Nikon's first SLR lens - Nikkor-S 5cm F2

[Flat Twin]

Here's a couple of shots of the 3.5cm...

Nikon F & Nikkor-S 3.5cm f2.8 (early 7 elements / 5 groups 9 iris blades...) by Flat Twin, on Flickr


Nikkor-S 3.5cm f2.8 (early 7 elements / 5 groups 9 iris blades...) by Flat Twin, on Flickr

 

[raid]

Nikon made four lenses with the 9 blade iris between 1959 & 1960 (I think) - the 3.5cm f2.8, 5cm f2.0 10.5cm f2.5 & the 13.5cm f3.5.

I used to have them all but sold them, oh well!

Regards

Simon

I have the 3.5/2.8, 10.5cm 2.5, and the 13.5/3.5. Maybe I have the nine balde Nikkors after all.

 

[Mark C]

They came both ways, mine are 6 blade. Difference only shows up in bright out of focus highlights. And, of course, no difference wide open. Still, the rounder apertures are nice.

 

[Flat Twin]

Raid,

Peering into the lens will confirm which you have or, here is a list of serial numbers that I find an excellent resource. Its amazing what you can learn staring at a list of serial numbers...!

http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html

Regards

Simon

 

[spaceistheplace]

I have the 50mm f2 SLR version, is the rangefinder lens the same optically?

 

[Fraser]

i've just checked 30ish manual nikkors and not one of them has 9 blades!

 

[raid]

Raid,

Peering into the lens will confirm which you have or, here is a list of serial numbers that I find an excellent resource. Its amazing what you can learn staring at a list of serial numbers...!

http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html

Regards

Simon

Thank you, Simon. I will check it all out.

 

[Erik van Straten]

This is not with a Nikkor-S, but with an early Nikkor-H, just to show the difference.

Nikkormat FTn, Nikkor-H 50mm f/2, 400-2TMY.

Erik.

 

[Mackinaw]

I have the 50mm f2 SLR version, is the rangefinder lens the same optically?

Don't believe so. The 50/2 rangefinder lens is a "Sonnar" design while the 50/2 SLR is a "Gauss" design.

Jim B.

 

[Corran]

I have the 3.5cm, 5cm, 10.5cm, and 13.5cm 9-blade pre-AI Nikkors. They are all phenomenal, and some of my favorite F-mount lenses.

I use them on my F2 generally. The 5cm is pretty sharp and has wonderful out of focus rendering. Worrying about extreme peripheral sharpness wide-open is silly so I don't really care.

Photos from the 5cm:

 

[raid]

Did you buy each lens with the goal to get the 9-blade model?

 

[Corran]

\Yep. You can find them cheap if you are patient and watch eBay for them from sellers who don't know. I discovered the 9-blade models after buying a complete Nikon F kit very cheaply that turned out to have 3 different "Tick Mark" lenses included, which are the very FIRST production lenses, which then were made sans Tick Mark but retained the 9-blade aperture (see the serial number lists). I loved the look of those lenses but due to collector interest I sold all of the TM lenses for a tidy profit and bought generic models with the 9-blade apertures.

A friend who liked the look bought a 5cm f/2 9-blade for $40 on eBay that I pointed out. They sell for a lot more from dealers who know what they are.

 

[Flat Twin]

I learn't about the 9 bladed models from reading the serial number lists and comments posted next to each serial batch. I then collected all four lenses just like Corran has above and I agree with his description of the rendering of the lenses.

It just interested me and it was something different, thats all!

Regards

Simon

 

[lynnb]

Another sample image from this lens probably around f4-f2.8.. FP4+ in D76

Hyde Park, Sydney #955 by lynnb's snaps, on Flickr

 

[Timmyjoe]

Reading this got me thinking about aperture blade count on my non-AI Nikkors. Went through them all and don't have any 9-blades. Did have a 7-blade in my 35mm Nikkor-OC.

And checked my two Nikkor rangefinder lenses. The S mount 3.5cm W-Nikkor-C has 8-blades, and the LTM mount 5cm Nikkor SC Tokyo has a whopping 12-blade aperture. It's pretty round.

Best,
-Tim

 

[bakemono]

Sweet lens, can't fault it really (insane considering it's age)

 

[bakemono]

Some more with the F

 

[lynnb]

Another taken with the Nikkor-S 5cm f2 9-blade (FP4+ in XTOL):

 

[madNbad]

Since I brought up the question and was pointed in the right direction, decided to give this thread a bump.

 

[iphoenix]

Here's a photo at f11 on a sunny summer day on Sydney's beaches with Ektar 100. 1920px scan so click for the large size.

Sydney summer #167 by lynnb's snaps, on Flickr

Looks like a Ken Done seaside painting from the 1980s. I love it.