Correct lens caps for Nikon F era lenses

[Steve Smith]

I have recently taken posession of my father's camera collection. Included are a couple of Nikon Fs with four lenses but no lens caps.

The lenses are 50mm f1.4, 35mm f2.8, 105mm f2.5 and 200mm f4. Al pre AI (I think) and marked Nippon Kogaku.

I think they are all 52mm filter thread. I have some more modern lens caps but would like to know what the originals would have looked like so I can buy some. Were they an older version of the sprung cap or just a simple push on cap?


Steve.

 

[Jerevan]

This guy has a lot of photos of lenses with their caps, etc:

http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html

 

[Steve Smith]

Thanks. Looks like I have one correct cap and need three more.


Steve.

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

Though the "right" caps with the protruding metal push prongs tend to catch on things all the time...
They changed them for a reason!

 

[Steve Smith]

The caps actually look more modern than the lenses. I was expecting a simple push on cap like I have on the lenses for my Pentax Spotmatics.


Steve.

 

[bdial]

I've never seen a Nikon branded push on cap for the 52 mm lenses, only the ones with the metal or plastic buttons on the spring.
In the link posted by Jervan one lens showed a cap that said "Nippon Kogaku" instead of "Nikon", implying that it is quite old, but it was still the same snap on design.

My hands wouldn't know what to do with a push on cap on a Nikon, I'd be squeezing the sides everytime I pulled it off

 

[E. von Hoegh]

You need the sprung caps with chrome buttons, saying either "Nippon Kogaku" or "Nikon" depending on the vintage. They're annoying; the buttons catch on things like sweaters, and the spring part is made of aluminium. One cannot make a proper spring of aluminium. Same basic problem with the lens shades of that era, after 40 or 50 years of use the springy part gives up.

I have them for all my old lenses, but use cheapo plastic ones with the sprung tabs, and whatever screw in metal or rubber lens shade that does a proper job.

 

[Bob-D659]

The Tamron brand caps work well, so keep the chromed pinned Nikkor ones in the drawer where they don't get lost.

The Nikkor/Nikon screw in metal lens hoods are better as well, they don't pop off and are excellent crushable style shock absorbers if you are so unlucky as to drop a lens with or without the camera attached.

 

[Steve Smith]

I've never seen a Nikon branded push on cap for the 52 mm lenses

I don't think they exist. I just think that if they did, they would be more in keeping with the style of that era.

The Tamron brand caps work well, so keep the chromed pinned Nikkor ones in the drawer where they don't get lost.

That is the plan but I need to get some first! The cameras live in a display cabinet when not in use so I would like the correct caps for them. When I take them out though, I will probably use the newer all plastic caps which I have already (both Nikon and generic replacement).

The Nikkor/Nikon screw in metal lens hoods are better as well

All I have in the hood department at the moment is the screw on hood for the 50mm f1.4 lens.

I haven't tried it with film yet but I think I'm going to like the 105mm f2.5 lens. I have always wanted to try a lens of this focal length but haven't had one until now.


Steve.

 

[CGW]

I dredged up several late(?) F/F2 period caps from deep storage recently. Busted the flimsy "special" cap for the 45/2.8 Ai-P nouveau pancake that's taller the usual newer Nikon caps to clear its weirdo inverted cone hood. Caps I found are solid black with a modern "Nikon" logo on a cross-hatched field. Two side tabs open a teensy bear trap-like bit of spring steel with cleats inside the cap that grip/screw onto the lens' filter threads. Works perfectly on the 45mm since the cap is a bit taller than usual and stays put.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

I don't think they exist. I just think that if they did, they would be more in keeping with the style of that era.



That is the plan but I need to get some first! The cameras live in a display cabinet when not in use so I would like the correct caps for them. When I take them out though, I will probably use the newer all plastic caps which I have already (both Nikon and generic replacement).



All I have in the hood department at the moment is the screw on hood for the 50mm f1.4 lens.

I haven't tried it with film yet but I think I'm going to like the 105mm f2.5 lens. I have always wanted to try a lens of this focal length but haven't had one until now.


Steve.

You're going to love that 105/2.5, be it the Sonnar or the Gauss version. One of the nicest 35mm lenses ever made.

 

[Steve Smith]

You're going to love that 105/2.5, be it the Sonnar or the Gauss version.

Not that it really matters, but how do you tell the difference?

And I think you're right. I love it already just looking through the viewfinder with it on!


Steve.

 

[semi-ambivalent]

The Nikkor/Nikon screw in metal lens hoods are better as well, they don't pop off and are excellent crushable style shock absorbers if you are so unlucky as to drop a lens with or without the camera attached.

+1

F3 + MD4 + 35 1.4 nose-first onto carpet over concrete. A $10 hood gave its life on that one.

s-a

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Not that it really matters, but how do you tell the difference?

And I think you're right. I love it already just looking through the viewfinder with it on!


Steve.

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/105mmnikkor/index.htm The Gauss type is supposed to be a wee bit sharper close up, although it's hard to see how it could be any nicer.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

You're going to love that 105/2.5, be it the Sonnar or the Gauss version. One of the nicest 35mm lenses ever made.

Agree! One of my all-time favorite lenses.

 

[John_Nikon_F]

Very early F-mount Nikkors came with the "Nippon Kogaku Tokyo" front caps. In the mid-late '60s, they switched to the "NIKKOR" caps, of which, there are two different types. The chrome button version is usually found on the NKJ lenses (Nippon Kogaku Japan), and the one with the plastic buttons and either a rivet or a cross-point screw holding the leaf spring in place, is usually found on early "Nikon" lenses and some very late NKJ lenses. The plastic button cap received the "Nikon" trademark when Zeiss could no longer prevent Nikon from selling Nikon-branded gear in Germany. That cap continued well into the AI lens era, being eventually replaced by the all-plastic cap with the silver "Nikon" on it. That cap continued on until recently, when the LC-52, LC-62, etc, center pinch caps came out. All of the earlier caps with the threaded leaf spring were bakelite, IIRC.

In all seriousness, I've been pretty lucky in not having the chrome buttons catch on stuff. However, I have found the earlier caps easier to pop off than the newer ones, since the leaf spring gets out of round as it gets used.

-J

 

[Ronald Moravec]

Sonar or Gauss. S was first and is a very nice lens, perhaps a little soft in close range. Easiest way to tell apart is rear element on S is around 3/8 to 1/2 inch diameter. The rear Element on G fills the whole width inside the rear bayonet, ie around double the diameter. G are usually muticoated. I have one S in factory fresh condition and 2 or 3 G . All are lovely imagers.

Unless you have a nostalga thing, get the modern pinch caps for field use or the generic pinch caps from Calumet which are much cheaper. If the inside of the shade is ringed or threaded, put the cap there and do not remove the shade ever again. I do this with my 85 1.8.

 

[Steve Smith]

Sonar or Gauss.

Sonnar I think. A webpage I read suggested that if the front part of the lens which extends to focus is chrome then it's a Sonnar. If it's black, it's a Gauss.

Rear element is about 7/8" dia. though so would that indicate Gauss?


Steve.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Sonnar I think. A webpage I read suggested that if the front part of the lens which extends to focus is chrome then it's a Sonnar. If it's black, it's a Gauss.

Rear element is about 7/8" dia. though so would that indicate Gauss?


Steve.

First number for the Gauss was 407301. Also, the Gauss stops down to f:32, the Sonnar to f:22.

The rear glass of the Sonnar is around 7/8", it is not 3/8" to 1/2".

http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html#105

 

[Steve Smith]

Sonnar it is then!


Steve.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

I measured the rear element dia. on mine; it's 31/32" The # is 206211, the front coating is a straw color,the rear is an almost sapphire blue. It's been one of my favorite lenses since I traded for it in early '98.