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#11
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What is this ancient nikkor 28mm f/2?
"Paul Furman" wrote"
What is this ancient nikkor 28mm f/2? http://images.mpire.com/1100/joesoldit/329024.jpg http://images.mpire.com/1100/joesoldit/329027.jpg http://images.mpire.com/1100/joesoldit/329026.jpg http://images.mpire.com/1100/joesoldit/329028.jpg A few brief comments about this lens. According to the serial number, it was likely produced around 1971 to 1973. While it uses the same optical formula as later versions, unlike those later version it does not have multi-coated elements. As a result, you have to take extra precautions to avoid flare. The lens appears to be mounted on an F2 with the Photomic metering head. With that camera, there would be no reason for the lens to be converted to AI. The good news is that conversions are still available for $35 plus shipping. -- Michael Benveniste -- Spam and UCE professionally evaluated for $250. Use this email address only to submit mail for evaluation. |
#12
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What is this ancient nikkor 28mm f/2?
Michael Benveniste wrote:
"Paul Furman" wrote" What is this ancient nikkor 28mm f/2? http://images.mpire.com/1100/joesoldit/329024.jpg http://images.mpire.com/1100/joesoldit/329027.jpg http://images.mpire.com/1100/joesoldit/329026.jpg http://images.mpire.com/1100/joesoldit/329028.jpg A few brief comments about this lens. According to the serial number, it was likely produced around 1971 to 1973. While it uses the same optical formula as later versions, unlike those later version it does not have multi-coated elements. As a result, you have to take extra precautions to avoid flare. The lens appears to be mounted on an F2 with the Photomic metering head. With that camera, there would be no reason for the lens to be converted to AI. The good news is that conversions are still available for $35 plus shipping. Thanks. It does seem an unusual item. I found a couple sold for around $160 and this similar AI version (probably with coating?) for $368: http://i12.ebayimg.com/03/i/06/4c/30/67_1_b.JPG |
#13
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What is this ancient nikkor 28mm f/2?
Michael Benveniste wrote:
That one started life as a non-AI lens as well, but the N-C marking means that it was multicoated. For reasons known only to the geniuses in Nikon's marketing department, when it came time to shift to autofocus lenses, for seven years Nikon decided to base its only AF 28mm offering on the optically inferior 28mm f/2.8 Series E. Most people did not know it, but from the time the Nikon 2000/2020 came out and the 8008, Nikon did not sell anything in production. They were selling off their stock of AIs lenses and older cameras while they were "gearing up" for the new AF line. The F3AF and the 2000/2020 where evolutionary products. They were an attempt to add autofocus to their existing line. Based upon what was available at the time, mostly a meager effort by Canon, there really was no market for autofocus. Then Minolta came out with the Maxxum cameras. They were revolutionary in their design in that they focused as fast and as well as many people did. Canon, who was already developing professional grade cameras using "modern" manufacturing techniques stopped what they were doing, dropped their lens mount and started design and production of a whole new lens mount for autofocus. That's why I jokingly call the T-90 an EOS-0, it was the first and only camera made using the EOS design techniquies, but with the older FD mount and all it's limitations. Nikon also was taken by surprise. They stopped what they were doing and started to develop a competing camera to the Maxxum. Unlike Canon they decided not to scrap their mount, but extend it. They also dropped the motor in each lens design of the F3AF and put the motor in the camera. In order to make the focusing happen, Nikon replaced the helical focus (large screw threads) mechanism with a rack and pinion (worm drive). Unfortunately, they copied the horrible ergonomics of the Maxxum lenses, which assumed that you would not want to manually focus the lenses very often. While this was occuring, the Yen took a nose dive in Japan. When they started, they could sell a camera and get 300 Yen for every dollar they got from selling a camera. In a matter of a few months, it went down to 150 Yen and even less for the same dollar. So a camera that they could afford to sell for $250 dollars would have to be sold for $500 to make the same amount of Yen. Since the workers salaries, rents, utiltites, taxes, etc were paid in Yen, this was a disaster. Nikon also projected that consumer acceptance of AF cameras would be quick, while professional acceptance would be slow. Therefore they concentrated on cheap lenses that consumers would buy. As for producing a better lens than the 28mm f2.8 series E lens in autofocus, I expect that it took almost seven years to sell off the AIs versions of the better lenses. Most profesionals who wanted one already had one, consumers would not want to spend the money on an better one, and most would buy zooms. By that time consumer preference had shifted from prime focus lenses to zooms, and most of the cameras sold with lenses were sold with zooms and not prime focus lenses. Canon, BTW, was not any better. They had announced a fairly large line of lenses in the EOS mount, but for a long time, they only had a 50mm f1.8, and a few zooms. Another point is that the Canon cameras used hard to find 6v lithium batteries that were expensive and did not last very long. Nikon chose the easy to find and cheaper AA batteries. Geoff. -- Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 IL Fax: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838 Visit my 'blog at http://geoffstechno.livejournal.com/ |
#14
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What is this ancient nikkor 28mm f/2?
"Geoffrey S. Mendelson" wrote:
[snips for brevity] Then Minolta came out with the Maxxum cameras. They were revolutionary in their design in that they focused as fast and as well as many people did. Okay, I'm with you so far. The Maxxum shouldn't have surprised anyone, but it did. So to set the stage, Nikon was facing a serious threat from a previously lesser competitor. Unfortunately, they copied the horrible ergonomics of the Maxxum lenses, which assumed that you would not want to manually focus the lenses very often. This was a classic case of "lazy marketing" and "me too" engineering. But at least Nikon recognized its error sooner than with the 28mm. In 1991, they did upgrade the focus ring, but stayed with the mediocre optical design. While this was occuring, the Yen took a nose dive in Japan. When they started, they could sell a camera and get 300 Yen for every dollar they got from selling a camera. In a matter of a few months, it went down to 150 Yen and even less for the same dollar. So a camera that they could afford to sell for $250 dollars would have to be sold for $500 to make the same amount of Yen. Since the workers salaries, rents, utiltites, taxes, etc were paid in Yen, this was a disaster. It's true that a weaker dollar hurt Japanese exports. But it was far from a "disaster" for the Japanese economy in general, nor for the Japanese camera makers. When the Yen was weakest at 262.8 per dollar, the Nikkei 225 was at 12,150. When the 28mm f/2.8 AF was introduced, the Yen had strengthened to 154.6 per dollar, but the Nikkei had soared to over 18,000. It should be noted that all of the Japanese and German camera makers faced the same situation, and the resulting price adjustments closed the gap between gray market and official import pricing. Nikon also projected that consumer acceptance of AF cameras would be quick, while professional acceptance would be slow. Therefore they concentrated on cheap lenses that consumers would buy. Nikon had first experimented with AF on the F3, which was a their professional model. Prototyping of the F4 as an AF camera began in 1985. Yet because the Maxxum was accepted by consumers rather than by professionals, Nikon changed strategies. This was another example of Nikon's lazy marketing, and proved to be an adhoc fallacy. The slow adoption of the Maxxum by pros was because of the consumer-grade build of the initial models and the need to do a wholesale switch of lenses to a manufacturer which had not, historically, provided a full professional lineup. The pro market was (and is) far less price sensitive than the consumer market, so if there was concern over weaker dollars and sterling this was also the wrong direction. As for producing a better lens than the 28mm f2.8 series E lens in autofocus, I expect that it took almost seven years to sell off the AIs versions of the better lenses. Most profesionals who wanted one already had one, consumers would not want to spend the money on an better one, and most would buy zooms. Ah yes. The old "don't cannibalize sales of existing inventory" strategy. By 1986, this had already been debunked as part of the shift to what was then called "Japanese management techniques." The minor lesson was that in a competitive market, if you don't cannibalize your own sales of an outmoded product, someone else will. But the major lesson of that era was to work towards "just in time" inventory at all levels of the channel. So instead of accepting any previous overproduction as a sunk cost, Nikon made a lens which professionals would not want due to mediocre optics, and consumers would not want since they were shifting to zooms. Genius! The only other "E" lens making the switch was the 70-210mm. By 1986, that lens was an open secret -- optically, it is a very close cousin to the 80-200 f/4 AI-S. Nikon eventually replaced that one with a more consumer oriented models as well. In the meantime, Canon's 70-200 f/4L sold strongly. At other focal lengths like 100-105mm, 135mm, and 200mm, Nikon decided to wait before introducing any AF product at all. Oddly enough, the 28mm f/2.8 AI-S was one of the few manual focus lenses which Nikon announced it would continue to produce. Six months after Nikon's baby-stepping into AF, Canon introduced its EOS line. The change in lens mount led to the expected outcry from professionals, and in various forums the same outcry echoes to this day. Yet despite the slow start and limited lens availability, Canon was able to capitalize on Nikon's missteps. By not fragmenting their product line, they extended their market leadership position from consumer gear into the professional market. So while I mainly agree with your retrospective, I feel it's a history of inconsistent and sometimes downright incomprehensible marketing decisions. I was (and remain) a Nikon user over this whole period, but partially as a result I delayed buying autofocus gear. When I finally did switch, I very nearly switched brands as well. -- Michael Benveniste -- Spam and UCE professionally evaluated for $250. Use this email address only to submit mail for evaluation. |
#15
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What is this ancient nikkor 28mm f/2?
Michael Benveniste wrote:
So while I mainly agree with your retrospective, I feel it's a history of inconsistent and sometimes downright incomprehensible marketing decisions. I was (and remain) a Nikon user over this whole period, but partially as a result I delayed buying autofocus gear. When I finally did switch, I very nearly switched brands as well. The answer to that question will probably dismay you. Nikon currently sells two cameras, the FM3a, which will probably be on the books for many years because there are plenty of them in a warehouse from the last production run, and the F6, which will IMHO be the last of the F(single digit) cameras. Canon, who makes full frame (24x36mm) digital cameras will need to continue to make lenses that cover a full frame, so they might as well continue to sell film cameras. Eventualy that will be one model and it won't be the EOS-300, probably will be an EOS-1 variant and it won't be cheap. It looks to me that as long as the current president of Chinon is around, his company will continue to make film cameras. Since he seems to have found his niche, he may well be "the last man standing". Yes, I know that there are others, but I don't think they will last. Leica is a brand that will live on forever, but I don't think they will be producing film cameras much longer. Same with Pentax, etc.... When it gets to the point that you can buy a "single use" 4mp digital camera for about $20 including processing (return camera and you get 36 or 50 prints, and a CD) then film cameras will disapear overnight. Geoff. -- Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 IL Fax: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838 Visit my 'blog at http://geoffstechno.livejournal.com/ |
#16
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What is this ancient nikkor 28mm f/2?
Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:
It looks to me that as long as the current president of Chinon is around, his company will continue to make film cameras. Since he seems to have found his niche, he may well be "the last man standing". Isn't it Cosina? I think I messed this one up again, oops. Geoff. -- Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 IL Fax: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838 Visit my 'blog at http://geoffstechno.livejournal.com/ |
#17
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What is this ancient nikkor 28mm f/2?
"Geoffrey S. Mendelson" ?:
The answer to that question will probably dismay you. Nikon currently sells two cameras, the FM3a, which will probably be on the books for many years because there are plenty of them in a warehouse from the last production run, and the F6, which will IMHO be the last of the F (single digit) cameras. Hmmm. I didn't know I asked a question! Based on their absence in U.S. distribution channels, I wouldn't count on a steady supply of FM3A's either. But while I won't rule out buying a one-use camera on a whim, otherwise I've bought my last new film camera. When any of my current 6 film cameras fails, I'll think about replacing it with used gear. -- Michael Benveniste -- Spam and UCE professionally evaluated for $250. Use this email address only to submit mail for evaluation. |
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