story about W-Nikkor-C 25/4

[Sonnar2]

A quite new story: Tale 29 by SATO, Haruo
http://www.nikon.co.jp/main/eng/portfolio/about/history/nikkor/n29_e.htm

Interesting information about the Topogon type.

Anyone know the production figure of the 25/4? They seem to be quite rare, rarer than the comparable Canon 25/3.5, although not as rare as the Zeiss Topogon.

 

[NIKON KIU]

According to Akito Tamla, member of NHS, there were 2874 Nikkor 2.5cm f4 lenses produced. 1924 of those in Nikon S mount and 950 in screw mount.
Please note this lens is available both in Chrome and black, it is believed there are more black versions than chrome.

Kiu

 

[Tom A]

Fascinating story! The assembly of those tiny little elements must have been a nightmare! I did have one some years ago, but it was a bit too flare prone for my taste. I also could not get along with the aperture control on it. The flare was not entirely the Topogons formula's fault as the lens had had a hard life and it had scratches on the front. Interesting lens and thanks for the article about it.

 

[jsuominen]

Interesting story indeed! By the way, there seems to be one of those lenses with caps, hood, original 2.5cm finder etc. in Leicashop, Vienna. Luckily it's way out of my budget... So, I'm just happy with my SC-Skopar 25/4.

 

[Sonnar2]

Fascinating story! The assembly of those tiny little elements must have been a nightmare!

That was new for me, too, Tom. Lately I bought a lens with basically the same Topogon design, a Canon RF 3.5/25, which seller offered me to get a "basic cleaning" for 25 GBP surplus to the auction price. He told me after closing the auction, which was described "mint" and "clean" and whatsoon. I defeated, due to my fear for these small elements. Turned out that the lens wasn't dusty but a bit scratched. Some sellers must have bad eyes, but I'm still waiting for a seller with bad eyes who sees scratches were no be present.

After I read the NIKON story it's my believe that Carl Zeiss Jena didn't find out how to produce the Topogon in larger series than 200, even for sake of Deutschmark and Dollar, very welcome in East Germany these years. But NIKON and CANON did it!

 

[VinceC]

Interesting story. Now I might have to keep my eyes out for one. Sometimes the CV 25/4 seems a little too modern, whereas I've always liked the classic look of the 1950s lenses.