I've been reading up on the history of photo technology for the past couple of years, and am now looking at the late 1950s. The hot camera of that period (there's always a "hot" camera) was the Leica M, with the runner up being Rolleiflex f2.8.. Nikon was doing well with their Leica III knock-off rangefinders, as was Canon and Minolta. Then in 1959, NIkon came out with a true breakthrough design: the F. Originally it had no meter but did have a built in rangefinder, took interchangeable lenses, and had TTL viewing. It was that last factor that truly set it apart, I think. I've been buying examples of breakthrough cameras/lenses from different periods and learning how to use them, and the Nikon F has now caught my attention. My question is what lenses were available for the F in the time period 1959 to roughly 1963? What were Nikon's original lenses like? I'm assuming there was no AI until the Photomic finder was introduced. Wasn't the first successful zoom a Nikon 50-250mm that became available around 1960? Is there a good website on Nikon history that can give me Nikon serial numbers etc?
Amazing site, and it's just what I was looking for. Leica came out with a "Visoflex" viewing device that added TTL viewing to their late LTM and M cameras, but it was too late, and they were very "clunky." The Nikon was much more compact and easier to use. The one theme that had continued through all of camera technology has been that smaller, more convenient always wins. I think I'll start looking for a very good condition Nikon F after the first of the year. That's usually when I find bargains.
If you are looking to use pre-AI lenses, I might recommend an F3. It is the latest body that I know of that allows this, IMO, the best manual focus body.
I would love to have an F...but I'm afraid it would just sit on a shelf as my F3 is a much more usable camera.
For usability, the F3 is great -- the only caveat being that with non-AI lenses, you have to use stopped down metering. The FE and FM are the same (but not the FE2, my personal favorite manual focus body).
An F2 may be a better match if you care about TTL metering with non-AI stuff.
Personally, though, the most satisfying early body to shoot with is a meterless plain prism F, which is just a perfect little machine. Clean black ones, especially, are rather expensive collectibles.
Smeirt, I also have and love the FE2, along with my FE. The only reason I give the nod to the F3 over it in terms of manual focusing, is the interchangeable prisms and screens.
The F3 is qite a bit heavier though. I usually carry my F3, FE2 and either D700 or X100. It does add up.
You guys are missing the point. Kent wants to experience the FIRST camera in this newly developed line. The F is the camera and the lenses would be those available when the camera first came out. Our friend in Malaysia will get him where he wants to go. If he is inspired to explore further, he may explore later cameras and lenses.
Then in 1959, NIkon came out with a true breakthrough design: the F. Originally it had no meter but did have a built in rangefinder, took interchangeable lenses, and had TTL viewing. It was that last factor that truly set it apart, I think.
The Asahiflex of 1954 was the camera that introduced all of those features to the market... five years before the Nikon F. They followed this up with the Asahi Pentax in 1957, and then the Pentax Spotmatic in 1964, the first camera with TTL metering.
Kent, i sold my Nikon book to Laura at Night Owl Cat on FM. It describes everything yhat they made. She might be able t o answer most questions that you ask , using that Nikon book. Good Luck.
Harry Palmer
CGrindahl wrote:
You guys are missing the point. Kent wants to experience the FIRST camera in this newly developed line. The F is the camera and the lenses would be those available when the camera first came out. .
Exactly. Keep in mind I've been using lenses from 1847 to 1870 which have no shutter, and three of them have no f-stops or even Waterhouse stops (using on my Chamonix 045n.) Right now, my most modern film camera is a Rolleiflex made in 1951. My most used small film camera is a Leica IIIc made in 1942. I'm very much after the vintage experience. If I can shoot an 1880s tailboard camera with a Grubb Petzval lens made in 1854, I can shoot pretty much anything. I'm very interested in collecting and learning how to use camera technology that was a breakthrough in its time. This stuff is fascinating!
IIRC, Nippon Kogaku made bombsights in WWII. After the war, they were allowed to make lenses. Their lenses began to be used by photojournalists during the Korean War on their Leica's, and were well regarded. At some point Ehrenreich Photo-Optical (EPOI) became their distributor.
Nov 02, 2012 at 11:44 AM
Andre Labonte Offline • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
I have a Nikon F with the original lens it was sold with. A nice little 50mm f/2 manual focus lens. The case it comes in encloses both camera and lens with lens attached.
Still works, though I've not shot a roll with it yet to know that it's timing is OK. I've been thinking of building a display case for it. With the cost of film, I'm not sure I'll ever use the thing... but it's a beautiful camera.
"History But one should know the history of Nikon began well before 25 July 1917 when three leading optical manufacturers in Japan merged to form one more comprehensive and better integrated optical company known as Nippon Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushikigaisha (日本光学工業株式会社 "Japan Optical Industries Corporation"). The company became known in many areas including the production of optical and measuring equipment, binoculars, small telescopes and even larger and more complicated astronomical telescopes. In 1921, Nikon released its MIKRON compact binocular that was so well regarded that in 1997 an optically updated version of the same basic design was reintroduced as the 6x15M CF model. In 1922 Nippon Kōgaku had completed their largest to date, a 20-inch (50 cm) reflecting telescope. In 1925 they introduced microscopes marketed under the JOICO ("Japan Optical Industries Co") trademark. JOICO is a trademark made up of the initial letters of the Japan Optical Industry Co., which is a literal translation of Nippon Kogaku K.K. the company's name at the time.
Moving into the 1920's Nikon worked to produce more sophisticated camera lenses but the company lacking engineering know-how ran into roadblocks. By 1921 Nippon Kogaku persuaded eight German optical engineers to come to work for the company. These men including Heinrich Acht were instrumental in helping to get Nippon Kogaku onto the right track. A series of lenses whose designs were modeled on the Zeiss Tessor were designated "Anytar" lenses. The German engineers returned home in 1928 as in turn Kakuya Sunayama, the General Manager of the Lens Design Department, visited Germany to learn more about optics. Mr. Sunayama acquired a Carl Zeiss 50cm F4.8 Triplet (three element) lens. The Zeiss lens would be taken apart, studied, and essentially copied so that by 1929 Nippon Kogaku had completed their first prototype camera lens the Tessor-type Anytar 50cm F4.5. This was followed by the Anytar 12cm F4.5 at the end of 1929, as well as the 7.5cm and 18cm focal length lenses. By 1930 the Triplet, the Tessor and the Dagor type lenses were in production. Improving upon the original designs by 1931 the Anytar 12cm F4.5 was said to have become competitive wit the Zeiss Tessor. With the prospects for developing a system of photographic lenses it was decided to market them under a unifying name, thus the NIKKOR brand was born in 1932.
The company geared up for military production as the demands of Imperial Japan escalated throughout the 1930's and through 1945. The NIKKOR lenses used for aerial photography were designated "Aero-NIKKOR." The first orders for the Aero-Nikkor lenses came in 1933 from the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force, these were for the 70cm F5 and the 18cm F4.5 NIKKOR lens for small-scale aerial photography. The company expanded to some nineteen facilities employing 23,000 people.
Even during the war the company was involved in making instruments for science, even being asked in 1942 to construct an objective lens for the Tokyo Astronomical Observatory (TAO) coronagraph; this project was not completed then. By 1946 the company was gradually returning to the manufacture of consumer items including cameras and to distinguish it at this new start, the 'Nikon' logo was adopted. The TAO was renamed National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, and in 1947 promptly resurrected the coronagraph project that was completed in 1949 and opened at Norikura in March 1950. This was only the sixth instrument of its kind in the world, and owing to its longitude complemented those systems in Europe and in the United States. In 1971 a Nikon 25 cm Coudé-type coronagraph was completed and installed in a dome at the same Norikura facility - at the time this was the third largest instrument of its kind in the world. The Norikura facility remained in operation until March 2010 when the Japanese Earth orbiting satellite Hinode took over the work - we think "just wait 'till the next Solar Maximum fries the satellites - they'll be begging to open Norikura!"
