An excellent mid-range zoom.
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Technical considerations underlying the use of the Nikon Zoom Nikkor 43-86mm f/3.5 single ring zoom are addressed here.
In field use I found the lens has a relatively long focus throw, making critical manual focus using the focus confirmation light in the finder of the Nikon D3x a simple matter. Balance on the big D3x body is just fine, the lens presenting a very solid, yet compact, bundle in the user’s hand.
The Village at Pinnacle Peak in Scottsdale is over 25 years old and was the only construction at the time in what was undeveloped desert. It’s absolutely gorgeous, an unspoiled expanse of Spanish architecture, beautiful to behold. I racked out the 43-86mm there.
The contact sheet. All have my lens correction profile applied
and minor shadows/highlights tweaks. No sharpening used.
Click the image for the map. At f/11.
At f/8. Rare clouds in the Arizona sky.
19th century ox cart. At f/11.
Cloisters. At f/11.
Staircase. At f/16.
Fountain. At f/16. There is no diffraction fall off at small apertures.
Roof. At f/11. McDowell mountains in the background.
Bird bath. At f/3.5.
Geometry. At f/8.
Ox cart/test target. At f/8.
Display plaque on above, greatly enlarged.
Stucco. At f/8.
This is a wonderful walk-about lens and highly recommended. Heck, at $30-60 a pop, get several!