Nikon Prototype Lenses Exhibition

[Michio Akiyama]

Hello Nikon friends,

Nikon Museum is holding a special exhibition entitled "Prototype Lenses - Fascinating Images Captured by the Nikon Z 7 Mirrorless Camera" from October 2 to December 27, 2018.
I would like to show you a special report for you who can not visit the Nikon museum in Tokyo Japan.

http://redbook-jp.com/kenkyukai-e/2018/201810.html

Michio Akiyama/NIPPON



Nikkor-D 15mm F4, 1970 Nikon Museum Tokyo

[Erik Lund]

OK, that is nice with such a historical report captured with the new Z7     


Thank you!

[Nikkor Shooter]

Coooool… thanks for the link!

[Michio Akiyama]

I love it!
AI-OP Fisheye-Nikkor 10mm F2.8S No. 100221, 1981
Nikon Prototype Lenses Exhibition

[Akira]

Akiyama-san, thank you for the extensive report!

[Michio Akiyama]

Thank you Akira-san.
Is it yours?
Nikkor-S Suto 105mm F2.8, 1967
A soft focus lens.
Nikon Prototype Lenses Exhibition

[Akira]

Thank you Akira-san.
Is it yours?
Nikkor-S Suto 105mm F2.8, 1967
A soft focus lens.
Nikon Prototype Lenses Exhibition

Unfortunately, no.  I wish I would own it!

[Jakov Minić]

Thank you for the nice report.
Some lovely lenses at display

[John Geerts]

Very interesting !!

Thanks for the review and photographs !

[Michio Akiyama]

I want this yellow rear lens cap.
Nikon Prototype Lenses Exhibition

[Michio Akiyama]

Blue Cap and GN Auto Nikkor 35mm F2 No. 281003, 1967
Nikon Prototype Lenses Exhibition

[Roland Vink]

Interesting!
The soft focus 105/2.8 shown at the exhibit has serial number 281053, which is one higher than one offered on Yahoo Auctions recently, see http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/F105mm/105_28_Soft.html. Maybe Nikon produced lenses with different aspherical lenses to evaluate the effects?

[Roland Vink]

The prototype GN lens is obviously based on the regular Nikkor-O 35/2 lens. Here is a picture of an earlier prototype, also based on the 35/2, the concept is the same the details of the lens look quite different. Strangely the serial number is completely unrelated.

[Jack Dahlgren]

Interesting!
The soft focus 105/2.8 shown at the exhibit has serial number 281053, which is one higher than one offered on Yahoo Auctions recently, see http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/F105mm/105_28_Soft.html. Maybe Nikon produced lenses with different aspherical lenses to evaluate the effects?

Based on the SN on the lens above (35mm f/3.5 with serial number 281003) it seems that the speculation about serial number being derived from f stop and focal length on the photosynthesis page is unfounded and is only coincidental. That said, the 105 as the show could be similar or different to the one at yahoo auctions.

[Roland Vink]

There are too many lenses with serial numbers seemingly based on lens parameters - max aperture, focal length, angle of view - for it to be a coincidence. For example:
6mm/2.8 fisheye, no 628001 - from focal length and aperture
8mm/8 fisheye, no 88011 - from focal length and aperture
7.5mm/5.6 fisheye, no 750011 - from focal length
Nikkor-N 24/2.8, no 242801 - from focal length and aperture
Nikkor-N 28/2, no 280001 - from focal length

In the 1970s many lenses had serial numbers in 1YYMM1 format or similar, where YY=year and MM=month. But there are also plenty of other lenses with serial numbers which don't seem to be based on anything. Who knows, it might be the birthday of the designer, or some other number, or just random??