Nikon Nikkor-N Auto f2.8 24mm

[iangreenhalgh1]

Just picked this up for a very good price, I know there are many variants of the Nikon 24mm, what can you tell me about this one?

[Attila]

single coated or may multi coated show front of lens too good lens for sure , congrats!

[iangreenhalgh1]

Cheers, I am sure it will serve me well. I think it dates from 1967-74, not sure on the coating until it arrives, I think the multicoated ones have a C after the Nikkor-N and are from 1972 onwards, so I think this one is single coated, I'll have to find a good hood for it.

From mir.com:

Specifications: Focal length: 24mm
Maximum aperture: 1:2.8
Lens construction: 9 elements in 7 groups
Picture angle: 84° at infinity
Distance scale: Graduated both in meters and feet up to 0.3m and 1 ft
Aperture scale: f/2.8 - f/16

Considering the fact that minimum focusing distance achieved by the W-Nikkor 2.5cm f/4.0 (1953) for the Nikon rangefinder system is just a poor 4 ft ! The performance of this Nikkor 24mm f/2.8 designed for the reflex Nikon cameras was indeed outstanding and it has become an instant hit among many Nikon users who has long been long for a good, high performance wideangle lens at this focal length. The design of the focusing grip was of a traditional old- type in deep ribbed scallop fashion and with a chrome silver lens barrel. The aperture ring followed a similar design with a slightly wider grip (not the diamond ridged design as with newer series of Nikkor lenses). Most of these older series of Nikkor 24mm wideangle lenses has a minimal aperture scale of up to f/16 only.

Like some of the older series of Nikkor lenses, the lens coating for the front element is deeply coloured. Some versions has a "C" after the "Nikkor-N" denotes lens coating applied and black finished on the lens barrel. Versions that followed has the minimum aperture from f/16 improved to a smaller scale of f/22 - which may have been introduced after 1975. Many of these non-Ai 24mm wideangle Nikkor lenses still surface regularly in public/online auction sales and it is good to check if those have been Ai-modified for better compatibility with your Nikon Ai bodies before any sensible decision being made to purchase them. However, if you own any Nikon SLRs made before 1979, that should be fined.

Correction of image quality at close distance was outstanding in this Nikkor wideangle lens. Coupled to the focusing ring, an automatic optical mechanism built within ensures satisfactory good performance will deliver over its entire focusing range - from infinity to the closest distance of 0.3m. The design makes back focus clearance long enough to provide more uniform brightness in every corner of the picture image. The ingenious optical design made possible with a great reduction in its overall size and weight. Thus, you may say this lens was the first Nikkor lens that employed the innovative "Close range correction" (CRC) system.

[fermy]

Absence of C does not mean single coating. I have 35mm Nikkor-N without C and it definitely looks to be multicoated. It appears that they've started writing C after multicoating became more widespread.

[walter g]

I've lost out on a few on the 'Bay. Let me know how you like it. It's on my to buy list, after I have money again.

[iangreenhalgh1]

I found several sources that state the C denotes multicoating and was introduced in 1972.

As it states in that text from the Mir sit:

[fermy]

The text that you quoted is can be interpreted in different ways. What it directly claims is that "C" means multicoating. There is no claim that absence of "C" is absence of multicoating, you infer it, but one can infer the opposite just as well. If you critically read 24/f2.8 and 35/1.4 Nikkor-N articles on mir, you'd see that he is very vague as to exact point when these were introduced.

For example,

[iangreenhalgh1]

Nikon introduced multi-coating in the mid 70s, so unless you have a later Nikkor-N 24 you have a single coated one.

All the late ones have a C.

Look your lens up in the Nikon serial number list, if it's not from the last 2-3 years of production it's not multicoated.

http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html#24

That site also says that the 72-75 multicoated lenses are marked with a C.

[fermy]

[iangreenhalgh1]

Different lenses were given multicoating at different times, if you read some of the articles on Nikon's website, they give dates from 1972-75 for the introduction of MC to various lenses, so I'm not contradicting anything. For example, the 43-86 zoom received MC in 1974.

I really get sick of your attitude, please stop derailing this thread with it.

[fermy]

And I am getting sick with yours. So just behave civilly and don't make it personal.

[walter g]

The Nikkor N 24 2.8 got multi coating in 1972 before the C version came out. Atleast that's what I found on this site.
This site I believe is one of the most acurate.

http://imaging.nikon.com/history/nikkor/14/index.htm

[iangreenhalgh1]

[iangreenhalgh1]

[walter g]

[iangreenhalgh1]

I look forward to seeing your samples.

This site gives the serial number range 370205 - 434741 for multicoated ones so that might be the way to tell.

http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html#24

[Boomer Depp]

What's the serial number on your lens...it's important to know which lens your looking for,before you buy it.In this case the Nikkor 24/2.8 AI is preferred lens,followed by the AI-S version.The modern AF version uses the same optics of the AI and AI-S.

I really wouldn't worry about the coating now that you bought it,just go out and shoot it...the early 9 element/7 group versions didn't flare as easily the later 9e/9g version,but ghosting could be a problem...I'd keep a hood glued to it.

The biggest problem with either the early 9 element/7 group or the late 9e/9g version is the CA which gets worse the more the lens is stopped down on crop sensor cameras...on full frame sensors the CA is not as prevalent,though it's still there.

You might want to consider picking up a Canon 1Ds2 or a Nikon D3...having both cameras I like the 1Ds2 better...or you could get a Canon 5D(although I usually recommend a 1Ds2 over a 5D.)

In spring of 1970( May/June) Nikon first introduced their multi-coating, on the 35/1.4 N and was not designated by the letter C on the lens.(The N.C. designation on the 35/1.4 lens did not appear till spring of 1973).

Late in the summer of 1970 Nikon introduced the 28/2 N with multi-coating(the N.C. designation on the 28/2 didn't appear till the winter of 1973).

The first version of the 24/2.8 didn't have any coating.The next few versions were single coated .The f24/2.8 with multi-coating did not appear till late in the summer of 1972.

[iangreenhalgh1]

That's good info, I'll post the serial of my lens as soon as it arrives.

It was dirt cheap so I'm happy whichever version it is. The most important factors for the work I'll be doing with it are sharpness and low distortion and it surely has both of those.

I wish I could afford a FF camera, but sadly not.

[Boomer Depp]

Yep...there won't be much correction for distortion...on a 1.5 crop sensor, f5.6 for the best sharpness across the image,but by then the CA is 1.65 pixels in the borders...vignetting of EV of 1.01 wide open,this improves to EV of .20 by f5.6



The AI,AI-S and AF-D perform similarly on a crop sensor,with the non-AI being not quiet as sharp...though all versions do OK in the center of the image,the borders fall behind.

The following charts reflects the characteristics on a 1.5 crop sensor,with f5.6 for the best center sharpness and f8 for the best border sharpness.

[sichko]

[walter g]

[sichko]

For a set of pictures taken by forum member Chris Lilley see this flickr site.

[inombrable]

I have the same lens, Nikkor-N Nippon Kogaku Japan serial number 264778

not multicoated from around 1971.

Many lenses have come and gone from my bag but this one is the only one that has been there all the time. I like this lens a lot, very sharp, it has some flaring problems but only in extreme situations (in my experience), a hood might solve that.

Hope you like yours

[Boomer Depp]

The Nippon was obvious in the image, making this one of the first three versions,and precisely why I asked which serial number.The only thing significant about the AI conversion,means the adapter will attach easier and remove much easier.Having a Nikon body to mount the lens on would make the AI conversion significant,but he doesn't have any Nikon bodies.The significant issues with the lens are vignetting wide open,increase in CA in the borders the more the lens is stopped down,ghosting more then flare(compared to the latter AI and AI-S versions which flare more with less ghosting,and all versions should be shot with this in mind),and the borders lagging behind center sharpness till well stopped down.The preferred version of this lens is the AI with the longer focus throw,followed by the AI-S version with considerable less focus throw,but the same optics.

BTW...what happened to Chris Lilly,does he only frequent Nikon Gear forum anymore.

[sichko]