Vintage Nikkor Lenses

Nikkor S 50mm (1968) and Nikkor 55mm (1972) Lenses

Nikon F, Nikon N2020, and Nikon D1 Cameras

Vintage Nikkor SLR Lenses…

Nikon introduced the F-mount in 1959. This lens mount was designed for the Nikon F series of cameras, and it has been the foundation of Nikon’s SLR and DSLR systems. Over the years, Nikon has introduced various subcategories within the F-mount system, each with unique features and capabilities.

One of the first F-mount lenses was the Auto-Nikkor, which featured a manual focus and automatic diaphragm mechanism. As Nikon continued to develop new lenses and technologies, designations such as AI (Automatic Indexing), AI-S (Automatic Indexing-Shutter), and AF (Auto Focus) were added to distinguish the lenses.

The AI lenses, introduced in 1977, featured a mechanical coupling between the lens and camera body for exposure metering. This mechanism allowed the camera to recognize the selected aperture, enhancing the compatibility of Nikon lenses with different camera bodies. The AI-S lenses, launched in 1981, improved upon the AI system by introducing a linear aperture control mechanism, which allowed for more precise exposure control with electronic camera bodies.

In 1986, Nikon introduced the AF (Auto Focus) lenses, which incorporated an autofocus motor within the lens itself. This innovation allowed for faster and more accurate focusing, revolutionizing the world of photography. The AF system continued to evolve, and in 1992, Nikon launched the AF-D (Auto Focus-Distance) lenses, which utilized a distance encoder to improve exposure calculation and flash control.

The AF-S (Auto Focus-Silent Wave Motor) lenses, introduced in 1998, featured Nikon’s proprietary Silent Wave Motor technology, which allowed for faster and quieter autofocusing. These lenses also provided full-time manual focus override, giving photographers more control over their shots. In 2003, Nikon added the AF-S DX format to cater specifically to their line of APS-C sensor cameras. These lenses were optimized for smaller sensor sizes, providing a wider field of view for photographers using these cameras.

In 2004, Nikon launched the AF-S VR (Vibration Reduction) lenses, incorporating image stabilization technology to minimize camera shake and produce sharper images. This technology proved to be especially useful for handheld shooting in low-light conditions or when using telephoto lenses.

With the advent of mirrorless cameras, Nikon introduced the Z-mount in 2018, designed specifically for their Nikon Z series of full-frame mirrorless cameras. The Z-mount has a wider diameter and shorter flange distance compared to the F-mount, allowing for improved optical performance and more compact lens designs. Nikon has also released the FTZ adapter, which enables photographers to use their existing F-mount lenses with Z-mount camera bodies.

The “Pre AI” Lenses…

The various designations of pre-AI Nikkor lenses are as follows:

Auto NIKKOR (1959-1962): Nikon introduced its first F-mount lenses with the launch of the Nikon F camera in 1959. These Auto NIKKOR lenses were the initial series of lenses designed for the Nikon F-mount and featured a single-coating on the lens elements. The lenses had an aperture control ring with an automatic diaphragm, allowing the aperture to remain open during focusing and closing to the desired f-stop when the shutter was released. This feature provided a brighter viewfinder image, making focusing and composition easier for photographers.
Auto NIKKOR-H (1959-1974): Nikon introduced the Auto NIKKOR-H lenses concurrently with the Auto NIKKOR series in 1959, but the production of these lenses continued until 1974. These lenses featured an improved optical design with a six-element configuration. They provided better image quality and were produced alongside the original Auto NIKKOR lenses. The Auto NIKKOR-H lenses also incorporated the automatic diaphragm system, which was a standard feature in pre-AI lenses.
NIKKOR-P Auto (1964-1974): The NIKKOR-P Auto lenses were introduced in 1964, characterized by their Penta (five) element optical design. These lenses offered improved optical performance and were produced in various focal lengths to cater to the diverse needs of photographers. Like the other pre-AI lenses, the NIKKOR-P Auto lenses featured an automatic diaphragm for ease of use.
NIKKOR-Q Auto (1964-1974): Launched alongside the NIKKOR-P Auto lenses in 1964, the NIKKOR-Q Auto lenses featured a four-element optical design, providing photographers with an alternative option for different shooting situations. These lenses were part of Nikon’s effort to expand its lens lineup and cater to the growing demand for high-quality optics among professional photographers.
NIKKOR-S Auto (1966-1974): In 1966, Nikon introduced the NIKKOR-S Auto lenses, which incorporated a seven-element optical design. These lenses provided even better image quality and performance, further solidifying Nikon’s reputation as a leader in photographic technology. Like their predecessors, the NIKKOR-S Auto lenses featured an automatic diaphragm, ensuring a bright viewfinder image and ease of use.
NIKKOR-NC Auto and NIKKOR-SC Auto (1971-1974): In 1971, Nikon introduced the NIKKOR-NC Auto and NIKKOR-SC Auto lenses, which featured Nikon’s innovative multi-coating technology. This new coating, called Nikon Integrated Coating (NIC), significantly reduced lens flare and ghosting, resulting in better image quality and contrast. The NIKKOR-NC Auto lenses were upgraded versions of existing NIKKOR-C Auto lenses, while the NIKKOR-SC Auto lenses were improved versions of the NIKKOR-S Auto lenses.

AI and AI-S Lenses…

The AI (Automatic Indexing) lenses were introduced by Nikon in 1977. AI lenses were a significant advancement in lens technology, as they featured a mechanical coupling between the lens and the camera body for exposure metering. This coupling consisted of a small ridge, or “meter coupling shoe,” located on the aperture ring of the lens. When mounted on a compatible camera, this ridge engaged with a pin on the camera body, allowing the camera to recognize the selected aperture. As a result, AI lenses enhanced the compatibility of Nikon lenses with various camera bodies, enabling more accurate exposure metering.

AI lenses also offered photographers a convenient way to change the aperture, as the aperture ring could be adjusted directly on the lens. Additionally, AI lenses utilized an automatic diaphragm, meaning that the aperture remained wide open during focusing and only stopped down to the selected setting when the shutter was released. This design allowed for a brighter viewfinder image, making it easier for photographers to focus and compose their shots.

In 1981, Nikon launched the AI-S (Automatic Indexing-Shutter) lenses, which further improved upon the AI system. AI-S lenses introduced a linear aperture control mechanism, allowing for more precise exposure control with electronic camera bodies. This improvement was particularly beneficial for cameras that utilized programmed auto-exposure or shutter-priority auto-exposure modes, as it allowed the camera to select and control the aperture more accurately.

AI-S lenses also featured a minimum aperture lock, which ensured that the lens’s aperture ring was always set to its smallest setting when mounted on the camera. This feature enabled cameras with automatic exposure modes to function correctly, as they could rely on the lens’s aperture being locked at the smallest setting.

Another distinguishing characteristic of AI-S lenses was their standardized mechanical construction. AI-S lenses were built with a consistent set of specifications, allowing for better compatibility across Nikon’s range of camera bodies. This standardization included a consistent size and shape of the aperture actuation lever, which enabled Nikon to design more advanced camera bodies that could work seamlessly with AI-S lenses.

Throughout the 1980’s, Nikon continued to produce both AI and AI-S lenses. However, as autofocus technology emerged and gained popularity, Nikon shifted its focus toward developing AF (Auto Focus) lenses. Although Nikon no longer produces AI and AI-S lenses, they remain popular among photographers for their high-quality optics, mechanical precision, and compatibility with a wide range of Nikon and other cameras, both film and digital.

AF, AF-D, and AF-S Lenses…

In 1986, Nikon introduced the first AF (Auto Focus) lenses, which incorporated an autofocus motor within the lens itself. This new technology allowed for faster and more accurate focusing, revolutionizing the world of photography. The AF lenses were designed with a mechanical screw-type coupling to connect the lens’s autofocus motor with the camera’s focusing system. The camera’s autofocus motor drove the lens’s focusing mechanism through this coupling, enabling the lens to focus automatically.

Nikon’s AF lenses were compatible with most of the company’s existing F-mount camera bodies, ensuring a seamless transition for photographers already invested in the Nikon ecosystem. However, it is essential to note that the autofocus functionality of these lenses would only work with camera bodies that supported autofocus, while older or non-autofocus camera bodies would require manual focus operation.

As Nikon continued to refine its AF lens technology, the company introduced the AF-D (Auto Focus-Distance) lenses in 1992. AF-D lenses built upon the existing AF technology by incorporating a distance encoder into the lens. This encoder relayed distance information from the lens to the camera body, allowing for improved exposure calculation and more accurate flash control.

The distance information provided by AF-D lenses was particularly beneficial for cameras that utilized 3D Matrix Metering, as it enabled the camera to consider the subject’s distance when determining the optimal exposure settings. This advancement allowed photographers to capture better-exposed images, particularly in challenging lighting situations or when using fill-flash.

AF-D lenses also proved advantageous for cameras with advanced flash systems, such as Nikon’s Creative Lighting System (CLS). The distance information relayed by AF-D lenses allowed these cameras to calculate flash output more precisely, resulting in more balanced and natural-looking flash photography.

Nikon Rangefinder Cameras and Lenses, 1948 to 1959…

The Nikon I, introduced in March 1948, marked the beginning of Nikon’s journey as a camera manufacturer. This 35mm rangefinder camera featured a cloth focal-plane shutter, with shutter speeds ranging from 1/20 to 1/500 of a second and a top plate-mounted film advance knob. The first lenses available for the Nikon I were the Nippon Kogaku Tokyo Nikkor-H.C 2/50mm and the Nippon Kogaku Tokyo Nikkor-S.C 1.4/50mm.

In 1949, Nikon released the Nikon M, an upgraded version of the Nikon I, which included several improvements such as an increased maximum shutter speed of 1/1000 of a second and a bottom-mounted film advance lever for faster film winding. The Nikon M was available with a Nikkor-S.C 1.5/50mm lens.

The Nikon S, introduced in 1951, featured a new design with a combined viewfinder and rangefinder window, providing a more streamlined user experience. The Nikon S also offered flash synchronization and was initially available with the Nikkor-H.C 2/50mm lens. Later, more lenses became available for the Nikon S, such as the Nikkor-P.C 2.5/10.5cm and the Nikkor-Q.C 3.5/13.5cm.

Nikon launched the Nikon S2 in December 1954, which boasted several improvements over its predecessors, including a larger viewfinder, a self-timer, and a repositioned shutter release button. The Nikon S2 was offered with a variety of lenses, including the Nikkor-H.C 2/50mm, Nikkor-P.C 2.5/10.5cm, Nikkor-Q.C 3.5/13.5cm, and the Nikkor-S.C 1.4/50mm.

In 1957, Nikon introduced the Nikon SP, a professional-grade rangefinder camera with a 1/1000 second maximum shutter speed, an interchangeable viewfinder, and separate viewfinder windows for wide-angle and telephoto lenses. The Nikon SP was compatible with a wide range of lenses, from the wide-angle Nikkor-W 2.8/28mm to the telephoto Nikkor-T 4/10.5cm.

The Nikon S3, released in March 1958, was a simplified version of the Nikon SP, targeting advanced amateur photographers. It retained many features of the SP, such as a 1/1000 second maximum shutter speed and a large viewfinder but lacked the interchangeable viewfinder system. The Nikon S3 was available with lenses such as the Nikkor-H.C 2/50mm, Nikkor-P.C 2.5/10.5cm, and the Nikkor-S.C 1.4/50mm.

In 1959, Nikon released the Nikon S4, a more affordable alternative to the Nikon S3, which omitted the self-timer and featured a simplified film counter. The Nikon S4 was compatible with a variety of lenses, including the Nikkor-H.C 2/50mm, Nikkor-P.C 2.5/10.5cm, and the Nikkor-Q.C 3.5/13.5cm.