Early Nikkor-HC 5cm F2 Rigid LTM NKT, compared with Classic Sonnars

Sonnar Brian

Sonnar Brian

Product of the Fifties
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The Nikkor-HC 5cm F2 is often overlooked in favor to the Nikkor-SC 5cm F1.4. With the discussion of small RF lenses on Nikon Z-mount lenses, I went back to Rotoloni to read up on the 5cm F2. From the book: the Tokyo marked lenses are made in occupied Japan, even if not marked. The aperture on the Tokyo marked lens does not have click-stops, the Japan lens does. I found a pair of lenses on Ebay with various problems, haze, coating marks, etc- bought the pair for just over $200. 1) to compare the two, and 2) to test the "less than perfect" lenses against my mint/late version. The latter- prices are creeping up from the $150 that I paid for it 15+ years ago.
Both lenses arrived: the NKJ lens required the filter ring to be straightened out, 5 minutes. The NKT lens required haze on each side of the aperture to be cleaned out, 5 minutes.

First up: differences between the two lenses.
1) The coatings were changed, the NKJ is a deeper blue.
2) Construction is different for the rear of the mount. Four screws on the NKT, none visible on the NKJ. Yes, the Tail of Two Nikkors.
3) The rim of the front optical block changed from chrome on the NKT to black on the NKJ.
4) The IR index is between F2.8 and F4 on the NKT, and between F4 and F5.6 on the NKJ. This suggests that the optics are different between the two. Maybe another reason for changing the rim from chrome to black. Black paint used for the "R" on the NKT and red used on the NKJ.
5) Clickless aperture on the NKT, click-stops on the NKJ.
- and a few minor differences, I'll need time for calipers...

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The NKJ lens.
Wide-Open. Of the two, the front element of this one is in better condition. There was no internal haze. The internal haze of the NKT lens was identical to that in my collapsible Nikkor 5cm F2 bought almost 20 years ago. That one also cleaned up perfectly.

Focus to 18" is easy on the Mirrorless camera. These are with focus-peaking on the Z5. Shot ~5:30pm



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Infinity focus is perfect with both lenses, Fotasy adapters used.
 
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dexdog said:
A sonnar design by any other name... will still perform like a sonnar. I have only one NKT lens, the 5cm/2 collapsible, and only 4 total Nikkors in LTM. Have I been remiss? 😉
Click to expand...
The Nikkors are good. I'll throw the collapsible in a test against the late "Black Belt" Nikkor.
I now have 4 LTM Nikkor 5cm F2 lenses. Also have a perfect NKJ 5cm F2 in S-Mount.
I lost track of Nikkor 5cm F1.4s in S-Mount. 10 or more?
But only 1 Nikkor 5cm F1.5 and 1 13.5cm F4, both LTM.
 
LTM Nikkors will always hold a special place on the shelf. Especially the Sonnars. 🙂

50/2 collapsible NKT and black NKJ 50/2 S-mount here. Now need to get a close-focus 50/2 LTM. )
 
Sonnar Brian, as a matter of interest only and not in anyway a contradiction of what you have written, my copy of the Nikkor 50mm HC 1:2 NKJ, serial number 623784, has a clickless aperture and black paint for the R. However, none of the screws are visible on the rear mount, so standard there. Is it possible that my copy, 4,506 copies earlier than the one in your picture, is a transition version. This lens is one of only two I have from this era, the other being the Nikkor 85/2 LTM, both of which deliver excellent images when attached to my Sony a7iii and which I really enjoy using and treasure. Thanks for your immensely interesting posts on this subject and many others.
 
@Tim Read I love hearing about transition lenses.

I have a Nikkor-SC 5cm F1.4 "NKJ" that is also the older optical formula of the NKT lenses, and an 8.5cm F2 NKJ that stops down to F16 only. There are some lenses that are transition lenses: Nikon did not "throw away" parts, and we get transition lenses.

I would be interested in knowing where the Infrared Mark is on your lens. What color is it? This would help answer the question if the Black Rim signifies a possible change in the formula.
 
Once upon a time I was looking for a LTM sonnar and Brian suggested I should consider a Nikkor 50/2 rather than the FAR more expensive 50/1.4 because he understood my budget limitations. I got a very good one and I did not regret it. I have taken some lovely images with it.

I later got a Nikkor 50/1.4 on my Nikon S2 but there is little to recommend it over the 50/2 really except that one stop which is far less important now than it was in the day when 100ISO was FAST film.

I use both equally and love both tremendously.

Really the one difference I have in my various sonnars is between my 1937 Zeiss collapsible 50/2 Uncoated and the Nikkors. The lack of a coating does make a subtle difference, in color photography especially. Otherwise? Not so much 🙂
 
I acquired a 1.4 with the SP I picked up a few months ago. It was well below market but I already had a 50/2 and knew I would never shoot at f/1.4 so I sold it. Wide open is quite dreamy, stopping down to f/2 really improves the contrast.
 
Sonnar Brian - thanks very much for your reply. Here are four shots of the lens which I hope will answer your questions. Please comment as anything I can learn about this lens is very valuable to me. As a matter of interest the lens was sold to me by a RFF member who knows, and it was cleaned by, jonmanjiro who he remembers commenting on the clickless aperture.
Nikkor 50mm HC f2 LTM 1_.jpgNikkor 50mm HC f2 LTM 2_.jpgNikkor 50mm HC f2 LTM 3_.jpgNikkor 50mm HC f2 LTM 4_.jpg
 
@Tim Read
The Infrared Mark is at F2.8, the same as my earlier lens with the chrome rim. I also checked my even earlier collapsible 5cm F2 Sonnar: the IR mark is just past F4, like my later lens. My late "black Belt" lens- IR DOF just past F4, just like the collapsible!

SO: The Black Rim does not signify a breakpoint for a change in the optics. The change in the IR mark- either someone got the calculation wrong, or there was a short run of optics with slightly less chromatic aberration. I need to do a test with my full spectrum camera...
 
Lovely photos, Brian. I think those lenses are keepers. My copy of the Nikkor-HC 5cm f2.0 came from jonmanjiro after he overhauled the lens. It’s a later version of this lens, serial no. 660028, and is a beautiful optic. Like you, I appreciate using it on a mirrorless or digi camera w/ live view, so I can take advantage of the close-focusing feature. Overall, I think my favorite is the Zeiss Opton Sonnar 5cm f2.0, based on the way the lens renders, but the Nikkor-HC is a close second and I’ll be taking it with me to Scotland on a photo workshop in September.
 
Tim Read said:
Sonnar Brian - thanks very much for your reply. Here are four shots of the lens which I hope will answer your questions. Please comment as anything I can learn about this lens is very valuable to me. As a matter of interest the lens was sold to me by a RFF member who knows, and it was cleaned by, jonmanjiro who he remembers commenting on the clickless aperture.
Click to expand...
Ahhh I remember that lens! The main thing I did to it was disassemble the focus unit and modify the mount to enable focus coupling down to 65-70cm on a Leica body. I may have cleaned the optical surfaces on each side of the aperture blades, but I honestly cannot remember now 😅

@Sonnar Brian you may find this interesting. Some years ago, I read though several Japanese language sources on the early Nikkors to do some research for Stephen Gandy. Stephen was mostly interested in learning about the W-Nikkor 3.5cm f3.5 so that's what my search focused on. Unfortunately I didn't find much info on that lens, but I did stumble across an interesting section about the humble Nikkor-H 5cm f2 in one book, and the most striking piece of information was that the optical formula went through 20 iterations throughout the course of its production. The reason given was that Nikon tweaked the optical formula to match the optical glass available to them at any given time. I wish I could recall the name of the book, but alas it escapes me. IIRC Stephen provided the list of Japanese books I searched through, so if he sees this thread maybe he can let us know what it was (assuming he remembers of course... it was quite a while ago) @CameraQuest ?
 
I've been shooting at least one photo a day with my sonnars. Time to change to my Nikkor 50/2 LTM I think for July 5...

Edit to add: NKJ, click stops, IR at 2.8 & serial 635727. Lovely little lens!

Perhaps until mid month. Still trying to decide if my next lens is going to be the Canon 50/1.5 or 50/2.2 🤔
 
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