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Thread: Red "D" on Nikkor-W 300mm f5.6

  1. #1
    http://www.spiritsofsilver.com tgtaylor's Avatar
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    Red "D" on Nikkor-W 300mm f5.6

    I have a mint Nikkor-W 300mm f5.6 lens that has a red "D" inscribed on the barrel about 1/2" from the serial number. It appears it was put there by the factory as it is incised with the same quality and is inline with the lettering. Does anyone know what the red "D" means?

    Thanks,

    Thomas

    Here's what it looks like: 7th picture down from the top: (Click to enlarge).

    http://blog-imgs-85.fc2.com/k/e/n/ke...7160543428.jpg

    Thomas

  2. #2

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    Re: Red "D" on Nikkor-W 300mm f5.6

    Perhaps the red D indicates it's REaDy to make great photos.

  3. #3
    http://www.spiritsofsilver.com tgtaylor's Avatar
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    Re: Red "D" on Nikkor-W 300mm f5.6

    My first thought was that it meant Defected. But it's highly unlikely that Nikon would sell lens that it branded as defected. What about "demo?"

    Thomas

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    Re: Red "D" on Nikkor-W 300mm f5.6

    here's a thread on the red letter "R"
    pirate lens? http://www.largeformatphotography.in...t-R-quot/page2

  5. #5
    http://www.spiritsofsilver.com tgtaylor's Avatar
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    Re: Red "D" on Nikkor-W 300mm f5.6

    I emailed the question to Nikon.

    Thomas

    PS: The lens is absolutely mint. Not even a spec of dust in the optics, no wear on the barrel from removal of the caps as you would expect from a used lens, and the lens board has no indication that it has been on a camera (not even the slightest wear on the raised section of the board designed to grasp the sliding lock down.
    Last edited by tgtaylor; 4-Dec-2015 at 14:30. Reason: PS

  6. #6
    http://www.spiritsofsilver.com tgtaylor's Avatar
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    Re: Red "D" on Nikkor-W 300mm f5.6

    After closer inspection there are two very faint straight lines on the bottom and top of the lensboard, a tad more pronounced on the bottom, where the board was mounted on a camera. But they are so slight that the lens couldn't have been mounted on a camera more than a couple of times if indeed it was ever mounted. Again, there is zero dust in the optics. I emailed the seller in Japan if he know what the red "D" meant.

    I bought this to replace the 300-M lens for the 8x10's. I'll still use the M for 4x5 packing.

    Thomas

  7. #7
    ic-racer's Avatar
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    Re: Red "D" on Nikkor-W 300mm f5.6

    This e-bay seller thinks the red "D" means telephoto...
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-Nikkor...gAAOSwo6lWOV~o

  8. #8

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    Re: Red "D" on Nikkor-W 300mm f5.6

    Like tgtaylor i would be inclined to think that the D is probably for Demo, or a means for nikon to identify a certain lens internally within the company that might have been out on loan or test.

  9. #9
    http://www.spiritsofsilver.com tgtaylor's Avatar
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    Re: Red "D" on Nikkor-W 300mm f5.6

    Quote Originally Posted by ic-racer View Post
    This e-bay seller thinks the red "D" means telephoto...
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-Nikkor...gAAOSwo6lWOV~o
    I logged on to that listing but couldn't find that assertion. The Nikon website http://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and...ns-barrel.html has this to say about "D" appearing on the barrel:

    On older NIKKORS you may see the letter D, and that means distance information is factored into the metering process. These days all NIKKORS have distance encoders, so you won't see D on new NIKKOR lenses—only G.

    But that doesn't appear to apply to the LF lens. Since the red "D" does appear on Nikkor lens available for sale from Japan, could it possibly mean for the Domestic (i.e., Japanese) market or 'Demo as I and Alex previously thought?

    Thomas

  10. #10
    Jac@stafford.net's Avatar
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    Re: Red "D" on Nikkor-W 300mm f5.6

    Quote Originally Posted by tgtaylor View Post
    I logged on to that listing but couldn't find that assertion. [... snip good stuff ...]
    The telephoto reference is in the small type that is inserted by eBay at the permission of the seller. It also says it is for a Nikon F. oops on the seller.

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