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Nikon older SLR lenses
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 02, 2024 8:20 pm    Post subject: Nikon older SLR lenses Reply with quote
A few months ago I inherited a Nikkormat EL with 7 Nikon lenses and a Soligor macro zoom lens. On Nikonions.org I read that all non-Ai Nikon lenses have a letter after the name Nikon, to tell the number of the optical formula. So P would mean Penta, 5 elements. So what would then the C mean in a Micro-Nikkor -P.C 3.5/55mm?
And several of my lenses don't have such a letter, like the Nikkor 1.4/50mm, the Nikkor 2.5/105mm. About this 105mm lens I read that people differentiate between a Sonnar type and a Xenar (I think) type. How can one tell which is which?
And what would Nikkor-O Auto 2/35mm say about the optical formula?

Thanks for any information,
Lex


PostPosted: Fri Aug 02, 2024 9:32 pm    Post subject: Re: Nikon older SLR lenses Reply with quote
SandroB wrote:
A few months ago I inherited a Nikkormat EL with 7 Nikon lenses and a Soligor macro zoom lens. On Nikonions.org I read that all non-Ai Nikon lenses have a letter after the name Nikon, to tell the number of the optical formula. So P would mean Penta, 5 elements. So what would then the C mean in a Micro-Nikkor -P.C 3.5/55mm?
And several of my lenses don't have such a letter, like the Nikkor 1.4/50mm, the Nikkor 2.5/105mm. About this 105mm lens I read that people differentiate between a Sonnar type and a Xenar (I think) type. How can one tell which is which?
And what would Nikkor-O Auto 2/35mm say about the optical formula?

Thanks for any information,
Lex


Not all non-Ai lenses have a letter after NIKKOR. There was a generation of pre-Ai lenses, sometimes referred to as the 'K' series, between those with a letter after NIKKOR and the beginning of the Ai lenses. This page has a full list of all Nikon lenses, sorted by generation: http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html

When there's a letter and a 'C' like with your micro lens, that C means it's multicoated. There were also a few lenses that underwent an optical change with the switch to multicoating. You can reference the page I linked above to see when any change in optics occurred.

The first NIKKOR-P 105mm/2.5 lenses were of a Sonnar design, but this was changed to a Xenotar formula toward the end of the -P run. If your 105mm is -P.C or later, it's a Xenotar design. There were also some further refinements in this Xenotar lens formula over subsequent generations.

The 'O' in NIKKOR-O is for 'Octo', meaning it has eight lens elements.


PostPosted: Fri Aug 02, 2024 9:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks, this explains a lot. Only my 105mm is not clear to me, since it doesn't have any letter or other designations than I gave, Nikkor 2.5/105mm. Judging from the serial number it was produced in the period 1977-sept. 1981 and it makes it the Xenotar type since it was produced later than the P designated 105mm lenses.
Lex


PostPosted: Sat Aug 03, 2024 4:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I found the nikonians site to be a bit on the odd side, and did not stay long.
In some cases, ill-informed opinions get confused with what is actually known about the nikkor line. It does pay to dig a little for further information.

I have a lens quite similar to your 35mm f2, except it's a tiny bit later, and is multi-coated. It's designation is O.C. nikkor. It is a lens that rapidly became a favorite with me- for it's rendering.

I have both the P and P.C 55mm f3.5 micro nikkors. They are basically the same lenses with the C version being multi-coated. The plain P version has an earlier coating that is likely a single coating.

Your 105 is most likely an A/I (aperture index tab) or A/I-s with the cut out scoop on the lens mount for Program metering with Nikon FA and newer cameras.

Finding an EL with a functioning metering system and shutter takes a bit of doing these days. The early electronics era shutter resistors that went into them were not very long lived.

Enjoy your new acquisitions!

-D.S.


PostPosted: Sat Aug 03, 2024 7:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Doc Sharptail wrote:
I have a lens quite similar to your 35mm f2, except it's a tiny bit later, and is multi-coated. It's designation is O.C. nikkor. It is a lens that rapidly became a favorite with me- for it's rendering.


I love this lens as well. I also have a Canon of similar vintage, the much-hyped 35mm/2 S.S.C. "concave" that sells for high prices thanks to it becoming popular with videographers. I even gave mine an extended UV treatment and completely ridded it of any yellowing. However, the Canon is obscenely large, so I heavily favor the NIKKOR-O.C in actual use.
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