Nikkor 5cm f2 collapsible LTM

oldwino

oldwino

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I saw one of these for the first time the other day. I know it is extremely rare, but does anyone have an opinion on this lens? How does it compare to the collapsible Summicron?

The rigid version (of the Nikkor) gets good reviews, as does of course the rigid Summicron. I just wonder if Nikon had the same issues as Leitz with the collapsible models being slightly less "good" as the rigid models.

Not much on the interwebs about the Nikkor collapsible, other than "rare". And, expensive!
 
Goamules is the member to talk to. He has one and has posted images from it. I have one but have not used it a lot. It's a fine lens but the later Nikkors are probably a bit better with more advanced coatings. I got mine in a camera lot for $200 on a mioj Nicca. The number code on the back dates it to December 1948. Joe
 
Mine is from late 1948 with a curious serial number.

attachment.php


Rendering is typical Sonnar (which I love) but I'm assuming the coatings are somewhat inferior to later rigid Nikkors.

More in this thread.
 
I only saw a Nikkor f2 50mm collapsible LTM lens in 1978 when I first spotted a Leica IIIg with a non collapsible 50 mil Summicron in a store window case.

Next day I came back to buy the IIIg but someone else snagged the collapsible Nikkor and the even rarer non collapsible LTM Summicron.

I still bought the IIIg but with a 35mm Summaron lens.
 
I have one, as well as the even rarer collapsible Nikkor 5cm f/3.5 (Elmar clone).

The 50mm f/2 collapsible from what I've seen shoots just the same as the normal rigid lens. Sample variation itself is probably more likely than differences between versions.

However the coatings are different. Both my collapsible and rigid Nikkors are "Tokyo" models. Don't forget, the rigid also focuses closer, and can be modified to couple with the RF focused very close.

For a user, the rigid is probably the better buy. I lucked out with the collapsible - found it on eBay "BIN" for $60 so jumped on it. Not sure what it is "worth" but a lot more than that I figure.

I don't have great notes so I can't pull up anything I've shot with mine at the moment. I haven't used mine much, compared to my 5cm f/3.5 or a Summitar.

PS: here's a thread about these:
https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148887
 
The earliest postwar Nicca/ Tower cameras of the late 1940s to the very early 1950s were sold with the collapsible Nikkor 50mm f2 lens, well at least the ones exported to the USA.

The Sears catalogue of that time period show their Tower brand precision 35mm camera with that Nikkor lens.
 
Livesteamer said:
Goamules is the member to talk to. He has one and has posted images from it. I have one but have not used it a lot. It's a fine lens but the later Nikkors are probably a bit better with more advanced coatings. I got mine in a camera lot for $200 on a mioj Nicca. The number code on the back dates it to December 1948. Joe
Click to expand...
Hey Joe. Hope you are well. I need to come back down your way to check that out as well as see how the bamboo is faring in this winter weather.😀
 
Corran said:
I have one, as well as the even rarer collapsible Nikkor 5cm f/3.5 (Elmar clone).

The 50mm f/2 collapsible from what I've seen shoots just the same as the normal rigid lens. Sample variation itself is probably more likely than differences between versions.

However the coatings are different. Both my collapsible and rigid Nikkors are "Tokyo" models. Don't forget, the rigid also focuses closer, and can be modified to couple with the RF focused very close.

For a user, the rigid is probably the better buy. I lucked out with the collapsible - found it on eBay "BIN" for $60 so jumped on it. Not sure what it is "worth" but a lot more than that I figure.

I don't have great notes so I can't pull up anything I've shot with mine at the moment. I haven't used mine much, compared to my 5cm f/3.5 or a Summitar.

PS: here's a thread about these:
https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148887
Click to expand...

You're probably right with regard to the rigid being the way to go. However, I find myself strangely drawn to collapsible lenses. I've got a nice uncoated Elmar nickel 5cm, and a Konica 50/2.4 that was put out in 1999 (?). That one's a planar design, so very sharp. I'm missing a collapsible sonnar, and as I doubt I'll ever see a CZ Jena (that's not faked)...

Sadly, these collapsible Nikkors are no longer cheap!
 
Hey Greg. Good to hear from you. I hope you and your wife are well, stop by anytime you are in the area.

My Nikkor has a number on the back #812426. Mr. Rotoloni was kind enough to respond to an e mail and tell me that it dated the lens to December 1948. The serial number is 806107. I sent it to Don Goldberg for a service and it's now nice and clean but it does not click into a locked position as my other collapsible lens's do. Watch e bay for early Nicca cameras and you might get lucky. Joe
 
I looked and couldn't find a recent sale on eBay. I am unsure what one would go for these days. There's a couple cameras+lenses available on eBay for over $1k but I think those have been there for years. I would keep an eye out on eBay if you really want one, for a BIN sale. I figure mine was listed cheaply because they looked up sales of similar lenses, but of course saw mostly the rigid one selling for not much and so listed it similarly. You never know.

I find myself grabbing the f/3.5 collapsible more often, as the f/2 only "collapses" maybe a half inch, while the Elmar clone goes into the body almost completely. Not as much as a real Elmar though, because the aperture control is around the barrel instead of on the front, interestingly. Just shot a roll with that lens and the negatives are hanging to dry...
 
Livesteamer said:
Hey Greg. Good to hear from you. I hope you and your wife are well, stop by anytime you are in the area.

My Nikkor has a number on the back #812426. Mr. Rotoloni was kind enough to respond to an e mail and tell me that it dated the lens to December 1948. The serial number is 806107. I sent it to Don Goldberg for a service and it's now nice and clean but it does not click into a locked position as my other collapsible lens's do. Watch e bay for early Nicca cameras and you might get lucky. Joe
Click to expand...

I sure will. The wife hasn’t been too well for the last year & a half so I’ve been her care taker. I’ll not bore you with her problems here but I have thought about you & will get down your way one weekend. I need to get back down to Old Salem to do a walk-a-round. It’s been quite awhile.
 
oldwino said:
They actually date-stamped them on the back side of the mounting flange. The one I saw had a 906 number, which I gather means 1949, June.
Click to expand...

Mine is marked 906658 on the lens mount. The serials starting 811 were built from Nov. '48 thru 1949 according to jonmanjiro's post in the other thread.
 
splitimageview said:
Mine is marked 906658. The serials starting 811 were built from Nov. '48 thru 1949 according to jonmanjiro's post in the other thread.
Click to expand...

And if my research is correct, those late lenses had all Japanese glass and the final design formulation. The earlier produced lenses had some german glass in there as well.
 
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