| In comparison to lens caps, lens hoods can be more
difficult to address. Mainly because it is related directly to the lens type and
if it is used, will partly involve in a picture taking process. It was the same case
with the lens cap, the earliest series of lens hood designed by Nikon for their rangefinder
Nikkor lens series were mainly produced in chrome body only. Well preserved metal
lens hood produced during this period was a little rough but still they usually have
sparkling metallic colour, well matching the chrome lens and camera bodies. There
is a gray area in the lens hood for wideangle 35mm lenses. Despite my long years
of patience, I have not come across any bundled lens hood that was sold with the
many EARLIEST versions of W.Nikkor 3.5cm wideangle lenses. For 5cm, 8.5cm and 13.5cm
it is easier to locate images for the dedicated chrome-type lens hood. The subsequent
wideangle Nikkor 2.8cm (1952), 2.5cm
(1953) and 2.1cm (1959) each was designed with its dedicated lens hood.
It was interesting to note each of the three mentioned Nikkor wideangle lenses had
employed quite a different lens hood on their own. The 2.8cm uses an adapter which
merges hood/filter (Series VII or 43mm screw-in type); the 2.5cm introduced after
the 2.8cm lens had used a bayonet system which can mount both the lens cap and Series
VII hood; the 2.1cm introduced during the late '50 had reverted back to simpler form
of direct screw-in type of design. As for the rest of other focal lengths, most are standard except when it relates to fast speed optic (examples like Nikkor-S 5cm f/1.1, W.Nikkor 3.5cm f/1.8; Nikkor-S 8.5cm f/1.5 etc.) and/or version that had a different filter diameter (such as the Nikkor-T 10.5cm f/4 (1959), the Reflex-Housing enabled short mount Nikkor tele-lenses), they were usually being designed with a special dedicated lens hood. s each of the lens type or model will be featured separately and usually I will have a small slot to include basic information on any accompanied system accessories, you may have to find out from the respective section to explore other possibilities. As here, we will be confined to just discuss issues in general. |
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Case study:
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<<<--- In 1956, the black barrel 1:2 f=8.5cm Nikkor-P.C (left picture) was introduced and Nikon had designed a matching black lens hood for it, it was a screw-in type which was the same with the chrome updated version and then a Snap-On type as its last replacement model. Both of these 48mm hoods / shades can be reversibly store onto the lens. |
| Both the different lens speed Nikkor 8.5cm telephoto have illustrated their respective development in the lens hood and it may present a good case study of how the progressive development of this accessory that had evolved itself from different stages. It is difficult to address all the changes among the Nikkor lenses and I would rather encourage you explore more information from else where if you can't find them in the respective featured sections of the focal length in this site. | |
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A few unique lens hood designs at 50mm focal length RF Nikkor lenses |
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An early chrome lens hood for Nikkor-S 5cm 1:1.4, it was similar to the design of the 8.5/2.0, below is another early hood for the 135/4. |
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An early, rarely seen nickel / brass version of black lens hood designed for the 5cm f/2.0 comparing with the eventual version. |
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When I begin this section, I have not reaching the site for the other three orignal focal length when Nikon introduced their S-series bayoney mount RF system yet. The three lenses could have other development in between. Here is a how an 135/4 older 2nd version lens hood looks like. The orginal, like the 85/2 also was also a single piece. |
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A few unique
lens hood designs at 35mm focal length |
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Here are two good representing lens hood designs in the development for the 3.5cm wideangle lenses. The 3.5cm/f2.5 hood with an "L" mark may suggest it was meant for LSM Nikkor lenses. The left for the 3.5/f1.8 was a metal, black paint in bayonet type. |
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A unique lens hood design in bayonet-type for mounting both the lens cap and the series VII lens hood for this RF Nikkor ultra-wideangle lens at 25mm focal length. |
Lens hood designs used on the long focal length NIkkor lenses
during the rangefinder days:
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| As I mentioned earlier, lens hood may mean something
important to certain photographers, but most can live without one. Both 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 while lens hood serves
to protect the exposed front optical element as well as avoid unintended light invasion
that MAY degrade the image quality. Overall, lens hood designed and made by Nikon
exhibits high built quality as well as carefully matching the original purpose for
the particular type of lenses / focal lengths. If it was not the intention for photography,
collecting original matched lens hood for the lens can be quite fun. Most of us wqould assume some of ghe best of optic and mechanical engineering in the products for Nikon rangefinder days were towarding the end of its product cycle. However, earlier made acccessories do have their strength and in the case of lens caps and hoods/shades, this may not always be applied. Personally, I find the earliest versions have more charm in its collectible value and perspective. Ayway, as I said earlier, these are not an absolute must acccessories. So, it depends very much on the original objective why are you looking for such am oldie, the info here may not suit to satisfy the desire of the elite group of collectors but I guess good enough to fit general purpose of info seekers. Enjoy. |
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Fixed fens Finders |
Variframe/Varifocal |
Sports Finder |
Lens Hoods |
Reflex Housing |
close-up |
Motor Drive |
Miscellaneous |
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Fixed
Focal length Finders | Variframe / Varifocal / Sports Finders | Reflex Housing | Motor
Drive |
Close-ups | Nikon RF Flash System |
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Nikon RF lens group:-
For other issues, you may use the relevant |
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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. |