Questions about my Nikkor-S.C 50/1.4

[venchka]

Shameless cross post for a wider audience:

Hello all!

After reading and learning a lot about my lens in the recent hood & squeak threads, I have a few questions. Before I ask my questions, my lens is in That Other Mount: LTM and mounted on a Canon VI-T body.

The aperture ring on my lens is black with white numerals. In looking at examples of the lens in the Nikon mount on eBay, the aperture ring is chrome with black numerals. Was this a Canon/Leica model vs. Nikon model thing? Or different cosmetics for different years?

The focus movement is very smooth except: somewhere between about 3' and 4' there is a slight but distinct drag. Almost a detent. Is this something that needs attention or normal?

Thanks for all your help!

 

[John Shriver]

Black/chrome would be a later lens.

 

[xayraa33]

the black f number ring Nikkors seem lighter in weight than the ones made in the early 1950s
Nippon Kogaku made the lens barrels less heavy at the request of pro photographers.
the early examples were overkill in the weight dept.
hefty weight = quality, so they thought.

 

[venchka]

Don't know about the colors of the front, mine is LTM with a chrome front.
I understand the newer lenses have a black rim.

The focusing "dent" that you feel is around 0.9m when the lens
switches from normal to close focus mode, and decouples from the
rangefinder. This is normal.

Roland.

After a little investigation last night I determined that the detent occurs at 3'-6" and my VI-T's rangefinder decouples at 2'-9".

Thanks everyone!