Back in Tokyo on another vintage F-mount lens hunt on my day off. This time I struck gold with a Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AIS and a Nikkor 105mm f/1.8. And so my digital camera wouldn’t feel left out, I also got an excellent 2nd hand Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S.
The 105mm focal length is one i’ve grown to love with my Nikon Zf, so I knew getting one for my film camera would be a no-brainer. There is a lot of bickering in photography forums over which lens Steve McCurry used to shoot the famous “Afghan Girl” National Geographic cover with, but the majority of opinions and reports of first-hand discussions with Steve seem to coalesce around the 105mm f/2.5mm lens. I couldn’t find an f/2.5 on this trip, but I figure the faster f/1.8 should be better, right?
I went to my usual spots and tested out the new 50mm lens on the Nikon F3 and shot a roll of Kodak Porta 160. I really like the fineness of the film, but the light needed. to shoot at 160 speed is pretty daunting.
