Nikon lens difference: have seen list of lenses available at my local camera store from their online site. they have a number of AI-AIS ?? lenses listed like a 50mm f/1.8, ais manual...

racerrich3 Loc: Los Angeles, Ca.

have seen list of lenses available at my local camera store from their online site. they have a number of AI-AIS ?? lenses listed like a 50mm f/1.8, ais manual focus. I have an old E-series 50mm manual focus that's on a FE and EM. whats the difference if any between an e-series and ais lens ? thank you all.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Ken Rockwell has great info HERE on Nikon lenses (other stuff needs to be taken with some salt)
"All Nikon Series E lenses are also AI-S"

Here is his section on the less-expensive but overlooked E series:
https://kenrockwell.com/nikon/nikortek.htm#e

racerrich3 Loc: Los Angeles, Ca.

GoofyNewfie wrote:

Ken Rockwell has great info HERE on Nikon lenses (other stuff needs to be taken with some salt)
"All Nikon Series E lenses are also AI-S"

Here is his section on the less-expensive but overlooked E series:
https://kenrockwell.com/nikon/nikortek.htm#e

wow, very interesting. thank you.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

racerrich3 wrote:

have seen list of lenses available at my local camera store from their online site. they have a number of AI-AIS ?? lenses listed like a 50mm f/1.8, ais manual focus. I have an old E-series 50mm manual focus that's on a FE and EM. whats the difference if any between an e-series and ais lens ? thank you all.

This is a great resource for old Nikkor lenses, no grain of salt needed. There is nothing "great" about KR's site, and it should be avoided at all costs.

http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_surv.html

whatdat Loc: Del Valle, Tx.

Used Series E Lenses back in the 80’s on both EM & FE. Had no problem getting great photos (slides) with the lenses or cameras.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

racerrich3 wrote:

have seen list of lenses available at my local camera store from their online site. they have a number of AI-AIS ?? lenses listed like a 50mm f/1.8, ais manual focus. I have an old E-series 50mm manual focus that's on a FE and EM. whats the difference if any between an e-series and ais lens ? thank you all.

The E series had more plastic which was heresy at the time they were made.
Optically they were every bit as good or better than their metal made counterparts.

BebuLamar

Gene51 wrote:

This is a great resource for old Nikkor lenses, no grain of salt needed. There is nothing "great" about KR's site, and it should be avoided at all costs.

http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_surv.html

KR gave me country of origin on many things that other sites don't.

hrblaine

I agree that you need to take KR with a grain of salt but I still like him.
He's not as bad as some make out. (IMHO obviously, I'm not an expert on everything as some of you pretend to be.) Harry

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

racerrich3 wrote:

have seen list of lenses available at my local camera store from their online site. they have a number of AI-AIS ?? lenses listed like a 50mm f/1.8, ais manual focus. I have an old E-series 50mm manual focus that's on a FE and EM. whats the difference if any between an e-series and ais lens ? thank you all.

E series were Nikon branded lenses, but some were made by other manufacturers. They tended to be a bit plasticky, but they often performed well. I had a 35-70 Series E zoom for my F3 that was quite good. After five years of hard use, it was a bit wobbly, but still worked fine. Unfortunately, someone stole it from my office.

chulster

burkphoto wrote:

I had a 35-70 Series E zoom for my F3 that was quite good. After five years of hard use, it was a bit wobbly, but still worked fine. Unfortunately, someone stole it from my office.

The 36-72mm f/3.5? I wonder if its optical formula bore any similarity to that of the 35-70mm f/3.5 AI or AI-s. I thought the AI-s lens quite good.

The 75-150mm E was as sharp as any zoom in the Nikkor line.

racerrich3 Loc: Los Angeles, Ca.

whatdat wrote:

Used Series E Lenses back in the 80’s on both EM & FE. Had no problem getting great photos (slides) with the lenses or cameras.

my dad had the FE which I inherited. he got me the EM when I was young. still have both today.

racerrich3 Loc: Los Angeles, Ca.

chulster wrote:

The 36-72mm f/3.5?

I have that one too. :-)

chulster

racerrich3 wrote:

I have that one too. :-)

Is it any good? I've always been fascinated by tiny zooms. I had a 28-50mm f/3.5 Ai-s. It was really nice to use, and the images it made were very pleasing. Later I tried an AF 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5, which was also tiny, but it wasn't as good.

racerrich3 Loc: Los Angeles, Ca.

chulster wrote:

Is it any good? I've always been fascinated by tiny zooms. I had a 28-50mm f/3.5 Ai-s. It was really nice to use, and the images it made were very pleasing. Later I tried an AF 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5, which was also tiny, but it wasn't as good.

last time I used it, I remember the pics came out nice. I didn't know back then the details (being a teenager/20's ? ) of apt./shttr spd/iso…. I just took pics thru the manual lenses on my Nikon EM. today is different, lol.

whatdat Loc: Del Valle, Tx.

Lot of good memories about the FE & EM Nikons. The lenses I had were a 28mm, 50mm, both E Series. Plus a Tokina (if memory serves me) 70-210mm, & a 2X Nikon teleconverter. Used them in horseback trips in NW Wyoming & SW Colorado wilderness areas. Got good feedback from slide shows. Still have them somewhere in storage. Ought to hunt for them.
.