Nikon Ai 43-86mm f/3.5

Nikon AI Zoom-Nikkor 43-86mm f/3.5 is a historic manual-focus Nikon F-mount zoom lens produced in its AI version from 1977 to 1982 and based on the second optical generation of Nikon’s well-known 43-86mm zoom. Its 43-86 mm focal range covers normal to short-telephoto perspectives, making it suitable for general photography, portraiture, travel, and everyday use on 35mm film, while the constant f/3.5 maximum aperture is maintained throughout the zoom range. The AI version uses an optical construction of 11 elements in 8 groups, introduced to improve peripheral performance and edge illumination compared with the earlier 9-element, 7-group versions; the diaphragm has 7 blades, minimum aperture is f/22, minimum focusing distance is 1.2 m, and the filter thread measures 52 mm. The angle of view ranges from approximately 53° at 43 mm to 28°30' at 86 mm. Construction is fully mechanical, with no autofocus or electronic contacts, and a combined push-pull ring is used for zooming and focusing. The AI system allows aperture coupling with many compatible Nikon camera bodies, while on Nikon Z mirrorless cameras the lens can be used through an FTZ adapter in manual focus only, with available exposure functions depending on the camera body. The Nikon AI 43-86mm f/3.5 measures approximately 66.5 mm in diameter by 73.5 mm in length and weighs around 450 g. It is a particularly interesting vintage lens for users looking for a classic mechanical Nikon zoom with compact dimensions and a constant aperture, as well as for its historical significance as the evolution of one of the most important standard zooms in the Nikkor lineup.