Nicca with Tokyo Nikkor 50 1.4 $599

[goamules]

Here is a Leica III with the Nikkor 1.4 lens that sold for $761. Sorry to get off topic of the Nicca cameras, but it was common in the era of this lens to buy a Leica body, ditch the Leica lens, and use a Nikkon. That's how I got mine, and sold the run of the mill IIIC to get that nice lens back on a Nicca!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/vtg-LEICA-I...cm-LENS-LEATHER-CASE-GUIDE-NRMT-/350838597846

 

[johannielscom]

Johan: Which lens is the cow and which one is the cucumber?

Raid,

beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and each their own cow or cucumber as they prefer! 😀

 

[raid]

They are all high of course although the 5005 is the much more desirable Tokyo lens.

What is special about the "5005" lens?

 

[furcafe]

Don't have my Rotoloni w/me, but I believe the 5005 series were the very 1st ones, like those used by David Douglas Duncan, et al.

What is special about the "5005" lens?

 

[lam]

I still think someone got a deal. 🙂

Regardless of how "cheap" Vintage Sonnar's should be.

 

[raid]

The set has finally sold. It was a good deal. I said so from the start.

 

[ferider]

Don't have my Rotoloni w/me, but I believe the 5005 series were the very 1st ones, like those used by David Douglas Duncan, et al.

Optically there are 3 LTM versions, AFAIK: the very first one (also the one that DDD tried) was the 50/1.5. Then came the NKT 50/1.4 with two different serial number schemes, 5005xxx and 3xxxxxx. Then came the NKJ version.

There are of course progressive coating changes, increasingly light focus mount, etc. Here is Tom talking about his different S mount copies (until the late 50s, S-Mount and LTM mount lenses were made in the same serial number batches; the original Olympic and Millenium lenses were unfortunately never made in LTM):

Ok, in the name of research (and procrastination - I was supposed to be doing something boring) - I dug up all my 50f1.4's and looked at them. Don't know why I have so many though?

#50051037: No significant coating color, looks almost uncoated
Weight: 205 gram
#332676 Blueish coating, same size rear element as the #5005xxxx
Weight:207 gram
#350446 Brownish color ( like a fine brandy)
Weight: 150 gram (anomaly - lightweight mount)Chrome barrel.
#328 262 Blueish color, LTM lens.
Weight 276 gram !
# 389731 Distinct blue color, black barrel.
Weight:144 gram
#378648 Lighter blue color, black barrel.
Weight:142 gram
#397244 Blue color, black barrel.
Weight 148 gram
# 203 219 Millennium Version
Weight 178 gram

: :

What I find interesting is the variations in weight. Some were heavy because of the old chrome/brass mounts - but even the ones with the lightweight black barrels vary quite significantly.

 

[furcafe]

I wasn't counting the 50/1.5 since I see that as a straight-up Sonnar copy w/minimal recomputing like the collapsible 50/2. But you're correct about DDD, he 1st tried out the 50/1.5, not the 50/1.4.

Optically there are 3 LTM versions, AFAIK: the very first one (also the one that DDD tried) was the 50/1.. Then came the NKT one with two different serial number schemes, 5005xxx and 3xxxxxx. Then came the NKJ version.

There are of course progressive coating changes, increasingly light focus mount, etc. Here is Tom talking about his different S mount copies (until the late 50s, S-Mount and LTM mount lenses were made in the same serial number batches; the original Olympic and Millenium lenses were unfortunately never made in LTM):

 

[johannielscom]

eBay item # 370874275775 is a Nippon Kogaku Tokyo 1.4/50mm in the 5005xxx serial range in very clean condition.

It sold for USD 338 just now...😱😱

For that kind of money, even I would have taken a swing at it...


Oh well.