Original Lenses for the Nikon F

Modern Classic SLRs Series :
Nikon F - The Original Lenses (1959-1965) for the Nikon F

Nikon F Photomic FTN set

Late Nikon F chrome with Photomic FTN, 4/2.1cm Nikkor-O (type 2), rear cap, orig. 2.1cm finder. Approx. Year: 1973. Many of the rangefinder Nikkor lenses bridged between the RF and Reflex Nikon duting those days. There are many LINKS to the old RF lenses to the new Autofocus Nikkor lenses at the bottom of this page.

Also CHECK the rangefinder RF version of the 2.1cm f4 Nikkor-O

Credit: Image 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.

1959

2.1cm f/4-16 Nikkor-O

8 elements in 4 groups

92 degrees angle of view
focusses to 0.9m
52mm accessory size
Note: came with accessory viewfinder, requires mirror lock-up and lensmount tab (only on F and F2); hood is now rare and difficult to find, but modern-day HN-14 (20f/4) hood seems to fit without vignetting
Lens Hood $5.25 list (1967)
Viewfinder $26.00 list (1967)
Lens Case $5.00 list (1967)
$209.50 list including finder (1965); $199.50 list (1967)

3.5cm f/2.8-16 Nikkor-S Auto

7 elements in 5 groups

62 degrees angle of view
focusses to 0.3m
accepts hood HN-3, case CL-31, and bubble case CP-1
52mm accessory size
62.5mm diam by 57.5mm length
200g
Lens Hood $5.25 list (1967)
Lens Case $6.00 list (1967)
$169.50 list (1961); $149.50 list (1967)

5cm f/2 Nikkor-S Auto

7 elements in 6 groups

46 degrees angle of view
Note: later upgraded to a 6 element, 4 group design (reputedly much sharper after upgrade)
$89 list (1965) with body purchase o/w $91.95; $87.95 list (6E/4G) (1967)

10.5cm f/2.5-22 Nikkor-P Auto

5 elements in 3 groups

23 1/3 degrees angle of view
focusses to 1m
accepts hoods HN-8, HS-4, lens case CL-32, bubble case CP-2
52mm accessory size
66mm diam by 78mm length
435g
Note: similar in design to the 250mm f/5.6 Zeiss Sonnar; later redesigned and slightly improved in the late 1960's: later versions have stops to f/32
Lens Hood $5.25 list (1967)
Lens Case $10.50 list (1967)
$195 list (1961); $175 list (1967)

13.5cm f/3.5-32 Nikkor-Q Auto

4 elements in 3 groups

18 degrees angle of view
focusses to 1.5m
accepts hoods HN-8, HS-4, lens case CL-33, bubble case CP-2
52mm accessory size
66mm diam by 93.5mm length
460g
Lens Hood $5.25 list (1967)
Lens Case $10.50 list (1967)
$179.50 list (1961)

1960

5.8cm f/1.4-16 Nikkor-S Auto

7 elements in 6 groups

41 degrees angle of view
focusses to 0.6m
52mm accessory size
Lens Hood $5.25 list (1967)
$155 list (1960)

10.5cm f/4-22 Nikkor-T Preset

3 elements in 3 groups

23 1/3 degrees angle of view
focusses to 1.2m
34.5mm accessory size
Note: this lens is now horrifically rare and expect to pay a huge price if you really really want it (note that it does NOT have the same optics as the later 105f/4 bellows/Micro, which were 5el/3gr)
Lens Hood $4 list (1967)
Lens Case $6.50 list (1967)
$69.95 list (1960); $69.50 list (1967)

8.5~25.0cm f/4~4.5-16 Zoom-Nikkor Auto

15 elements in 8 groups

28 1/2 to 10 degrees angle of view
focusses to 4m
Series IX accessory size
Note: the first zoom from Nikon and the second zoom of any type for 35mm still cameras; later upgraded to an f/4 (constant aperture) zoom
Lens Hood $22.50 list (1967)
Lens Case $32.50 list (1967)
$595 list (1960); $515 list (f/4 zoom) (1967)

1961

5.5cm f/3.5-32 Micro-Nikkor-P Preset

5 elements in 4 groups

43 degrees angle of view
focusses to 0.07m
accepts hood HN-3?, lens case CL-33?, and bubble case CP-2?
52mm accessory size?
Note: focusses to 1:1 reproduction ratio without extension tube
$169.50 list (1961)

13.5cm f/2 Nikkor-? Auto

18 degrees angle of view

Note: rumored to be introduced
Source: Popular Photography, p. 36, June 1961

20.0cm f/4-32 Nikkor-Q Auto

4 elements in 3 groups

12 1/3 degrees angle of view
focusses to 2m
accepts built-in hood and lens case CL-35
52mm accessory size
72.5mm diam by 163mm length
630g
Lens Case $12.50 list (1967)
$199.50 list (1961); $210 list (1967)

50.0cm f/5 Reflex-Nikkor

3 elements in 2 groups

5 degrees angle of view
focusses to 15m
rear filtration (39mm screw-in)
125mm diam by 220mm length
1540g
$450 list (1961); $530 list (w/ 5 filters, leather case) (1967)

100cm f/6.3 Reflex Nikkor

3 elements in 2 groups

2 1/2 degrees angle of view
focusses to 30m
52mm turret filtration (Y44, R60, O56, L1)
300?mm diam by 475mm length
9910g
Note: Jay Maisel used this lens occasionally throughout the 70's and this lens is said to be ultra-rare; supplied with ND filter wheel to provide "aperture control"; frightfully large; rear bellows focussing; requires N-F tube
$1750 list (1965); $1750 list (w/ 4 filters and metal case) (1967)

3.5~8.5cm f/2.8 Zoom-Nikkor Auto?

62 to 28 1/2 degrees angle of view

Note: rumored to be introduced; perhaps it was based on the Voigtlander Zoomar 36-82f/2.8, which was the first zoom lens for 35mm still cameras, introduced in 1959 (article in Popular Photography, p. 30, May 1959)
$399.50 est. list (1961)
Source: Popular Photography, p. 36, June 1961

1962

8mm f/8-22 Fisheye-Nikkor

9 elements in 5 groups

180 degrees angle of view [round image]
fixed focus
built-in filtration (O56, Y48, Y52, L1A, X1, R60)
Note: Came with accessory viewfinder, requires mirror lock-up
Viewfinder $57.50 list (1967)
front VF cap $2 list (1967)
$449.50 list (1962)

43~86mm f/3.5-22 Zoom-Nikkor Auto

9 elements in 7 groups

53 to 28 1/2 degrees angle of view
focusses to 1.2m
accepts hood HN-3, lens case CL-32, and bubble case CP-2
52mm accessory size
65mm diam by 78mm length
410g
Lens Hood $5.25 list (1967)
Lens Case $10.50 list (1967)
$129.50 list (1962); $179.50 list (1967)

200~600mm f/9.5~10.5-32 Zoom-Nikkor Auto

13 elements in 7 groups

12 1/3 to 4 1/6 degrees angle of view
focusses to 4m
Series IX accessory size
80mm? diam by 482.6mm long
2041g
Note: later upgraded to a f/9.5 (constant aperture) zoom; subsequently upgraded with ED glass in the 70s
Lens Hood $22.50 list (1967)
$499.50 list (1962); $515 list (1967)

1963

55mm f/3.5-32 Micro-Nikkor-P Auto

5 elements in 4 groups

43 degrees angle of view
focusses to 0.24m
accepts hood HN-3, lens case CL-33, and bubble case CP-2
52mm accessory size
65.5mm diam by 64.5mm length
235g
Note: two versions, one with compensating diaphragm ("P") and one without (no "P" suffix)
Lens Hood $5.25 list (1967)
Case $10.50 list (1967)
$189.50 list with M-ring (1965); $179.50 list w/ M-ring (1967)

200mm f/5.6-45 Medical-Nikkor Auto

4 elements in 3 groups

12 1/3 degrees angle of view
fixed focus (3.4m at 1:15 reproduction)
accepts outfit cases US 296 (AC) and US 297 (AC with battery)
38mm accessory size
80mm diam by 176mm length
670g
Note: came with six additional diopters; reproduction ratios 1:15 to 3:1 depending on combination in use; has a built-in ringlight and four incandescent working lights; can imprint magnification ratio or numeral (1-39) in lower right corner
AC or battery pack $84.50 list (1967)
$599.50 list (1965) with AC and battery, $515 AC only

1964

50mm f/1.2 CRT-Nikkor Auto?

46 3/4 degrees angle of view

Note: optimized for reproduction ratios of 1:5.5 to 1:4

55mm f/4-32 UV-Nikkor Auto

43 degrees angle of view

5? elements in 4? groups
focusses to 0.36m
Note: had an automatically compensating diaphragm and focussed from infinity to 1:2, so it was probably based on the Micro-Nikkor-P, just as the present-day 105f/4.5 UV-Nikkor seems to be based on the 105f/4 Micro-Nikkor
Source: Popular Photography, June 1965

85mm f/1.8-22 Nikkor-H Auto

6 elements in 4 groups

28 1/2 degrees angle of view
focusses to 1m
accepts hood HN-7, lens case CL-32, bubble case CP-1
52mm accessory size
72mm diam by 70mm length
420g
Note: there may have been an early 5 element, 3 group version
Lens Hood $5.25 list (1967)
Lens Case $10.50 list (1967)
$199.50 list (1965); $189.50 list (1967)

300mm f/4.5-22 Nikkor-P Auto

5 elements in 4 groups

8 1/6 degrees angle of view
focusses to 4m
accepts built-in hood and lens case CL-20
72mm accessory size
80mm diam by 203mm length
1100g
Note: subsequently upgraded to 6e/5g, then to a 6e/5g ED version, and then to a 7e/6g IF-ED version
Lens Case $14.50 list (1967)
$279.50 list (1965); $279.50 list (1967)

CU-1 focussing unit

automatic stops from f/4.5-22

requires removeable focussing distance scale
88mm diam by 1.5mm pitch threads for lens heads
102mm diam by 313mm length
$199.50 list (1965); $199.50 list (1967)

600mm f/5.6-22 Nikkor-P Auto

5 elements in 4 groups

4 degrees angle of view
focusses to 11m
IR focus shift: 6.1mm (turn ring left by this amount)
accepts built-in hood and wooden case (US 462)
122mm accessory size
135mm diam by 516.5mm length (mounted on CU-1)
3600g (with CU-1)
Note: this lens came as a "head" that was threaded onto a focussing mount; different focal length heads were available (800, 1200, and later 400f/4.5) and two different mounts were compatible (CU-1 and later AU-1, both of which provided helicoid focussing and automatic diaphragms in the ranges appropriate for each lens); 600, 800, and 1200 heads were converted to ED versions in 1975 and were discontinued after 1978 when EDIF lenses came on the market
$650 list (1965); $650 list (1967)

800mm f/8-22/64 Nikkor-P Auto

5 elements in 5 groups

3 degrees angle of view
focusses to 19m
IR focus shift: 4.9mm (turn ring left)
accepts built-in hood and wooden case (US 463)
122mm accessory size
135mm diam by 711.5mm length (mounted on CU-1)
3500g (with CU-1)
Note: this lens has its own manual diaphragm control, f/8-64
$750 list (1965); $750 list (1967)

1200mm f/11-64 Nikkor-P Auto

5 elements in 5 groups

2 degrees angle of view
focusses to 43m
IR focus shift: 8.9mm (turn ring left)
accepts built-in hood and wooden case (US 464)
122mm accessory size
135mm diam by 922m length (mounted on CU-1)
4300g (with CU-1)
Note: this lens should be used with its own manual diaphragm (f/11-64) and the automatic diaphragm on the focussing mount should be set wide open (f/4.5)
$950 list (1965); $950 list (1967)

1965

50~300mm f/4.5-22 Zoom-Nikkor Auto

20 elements in 13 groups

46 to 8 1/6 degrees angle of view
focusses to 2.5m
accepts HN-11 hood and camera/lens case CE-2
95mm accessory size
Note: later recomputed and rereleased (and still available) as an ED lens
98mm diam by 292mm length
2300g

28mm f/3.5-16 Nikkor-H Auto

6 elements in 6 groups

74 degrees angle of view
focusses to 0.6m
accepts hood HN-2, lens case CL-31, and bubble case CP-1
52mm accessory size
62.5mm diam by 54mm length
215 g
Lens Hood $5.25 list (1967)
Lens Case $6 list (1967)
$169.50 list (1965); $159.50 list (1967)

35mm f/3.5-32 PC-Nikkor-H Preset

6 elements in 5 groups

62 degrees angle of view
focusses to 0.3m
accepts hood HN-2
52mm accessory size
Note: mechanism allowed up to 11mm shift in any one of 12 click-stopped directions, equiradial distribution (30 degrees apart)
Lens Hood $5.25 list (1967)
Case $7.50 list (1967)
$249.50 list (1965); $239.50 list (1967)

50mm f/1.4-16 Nikkor-S Auto

7 elements in 6 groups

46 degrees angle of view
focusses to 0.6m
accepts hoods HN-5, HS-1, HR-1, lens case CL-34, and bubble case CP-1
52mm accessory size
67mm diam by 56.5mm length
325g
$155 list (1965) with body purchase, o/w $156.50; $149.95 list (1967)

135mm f/2.8-22 Nikkor-Q Auto

4 elements in 4 groups

18 degrees angle of view
focusses to 1.5m
accepts built-in hood, lens case CL-33, bubble case CP-2
52mm accessory size
72.5mm diam by 104mm length
620g
$169.50 list (1965)

135mm f/4-22 Nikkor-Q Short Mount/Bellows Preset

4 elements in 3 groups

18 degrees angle of view
43mm accessory size
Note: focussed from infinity to life size (1:1) on the Bellows 2 with the BR-2 or B-F tube (later BR-2a on the Bellows 2a which are S/N >= 116700); also a now-rare and expensive lens (I've seen one on sale in the past year -- for $1400 US)
320g
$125 list (1965); $125 list (1965); BR-2 $5.50 list (1967)

180mm f/2.5-32 Nikkor-H Preset

6 elements in 4 groups

13 3/4 degrees angle of view
focusses to 2.1m
82mm accessory size (Series IX in hood)
Note: requires N->F adapter tube (BR-1?) (61.5mm diam by 62.3mm length, adds 58.5mm of extension)
1650g
Lens Hood $17.60 list (1967)
$425 list (1965); $425 list (1967); BR-1 $9.50 list (1967)

250mm f/4-32 Nikkor-Q Preset

4 elements in 3 groups

10 degrees angle of view
focusses to 3m
68mm accessory size (Series IX in hood)
1005g
Lens Hood $17.60 list (1967)
$224.50 list (1951)

350mm f/4.5-22 Nikkor-T Preset

3 elements in 3 groups

7 degrees angle of view
focusses to 3.3m
82mm accessory size (Series IX in hood)
1620g
Lens Hood $22.50 list (1967)
$398 list (1959)

500mm f/5-45 Nikkor-T Preset

3 elements in 3 groups

5 degrees angle of view
focusses to 9m
110mm accessory size
8370g
Lens Hood $31 list (1967)
$550 list (1952)

Much thanks to Ted Wengelaar for supplying a steady flow of F lens information.

| Next | Nikon Lens Terminology

Back to Nikon-F - Main Index Page
Michael C Liu's Nikon Classic Site

* Message Board for Nikon F

Manuals | Specifications | FTN Finder Operation |
Main Reference map in HTML & PDF:
Body with FTN Finder | FTN finder | camera body |
External links for F & F2

| Back | to Nikon-F - Main Index Page
Michael C Liu's Nikons Classic Site

Other Nikon F Variations

| Message Board | for Nikon F Series SLR Camera(s)
| Message Board | for your Nikon Optics in a shared environment
| Message Board | Specifically for Dispose or Looking for Nikon/Nikkor Photographic Equipment

| Back | to Pictorial History of Nikon SLR / rangefinders / Nikonos / digital cameras.

The Eyes of Nikon:-
Nippon Kogaku KK Rangefinder RF-Nikkor lenses:- Main Index Page
Nikon Auto Focus Nikkor lenses:- Main Index Page
Nikon Manual Focus Nikkor lenses- Main Index Page
Fisheye-Nikkor Lenses - Circular | Full Frame | Ultrawides Lenses - 13mm 15mm 18mm 20mm | Wideangle Lenses - 24mm 28mm 35mm |
Standard Lenses - 45mm 50mm 58mm | Telephoto Lenses - 85mm 105mm 135mm 180mm & 200mm |
Super-Telephoto Lenses - 300mm 400mm 500mm 600mm 800mm 1200mm |
Special Application lenses:
Micro-Nikkor Lenses - 50mm~55mm -60mm 85mm -105mm 200mm Micro-Zoom 70-180mm
Perspective Control (PC) - 28mm 35mm PC-Micro 85mm
Dedicated Lenses for Nikon F3AF: AF 80mm f/2.8 | AF 200mm f/3.5 EDIF
Depth of Field Control (DC): 105mm 135mm
Medical Nikkor: 120mm 200mm
Reflex-Nikkor Lenses - 500mm 1000mm 2000mm
Others: Noct Nikkor | OP-Nikkor | UV Nikkor 55mm 105mm | Focusing Units | Bellows-Nikkor 105mm 135mm
Nikon Series E Lenses: 28mm 35mm 50mm 100mm 135mm | E-Series Zoom lenses: 36~72mm 75~150mm 70~210mm
MF Zoom-Nikkor Lenses: 25~50mm | 28~45mm | 28~50mm | 28~85mm | 35~70mm | 36~72mm E | 35~85mm | 35~105mm | 35~135mm |
35~200mm | 43~86mm | 50~135mm | 50~300mm | 70~210mm E | 75~150mm E | 80~200mm | 85~250mm |
100~300mm | 180~600mm | 200~400mm | 200~600mm | 360~1200mm | 1200~1700mm

Tele-Converters: TC-1 | TC-2 | TC-200 | TC-201 | TC-300 | TC-301 | TC-14 | TC-14A | TC-14B | TC-14C | TC-14E | TC-16 | TC-16A | TC-20E

Nikon F | Nikon F2 | Nikon F3 | Nikon F4 | Nikon F5 | Nikon F6 | Nikkormat / Nikomat |
Nikon FM | Nikon FE/ FA | Nikon EM/FG/FG20 | Nikon Digital SLRs | Nikon - Other models

MIR Supports for Photographic Community: Various Message Boards/Community Forums
Nikon F-series| Nikon F2-series| Nikon F3-series| Nikon F4-series| Nikon F5-series|Nikkormat/Nikomat-series
Nikon FM-series|Nikon FE-series|Nikon FA|Nikon Digital SLR series|Various Nikon Models|Nikkor Optic -shared

Others:- Free Trade Zone - Photography| Free Trade Zone - Business Community |Free To Zouk - Photographic Community
Apple's Mac Public Community Message Board | Windows based PC & Apple/Mac Public Community Trade Exchange Centre

Recommended links to understand more technical details related to the Nikkor F-mount and production Serial Number:
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-153.html by: my friend, Rick Oleson
http://www.zi.ku.dk/personal/lhhansen/photo/fmount.htm by: Hansen, Lars Holst
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/nikonfmount/lens2.htm
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html

Modern Classic SLRs Series :
Nikon F - Index Page

Copyright © 1998. Michael C. Liu ®
Rearranged by: leofoo ®. Credit: Hiura Shinsaku® from Nikomat Club of Japan for feeding some useful inputs on the introductory page. The great 3D logo by Kiasu; Ted Wengelaar®, Holland for his continuous flow of input of early Nikon bodies. Stephen Gandy's Cameraquest; Marc Vorgers from Holland for his additinal images on Nikon F Apollo; Hayao Tanabe corrected my Red Dot and Early F assertions. Gray Levett, Grays of Westminster publishes an excellent monthly historical look at Nikon products, from where I learned about the high-speed F's. Made with a PowerMac, broadcast with a Redhat Linux powered server.

Home - Photography in Malaysia