Just bought a Nikkor-S 50 1/4 lens in LTM

[ornate_wrasse]

I am pleased to report that I won the auction on Ebay for a Nikkor-S 50 1.4 lens in Leica Thread Mount that Youxin Ye was selling. I came in with a bid a few seconds before the auction ended that, surprisingly, won the auction. I hope no one here got outbid by me!

I plan on using it with my M3.

The true story is that I was recently at a Civil War Reenactment here in Oregon and met a Leica owner who was telling me how much he liked the Nikkor 50 1.4, that it was one of his two favorite lenses. I decided at that point that I wanted the lens. He had purchased the lens in Nikon rangefinder mount and was using it with an Amadeo adapter. Then I saw Youxin's lens for sale on Ebay. I figured it would cost about the same if I bought the Nikon Rangefinder version AND the Amadeo adapter as if I bought the LTM version.

My question is:

Are the two lenses (Nikon rangefinder mount and LTM) optically the same?

Thanks

Ellen

 

[ferider]

Hi Ellen,

A collector might elaborate; for a user, there are basically 4 versions of the Nikkor 50/1.4:

(a) Made in Tokyo
(b) Made in Japan
(c) Olympic
(d) modern.

For (a) and (b), these are Sonnar designs, and 50/1.4 LTM and S-mount copies were made in the same batches (meaning optically identical with different focus mounts), until 1960 or so; afterwards only S-mount lenses were made, including (c) and (d). (c) and (d) are double-Gauss designs, only Nikon RF mount copies were made.

Congrats on your LTM version. I love this lens and have two copies. A perfect fit for an M3. More compact than S-mount and adapter, and easier to handle (the aperture ring doesn't move when you focus). Also easy to modify for 0.7m min. focus.

Roland.

 

[ornate_wrasse]

Congrats on your LTM version. I love this lens and have two copies. A perfect fit for an M3. More compact than S-mount and adapter, and easier to handle (the aperture ring doesn't move when you focus). Also easy to modify for 0.7m min. focus.

Hi Roland,

Thanks for the information. I did not realize the aperture ring moves when you focus if you get the S-mount and adapter. I also did not realize my version can be modified for 0.7m minimum focus. Very useful to know.

Here's a link to the lens I bought from Youxin:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/230822784170?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_500wt_915

It also appears to be the Early Heavy LTM lens pictured at the top in this link:

http://www.camerarepair.com/Used-Cameras/Nikon-Rangefinder-C4/Lenses-C26/5.0cm50mm-f1.4-Nikkor-S.C-Rangefinder-P53/

The serial numbers are very close 319171 and 318818.

I'm looking forward to adding this lens to my lens arsenal and, most importantly, using it. I am also interested in finding out how it compares to the Carl Zeiss Jena lens in a Jupiter shell that I bought from Brian Sweeney.

Cheers,

Ellen

 

[ferider]

Ohh, even better, you got the early Tokyo version ! Built in the early 50s (1951?). The first Leica mount 50/1.4 ever built. Quite a rare lens, which has achieved somewhat a cult status at least in Japan (referred to as "5005" sometimes due to earlier serial numbers). Very smooth bokeh. It should behave very similar optically to your Sonnar, but you'll be amazed how much better it is built !

Definitely a keeper (I know mine is 🙂 ).

Roland.

PS: have a look here for the close focus mod: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56962

 

[ornate_wrasse]

PS: have a look here for the close focus mod: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56962

Thanks for the link. I saw your comment that it's best to get a Leica adapter rather than a CV adapter. I was hoping I could get a CV adapter for about $50 but looks like I'll have to spend more $$$ for the Leica adapter if I want to do the close focus modification 😱

Ellen

 

[ferider]

The CV type II adapter will be just fine, Ellen.

 

[healyzh]

Congratulations on the new lens Ellen!

One minor correction on my lens though, the 5cm Nikkor (from about 1950) that I was shooting with belonged to my Grandfather, who died before I was born, it was recently given to me by my Aunt. So not only is it a great lens, it's a family heirloom. 😎

Here are a couple shots from the Willamette Mission reenactment with my Nikkor 5cm.

L1002912 as Colourized B&W by Zane's Photography, on Flickr




Union Nun by Zane's Photography, on Flickr

 

[ornate_wrasse]

Hi Zane!

I can't believe I missed your post until today. Glad to see you on RFF!

Thanks for sharing your images taken at the reenactment with the Nikkor 50 1.4.

Sorry I missed that you inherited the lens from your grandfather. What a lucky man you are. Obviously your grandfather had good taste in lenses 🙂

I just received the Leitz adapter in the mail so I can now use the lens on my M3. I'll be taking it out tomorrow and shooting a roll or two.

All the best,

Ellen

 

[goamules]

I have an extremely clean LTM Nikkor 50mm 1.4 that I've compared to other Sonnar types here. The Nippon EP cap is probably uncommon, I don't usually track Nikon gear.

 

[tennis-joe]

This is one of my favorite lenses and the Nikkor 50f2.0 of which I have several are also great. I used this lens on M3, and various LTM cameras that I have. The Bessa R goes great and the light weight of the camera is beautifully offset by the weight of this lens. It also fits very well in the Bessa case I got with the camera.
Pleasant shooting for you.
Joe

 

[Luddite Frank]

Just wanted to add my 2-cents on the Nikkor 50 - 1.4

Back in the early 1960's, my Dad purchased a used Nikon S with an SC Nikkor 50/1.4 lens.

It is a beautiful lens both for B&W and color; Dad's Kodachrome & Ektachrome slides were sharp and brilliant with this lens.

I would probably chase an LTM version over a Leitz Summarit.

Enjoy your LTM Nikkor, and please post some pics from it !

Regards,

Luddite Frank

 

[Jacques M.]

Hello,

I have just bought a LTM 1.4/5cm "Tokyo" lens, serial # 50051734.
Can anybody tell me when it was made?
I am just comparing it with my 1.5 Sonnars. It seems there is not a great difference.

Thanks. Jacques.

 

[Brian Legge]

Check out this thread:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100947

There is a bunch of info on the serial numbers ranges for the lens there.

 

[Jacques M.]

Thanks, Brian.
I have my answer.
And now I know I am not alone to have problems with the filter screw...
As a fan of Sonnars, very happy to have this mythic lens!

Jacques.

 

[kermaier]

5005 stands for 1950/05 (May, 1950)

 

[kermaier]

Very fine lens, BTW -- congrats, and enjoy!

 

[ferider]

Congrats, Jacques. Just a note that in my experience, B+W 43mm filters work fine, even though they have the wrong pitch.

The correct metal hood will allow you to use Series VII filters (or 49mm), but makes the lens kind of too big for me.

Roland.

 

[Jacques M.]

Thanks, specially for the diameter of the filter. I hope it will screw without problem, as the thread is damaged.
Really, I am surprised by the weight. Compared to my LTM Sonnars which all are wartime, so light, it makes a big difference! My Summarit only is so well made...

Amitiés. Jacques.