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View Full Version : Nikkor Q vs M 450 f9 Lenses?



neil poulsen
13-Aug-2010, 01:08
Does anyone know the difference between a Nikkor Q f9 lens and the well-known Nikkor M f9 lens? How does their performance compare, their image circles, etc?

John Powers
13-Aug-2010, 04:24
You may remember commenting on this thread.
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=6978

Has the same lens come back to play?

John

Dan Fromm
13-Aug-2010, 05:32
One point made in the thread that John referred us to is that Nikkor-Q means four elements in three groups, i.e., tessar type. This isn't always the case. I have a 4/4 double Gauss type 260/10 Nikkor-Q that I believe is identical to the 260/10 Process Nikkor.

Gem Singer
13-Aug-2010, 05:41
The primary difference is that the earlier "Q" series 450 is single coated, and the later "M" series 450 is multi-coated.

The secondary difference is the design and age of the shutters. Old shutters usually need a CLA in order to get them to work accurately.

rdenney
13-Aug-2010, 05:47
One point made in the thread that John referred us to is that Nikkor-Q means four elements in three groups, i.e., tessar type. This isn't always the case. I have a 4/4 double Gauss type 260/10 Nikkor-Q that I believe is identical to the 260/10 Process Nikkor.

As I remember it, the "Q" meant four elements, but did not refer to the optical design beyond that.

Rick "who owns a Nikkor 105/2.5 in a 5-element Sonnar configuration that was once a 'Nikkor-P'" Denney

aduncanson
13-Aug-2010, 08:25
I have a 300mm/9 Nikkor-Q, serial number 303,XXX. It's front & rear reflection counts are those of a tessar. I have been very pleased with its performance (on 5x7) and it quickly became a favorite of mine.

Per Madsen
13-Aug-2010, 10:27
From Robert Rotoloni, Nikon Rangefinder Camera, Hove Collectors Books, 1993,
Hove (U.K.), ISBN 1-874707-07-3 :

U for 1 element (Uns)
B for 2 elements (Bini)
T for 3 elements (Tres)
Q for 4 elements (Quatour)
P for 5 elements (Pente)
H for 6 elements (Hex)
S for 7 elements (Septem)
O for 8 elements (Octo)
N for 9 elements (Novem)
D for 10 elements (Decem)

This element code list was used to at least 1974.

Brian Stein
14-Aug-2010, 18:33
U for 1 element (Uns)
B for 2 elements (Bini)
T for 3 elements (Tres)

This element code list was used to at least 1974.

Was this just compulsive thoroughness, or did Nikon ever make a U B or T lens?

(as an aside on an aside hey were not the only Japanese manufacturer to use letter codes for number of elements: Olympus did so but with a different letter:number code. )

Oren Grad
14-Aug-2010, 18:47
(as an aside on an aside hey were not the only Japanese manufacturer to use letter codes for number of elements: Olympus did so but with a different letter:number code. )

(still on a tangent - Olympus used a straightforward ABCDEFG... for 1234567... My Pen D with a 6-element lens is marked F. Zuiko)

neil poulsen
14-Aug-2010, 19:06
Hey, thanks everyone.

My retention is perfect, so having seen it, I remember that thread. It's my recall that has problems.

Per Madsen
14-Aug-2010, 21:35
Was this just compulsive thoroughness, or did Nikon ever make a U B or T lens?

(as an aside on an aside hey were not the only Japanese manufacturer to use letter codes for number of elements: Olympus did so but with a different letter:number code. )

Nikon made a 350 mm 4.5 Nikkor T and a 500 mm 5.0 Nikkor T
for Nikon 35 mm rangefinder.

I have not heard of any U or B linses, but a diopter correction lens to a
viewfinder could be called a Nikkor U. >8->>