Prices of Vintage Nikkor Lenses, Cameras

[Robert Camfield]

I happen to run across a Nikon dealer’s Price List, vintage 1978, and thought Nikon Gear participants might have interest in a few entries culled from the list, as follows:

(Lenses)
10mm f5.6 OP: $1,407
6mm f2.8: $7,169; $8,387 (AI)
13mm f5.6: $6,250; $7,325 (AI)
35mm f1.4: $495; $561 (AI)
58mm f1.2 NOCT: $1,095 (AI)
200mm f2.0 ED-IF: $2,995
300mm f4.5 ED: $989, $1,155 (AI)
400mm f5.6 ED: $1,499; $1,750 (AI)
300mm f2.8 ED: 3,299 (Non-IF; not designated as ED in the price list)
400mm f3.5 ED-IF: $3,250
600m f5.6 ED-IF: $3,250
1200mm f11 ED with AU-1 focusing unit: $3,475
1200mm f11: $2,095
AU-1 Focusing Unit: $824
50-300 f4.5: $1,738; $2,485 (AI, ED)
180-600 f8.0 ED: $6,375
360-1200mm f11 ED: $9,349
2000mm f11 Mirror: $9,845

Note: Where two prices are shown, the non-AI price is to the left. The list (January ‘78) does not include the 300mm f2.8 ED-IF. Also, for long focal length lenses (400-1200mm), the price list includes Nikon’s earlier versions (separate focusing mount, Non-IF ED) as well as the ED-IF versions.

(Camera bodies)
F2 DATA: $2,600
F w/FTN: $475
F2 w/DP-1; F2A w/DP-11: $572; $715
F2AS: $892
Nikkormat FT3, EL2, and FM are listed; the FE is not listed

The cumulative U.S. price level has risen 4.3 times over these 44 years suggesting that, in today’s dollars, the charge for the 400mm f3.5 ED-IF, for example, would be nearly $14,000; current market value might approximate $1,900 or less. It goes without saying: advances in technology over these years has resulted in improved optical performance, much improved usability, all with dramatically lower prices.

[Jack Dahlgren]

Would be interesting to see the whole list. I have a few of the lenses listed there, but would like to see more.

[Matthew Currie]

I seem to recall I had a sheet somewhere but cannot find it.  However, I did find a 1962 "Official" Amphoto guide with a price list on the back, scanned to JPG here:

e.t.a. It's an interesting perspective on prices.  I've been thinking of how terribly expensive some things seem,  like the list price for the 16-80 DX lens, admittedly a great lens, but over a thousand bucks?  But if you look at the inflation of other products (for example, I seem to recall that the list price for a Jaguar XKE in 1962 was about $4200) or the general estimate of nearly 10 times difference,  it doesn't look so bad. 

[Robert Camfield]

Jack,

The price list is contained in a booklet, comprised of 11-12 pages. Perhaps I can scan or otherwise copy the several pages, and post it as an attached file.

Robert

[Robert Camfield]

Matt's Quote: e.t.a. It's an interesting perspective on prices.  I've been thinking of how terribly expensive some things seem,  like the list price for the 16-80 DX lens, admittedly a great lens, but over a thousand bucks?  But if you look at the inflation of other products (for example, I seem to recall that the list price for a Jaguar XKE in 1962 was about $4200) or the general estimate of nearly 10 times difference,  it doesn't look so bad.

Agreed...it's likely that a broad sample of photo gear would reveal much higher relative prices, decades back. Using, again, the 400mm f3.5 AI as an example: if a new-in-box sample were to sell for, say, $2,300 today while the just-released 400mm f2.8 S sells for $14K, its fair to say that the market value of the quality difference (speed, 1.4 TC, optics, handling, auto focus) approximates $11.7K, at least arguably. In addition, per capita incomes across Western economies have risen by 1.5-2.1 times over these years. The combined impact of lower real prices coupled with significantly higher incomes translates into additional purchases of equipment, at least by photographers. Bets are that most Nikon Gear participants have accrued quite a stash of gear over the years.

Robert     

[Erik Lund]

I happen to run across a Nikon dealer’s Price List, vintage 1978, and thought Nikon Gear participants might have interest in a few entries culled from the list, as follows:
...

Thank you for sharing! Interesting to see especially compared to different prices for the same used lenses nowadays

[John Geerts]

The 180mm f/2.5 is a very rare bird    Or is the rangefinder 18cm?

[Roland Vink]

The price list is from 1962 so the 180mm would be the 18cm f/2.5 rangefinder lens. The Nikon-P 180/2.8 didn't appear until 1970