Alberti
Well-known
Too bad the link has expired and what Nikon only has is new lenses in their line-up.
Ah, a history forgone
Nikkor 8.5cm f2?
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Too bad the link has expired and what Nikon only has is new lenses in their line-up.
Ah, a history forgone
Timmyjoe
Veteran
I read about this lens for years before I finally got one. Ended up with two in a fairly short period of time. One in LTM, one in Nikon S mount. Love them both. With B&W film, I prefer the Nikon 8.5cm f2 to the Leica 90mm Elmarit-M as the Leica is higher contrast and renders too "modern" for my taste.
"Spin" Leica M3 w/Nikkor 8.5cm f2 & Tri-X
Best,
-Tim
"Spin" Leica M3 w/Nikkor 8.5cm f2 & Tri-X
Best,
-Tim
wes loder
Photographer/Historian
A very popular lens in both mounts until the introduction of the 105 f2.5 Nikkor which uses a similar formula. It is heavy. While a "Sonnar" type design, having seen the formulas for both the 85mm Zeiss Sonnar and the 85mm f2 Nikkor, I would say they are not really that close in design. This is the lens that convinced David Douglas Duncan to visit the Ohi factory and test the Nikkor lenses.
Steve M.
Veteran
I wonder if the SLR version is the same design? I had one of those and really liked it. It was a small and light lens in F mount. Wide open it was 85% of my Leica R 90 lens for portraits (the Leica was my gold standard for portraits at the time), and stopped down it was nice and sharp.
I think that at F16 every lens is going to be very similar to the next one.
I think that at F16 every lens is going to be very similar to the next one.
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
The high image quality produced by the 85mm f2 lens was the Nikkor lens that sparked David Douglas Duncan's interest in Nikkor lenses in 1950, and what eventually caused big interest in the USA in all things Nikkor and Nikon.
http://blog.iamnikon.com/en_GB/pro-photographers/david-douglas-duncan-nikon/
http://blog.iamnikon.com/en_GB/pro-photographers/david-douglas-duncan-nikon/
lukx
Well-known
It is a lovely lens. I just took it apart and gave it a nice clean and relube. The aperture blades were oily (no haze yet). Now it's nice, clean and smooth again. A great lens to work with because of its simlpe but sturdy construction!
But even before the cleaning it took lovely images on my M2 & Canon P.
But even before the cleaning it took lovely images on my M2 & Canon P.
hilltime
Well-known
I purchased the Nikkor 85/2 in a C version, when I got my first RF camera, Contax IIA.
Always had read of it's Life Mag legend, which propelled Nikon and the Nikkor lenses throughout the 50's, along with a bit of help from Joe Ehrenreich. Great images from that lens but sold it in favor of the Carl Zeiss 85/2 Opton, which seemed a bit better for portraiture but not as "sharp" as the Nikkor. Ended up inheriting another Nikkor in LTM from a ex Vietnam Navy vet friend, who always said it was his favorite lens. I'll hold onto that one forever, especially when I feel the need "to pump some iron"!
Always had read of it's Life Mag legend, which propelled Nikon and the Nikkor lenses throughout the 50's, along with a bit of help from Joe Ehrenreich. Great images from that lens but sold it in favor of the Carl Zeiss 85/2 Opton, which seemed a bit better for portraiture but not as "sharp" as the Nikkor. Ended up inheriting another Nikkor in LTM from a ex Vietnam Navy vet friend, who always said it was his favorite lens. I'll hold onto that one forever, especially when I feel the need "to pump some iron"!
Shac
Well-known
I find it a fabulous lens. Here's an example of how sharp it is using on a Sony A7RII. It's a black Nikon S version thgat I bought from an RFF member. It's as good if not better than my Leica M 90's. Although I sold all my Nikon RF stuff - this is one lens I have kept.
Overall image
100% crop
Overall image
100% crop
richardHaw
junk scavenger
that lens has something special in its rendering. i love mine a lot.
i did an overhaul article of it and its very well built. 😱😱😱
i did an overhaul article of it and its very well built. 😱😱😱
raid
Dad Photographer
Thanks for reminding me to use my Nikon 85/2 again. The 105/2.5 is a first class contender.
Shac
Well-known
For me, the black version of the 85 is much lighter and easier to handle that its 105 cousin. The latter I prefer in the SLR version - but of course YMMV
cwereley
X6
Haven't had the pleasure of working with the S-mount 8.5cm f2 on one of my RF cameras, but it is on my wish list! Have just recently introduced myself (just over a year) to the Nikon RF system. The 8.5cm lens seems to command a bit more value than the 10.5cm.
As for SLR, have had my AIS 85mm f1.4 lens for many years and refuse to let it go even thought it's a beast. The front element is such an impressive piece. The 85mm seems to be a great focal length for Nikkor lenses in any mount.
As for SLR, have had my AIS 85mm f1.4 lens for many years and refuse to let it go even thought it's a beast. The front element is such an impressive piece. The 85mm seems to be a great focal length for Nikkor lenses in any mount.
lukx
Well-known
I loved your article. Although you did it with an S-mount lens, it helped me greatly with taking apart, cleaning and re-greasing my LTM version. So thanks a lot for taking the time and documenting the process. I also enjoy this lens a lot, especially on black and white film.
richardHaw
junk scavenger
dourbalistar
Buy more film
Pump some iron and kick some brass! 😎
I have a lovely Nikkor-P.C LTM lens, Nippon Kogaku Tokyo version. Judging from the serial number, it's part of the 3rd series totaling less than 1,000 units. Very happy to have found one at the end of last year at KEH for a reasonable price.
Some good info on all the different versions here:
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/RF-Nikkor/RF85mm/index.htm
lukx
Well-known
I got mine last year for 170€/$190 in rather nice condition. And that included an original Leitz LTM adapter. A very competitive price it seems.
Contarama
Well-known
I like using an 85 for full body shots and landscape where I am looking for compression as a main element. I do not own anything Nikon/Nikkor RF but I do have a factory ai'd 85/1.8 K which is a very powerful and important part of my kit. I have always heard the 85 Nikkor was the fashion lens of the 60s. The movie Blow Up comes to mind albeit the later slr version which I imagine is a similar if not the same formula
Recent acquisition. Have had several of the 85/2 chrome, and many black 105 and 135 Nikkors, but this is the first black 85 I've ever seen.
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