Nikkor-SC 5cm F1.5 in Leica Mount

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It took me a long time to find one of these lenses, I've wanted one after reading a 1991 Pop Photo article entitled "How the West was Won" which gave the story of David Douglas Duncan getting a tour of the Nikon factory. The Nikkor-PC 8.5cm F2 got his attention, but he bought the Nikkor-SC 5cm F1.5 and Nikkor-QC 13.5cm F4. Both of mine are from the same 1949 batch of lenses that Duncan used in Korea.

I did a write-up on the lens here-

https://www.leicaplace.com/resources/nikkor-sc-5cm-f1-5-the-lens-that-got-the-attention-of-the-world.4/

This lens is every bit as good as the much more famous Nikkor-SC 5cm F1.4, which I also have.

Wide-Open on the M Monochrom, taken at the Marine Museum Chosin Reservoir display. The Museum has a large display of Duncan's pictures.

Marine Museum, Quantico by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Marine Museum, Quantico by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

World War II, Pearl Harbor display

Wide-Open,

Marine Museum, Quantico by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

And at F4,

Marine Museum, Quantico by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

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Udvar Hazy Air and Space Museum,

Wide-Open on the M Monochrom,

L1002342 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

L1002339 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

I love Sonnars.

L1002343 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

This lens does quite well,

L1002357 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

I read that David Douglas Duncan stated that the F1.4 lens flared more than the F1.5. I have used both lenses side-by-side, and would agree.

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On the M9-

Wide-Open,

L1009221 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

L1009228 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Something different-

Gunston Hall, home of George Mason.

Wide-Open,

Gunston Hall 2, Nikkor 5cm F1.5 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

And at F4,

Gunston Hall 2, Nikkor 5cm F1.5 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

I do brick wall tests- just like interesting brick walls...

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Wide-Open,

Gunston Hall 2, Nikkor 5cm F1.5 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

At F4,

Gunston Hall 2, Nikkor 5cm F1.5 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

At F1.5,

Gunston Hall 2, Nikkor 5cm F1.5 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

At F4,

Gunston Hall 2, Nikkor 5cm F1.5 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

I am a Sonnar "fanatic"... I recently bought the new Jupiter-3+ 50mm F1.5 and have been doing a series of comparisons with classic glass, mostly Sonnars. I have a lot (30 or so) Sonnars going back to 1934 converted to Leica mount, a Coated Sonnar 5cm F1.5 from 1936 converted to Leica mount. That one and this Nikkor are probably the find of a lifetime for me. But this Sonnar is my Favorite. It was probably in the Factory when DDD visited, the SN is 14 earlier than the one he bought.

Nikkor 5cm F1.5 and 13.5cm F4 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

[Akira]

Hi, Brian, welcome aboard!

The f1.5 Nikkor has a really pleasing character which is displayed in your images nicely.  The first group of the images reminds me of the TV series "Combat" starred by Vic Morrow.

[Frank Fremerey]

These old gems draw very differently fully open while they seem to be well behaved at f=4

Currently I live this fascination with a 3.5 cm f=1.4 Nikkor designed in 1976 and built till today.

Keep investigating and posting us with your findings.

Welcome!

[Erik Lund]

Very pleasing rendering esp wide open! Nice with a recap on Nikon enheritage! And so cool to see these old lenses put into action on modern cameras!

I really like the Monochrom in combination with these old lenses!

Too bad most of the wider ones are troubled on M9,,, we will probably never see a digital Nikon SP - I have thought of putting a Nikon S-Mount on a Leica M but that is a nightmare to adjust properly - would be doable with live view though,,,

Thanks for posting this!

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I use the Nikkor 2.8cm F3.5, 3.5cm F2.5, and 3.5cm F3.5 with good results. the 2.5cm F4 Nikkor- I chose not to buy one as the middle two elements are incredibly fragile.

I will be posting some more threads with them on the M9 and M Monochrom.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

You ought to look into the W-Nikkor 3.5 cm f/1.8. It is an outstanding performer.

[Hugh_3170]

For those lusting after the new build 5cm F1.5 Jupiter 3+, the dpreview link is here:  http://www.dpreview.com/articles/3384038008/lomography-introduces-jupiter-3-lens

It seems that the lens is being spruiked by the Lomography set and at $US659 for the lens in LTM format with its LTM to M-Bayonet adapter it is a fair bit more expensive than second hand copies at between $US300 to $US450.  It is being made in the ZENIT factory..........

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You ought to look into the W-Nikkor 3.5 cm f/1.8. It is an outstanding performer.

I have this lens in S-Mount, have shot side-by-side with the F2.5 version. I just cannot justify ~$1200 for the 3.5cm F1.8 in LTM when the 35/1.7 Ultron cost me $300, black-paint version. The 3.5cm F2.5 is the same optic formula as the Summaron 35/2.8, a little faster and cost less.

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For those lusting after the new build 5cm F1.5 Jupiter 3+, the dpreview link is here:  http://www.dpreview.com/articles/3384038008/lomography-introduces-jupiter-3-lens

It seems that the lens is being spruiked by the Lomography set and at $US659 for the lens in LTM format with its LTM to M-Bayonet adapter it is a fair bit more expensive than second hand copies at between $US300 to $US450.  It is being made in the ZENIT factory..........

Here is my review of it.

http://www.lomography.com/magazine/318517-expert-advice-first-impressions-of-the-new-jupiter-3-plus-with-brian-sweeney

I have shot the Jupiter-3+ alongside a lot of Sonnars. I'll post a thread on it. This lens is very good, well-made, and focus is perfect on my M9. This lens was ~1/3rd the price of my Nikkor 5cm F1.5; an original Carl Zeiss Jena 5cm F1.5 is LTM will cost more and has a very fragile mount. I had the J-3+ out with a 1936 5cm F1.5 that I converted to Leica mount and a west-German 50/1.5 Sonnar in an Amedeo adapter.

J3Plus and Three Rare Sonnars by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Three_Generations by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

three_Sonnars by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

I don't own a Tanar 5cm f1.5...

[John Geerts]

Very interesting story and  beautiful examples, Brian.

[Erik Lund]

Oh, your that Brian,,,  I didn't realize that.

So nice with a rangefinder specialist on NikonGear!

Thanks for the review, looks like an affordable way into a 'vintage' look for Leica M mount cameras 

Ihave just recently posted this:

http://nikongear.net/revival/index.php/topic,2922.0.html

MS Optical 50mm 1.1 in Leica M mount

[bjornthun]

Brian, interesting review of the Jupiter 3+ 1,5/50, and the background info on the Sonnars. Thanks! 

Will the Jupiter 3+ 1,5/50 work well on the Sony A7 series?