Questions about the Nikkor-S.C 50mm/1.4 lens

[venchka]

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!

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Nobody, really? Bump.

 

[NIKON KIU]

Most of the screw-mount Nikkors were all chrome.
The black Aperture ring is only seen on the late production stuff. I just sold Gabriel a Wide angle lens with such characteristics.
Can you post some pictures of your lens here? I can also tell by the serial number(if it is late vintage).
The uneven focus is probably because there is dirt inside the helicoid, thus meaning if you want to USE your 50 year old Nikkor a lot, may be a CLA is in order.
Hope this helps,
Kiu

 

[ghost]

at 1m, there is a detent to warn you that rangefinder coupling has disengaged.

 

[dreamsandart]

The LTM Nikkor lenses with the black painted aperture ring are later production. Very few were made in this style. Looks very nice on a LTM or M camera.

The LTM Nikkor 5cm f1.4 is a 'close focus' lens mount. The 'bump' in the focus cam is there to let you know that the closest focus with the rangefinder has been reached, it can continued to be focused to 1.5' (18 in) but this is done in the 'old way', best set up on a tripod and with a tape measurement to the film plane. Sounds strange I know, but with some guesstamation of parallax correction it does work. If your M3 has been adjusted to focus under 1 meter or you have a later M-series, the rangefinder does couple a bit closer to about 3' just after bump, so the lens is a closer focus fast rangefinder lens than the others of the 50s/60s that were limited to about 1 meter.

Its a very beautifully built lens, one of the most solid and well finished ever. The single lens coating is actually quite effective and the image quality is very sharp and 'classic'. Compact size but a hefty solid brass mount and heavy chrome plating.

 

[ZivcoPhoto]

As the others have indicated that bump signifies that the rangefinder mechanism has disengaged and you are now focusing manually until you reach the close focus distance...i

This is a very fine lens....you are fortunate to have one. I take myself to task for not using mine more often but it is part of my Leica IIIF kit that I don't use often enough due to the recent resurgence of Nikon rangefinder madness on my brain!

 

[VinceC]

>>...resurgence of Nikon rangefinder madness on my brain!<<

Madness. Madness. Madness.