Frame zero

This article reminded me of these serendipitous half photos.

Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 P non-AI

Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 P non-AI ('59-'71)
These samples circa '63 and '67.







Filter size: 52mm
Close focus distance: 3 foot or 1.2 meters
Aperture range: f/2.5 - f/32
Aperture blades: 6 (early samples have 9)
Depth of field scale for f/4, f/8 - 16, plus IR focusing index.
Design: 5 elements in 3 groups

This version with the silver front ring and thinner focusing ring is a different design than the later version with a black front ring and a larger focusing ring. That design carried over to AI and AI-S versions.

This lens is (very rarely) available as a tick-marked lens.

This lens was originally marked 10.5 cm:



Earlier mm-marked samples have ribbed aperture rings.

Later samples have scalloped aperture rings.



Here's the older design (silver front) versus the newer design (black front). You can see the older design has a larger front element and smaller rear element.  Unfortunately many online stores do not distinguish between them.
  

More information:
Nikon Thousand and One Nights
Darin McQuoid
Pindelski
Andreas Isenegger
MIR
Richard de Stoutz
Brochure
Another brochure

Sample photographs:

















































More photos from this lens

Nikkor 85mm f/1.8 H non-AI

Nikkor 85mm f/1.8 H non-AI (classic non-AI '64-'72, multicoated non-AI '72-'75, K non-AI '75-'77)
This sample circa '70, factory AI conversion.







Filter size: 52mm
Close focus distance: 3.3 feet or 1 meter (the later K version focuses down to 2.8 feet or 0.85 meters)
Aperture range: f/1.8 - f/22
Aperture blades: 6
Depth of field scale for f/8, 16, 22 plus IR focusing index.
Design: 6 elements in 4 groups

Early versions (the first 7200 or so) have the identity ring inside the filter ring.



Later Nippon Kogaku, Nikon and C versions have the identity information on the outside of the lens barrel.  I can imagine several reasons for the change: the information inside is hard to read, hard to machine, and may increase the chance of glare. The C version is pretty uncommon, with around 13000 made.



The later K version focuses a little closer, to 3 feet / 0.85 meters.

More information:
Ken Rockwell
Pindelski
Richard de Stoutz
MIR
Brochure

Sample photographs:











































More photos from this lens