Welcome back to New Old Glass, the series where I showcase vintage gear I’ve convinced myself I needed. Or, as my fridge puts it:
“Hope you like toast this week.

Today we’re taking a look at the Nikkor-S Auto 35mm F2.8—a classic bit of Nikon engineering, and surprisingly, the first Nikon lens in my collection.

I picked this lens up at an auction, mostly out of curiosity—and a bit of luck. It was going for cheap, so I figured, why not?

The focus ring is buttery smooth, and the aperture clicks cleanly into place, which is always a good sign. Cosmetically and mechanically, it’s in excellent shape for a lens that’s over 40 years old.

Or at least… that’s what I thought.

While preparing this post, I noticed a small trace of fungus—not visible from the front, but likely nestled somewhere between the rear and middle elements. So, it’s officially been added to my “repair closet” queue.

This is a pre-AI Nikon F mount lens, part of Nikon’s legacy of solid, all-metal primes. It’s got those distinctive “bunny ears” for coupling with early Nikon film cameras—something that gives it character, but also makes compatibility with modern adapters a bit of a headache.

I haven’t had a chance to test it yet, as I don’t currently have an adapter that works with this mount. But it’s waiting patiently for its day in the field.

Once I give it a proper clean (and maybe track down a suitable adapter), I’ll put it through its paces and see how it stacks up against my usual Canon glass. For now, it’s a promising, if slightly moldy, addition to the shelf.