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Nikkor 10.5cm f/4 T non-AI

Lens: 10.5cm f/4 T preset non-AI (1960-1961)
This sample circa 1960.







With the other two preset lenses, the 2.1cm f/4 and the 5.5cm f/3.5 micro:


Filter size: 34.5mm
Close focus distance: 2.75 feet, 0.8 meters marked.
Aperture range: f/4 - f/22
Aperture blades: 9 (preset)
Depth of field scale for f/4, f/8, f/16, f/22, and IR focusing index.
Design: 3 elements in 3 groups

More information:
Nikkor Thousand and One Nights
Ching-Kuang Shene
MIR
Brochure

Comments: This is a very early F mount lens, sharing an optical design with an S-mount rangefinder lens (although the barrels are very different). It is also rare (around 5900 made), and unusual. It has a preset aperture and a 34.5mm filter, I guess shared with some enlarging lenses. Fortunately RAF Camera makes an adapter so I can use 39mm filters and caps. The lens focuses pretty close for a 105mm lens, which is a plus. It is a very simple lens, a triplet. Performance is not great, even stopped down, but I like the way it looks. I really like the flare and soft backgrounds wide open. The mount is small enough that it does not interfere with the AI lever, so you can use it with any F-mount camera. I wish this lens was more common and less expensive so more people could try it. The close focus is nice.







































































































For more pictures from this lens, click
here.