For Sale FS: 18mm f4 Nikkor

Mark Crabtree · Mar 22, 2012

You don't run into a lot of these.

Nikkor 18mm f4 ultrawide lens. I won't claim it is mint, but it sure is very nice, and complete with original box and information sheet. The owner kept his lenses in the boxes when he wasn't using them. This box showed the most wear and tear from opening, so was either his favorite, or just so much fun to look at that he took it out more often (like I do). I bought the outfit this came with to use myself, but just don't shoot much wider than 35mm. I did try the lens and thought its performance was quite impressive.

This is what is usually called a "K" version; non-ai, but made immediately before ai, so multicoated and rubber focus ring grip.
Specs and info here:
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/6070nikkor/ultrawides/18mm.htm

$450 plus very reasonable shipping. Payment by PayPal as a "gift". US only. Preference to Apug regulars (I mention this only because I've had some suspicious inquiries and offers in the past).

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Eric Rose · Mar 22, 2012

sexy!

RidinRev66 · Mar 22, 2012

I am interested. It would be a great addition to my mint "F" and I like W I D E! I just can't quite swing the $450. Good luck.

Mark Crabtree · Mar 22, 2012

RidinRev66,

You are welcome to PM and see if we can work something out. I do attempt to price things reasonably for a quick and easy (for everybody) domestic sale, but I'm not interested in messing with eBay to try to squeeze the most out of it. I came up with a price by looking at what KEH gets for the f3.5 replacement for this lens ($725 ex+, down to $665 for ex). I am open to suggestions (by PM, please) and always willing to consider trades, though there isn't a whole lot I really need.

Long ago I shot a lot with 20 and 21mm, now I seldom go shorter than 35mm. It is a cool lens though and I'll think of some use for it if I can't sell or trade it.

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daleeman · Mar 22, 2012

I had the 20mm version of this once. Dreamy looking slides, killer B&W negs.

Mark Crabtree · Mar 23, 2012

Price reduced.

Price reduced to $375.

daleeman,

I always liked the 20 f4 you mentioned. It was a nice compact lens that performed well. I actually took a couple shots with one on a friends D700 last fall. It surprised me when he showed up at an event with that lens. Nice to see it still in use.

The 18mm was quite a sophisticated design with 13 elements in 9 groups (the 20mm was 10 elements); it followed the amazing 15mm by about a year. I think they really worked to get good evenness of illumination in particular. Yet, the 18 really isn't very big. It reminds you or the 20 f4 until you get out to the large front mount that allows for filters without vignetting. I think the 18 was quite an expensive lens at the time, but I haven't found pricing information.

Mark

LJSLATER · Mar 25, 2012

$375 for this lens with all accessories is fair. Mine didn't come with the hood or anything, I had to scrounge for those things. If I wasn't broke, I'd buy this to have a spare!

mikebarger · Mar 25, 2012

Love this lens, I jumped from Canon to Nikon to use this lens in the day. Still my most often used 35mm lens, but unfortuately I seldom shoot in 35mm anymore.

Ever who ends up with it is getting a nice lens.

Mike

Mark Crabtree · Mar 25, 2012

Thanks for the input guys.

I'm surprised, but haven't even had any inquiries. I don't want to give it away, but just don't use the focal length myself, so still hope somebody will make a resasonable offer or come up with a trade.

I hate to just box it up and put it in the Nikon drawer. It is fun just to open it up once in a while though; sort of like having a time machine, opening that box and unpacking it.

eurekaiv · Mar 26, 2012

I'd love to have it and would offer to trade but I doubt I have much that would interest you. Unless you like nicer point and shoots and expired film. I guess I have a Nikon and M42 lens or two I could part with. PM me if you're interested in that sorta stuff.

bjsmith7474 · Mar 26, 2012

PM sent on the lens...thanks.

Mark Crabtree · Apr 3, 2012

Samples. Price Reduced.

I had an inquiry last week about the performance of this lens. I thought I had a trade in the works so held off posting samples; I haven't had any communication from that buyer/trader for a week now, so am moving on.

Here are some cropped samples from a shot I made in my garage (just finishing off a roll of film). 18mm Nikkor @ f5.6 (edge at f8 for depth of field). I am happy with the performance. As I think I mentioned earlier, it seems typical for wide Nikkors - very sharp center, good edges, falling off at the extreme edge and at the corners. About like my 24mm f2.8's, and about like my recollection of 20mm f4's (both of which I always liked).

$295 plus shipping. Somebody give this a good home.

Full frame:
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Center Crop. It is hard to capture all the detail in a scan. With a 22X loupe on the neg you can read the "West Virginia" line on the license plate, though it is just about to be lost in the film grain:
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Payment by PayPal as a "gift". US only. Preference to Apug regulars (I mention this only because I've had some suspicious inquiries and offers in the past).

Left Edge - You can see the weave of the carbon fiber bicycle faring especially at the bottom where it faces the lens better, and layup imperfections above and left of the reflection:
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Mark Crabtree · Apr 4, 2012

The 18mm Nikkor is heading to a new home. Thanks for the interest.

For Sale FS: 18mm f4 Nikkor

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