What is the Rarest Nikon RF Lens?

[BillBingham2]

Rumor has it that some folks in BedSty are trying to make fake 1000/6.3 but in gang colors! I miss the Ave N stop on the F.

B2 (;->

 

[jsuominen]

After reading last night Bob Rotoloni's Nikon Rangefinder Camera -book, I'll vote "1000/6.3 Black". 🙂

 

[MikeL]

After reading last night Bob Rotoloni's Nikon Rangefinder Camera -book, I'll vote "1000/6.3 Black". 🙂

Don't just go along because "the man" says so. Oh wait, he is The Man. Uh, good choice, yah. 🙂

 

[CameraQuest]

Don't just go along because "the man" says so. Oh wait, he is The Man. Uh, good choice, yah. 🙂

yes, he is.
but a lot of info has been gathered since that book was published.

Stephen

 

[CameraQuest]

only 11 out of 55 voters got got either of the two reported rarest lenses correct.
that is because the rarest reported lens to Bob is usually not considered all that rare -- in error.

more later in the day.

Stephen

 

[erikhaugsby]

only 11 out of 55 voters got got either of the two reported rarest lenses correct.
that is because the rarest reported lens to Bob is usually not considered all that rare -- in error.

more later in the day.

Stephen

So that means the two rarest Nikon lenses are the 1000/6.3 (black) and either the 50/3.5 (non-micro) or the 35/1.8 (black rim).

So which one is it?

 

[CameraQuest]

The 15th, 14th, and 13th Rarest NRF Lenses Are

The 15th, 14th, and 13th Rarest NRF Lenses Are

# 15 50/1.4 All Black for Nikon RF Black bodies 700 to 800 lenses

# 14 350/4.5 429 lenses

# 13 50/1.5 389 lenses in NRF mount


Due to David Douglas Duncan, the 50/1.5 is arguably the most important lens Nikon ever produced. Without DDD, would Nikon have survived the occupation era?

Stephen

Copyright Robert Rotoloni, 2007, all rights reserved "The 15 Rarest Nikon Rangefinder Lenses"

 

[BillBingham2]

Why the 50/1.5 and not the 85/2?

B2 (;->

 

[CameraQuest]

The 12th, 11th, and 10th Rarest Nikon Rangefinder Lenses Are:

The 12th, 11th, and 10th Rarest Nikon Rangefinder Lenses Are:

# 12 50/1.4 Aluminum 300 Aprorx

# 11 85/2 801 Series, 300 Aprox

# 10 21/4 298 per factory


Stephen

Copyright Robert Rotoloni, 2007, all rights reserved "The 15 Rarest Nikon Rangefinder Lenses"









Copyright Robert Rotoloni, 2007, all rights reserved "The 15 Rarest Nikon Rangefinder Lenses"

 

[BillBingham2]

I thought it was the picture taken with the 85/2 that turned his head towards Nikon in the first place. Yes, after the 105 came out I woiuld bet that everyone dropped the 85 like a hot potato.

B2 (;->

 

[CameraQuest]

The 9th, 8th, 7th, 6th Rarest Nikon Rangefinder Lenses Are:

The 9th, 8th, 7th, 6th Rarest Nikon Rangefinder Lenses Are:

The 9th, 8th, 7th, 6th Rarest Nikon Rangefinder Lenses Are:

# 9 135/4 MIOJ 611 series for Nikon One 230/250 Aprox

# 8 500/5 157 in Nikon mount per factory

# 7 35/3.5 Sereo 146 or 176

# 6 35/3.5 MIOJ 612 series for Nikon One series 125 Aprox


Stephen

Copyright Robert Rotoloni, 2007, all rights reserved "The 15 Rarest Nikon Rangefinder Lenses"

 

[CameraQuest]

The 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and Rarest Nikon Rangefinder Lenses Are:

The 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and Rarest Nikon Rangefinder Lenses Are:

The 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and Rarest Nikon Rangefinder Lenses Are:

# 5 50/3.5 MIOJ for Nikon One Aprox 100

# 4 35/1.8 Black Rim, aprox 75

# 3 1000/6.3 Grey "38 possibly, factory says 48 total 1000/6.3 production"

# 2 1000/6.3 Black "10 possibly"

# 1 50/2 All Black "5 or 6 verified"

The black 1000/6.3 is so rare most collectors have never heard of it, much less seen one. Very few have seen a grey 1000/6.3 in NRF mount either.

The all black 50/2 is quite a surprise. Most collectors have no idea so few are verified by Bob as being original. More will likely be reported now, probably making the black 1000/6.3 into the number one position as the rarest Nikon RF lens.

I believe the all black 50/2 were made to order to match black Nikon S2's. I have found two of them on black S2's. Presumably most people who paid extra for a black body also paid extra for the 1.4.

Stephen

Copyright Robert Rotoloni, 2007, all rights reserved "The 15 Rarest Nikon Rangefinder Lenses"

 

[jsuominen]

only 11 out of 55 voters got got either of the two reported rarest lenses correct.

What would be the prize for the 'winners'? Bob's new book, after it has been published or 1000/6.3 Black? 😉

 

[Harry Lime]

What would be the prize for the 'winners'? Bob's new book, after it has been published or 1000/6.3 Black? 😉

How about one of those new Nikon SP sets?
🙄


HL

 

[LeicaTom]

How many Nikkor S F1.5 50mm in LTM were ever made?



Too bad they are so rare, I`d love to see what the photo results would be mated up with a really good Leica IIIC 😀

Tom

 

[JonR]

Very interesting thread to read!
/jon

 

[VinceC]

Why the 50/1.5 and not the 85/2?

The 85/2 led Duncan to discover Nikkor lenses. However, he did nearly all of his shooting with 50mm lenses. He spent the first several months of the Korean War shooting for LIFE with a 50/1.5. He then switched to the new 50/1.4 in time to shoot the November-December 1950 retreat. In his landmark book "This is War!" the first two sections of photographs were taken with the 50/1.5. The final section was shot with the 50/1.4. His text says only one published book photo was shot with a non-50, a close-up portrait of a Chinese soldier shot with a 135mm Nikon.

In my version of "This is War!" there's no visible quality difference between the 50/1.5 and the 50/1.4.

 

[wes loder]

As I pointed out in my talk in 2006, and in my forthcoming book, NK did not start to sell the 35mm f3.5 until the spring of 1950. No 35mm lens was sold with the Nikon I. There was an initial series with the aperture ring reversed that was apparently a first run, and is quite rare, but it was not available in either 1948 or 1949. A few variframe finders were sold for the Nikon I, and these do have a marking for the 35, but that was in anticipation of production.

I remain curious about Stephen's 157 number for the 500 f5, since I have records of serial numbers from 021 through 272. Where is the gap or gaps? Thanks, WES

 

[CameraQuest]

As I pointed out in my talk in 2006, and in my forthcoming book, NK did not start to sell the 35mm f3.5 until the spring of 1950. No 35mm lens was sold with the Nikon I. There was an initial series with the aperture ring reversed that was apparently a first run, and is quite rare, but it was not available in either 1948 or 1949. A few variframe finders were sold for the Nikon I, and these do have a marking for the 35, but that was in anticipation of production.

I remain curious about Stephen's 157 number for the 500 f5, since I have records of serial numbers from 021 through 272. Where is the gap or gaps? Thanks, WES

Hi Wes,

the figures came from Bob Rotoloni.

I know from private emails that neither Bob or I agree with your take the 35/3.5 production did not start with the Nikon One.

Please explain how you came to that conclusion, and whether or not any Nippon Kogaku employees of the time agree with you.

Thanks
Stephen

 

[NIKON KIU]

Hi Wes,

the figures came from Bob Rotoloni.

I know from private emails that neither Bob or I agree with your take the 35/3.5 production did not start with the Nikon One.

Please explain how you came to that conclusion, and whether or not any Nippon Kogaku employees of the time agree with you.

Thanks
Stephen

I believe Wes reviewed the records of the Occupation forces😎

I guess those COULD be wrong😱

Kiu