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Nikon (Nippon Kogaku K.K.) accessories Group Lens hoods and Lens / body caps for Nikon Rangefinder (RF) cameras/lenses

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While body and lens caps all serve only one purpose to protect the camera body and lens, as well as preventing from possible penetration of foreign particles which may in time, may degrade the performance; lens hoods on the other hand, also serves to protect the exposed front optical element and its other main purpose is to avoid unintended light invasion. Lens surfaces, when there is another projecting light source hits directly onto the surface, may create internal reflection which in turn may result in flare and it could affect or degrade the optical quality of the photo taking lens. stray light can be in many forms, one of the most encountered situation is with intended backlit photography such as portraiture. Long extension of lens hood can minimize the chances of letting stray light from hitting directly on the front lens element. However, generally, the wider the picture angle of the lens is, the shallower should be with the depth of the lens hood and they may yield varying degree of results. To many photographers, this may seem to be an indefensible accessory but most can live without it. Nikon had been offering many lens hood since the rangefinder Nikon days. They came with various design and choice of materials. Early versions of Nikon lens hood were mostly in chrome design. Although one way or another, internal section of the lens hood are usually painted in black to serve its purpose, later models were all made in black and chrome hoods were offered as optional request to match the lens type or versions. Similarly, body and lens caps had also went through similar development path. With all chrome models as the early version, black as updated models and towards the end of the rangefinder system, some versions actually were produced in plastic only. It would be safe to conclude the first few years after Nikon had began producing their own bayonet mount S-series, the front/rear lens caps and lens hood for the Nikkor lenses were all produced in chrome based only.

Part 1:- Brief discussion on Nikon Lens / Body Caps in the Rangefinder System Earliest as the photo shown at left could have been engraved with a "NIKKOR" name in old type of font face. These were mainly made in occupation ("MIOJ") period. As these basic accessories couldn't be produced in large quantity in accordance to the number of lenses sold. No one can provide assuring timing when did Nikon shifted the early "NIKKOR" engraved design to "Nippon Kogaku Tokyo" but a rough guess these should be happened around the timing between 1950-1952. The early change was also believed to had been using chrome caps and hood except they are more refined with the new emblem on.

This is the type of chrome lens hood for an early series of Nikkor-Q 135mm f/4.0 telephoto lens in Nikon rangefinder days with an old " Nippon Kogagu Tokyo" logo at the front. It replaced the first series with a large "NIKKOR" word at the front, the same with the version shown at top left ahnd corner. Generally, a vintage, all chrome/brass rangefinder Nikkor lenses is best matched with a chrome lens hood such this this, regardless ffrom the perspective of oldie collection and/or showcase purpose as it reflects an overall antigue old look of a produce 50 years ago. Credit: Image of the 13.5cm front lens cap courtesy of Mr. ALI from mbenze-s600@Ebay Store. All images Copyright © 2008. All rights reserved. The chrome lens keeper, front lens cap for the Nikkor-S.C 5cm f/1.5 shown above courtesy of Mr. Peter Coeln from LEICA Shop®, Austria who also operates a popular Westlicht Auction House. Image Copyright © 2008. All rights reserved. Please respect the visual property of the contributing photographer.

OFF TOPIC:- This certainly looks like an old, rare version of a Nikon RF camera caps huh ? No. it is just a bubble case but it was made in rare and unique form in solid black finishes to serve an early Nikkor-S 1:1.5 f=8.5cm telephoto lens in Leica screw mount that was started to offer during 1951. It carries with few of the earliest series of old Nikkor lens accessory features and considered as an odd offer during such a late MIOJ stage.

	NOTE:- Earliest lens cap designs were at at 1st row. Mid stage Nikon rangefinder period models were at the 2nd row with 5cm f/1.1 at the far left. The 3rd ~5th caps at the last row are the late models, closer to reflex F design. The center (3rd cap at last row) was a S4 cap. The body cap has two basic designs (1st/2nd) 3rd row.
Credit: A composite photo of various Nikon caps of different stages was scanned and retouched from Nikon RF Magazine Photographer: ® Image copyright 2000 Skogakukan, 2000, Japan.

The above can be a good reference guide to get a rough idea of various stages of lens cap designs which were actually in accordance to the development of rangefinder Nikkor lenses. The scanned works was less than desirable but basically, it can be separated into screw-in, slip on to clip on with a double spring design. The rear caps are more straight forward except after the plain chrome model, they have resorted to two different designs with only the differences in the embossed emblem and lettering used. I will try to search my library to see if I have all these to show you in a clearer and more detailed views....as the difference in lens focal length may resulted in more variations of these caps and even extended to the lens hoods design. Below were an original Nikon made front and rear lens body caps used on an old version of Nikkor-Q 1:4 f=13.5cm telephoto lens that was first introduced in 1948 but the earliest version was not the same as shown below,. Typically, earliest design has the same with the 8.5cm as shown above with a big "NIKKOR" word and was produced in chrome only.

So, the version here could fall as the 2nd design of the series. All these can be a good indicative samples reflecting the progressive development. The usual position of the MIOJ mark was stamped on the reverse side of the Snap-On cap (see below).

The above can be a good reference guide to get a rough idea of various stages of lens cap designs which were actually in accordance to the development of rangefinder Nikkor lenses. The scanned works was less than desirable but basically, it can be separated into screw-in, slip on to clip on with a double spring design. The rear caps are more straight forward except after the plain chrome model, they have resorted to two different designs with only the differences in the embossed emblem and lettering used. I will try to search my library to see if I have all these to show you in a clearer and more detailed views....as the difference in lens focal length may resulted in more variations of these caps were being offered along with both camera/lenses and even extended to affect the lens hoods design. Whatever, the caps appeared during this stage still were metal. They are generally solid and rigidly made and is hard to find in recent years of offers. <<<--- The slightly reflective surface in the backlight of the few photos here have well-illustrated the change during the next course of design used in the Nikon camera/lens caps.

		Two followed up lens/body caps in stamp-in and embossed Nippon Kogaku Tokyo emblem. Above:- Ridged edge metal-type caps with embossed Nippon Kogaku Tokyo Emblem. Note the difference s in each of them from screw-in, clip-on and Snap-On type. <<<--- Embossed type Nippon Kogaku Tokyo cap.

	The Nikkor-S.C f=5cm 1:1.1 standard lens has always being a charm within many lenses found in the rangefinder Nikkor lens group. It has an incredible large aperture of f/1.1 - which makes it the fastest lens Nikon had ever produced! And this is the one and one Nikkor with such a fast lens speed.
Due to its extraordinary light gathering power, it has an unusual large diameter and Nikon had designed a 62mm filter attachment size - it was also the largest filter thread within the RF Nikkor lens group that doesn't require Nikon Reflex Housing. I.e. long telephoto lens group. The front lens cap of this INTERNAL mount version of the fast Nikkor-S.C 50/1.1 standard lens was still carrying the old "Nippon Kogaku Tokyo" emblem (Compare this with the "Nikon" model below). As the lens itself was only being introduced after 1956, the front cap was already adopting the Snap-On design with two metal catches at each end. The rear cap has a rather lengthy dimension so as to host the elongated rear section of the lens tube. The mount-on index is not colored in this version, but that is not so significant.

As shown, the late version of the Nikkor-S.C 1:1.1 f=5cm uses a different lens cap with a "Nikon" and the texture was different from earlier model but it still shares common 62mm diameter. It uses the spring catch design as used on many of the early non-Ai series of reflex F-mount lenses after 1959. Further, material use is a plastic.

Similarly, the front lens cap of this 1956's 48mm W.Nikkor 1:1.8 f=3.5cm fast speed wideangle lens was also having a new Nikon plastic Snap-On catch design (Notice both were marked with "Patent Pending" inscription. The rear cap has an interesting "WW" which I am not sure what the hell does this represents (anyone knows ?) It has a typical second followed up design of rear cap.
	This was the front and rear lens cap supplied along with a late model Nikkor-T 1:4 f=10.5cm w/preset mechanism, a version we know was introduced during the late '50. It uses the same front cap but it has a different flat and plain rear cap which was colored in the lens mounting index. So, don't be so conclusive to use the caps as indicative trend to judge the year of produce. NOTE: I do not entirely write off the possibility of the showcased sale item here where the seller may match a different kind of cap(s) from the original offering that came along with the lens package. So, I would rather be opened rather than conclusively basing on a photo of a recent auctioned item to make any final remark and always remember, there could be other variations. <<<-- See an example of a unknown version of a front lens cap used for the Leica Screw Mount (LSM) W.Nikkor-C 2.5cm f/4.0

Among the 5cm lens group with the common f/1.4 maximum aperture, this Nikkor-S 1:1.4 f=50mm was termed as "OLYMPIC" by collectors. Produced between 1962~1964 which was coincided with the Tokyo Olympic 1964. The model shown here uses the same rear cap but the front lens cap had eliminated the metal catches and only uses the plastic spring. This could well be a good representing model of the accessories of lens caps offered by Nikon at the end of rangefinder period.

An odd color lens cap in green with old NK Japan embossed emblem.	This is not a lens cap, but the front and rear section of the film magazine offered during MIOJ period, Notice the old type face used ?	Similarly, the early MIOJ filter has a nice container which share the same design as with the old MIOJ period film magazines (left).

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Credit:- Co-developed with Rick_Oleson. THANKS to all the contributors in the form of images/pictures as well as content which made up the basis of this RF Nikkor site. Picture used at this startup page courtesy of Photo_Arsenal-Worldwide® Germany. Image(s) copyright © 2008. All rights reserved. Please respect the visual property of the contributing photographer. Note: Certain content and images appeared in this site were either scanned from official marketing leaflets, brochures, sales manuals or publications published by Nikon over the years and/or contributions from surfers who claimed originality of their work for educational purposes. The creator of the site will not be responsible for any discrepancies that may arise from dispute except rectifying them after verification."Nikon", "Nikkormat", "Nippon Kokagu KK" & "Nikkor" are registered trade names of Nikon Corporation Inc., Japan. Site made with an Apple G5 IMac.