Additional Information on Older
35mm f1.4 Nikkor-N Auto, 35mm f2.0 Nikkor-O Auto
& 35mm f2.8 Nikkor-S Auto Lenses - Part II

 

cont... The 35mm f/2.0 shown below was the version that went on sale during early and mid of the seventies, it is identical to the older version optically except with some exterior changes to its design. This lens has improved its minimum aperture to f/22 from earlier ones where only stopped down at f/16. See MORE info of this lens version at the Pre-AI Nikkor section.

35mmf270.jpg
Specifications:

Focal length:
35mm
Maximum aperture: 1:2.0
Lens construction: 8 elements in 6 groups
Picture angle: 62° at infinity
Distance scale: Graduated both in meters and feet up to 0.3m and 1 ft
Aperture scale: f/2.0 - f/22

NOTE:- Refer to the Rangefinder Nikkor lenses section for more info

Aperture diaphragm: Fully automatic
Meter coupling prong: Integrated (fully open exposure metering)
Attachment size: 52mm (P=0.75)
Filter: 52mm screw-in
Hood: HN-3
Dimensions: 63.5mm
dia. X 61mm length (2-1/2 in. X 2-13/32 in.)
Weight: 280g (9.9 oz)
Accessories:
52mm Snap-On front cap (108 - 00 - 400), rear cap type F (108 - 00 - 401). Lens cases CL-31, No.54, CP-1

Nikkor 35mm f/2 O¥C wideangle lens with use of Thorium glass
From: "Martin Koistinen" <mkoistinen@gmail.com>

Subject: Nikkor 35mm f/2 O•C. I think I have something to contribute to your fabulous online history of Nikkor lenses.

I've become the recent owner of a Nikkor 35mm 1:2 O•C Serial No. 848801. So far, your site seems to skip this lens. I'm not sure if it's because you didn't have access to one or if its just not worthy :)

Shown could be an AI'd lens. They apparently only made these for about 2 years 1971-1973. If it is made with Thorium glass, I can't tell visually and I don't have access to a Geiger counter. I'd be happy to answer any other questions if you have them. Best regards!



Non-Ai
3.5cm f/2.8-16 Nikkor-S Auto Wideangle Lens

This was one lens that was among original batch of reflex lenses that debuted along with Nikon F back in 1959. The 3.5cm f/2.8-16 Nikkor-S Auto wideangle lens has gone through so many upgrades over the years and could even confused any new Nikkor lens collector. The first version was generally believed to have been introduced back in August, 1959. It can be distinguished by its an all satin-chrome silver lens barrel which extends all the way to the filter attachment; besides, it has a ridged aperture and focusing ring which was a hallmark design in any of the earliest versions of Nikkor lenses.

35mmf28NikkorNon_natcam.jpg


The first version may also has a distinctive red alphabet "R" to indicate the infrared position on the solid chrome aperture ring (replaced by a red dot in the second version). The lens came with an optical construction of 7 elements in 5 groups, focusses to less than 0.3m and accepts a lens hood HN-3. It has a dimension of 62.5mm dia. by 57.5mm in length and weighs only 200g.

<<<--- Credit: Image courtesy of Mr. Tony Pollock <tony@natcam.com> from National Camera Exchange ("NATCAM") Natcam also maintains a popular Ebay Store where you can take a visit to scout for OM used items. Image copyright © 2004 All rights reserved. Please respect the visual property of the contributing photographer.

Further, the minimum aperture of this Nikkor wideangle lens was stopped down to only f/16 instead of f/22 which the latter was believed only being introduced as late as 1975 and also may have come with an all black finished exterior. The lens coating of this early version may not be multi-coated but has a slight blueish tint. According to Peter Braczko in the Nikon's Hand Book, he specified serial number for the earliest version may have been started with 9XXXXXX. While Moose Paterson indicated in his Nikon System Handbook that it started with 255311 which may the version that introduced in 1965.

This 35mm f/2.8 Nikkor-S Auto lens shown at left looks more like a second generation Nikkor upgrade, but it weighs similarly at 200 grams, but it has a different 7 elements in 6 groups optical construction from the original version. Regardless of its versions, this wideangle lens employs a retrofocus design in its optical design and having a moderate angle of view of 62°, provides"close-to-normal" perspective. The optically design probably contributes to its outstanding definition even at full lens opening with minimal spherical aberration and curvature of image field.

This 35mm Nikkor was once the lightest Nikkor lens. It is also a very compact, versatile wideangle lens that is often used by many photographers in landscape, outdoor candid action and architectural and other general-purpose photography.

35mm28auto.jpg
Naturally, another factor which contributes to its immense popularity was its modest price as compared to other available Nikkor wideangle lenses. It was also a good lens especially for flash photography to cover a small group people in your composition since Its 62°picture angle is smaller than the illumination angle about 65° - of most Speedlight and flash units.

Specifications
:

Focal length:
35mm
Maximum aperture: 1:2.8;Lens construction: 7 elements in 6 groups
Picture angle
: 62° at infinity; Distance scale: Graduated both in meters and feet up to 0.3m and 1 ft
Aperture scale: f/2.8 - f/16; Aperture diaphragm: Fully automatic

35mmf28old.jpg
Meter coupling prong: Integrated (fully open exposure metering)
Attachment size: 52mm (P=0.75)
Filter: 52mm screw-in
Dimensions: 62.5mm dia. X 57.5mm length (2-15/32 in. X 2-1/4 in.)
Weight: 200g (7.1oz)

Accessories: 52mm Snap-On front cap (108 - 00 - 400), rear cap type F (108 - 00 - 401), 52mmscrew-in fens hood (108 - 01 - 203), leather case (108 - 00 - 305), plastic case type S (108 - 00 - 300), flexible pouch No. 51 (108 - 00 - 302); Product Code No. for this lens: 108-01-104

The next upgrade of this tiny sized Nikkor wideangle lens could have been occurred around the mid seventies where most Nikkor lenses went through a lens updating program which saw the lenses have a more modern Nikon feel and appearance. The focusing ring was changed to a rubberized grip type and the diamond ridge design was beginning to surfaced. However, the lens shown here was still a NON-AI Nikkor lens, which means there could be few upgrade(s) prior to the Ai-Spec lens was introduced. However, this Non-Ai wideangle lens has a different optical construction from the 7 elements in 5 groups used in the earlier 3.5cm f/2.8-16 Nikkor-S Auto lens and a version carried with a different 7 elements in 6 groups design may exist after that. The pictured of the wideangle at bottom left hand section upgrade has another revised optical design in a 6 elements in 6 groups arrangement. Another significant change was the f/22 minimum aperture instead of f/16. This lens spec was carried through the Ai conversion period occurred in 1977 and eventually the Ai-S version appeared with an entirely different optical formulation in 5 elements in 5 groups. Confusing huh ? Me too. This Nikkor wideangle lens could be the only MF Nikkor lens that gone through the most changes in its optical design(well, come to think of it, some selective AF Nikkor have similar confusing state which really made you think and suspicious what are the hell those optical designers at Nikon been doing with so many versions of their AF-Zoom Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8 and even the AF 300mm f/2.8 EDIF lenses that kept rolling out from their labs all these years.... ?)

35mmf2870.jpg
< Pictured at left is still a Non-Ai Nikkor lens as this was scanned from a Sales Manual used in mid of the '70.

Focal length:
35mm
Maximum aperture: 1:2.8
Lens construction: 6 elements in 6 groups
Picture angle: 62° at infinity
Distance scale: Graduated both in meters and feet up to 0.3m and 1 ft
Aperture scale: f/2.8 - f/22
Aperture diaphragm: Fully automatic
Meter coupling prong: Integrated (fully open exposure metering)
Attachment size: 52mm (P=0.75)
Filter: 52mm screw-in
Dimensions: 63.5mm
dia. 54 mm length (2-1/2 in. X 2-1/8 in.)
Weight: 240g (8.5 oz)
Accessories: 52mm Snap-On front cap (108 - 00 - 400), rear cap type F (108 - 00 - 401). Lens cases CL-31, No.54, CP-1

NOTE: Serial Number(s) was believed to have been started from 350001 for 35mm f/1.4; 690101 for 35mm f/2.0 and 255311 for 35mm f/2.8; as too many versions are available, these reference may not be entirely correct.

| Previous | NEXT | Either go back to earlier section or proceed to the Pre-Ai Era....2/2

35mm focal length Manual Focus Nikkor Lenses:
| Early non AI version | Early to mid '70 Pre-AI | Late 1970 | Early 1980 - present: 35mm f/1.4 ; 35mm f/2.0, 35mm f/2.8 |

| Back | to Main Index Page of MF Nikkor lenses at 35mm focal length

| Message Board | for your Nikkor Optics in a shared environment
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Recommended links to understand more technical details related to the Nikkor F-mount and production Serial Number:
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-153.html by: my friend, Rick Oleson
http://www.zi.ku.dk/personal/lhhansen/photo/fmount.htm by: Hansen, Lars Holst
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/nikonfmount/lens2.htm
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html

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Credit: MCLau®, who has helped to rewrite some of the content appeared this site. Chuck Hester® who has been helping me all along with the development of all these Nikon websites; Lars Holst Hansen, 'Hawkeye' who shares the same passion I have; Ms Rissa, Sales manager from Nikon Corporation Malaysia for granting permission to use some of the official content; Ted Wengelaar, Holland who has helped to provide many useful input relating to older Nikkor lenses; Some of the references on production serial numbers used in this site were extracted from Roland Vink's website; Hiura Shinsaku from Nikomat Club Japan. Lastly, to all the good people who has contributed their own expeience, resources or kind enough granted permission to use their images of their respective optic in this site. It is also a site to remember a long lost friend on the Net. Note:certain content and images appeared in this site were either scanned from official marketing leaflets & brochures published by Nikon and/or contribution from surfers who claimed originality of their work for educational purposes. The creator of the site will not be responsible for may discrepancies arise from such dispute except rectifying them after verification. "Nikon", "Nikkormat", "Nippon Kokagu KK" & "Nikkor" are registered tradename of Nikon Corporation Inc., Japan. Site made with an Apple IMac.