NikonGear'23

Gear Talk => Lens Talk => Topic started by: Michio Akiyama on August 18, 2017, 18:28:04

Title: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: Michio Akiyama on August 18, 2017, 18:28:04
Hello Nikon friends,
Nikon Kenkyukai Tokyo Meeting Report updated on August 19 2017.
Please browse!!

Nikon 100th Anniversary Special
The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses and Grand Big Binoculars Show
http://redbook-jp.com/kenkyukai-e/2017/201707.html

July 15, 2017. The Nikon Kenkyukai Tokyo held a special event to celebrate Nikon's 100th birthday.

Please enjoy and have fun !! Thank you.

Michio Akiyama/NIPPON  A member of NikonGear and Nikon Kenkyukai Tokyo
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: bobfriedman on August 18, 2017, 18:38:06
very nice.. thank you!.. wish i was there!
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: Bjørn Rørslett on August 18, 2017, 19:03:57
A lot of old friends seen there. I still regret having sold my 300/2 Nikkor. I was young and foolish back then, apparently :D The 1200-1700 is a lens I sometimes wish I had access to when my 360-1200 has too "little" reach.

A pity they are given such inadequate tripod support, though.
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: Fons Baerken on August 18, 2017, 19:13:10
yes very nice thank you
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: Jakov Minić on August 18, 2017, 20:02:32
Dear Michio Akiyama,

Thank you so much for sharing this event! I thoroughly enjoyed the series of photos with a huge smile on my face.
Yes, the 1200-1700 is something to for the next NG photo race through The Hague.
I see myself walking through the city with it until I get arrested :D

Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: Akira on August 18, 2017, 20:21:07
Bjørn. you might have wanted to participate with your 1200 and 800 "ED" for the focusing unit which seems to lack at the event?   :o :o :o
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: atpaula on August 18, 2017, 21:16:01
Thank you so much, Michio, for posting this.
You put a smile in my face and made me very jealous of all those gems.
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: FredCrowBear on August 19, 2017, 03:55:24
Thank you for posting.  Very enjoyable.
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: armando_m on August 19, 2017, 14:53:56
Impressive lenses

Thanks for sharing
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: paul hofseth on August 19, 2017, 21:59:15
Bjørn,

I am surprised that there is a Nikon optic that you do not have !  Last time I was up at your place you certainly did have a very, very long one.

p.
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: MILLIREHM on August 19, 2017, 22:10:27
Could have contributed as well, Big-Glass Tele do not easily travel in numbers
What a pity that they evidently just playing as there is systematically too weak tripod support, wrong tripods and heads plus extended (!) central column!
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: Bjørn Rørslett on August 19, 2017, 22:57:19
Anyone using these lenses for real shooting knows only too well how badly in need of good support they are all of them. Tiny toy-like tripods and raised centre column can never bode anything good for the outcome in terms of image quality.

Paul: my longest is "only" the 360-1200 Nikkor :D. However, the 800/8ED is almost as long as this is not a telephoto design.
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: Michio Akiyama on August 24, 2017, 14:01:17
I added images of very rare SAPPORO NIKKOR 300mm F2.8 lens.
Please browse!!

Nikon 100th Anniversary Special
The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses and Grand Big Binoculars Show
http://redbook-jp.com/kenkyukai-e/2017/201707.html

Michio Akiyama/NIPPON  A member of NikonGear and Nikon Kenkyukai Tokyo

(http://redbook-jp.com/db/2017/20170824-010.jpg)

Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: Erik Lund on August 24, 2017, 14:40:55
Wonderful lenses and people! Thank you for posting these- Really special to see so many different lenses together.
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: Michio Akiyama on September 05, 2017, 12:19:18
It's Japanese market price in August 2017.
Reflex Niikor 2000mm F11, 2,160,000 Japanese YEN. About 197,418 US Dollars.

(http://redbook-jp.com/db/2017/20170905-010.jpg)
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: Bjørn Rørslett on September 05, 2017, 13:58:25
An "in-car" lens if there ever was one :D The tripod support needs to  be massive as well.
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: Michio Akiyama on September 05, 2017, 17:05:03
It's not Nikon but I love it.
Minolta RF ROKKOR 1600mm F11, prototype lens, lens serial number 1000002 !!
4,500,000 Japanese YEN. About 41,128 US Dollars.

(http://redbook-jp.com/db/2017/20170905-020.jpg)
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: Jakov Minić on September 05, 2017, 19:48:28
I'll have a couple of those 2000/11, please :D
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: Eddie Draaisma on September 05, 2017, 20:35:03
I'll have a couple of those 2000/11, please :D

A few were sold and delivered on location to the press covering the train hijackings in the north of The Netherlands during the seventies...
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: Jakov Minić on September 05, 2017, 23:27:57
A few were sold and delivered on location to the press covering the train hijackings in the north of The Netherlands during the seventies...

Have you managed to accidentally hide one in your pocket?
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: Eddie Draaisma on September 05, 2017, 23:38:43
Have you managed to accidentally hide one in your pocket?

No, pockets not deep and wide enough  ;D

It must have been a very profitable operation for the Dutch distributor at that moment (Inca)... Would be interesting to know where these lenses ended up after 40 years.
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: Erik Lund on September 14, 2017, 11:34:45
It's not Nikon but I love it.
Minolta RF ROKKOR 1600mm F11, prototype lens, lens serial number 1000002 !!
4,500,000 Japanese YEN. About 41,128 US Dollars.

(http://redbook-jp.com/db/2017/20170905-020.jpg)
Very nice and rare find!
Would be quite easy to convert to Nikon F-mount ;)
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: richardHaw on September 14, 2017, 12:03:04
currently overhauling  :o :o :o
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: Bjørn Rørslett on September 14, 2017, 13:03:47
The 360-1200 is a mighty view and a beast to haul around. Fortunately, all the internals are sized accordingly so at least should be easy to work with.

If this be the first version(s), the tripod mount is pitiful. To be precise, the L-shaped handle itself is solid enough, but there is just a small platform in the end where a tiny 1/4" screw is supposed to keep all the mass and forces under control :( Needless to say reinforcements are called for here.

I inserted a thick massive aluminium bar into the slot in the handle (fit is so tight it had to be hammered into position !!), secured it with robust bolts going all the way through the handle so nuts could be fastened and tightened at the other side; then put a quick-release Sachtler plate for their video heads on the bar and keep that in place with three 3/8" screws. Now, the lens behaves properly on a suitable tripod :D

Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: Roland Vink on September 14, 2017, 22:29:38
Impressive Ric! I see you are working on the AIS version, be sure to check the serial number against my list  :) This is one of the few lenses where I have good information on the start and end serial numbers so the total production is known - only 81 AIS 360-1200 lenses were ever made (assuming no gaps in production).
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: richardHaw on September 15, 2017, 08:38:05

If this be the first version(s), the tripod mount is pitiful. To be precise, the L-shaped handle itself is solid enough, but there is just a small platform in the end where a tiny 1/4" screw is supposed to keep all the mass and forces under control :( Needless to say reinforcements are called for here.


This is the earlier version? Sorry I do not know much about this lens  :o :o :o

Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: richardHaw on September 15, 2017, 08:39:36
Impressive Ric! I see you are working on the AIS version, be sure to check the serial number against my list  :) This is one of the few lenses where I have good information on the start and end serial numbers so the total production is known - only 81 AIS 360-1200 lenses were ever made (assuming no gaps in production).

here is a closer look at the serial #  :o :o :o
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: Akira on September 15, 2017, 09:48:44
Rick, yours looks like the later version: rounded foot of the collar vs. edged one on Bjørn's.

Did you get yours for 500 yen?!   :o :o :o
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: richardHaw on September 15, 2017, 09:57:52
Rick, yours looks like the later version: rounded foot of the collar vs. edged one on Bjørn's.

Did you get yours for 500 yen?!   :o :o :o

this is not mine  :o :o :o
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: Erik Lund on September 15, 2017, 11:50:57
#174721 make it an Ais lens in that range
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: richardHaw on September 20, 2017, 04:04:05
HELP!

I am aware that some Nikon telephoto monster lenses need a filter to go to infinity. :o :o :o

Now, my question is this: does the 360-1200mm f/11 need the filter to do that? Thanks!
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: Roland Vink on September 20, 2017, 05:16:32
Not that I am aware of. This lens can accept 122mm front filters but they don't affect infinity focus. This lens does not accept internal filters, which can displace the focus point a little, but it would make little difference on a telephoto like this anyway. Telephotos with ED glass are designed to focus past infinity (to allow for thermal expansion/contraction) so there is already plenty of allowance for changes to infinity focus.

Removing the internal/rear filter does make a big difference at the other extreme - on my 16mm fisheye taking the rear filter off makes the lens focus closer, which is handy at times, but infinity focus is lost.
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: Bjørn Rørslett on September 20, 2017, 08:35:36
HELP!

I am aware that some Nikon telephoto monster lenses need a filter to go to infinity. :o :o :o

Now, my question is this: does the 360-1200mm f/11 need the filter to do that? Thanks!

No. It does not.
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: Erik Lund on September 21, 2017, 11:14:11
I am aware that some Nikon telephoto monster lenses need a filter to go to infinity. :o :o :o


I have never heard of this, quite the opposite, they focus 'past infinity',,,


Are you in trouble,,, just reassemble the elements until you find the one that is reversed,,,
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: richardHaw on September 23, 2017, 15:18:23
OK, I fixed it! it's just that the helicoid got caught on something and I needed to use force to have it sit all the way  :o :o :o

now it's done!

one thing that I notice about this lens is that the iris at f/11 isn't really fully-open. It can only be like this since I didn't mess around with this. the only way this could F up us if somebody else opened this prior to me and got it wrong which I doubt. It is pretty sharp at f/11! lots of details! this is great for taking pictures of dangerous situations or wild animals. for me, this will have plenty of application on a nudist beach ::) couple it with a D850 and it's a winner!
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: RobOK on September 23, 2017, 16:16:31
Question about the monster lenses in the OP -- are the biggest ones hand assembled? I don't know much about how the specialized glass and lenses are made!
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: Roland Vink on September 25, 2017, 03:41:00
I guess that some current high volume lenses are partially machine assembled, but all the older manual focus lenses would be completely hand assembled, and modern low volume lenses like the super-teles are probably built by hand also.
Title: Re: The Monster Telephoto Nikkor Lenses
Post by: Akira on September 25, 2017, 03:45:45
Accoding to this video posted in 2009, Canon superteles were hand assembled.  I don't think Nikon does it too differently.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Oyud3EA9kE

Recently Canon announced that they were planning to build a new factory in which the assembly process would be highly automated.