Nikkor 43-86mm – The world’s WORST lens!

I’m a heretic. It’s true. I’m not a big fan of sharp lenses with tons of contrast. I’ve also got a thing against Subaru’s. No real reason, just don’t like them. Maybe it’s their advertising. Now that I have shared my grumpy old man credentials with you we can get onto what I do like. I love lenses that have character. Not Lomo level of character but interesting visual elements that while not in your face add an element that makes a photograph stand out. Not for an obvious reason, just something that makes you enjoy the image and causes you to linger. The lens I am going to discuss is the much maligned Nikkor 43-86mm zoom lens. This lens has been crowned “the worse lens EVER”.

Much of the hate thrown at this lens is justified. However, and this is a big HOWEVER, we do not live in a world where everything is ruler straight, or razor sharp. The things in life we derive the most pleasure from are certainly not sharp and angular. Sharp and angular evoke feelings of stress, tension, power and foreboding. Just think of the Tesla Cybertruck. A truly hated automobile which has surpassed the Ford Edsel in ridicule. Softer lines like those found in nature or certain vintage Italian sports cars bring about feelings of passion, relaxation, contentment and in some cases exhilaration.

My path through the wonderful world of photography included the usual beginning, school yearbooks, then photo journalism, onto editorial advertising and finally retiring into shooting just whatever moves me. The fancy folk call it fine art photography. Which is just the photographic equivalent of an unknown writer saying he is “working on a book”.

Let’s get down to discussing the infamous lens in question.

I first ran across the Nikkor 43-86 when I was doing newspaper photography. I had been lugging three Nikon F’s around my neck. Lenses mounted were 28mm, fast 50mm and fast 135mm. On my shoulder was a camera bag with loads of Kodak Tri-X and a Nikkor 200mm. Now in my 70’s I am feeling the effects in my back, neck and shoulder. I analyzed the images I most often got published and determined that for the most part I could simplify my setup to the Nikkor 43-86 and the Nikkor 80-200. Maybe a Nikkor 28mm in the bag, just in case. One camera and one lens that did 85% of what I needed. Keep in mind back in those days zoom lenses were not as ubiquitous as they are today.

In the news world if it bleeds it leads. So one establishing shot, one closeup of whatever was going on and maybe a crowd or grieving bystander shot. For the most part that’s all I needed.

Once family considerations became paramount I needed to park my Weegee aspirations. Commercial photography was less fun but paid better. That required Hasselblads and 4×5 view cameras.

I am fortunate to live in one of the Creator’s special places. Calgary, Alberta Canada. Within an hour we have the majestic Rocky Mountains, badlands, flat prairie and rolling foothills. Truly a photographers nirvana. Lots of old funky towns too. The Nikkor 43-86 lends itself beautifully to an easy day of shooting. No one is going to notice a little bit of barrel and pin cushion distortion when you are doing landscapes. Soft edges can be used as an added artist element. Rather than clinical hard edged images this little lens gives you something that hints at Arabian nights. That might be a bit romantic but once stopped down to f8 the Nikkor 43-86 was a champ. Wide open could remind you of some of the sought after Soviet primes.

Back in the day I shot a lot of K64 and Fujichrome R50 with this lens and I have images blown up to 20 inches wide. Once mounted and framed they look great! Sure if you go up and stick your nose within 5 inches of the print it might be a little less detailed than something from a Summicron. At normal viewing distances the average person will enjoy the image and revel in the stories it creates in their mind. Isn’t that what photography is about? Creating expressive images!

For this article the Nikkor 43-86 is mounted on my Panasonic S5IIx with an adapter. Is it as sharp as my Panasonic S series 24-105 f4 lens. No. Lenses are tools and a true craftsman or women will use the right tool for the job. I have spent lots of time with my Nikkor 43-86 over the years and know what it excels at and when not to use it. So what I am saying is, don’t write off a lens because the purists say it’s a piece of junk. Pick one up, they are cheap, and take it out on a few dates. Get to know it, it’s pluses and minuses. You might just find out you have opened up a whole new way of seeing and expressing yourself photographically. If you two don’t click, sell it, or use it as a paper weight.

All photos in this article were taken with the Nikkor 43-86 between f3.5 and f8 plus utilizing the entire range from 43mm to 86mm. Images were captured in fine JPG format. Very limited PS, basically a small amount of levels and some colour balance. I wanted the lens to speak for itself. I purposely did not include image capture data. Here is the link to the development of the Nikkor 43-86 lens.

So given these images is the lens really as bad as it’s reputation for every day photography? Let me know in the comments what you think.

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