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Page last updated: Saturday, June 14, 2008
Nikkor Lenses
While I originally had no intention of even considering lenses as part of my collection, they just began showing up with cameras I bought.
It seems a lot of folks were selling original Nikkormat kits they had amassed over the years. One common theme was that the seller had inherited Dad's cameras and lenses, and did not have any idea what to do with them.
My first thought was to sell off the lenses. After all, they were 30 or 40 year old manually focusing rocks that weren't of any use to me in the digital, auto-focus world. Boy, was I wrong. The first lens I received (with a Nikon F attached) was a tack sharp 50mm f/1.4 lens, faster than anything I owned. While I found it could not be used on my D80 or D2x, I was amazed to discover that it mounted just fine on a D40. Not only was it fast, but it was clear and crispy, arguably better than my auto-focus 50mm f/1.8 (which, for those who care, is a MIJ version!).
I soon found myself watching auctions with camera bodies and lenses in mind, and, before long, had a series of six different lenses from the 1960's and 70's. This page is dedicated to my optical finds, and some of the history behind them. Technical data is provided from information found at http://photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html, and from the book Nikon F/Nikkormat Handbook of Photography by Joseph D. Cooper and Joseph C. Abbott. I was fortunate enough to find a great copy of the Cooper/Abbott book on Amazon.com for a fraction of what they sell for these days on eBay.
Serial Number: 720197 (c.1971)
Serial Number Range: 680001-807614
Number Produced: 127,614
Years Produced: 1971 to 1973
Type: 6 groups of 6 elements
Apertures: 3.5~16
Diaphragm setting: Automatic diaphragm with equidistant settings; couples to exposure meter
Filter/Attachment Size: 52mm
Weight: 215g (7.75 oz.)
Original List Price: $253.00
Nikkor-S 35mm f/2.8 (NAI Zoom)
Serial Number: 313316 (c.1971)
Serial Number Range: 300001-392562
Number Produced: 92,561
Years Produced: 1971 to 1974
Type: 6 groups of 7 elements
Apertures: 2.8~16
Diaphragm setting: Automatic diaphragm with equidistant settings; couples to exposure meter
Filter/Attachment Size: 52mm
Weight: 200g (7 oz.)
Original List Price: $205.00
Nikkor 43~86mm f/3.5 (NAI Zoom)
Serial Number: 443494 (c.1964)
Serial Number Range: 438611-490637
Number Produced: 52,027
Years Produced: 1963 to 1971
Type: 7 groups of 9 elements
Apertures: 3.5~22
Diaphragm setting: Automatic diaphragm with equidistant settings; couples to exposure meter
Filter/Attachment Size: 52mm
Weight: 400g (14 oz.)
Original List Price: $300.00
Nikkor-S 5cm f/2.0 (NAI)
Serial Number: 552267 (c.1962)
Serial Number Range: 520001-584394
Number Produced: 64,294
Years Produced: 1959-1964
Type: 4 groups of 6 elements
Apertures: 2.0~16
Diaphragm setting: Automatic diaphragm with equidistant settings; couples to exposure meter
Filter/Attachment Size: 52mm
Weight: 200g (7 oz.)
Original List Price: $125.00
Nikkor-S 50mm f/1.4 (NAI)
Serial Number: 390151 (c.1965)
Serial Number Range: 314101-454446
Number Produced: 140,336
Years Produced: 1962-1966
Type: 5 groups of 7 elements
Apertures: 1.4~16
Diaphragm setting: Automatic diaphragm with equidistant settings; couples to exposure meter
Filter/Attachment Size: 52mm
Weight: 300g (10.5 oz.)
Original List Price: $216.00
Nikkor-S.C 50mm f/1.4 (NAI)
Serial Number: 1469436 (c.1974)
Serial Number Range: 1280001-1613735
Number Produced: 333,734
Years Produced: 1973-1974
Type: 5 groups of 7 elements
Apertures: 1.4~16
Diaphragm setting: Automatic diaphragm with equidistant settings; couples to exposure meter
Filter/Attachment Size: 52mm
Weight: 300g (10.5 oz.)
Original List Price: $216.00
Nikkor-H 50mm f/1.4 (NAI)
Serial Number: 1043577 (c.1971)
Serial Number Range: 1000001-1068197
Number Produced: 68,1977
Years Produced: 1971
Type: 4 groups of 6 elements
Apertures: 2~16
Diaphragm setting: Automatic diaphragm with equidistant settings; couples to exposure meter
Filter/Attachment Size: 52mm
Weight: 200g (7 oz.)
Original List Price: $125.00
Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 (NAI)
Serial Number: 3234656 (c.1975)
Serial Number Range: 3100001-3339337
Number Produced: 239,337
Years Produced: 1974-1977
Type: 4 groups of 6 elements
Apertures: 2~16
Diaphragm setting: Automatic diaphragm with equidistant settings; couples to exposure meter
Filter/Attachment Size: 52mm
Weight: 200g (7 oz.)
Original List Price: $125.00
Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 (NAI)
Serial Number: 252344 (c.1968)
Serial Number Range: 238011-273153
Number Produced: 35,143
Years Produced: 1967-1969
Type: 4 groups of 5 elements
Apertures: 3.5~32
Diaphragm setting: Automatic diaphragm with equidistant settings; couples to exposure meter
Filter/Attachment Size: 52mm
Weight: 240g (8.5 oz.)
Original List Price: $293.00
Nikkor-Q 13.5cm f/3.5 (NAI)
Serial Number: 725320 (c.1961)
Serial Number Range: 721166-773780
Number Produced: 53,680
Years Produced: 1960-1966
Type: 3 groups of 4 elements
Apertures: 3.5~22
Diaphragm setting: Automatic diaphragm with equidistant settings; couples to exposure meter
Filter/Attachment Size: 52mm
Weight: 370g (13 oz.)
Original List Price: $230.00
Nikkor-Q 135mm f/3.5 (NAI)
Serial Number: 764638 (c.1965)
Serial Number Range: 753793~773780
Number Produced: 53,680
Years Produced: 1966-1967
Type: 3 groups of 4 elements
Apertures: 3.5~22
Diaphragm setting: Automatic diaphragm with equidistant settings; couples to exposure meter
Filter/Attachment Size: 52mm
Weight: 370g (13 oz.)
Original List Price: $230.00
Nikkor-Q 200mm f/4 (NAI)
Serial Number: 307135 (c.1968)
Serial Number Range: 304411-319959
Number Produced: 15,549
Years Produced: 1967-1969
Type: 4 groups of 4 elements
Apertures: 4~22
Diaphragm setting: Automatic diaphragm with equidistant settings; couples to exposure meter
Filter/Attachment Size: 52mm
Weight: 560g (19.25 oz.)
Original List Price: $325.00