HU: Nikkor-S.C LTM Tokyo 5005xxxx

[kermaier]

Sorry, don't mean to hijack the thread, but that black 85 is nice! 🙂 Do you know offhand how much lighter it is than the chrome version, which is ~525grams?

Thanks! I don't know the difference in grams, just in usability. I used to have an early chrome version, and it was too heavy for me to wear comfortably; this black one is noticeably lighter and more pleasant to use. (Also, the early chrome lens has the f-stops engraved only on one side of the aperture ring, which is a PITA on a rotating-barrel lens mount.) The difference between the black lens and a late-model chrome lens may not be as pronounced, but I don't know from my own experience.
::Ari

 

[kuujinbo]

Thanks! I don't know the difference in grams, just in usability. I used to have an early chrome version, and it was too heavy for me to wear comfortably; this black one is noticeably lighter and more pleasant to use.
::Ari

Thank you - weight is the only thing I don't like about the (chrome) lens, which is a shame, since it's physically very small (short length) for 85mm. Probably another reason they're (black) so hard to find. Only one on eBay right now, with BIN of $1399!

keith

 

[kermaier]

Wow, that is quite pricey! I'd be surprised if the seller actually receives that kind of money for it.

 

[ferider]

Nice collection, Andy. We should form a club or something 🙂

Some shots with my "new" 5005 in my 50mm thread, if anybody is interested: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=130859

Roland.

 

[Brian Legge]

Nice shots!

And I thought I got a decent price at $350 for a very clean 5005. Congrats on the great deal on a great lens.

 

[kermaier]

Nice collection, Andy. We should form a club or something 🙂

Some shots with my "new" 5005 in my 50mm thread, if anybody is interested: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=130859

Roland.

Thanks, Roland. Alas, I'll probably never be able to complete a set of LTM Nikkors. I'm missing the 25/4, 35/3.5, 50/3.5 collapsible, 50/3.5 micro, 50/2 collapsible, 50/1.1, 85/1.5. Some will be unattainable due to price, others due to rarity.

Those are nice photos you've made with the new lens. Use it in good health!

::Ari

 

[LeicaTom]

Ari,

That was a GREAT deal (super price!) on a very unique and rare lens, the creme of the crop of the LTM SC's.

It's the *artistic* version of the f1.4, it has a different signature then later "Tokyo" and "Japan" labeled f1.4/50mm's.
I have one with minty glass/ but it was IN the Korean War, so it has suffered alittle, I have had the 1955/56 issues of the f1.4/50mm LTM and they are amazing super shooters, but the #5005 (Tokyo) is just a smoother Bokeh rendering lens.
Creamier, more blending backgrounds, it works so well in shooting like 1950's Black and White Playboy magazine styled pin-ups and anytime you shoot a Black and White portrait of a woman, like a Canon f1.5/50mm LTM, your going to get dreamy lovely looks wide open/and just stopped down a hair from the end (that's how I shoot mine).

I've seen an overall decline in Sonnar copie lens prices, I think with less and less film being made, the prices of old film gear are really going to hit the floor.

3 years ago this lens would have sold minty with both caps for $750 to $800, now nearly all the really GREAT Japanese LTM 50's are selling for less than $400, no one wants the stuff anymore. :/

Enjoy the lens Ari, I'd like to see some work you have shot with it.......

Tom

 

[brbo]

3 years ago this lens would have sold minty with both caps for $750 to $800, now nearly all the really GREAT Japanese LTM 50's are selling for less than $400, no one wants the stuff anymore. :/

If anyone has a LTM Nikkor S.C. in nice condition for under $400/€300... please PM me.

 

[kermaier]

Ari,

That was a GREAT deal (super price!) on a very unique and rare lens, the creme of the crop of the LTM SC's.

It's the *artistic* version of the f1.4, it has a different signature then later "Tokyo" and "Japan" labeled f1.4/50mm's.
I have one with minty glass/ but it was IN the Korean War, so it has suffered alittle, I have had the 1955/56 issues of the f1.4/50mm LTM and they are amazing super shooters, but the #5005 (Tokyo) is just a smoother Bokeh rendering lens.
Creamier, more blending backgrounds, it works so well in shooting like 1950's Black and White Playboy magazine styled pin-ups and anytime you shoot a Black and White portrait of a woman, like a Canon f1.5/50mm LTM, your going to get dreamy lovely looks wide open/and just stopped down a hair from the end (that's how I shoot mine).

I've seen an overall decline in Sonnar copie lens prices, I think with less and less film being made, the prices of old film gear are really going to hit the floor.

3 years ago this lens would have sold minty with both caps for $750 to $800, now nearly all the really GREAT Japanese LTM 50's are selling for less than $400, no one wants the stuff anymore. :/

Enjoy the lens Ari, I'd like to see some work you have shot with it.......

Tom

Tom, I didn't actually buy the lens myself -- I just gave a heads-up and Roland snagged it. Good price for Roland, good karma for me. 🙂

I used to have both a 5005xxxx NKT and a late black-ring NKJ. I agree that the May '50 lens often had smoother OOF rendering, but in the end I preferred the cooler color palette that the later lens gave me, as well as being a bit sharper and more contrasty wide open. (Could have been just my examples, but that's what I had.) So I sold the 5005 and kept the NKJ. I was sorely tempted to buy this 5005, but I held firm to my plan of reducing my count of 50mm lenses, not increasing!

Cheers,
Ari

 

[LeicaTom]

Hello Ari,

No that sounds about right, what you said........I sold my *minty* late 1955 S.C. BECAUSE I preferred the softer, smoother less contrasty look of the early "5005" 1950 version, seemed to fit into the type of work I do, shooting the gals......

I use the "5005" mostly in Black and White work, the 1955 H.C. f2/50 is my color pallet/sharper 1950's color Nikon lens, (that lens hardly ever comes off my Leica M8.) 😀

Happy Shooting!

Tom

 

[LeicaTom]

Well, someone got real lucky tonight and won this amazing 1950 "5005 Tokyo" lens at evilbay for only $609!

Very early Japanese US Army PX Export lens, with a very rare *Leica-Nikkor* cap and the Alu keeper.

Nice find for someone, I hope that they shoot with it, I have one very near to this serial, with the Black Bakelite NK cap, minty glass, but the lens looks like it took part in the Korean War, the filter ring full of dents and electrical tape holding the filter on........... 😛

Tom