can be better sourced from the legacy Nikkor AI/AIS catalog.

Rear End Cleaning: 85mm f/1.4D

Oh dear.. Whilst I don't care too much about dust on internal lens elements, I do care about the dreaded 'f' word.

105mm f/2.5 AI-S: Another old school Classic

The Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 coupled with a Nikon FM2, was reportedly the combination used to capture one of the most recognised portraits of recent times: Steve McCurry's "Afghan Girl". But how does this lens perform when not in McCurry's hands?

The Machine Arrives: the Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D

After reading and lusting after countless reviews I finally took the plunge and picked up the Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D and it's everything that you'd expect, but there are certainly a couple of things you need to remind yourself when buying/using this.