Nikkor 150mm SW f8 Engraved with red letter "R"

[Timothy Blomquist]

I recently bought this lens and noted an engraved red letter "R" on the barrel just after the serial number:

122770

I have not seen this on other Nikkor SW large format lenses. Any idea what this signifies? I didn't know if it meant refurbished or rejected.

[richardman]

"renowned" :-)

[Timothy Blomquist]

"renowned" :-)
I suppose it could also mean: "Resplendent". I have provided another photo just taken to give you a better view of this. It seems there is not a lot of information here in the US about Nikkor large format lenses. Perhaps this was made to be used for the rental business, thus the letter "R"?

122789

[Darin Boville]

Better correction for infrared...?

--Darin

[Daniel Stone]

Try contacting Nikon

[Willie]

Refurbished?

[vinny]

Pirate edition?
Well, I guess that'd be ARR!

[Tin Can]

A joke. Vinny, you surprised me! :)



Pirate edition?
Well, I guess that'd be ARR!

[jbenedict]

"R" or no "R"- that is a heck of a 8x10 wide angle!

[jbenedict]

I looked a little. Man! There is a lot of info on F-Mount Nikon stuff.

I did find this. It's the story of a 760mm Nikkor process lens affixed to a Sinar shutter and mounted on a Deardorff 8x10. Written in perfect "Engrish". You will very much good to like read.

http://homepage2.nifty.com/akiyanroom/redbook-e/collection/moriya.html

[Timothy Blomquist]

"R" or no "R"- that is a heck of a 8x10 wide angle!
I had it out today on my Sinar f8x10 (with my new Hopf Borosilicate ground glass screen) and I saw no problems with the lens. Didn't do any exposures because I'm waiting for my next shipment of film from B&H...:(

Looked pretty close on all sides of the ground glass and the edge sharpness is amazing, even wide open. If the lens turns out to be a refurbished item, I don't see any problems with it. I created an account at Nikon this evening and put in a request for information about the engraved R. It will be interesting to see if they have anyone left who knows about their old large format line up of lenses? If anything, I have an unusual specimen.

[Dave Moeller]

According to the page at the link below, a red R on some early 35mm lenses indicated, as Darin mentioned above, improved IR focus.

https://www.cameraquest.com/nftick.htm

[Timothy Blomquist]

According to the page at the link below, a red R on some early 35mm lenses indicated, as Darin mentioned above, improved IR focus.
https://www.cameraquest.com/nftick.htm

Dave, thanks for the link. Keep in mind I have never shot IR film (although I have done reading on it), and I could see the need for a focusing "tick" on a 35mm lens. What would be the benefit of marking a LF lens since the focusing is done with the camera?

[jp]

The letter R is good for about 15 horsepower if it were a car.

[richardman]

May be the R lens have glass that focus IR to a plane close to visible light plane? This way, you don't need to compensate (much) for the IR? (just a guess on my part).

[Dave Moeller]

As with 35mm lenses, you focus a large format cameras with visible light so you normally have to compensate if you're shooting IR film. I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have to with your lens. This thread has some info on the kind of adjustment you'd have to make with a regular lens:
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?40217-Focusing-LF-in-the-Infrared-Sprectrum

[Jac@stafford.net]

According to the page at the link below, a red R on some early 35mm lenses indicated, as Darin mentioned above, improved IR focus.

https://www.cameraquest.com/nftick.htm

That article addresses the IR adjustment mark for lenses intended for 35mm film. Focus the camera, note the distance on the scale and move it to the R mark.

The mark on the lens being discussed clearly has no such function and is not a lens formula especially intended for IR.
.

[ic-racer]

That is not an IR lens.

[Louis Pacilla]

I'm pretty sure the red "R" was engraved on Nikon Representative lenses. These where the lenses the rep dragged around to shops for show & tell. I have seen the red "R" on a multitude of Nikon large format lenses from the W series M series & SW lenses.

[vinny]

not refurbished and not ir. you guys have great imaginations though:)
I think it stands for RAD. Totally

[Pete Watkins]

j,
Brilliant!