Nikkor Nikon LF lens serial numbers and reference thread 2018

[sepiareverb]

My set:

Nikkor-W 150/5.6 lens 640XXX

Nikkor-W 240/5.6 lens 778XXX

Nikkor-W 300/5.6 lens 780XXX

Nikkor-W 360/6.5 lens 200XXX

M 450/9 lens 800XXX

T*ED 600/800/1200 lens 500XXX

T*ED Rear Lens Cell 600 183XXX

T*ED Rear Lens Cell 800 183XXX

T*-ED Rear Lens Cell 1200 200XXX

[duff photographer]

This is helpful. I'm looking to purchase a couple more lenses and wanted to shop the newer/higher serial numbers... and look for the lowest mileage as well. It would be great to see if there is a correlation between certain years and certain serials #s, but that may be too much to hope for

-Schaf

Unless there's info' out there lying in a dusty Nikon-owned cupboard to say differently, I'm not sure serial numbers can be matched to years, at least when comparing one focal length to another (or one lens type to another). Same can be said for Fujinon to a degree where lower serial numbers seem to occur on lenses newer than those with higher numbers. The list I gave suggests only one thing, that lens numbers occur in batches while the prefixes, e.g., 76**** or 80****, could relate to something completely unrelated to a numbering system, .e.g. manufacturing department (that's pure conjecture on my part).

Having said that, it could be that the higher prefix, e.g., 80**** used for popular LF lenses such as the 150, 180, and 210mm, is extra production in accordance to demand. It's also interesting to note that for both the Nikkor W and Nikkor SW series, where presumably the greatest number of lenses were made, the prefixes go up according to focal length, i.e., 71****, 72**** for 150; 73**** and 74**** for 180mm; 74**** and 75**** for 210mm, 77**** for the 240mm, and so on. Same can be seen for the SW's. It suggests that these particular batch numbers were allocated when the first round of lens production went ahead (unless there are lower prefixes out there) - i.e., all at the same time. The later prefixes may refer to extra batches with 80**** (and 88****) being the last of all. Again, pure conjecture but there does seem to be some logic in the sequencing and little or no exception to that 'rule'.

Nikon are still an onoing concern so maybe an enquiring e-mail to Nikon, with the info' above in mind, might eventually be forwarded on to the in-house guru. Worth a go I reckon.

While it would be interesting to know if serial numbers are related to age it shouldn't stop anyone assuming that a 'newer' lens is better than an 'older' lens. Yes, things like coatings evolve and are improved during production as and when but occasionally things change for the 'worse' optically, if that's not too strong a word, like the abandonment of leaded glass on environmental grounds leading to redesigns. For example, the non-leaded Schneider Apo-Symmar L over the older leaded Apo-Symmar (non-L) where the latter lenses are sometimes, albeit only slightly, better than the newer ones because of the advantage of that leaded glass. As an aside, I'm not sure if Nikon stopped LF lens production before the new environmental legislation was introduced or not.

I would think that any LF lens, from the big four, made after 1980 is going to be very good (design allowing) and the only thing to worry about is misuse, wear and tear.

Cheers,
Duff.

[schafphoto]

My set:

Nikkor-W 150/5.6 lens 640XXX
Nikkor-W 240/5.6 lens 778XXX
Nikkor-W 300/5.6 lens 780XXX
Nikkor-W 360/6.5 lens 200XXX
M 450/9 lens 800XXX
T*ED 600/800/1200 lens 500XXX
T*ED Rear Lens Cell 600 183XXX
T*ED Rear Lens Cell 800 183XXX
T*-ED Rear Lens Cell 1200 200XXX

I see you're a skinny shooter, I like my lenses more expansive... 55-72-90-120-

[EdSawyer]

Nikon did stop LF lens production before the restrictions on leaded glass, as far as I know.

[Per Madsen]

My input to the list:

Nikkor-SW 65/4,0 - 66**** Bought new in 1994
Nikkor-SW 75/4,5 - 67**** Bought used on E-bay 2009
Nikkor-SW 90/8,0 - 69**** Bought used on E-bay 2010
Nikkor-W 210/5,6 - 75**** Bought used on E-bay 2005
Nikkor-M 300/8,0 - 80**** Bought used on E-bay 2008

[schafphoto]

I'm looking for that 800XXX series 135mm on Ebay and see a small "S" in a circle, printed on the side of the copal shutter after: W 135mm 1:5.6 (s)



Anyone know what the (s) designates? It is not present on the 710XXX series Copals I have seen. It does show up on other 720XXX series Copals.
Of my lenses my 90mm and 120mm both have an S but not my 180 or AM 120.

[Oren Grad]

Anyone know what the (s) designates?

http://www.largeformatphotography.in...kor-(S)-lenses

[Tin Can]

Great thread. Chris Perez and the S story.

Thx for reposting!

http://www.largeformatphotography.in...kor-(S)-lenses

[chassis]

Some data points:

Nikkor-W 150mm 1:5.6 801434, Copal 0 (s) mark, 7 bladed iris
Nikkor-SW 120mm 1:8 687710, Copal 0 (s) mark, 7 bladed iris
Nikkor-W 300mm 1:5.6 788723, Copal 3 no (s) mark, 7 bladed iris

[schafphoto]

http://www.largeformatphotography.in...kor-(S)-lenses

Thanks Oren, The 2004 catalog PDF I posted in this first thread-post has an S designation next to the Copal 0 lenses. But it does not give any background. Your post is helpful.

Knowing that The (S) stands for 7-bladed aperture and the pre-(S) Copal 0 shutters had a 5-bladed shutter. another reason to go with the higher serial numbers or look for the (S).