Vintage 3rd party lenses for Nikon RF

[David Murphy]

OK got it, thanks. I have a small collection of Accura, Kilfitt, and Novaflex reflex viewers for Leica thread mount, and their flange to focal length distance is, as far as I can tell, compatible with early Leica reflex housings (clearly by design). I suppose this means they could focus with early LTM Telyt long lenses, but I've not actually tried it. So along those lines, I was thinking the Mirax could accept and provide infinitiy focus with Nikon long lenses designed for their reflex housing. And yes I can understand that that Mirax would also make a good platform for macro photography using standard back focus Nikon (and probably Contax) mount lenses.

 

[UV76]

Here’s WA. Acall 35mm f3.5 for Nikon RF. I believe this is Sankyo Kohki (Komura) variant and same/largely similar to W.ATCO lens.
Sample picture attached (Nikon SP, Fujicolor Superia Premium 400)

 

[UV76]

Here’s Fujinon 50/1.2 for Nikon RF

 

[David Murphy]

The Fujinon 50/1.2 on a Nikon RF looks simply awe inspiring

 

[UV76]

The Fujinon 50/1.2 on a Nikon RF looks simply awe inspiring

It's a fantastic glass

 

[JMF]

Here are photos taken with a 50 1.2 Fujinon in Contax mount fitted with an Amedeo Contax to Leica M mount on a Leica MP and Acros 100:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2pojZ3P]https://flic.kr/p/2pojZ3P
Jardim Botânico by JM__, on Flickr[/URL]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2pojZax]Jardim Botânico by JM__, on Flickr[/URL]

Jardim Botânico by JM__, on Flickr

 

[JMF]

One more with the 50 1.2 Fujinon Contax and Portra 160 / Leica MP

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2oL2Rnk]jardim botânico by JM__, on Flickr[/URL]

 

[ocs302]

Anyone have a sense of how many Nikon mount RF 1.2/5 cm Fujinon were made?

 

[jmanivelle]

Anyone have a sense of how many Nikon mount RF 1.2/5 cm Fujinon were made?

These web pages state that under 50 Nikon S mount units were made but do not mention the Contax mount version:

Fujinon 5cm f/1.2 | Fujinon 50mm F1.2 LTM Lens — LEICA MOMENT REVIEW

The Fujinon 5cm f1.2 lens is an urban myth in the world of ultra fast lenses. It is seldomly seen and there is little information written on this highly collectible and ultra rare beauty. This lens is commonly known as the Fujinon 50mm F1.2 LTM lens that is capable of competing against the Legendar

jerrybei.com

Camera Geekery: Fujinon 50mm f1.2 LTM - Japan Camera Hunter

Camera Geekery: Fujinon 50mm f1.2 LTM The primal need for speed in us humans ignited the speed war among Japanese lens makers in the 50's that yielded

www.japancamerahunter.com

 

[David Murphy]

OK, well this is not exactly a vintage 3rd party lens for Nikon rangefinder, but it certainly enables one - and for Contax rangefinders as well as Nikons! This is a rather uncommon (rare even?) Kilfitt reflex viewer for Nikon RF and Contax that I found on eBay recently. Here it is in use with my Contax IIa and Kilfitt 400mm F5.6 telephoto. I was aware such a reflex viewer existed in Nikon/Contax RF mount as I've seen one listed in old Kilfitt catalogs, but I've never actually seen one for sale or in use anywhere before this one inconspicuously appeared on eBay for sale one day recently.

I just took a few color shots of the Moon with this. I'll post results when they get back from Dwayne's if they turn out well. I posted some nice shots of the Moon using the same lens with a similar Kilfitt LTM viewer a few years back and a Tower rangefinder as the body.

 

[David Murphy]

I've saved a few images from a recent auction of a Soligor 35mm f/2.8 in Contax Mount (C engraved on lens mount, but surely the Nikon version exists).

This is the only version of the Soligor 35mm I've seen. I know the Tanar 35mm came in the same barrel, but I don't know how many revisions the Tanar barrel went through. I don't know if the Komura ever came in this barrel, but there are at least two or more versions of it. David Murphy shared some info about his Komura 35mm on the forum a few years ago, and here's another style of the Komura with a silver aperture ring, this version had no engraving for Contax or Nikon:

(I've saved these images for education/research only. I hope it's okay to share them.)

Interestingly the Soligor 35mm F2.8 ('C' version) I own now will not mount on my Nikon SP, although it mounts effortlessly on my Contax IIa and Bessa R2C (as it should of course). I generally find that Nikon RF wides mount and focus fine on Contax bodies, but I'm not sure how this works the other way around as my Nikon RF experience is more limited.

 

[UV76]

Sankyo Kohki Komura- 105mm f2.8 for Nikon RF

 

[UV76]

Sankyo Kohki Komura- 105mm f2.8 for Nikon RF
sample pictures
Fujicolor 100

 

[wes loder]

We should not forget the various short-mount lenses made to fit the Contax. All of them work fine on a Nikon RF camera since the mount distances are the same. The Kilfitt is easy to work with and the spring-loaded mirror pops up allowing quick reaction shooting. However, the mirror is not instant return. The Novoflex housing in Contax mount is beautifully made, but requires a special "bridge" to link to the camera shutter release. I had a bridge made but it never worked well, so I eventually sold it, but kept the 300mm Noflexar lens for its rapid focusing. The post-war, Zeiss-Ikon Panflex will handle any Zeiss or Nikkor lens in short mount. You just have to remember that all these focus beyond infinity so have to be brought out slightly to gain infinity. I find the the Panflex much easier to use than the Nikon's reflex housing. Please remember that any lens longer then about 250mm will vignette regardless of which housing or make of lens is used. Pictured are the Novoflex 300mm—early version, The 150mm Kilar on the Kilfitt housing and a 500mm FernObjekiv on a Post-war Panflex. The 150mm Kilar is compact and takes 52mm fllters. Nice. The Kilar housing and the Novoflex housing (first version) have L39 mount fronts.

 

[UV76]

We should not forget the various short-mount lenses made to fit the Contax. All of them work fine on a Nikon RF camera since the mount distances are the same. The Kilfitt is easy to work with and the spring-loaded mirror pops up allowing quick reaction shooting. However, the mirror is not instant return. The Novoflex housing in Contax mount is beautifully made, but requires a special "bridge" to link to the camera shutter release. I had a bridge made but it never worked well, so I eventually sold it, but kept the 300mm Noflexar lens for its rapid focusing. The post-war, Zeiss-Ikon Panflex will handle any Zeiss or Nikkor lens in short mount. You just have to remember that all these focus beyond infinity so have to be brought out slightly to gain infinity. I find the the Panflex much easier to use than the Nikon's reflex housing. Please remember that any lens longer then about 250mm will vignette regardless of which housing or make of lens is used. Pictured are the Novoflex 300mm—early version, The 150mm Kilar on the Kilfitt housing and a 500mm FernObjekiv on a Post-war Panflex. The 150mm Kilar is compact and takes 52mm fllters. Nice. The Kilar housing and the Novoflex housing (first version) have L39 mount fronts.

Thank you for your inputs.
I have noticed using Nikon 300mm f4.5 or 500mm f5 + Nikon reflex housing on Nikon RF causes a lot of vignetting due to construction of reflex housing and where the light source is pointed when used with a hood.

Do Panflex/Novoflex housing perform better in this sense?

Shooting with Nikkor-T.C 50cm f5 and Reflex Housing

The internal chamber of Reflex Housing causes vignetting but generally pleased with the outcome. Film: Fuji Superia Premium 400

rangefinderforum.com

Nikon reflex housing - high serial number

I recently saw a listing for a “new in the box” Nikon reflex housing type II with accessories. It seemed to be at a lower price (though still expensive) compared with others in OK condition. I had some extra cash (sold some space program stuff I collect) so I bought it. It came in the original...

rangefinderforum.com

(vignetted corners cropped in the sample images)

 

[wes loder]

I have tested all sorts of combinations: Nikon, Kilfitt, Novoflex, Zeiss. If the lens is longer than 250mm, some vignetting will occur. The longer the focal length, the worse the problem. However, these same lenses do not vignette when mounted on a Nikon F. I believe the problem is the small throat of the camera mount itself rather than any problem with the reflex housings.

 

[UV76]

I have tested all sorts of combinations: Nikon, Kilfitt, Novoflex, Zeiss. If the lens is longer than 250mm, some vignetting will occur. The longer the focal length, the worse the problem. However, these same lenses do not vignette when mounted on a Nikon F. I believe the problem is the small throat of the camera mount itself rather than any problem with the reflex housings.

Thank you for your insights. Using reflex housing is operationally cumbersome (but fun!) but shooting with Nikon F (SLR) seem to solve all problems

 

[David Murphy]

Thank you for your inputs.
I have noticed using Nikon 300mm f4.5 or 500mm f5 + Nikon reflex housing on Nikon RF causes a lot of vignetting due to construction of reflex housing and where the light source is pointed when used with a hood.

Do Panflex/Novoflex housing perform better in this sense?

Shooting with Nikkor-T.C 50cm f5 and Reflex Housing

The internal chamber of Reflex Housing causes vignetting but generally pleased with the outcome. Film: Fuji Superia Premium 400

rangefinderforum.com

Nikon reflex housing - high serial number

I recently saw a listing for a “new in the box” Nikon reflex housing type II with accessories. It seemed to be at a lower price (though still expensive) compared with others in OK condition. I had some extra cash (sold some space program stuff I collect) so I bought it. It came in the original...

rangefinderforum.com

(vignetted corners cropped in the sample images)

I have a Novoflex reflex housing too in LTM, and it is nicely made and it seems not as common today on the used market as those from Kilfitt. I've also run into the need for the "bridge" assembly to which you refer. These are sold occasionally on eBay, but I think there are different versions of them, some for Barnacks and some for Leica M mount bodies (perhaps), but I've not yet sorted out the compatibility and version issues. That's something that's not so easy to do these days with the lack of reliable information regarding these fairly obscure fittings.

 

[David Murphy]

Sankyo Kohki Komura- 105mm f2.8 for Nikon RF
sample pictures
Fujicolor 100

That Komura is impressive, and I love the look of its matching finder - that must be really rare.

 

[UV76]

Here are my copies and sammle pictures of
Sankyo Kohki

W.Komura 35mm f2.8, Early Zebra helicoid (s/n 284xxx)
Komura 80mm f1.8
Komura 105mm f2.8

on Nikon S2


35mm f2.8

80mm f1.8

105mm f2.8