THE CAMERA THAT STARTED IT ALL
The Patriarch, as most usually found with 105mm/f2.5 Nikkor mounted. A formidable
combination.
Photo: Nikon 8008s, 5.5cm/f3.5, Pre-set Micro-Nikkor
In the late 1950s
my eldest brother, Jerry, purchased a camera that would change much of the way
life in our family was viewed. The camera was a Nikon F. In fact, it was one of
the first Nikon Fs. Although not of the first thousand produced (which would
have made it extremely valuable today), it had the very low serial number of
6421968. Nikon Fs were produced from 1959 to 1972.
The camera is no
longer used as Jerry has put down this and another F and now shoots with a
Nikon F3. Unused does not mean unloved, however. Jerry has given it to me and
now his camera resides in a clear plastic cube as the showpiece of my
camera collection. It holds a place of honor as the family’s photographic
"Patriarch."
Early Nikon Fs have
collector appeal and this camera would be a desirable addition to a collection.
Besides the low serial number, it has all the hallmarks of the earliest Fs,
including a hollow film advance lever and machined self-timer lever. It has all
the trimmings that bring tears to the eyes of the savviest collector.
Shortly after
purchasing the camera, Jerry had a need to do close-up photography. The lens he
bought was a 5.5cm f/3.5 Micro-Nikkor [Note: actual spelling is “Micro-NIKKOR”],
the first close-up lens designed by Nikon for use with the new model F.
The business end of the 5.5cm, f/3.5, Micro-Nikkor
As designed, this
lens required the photographer to manually 'stop down' to the aperture setting
needed for exposure from the fully-opened setting used for composing and
focusing. When purchased, this lens was apparently a leftover as by then Nikon
had replaced the manually operated preset diaphragm lens with an automatic
version. In the new lens, the aperture closed to the aperture selected
automatically on release of the shutter. Aside from the aperture actuating
mechanism, what set the two lenses apart was that the preset version extended
sufficiently to go to life-size without the extension tube required by the
newer lens. It is an amazing design. When close focused it seems to rack out
indefinitely. With suitable apologies to my more sensitive viewers, some
pundits describe the physical increase in length as if the lens were getting an
erection.
5.5cm, f/3.5, Micro-Nikkor fully extended
The pre-set
Micro-Nikkor turned out to have been produced for a short time and is now
considered one of the rarest Nikkor lens. It is in great demand by collectors.
To illustrate this point, in his book that is widely regarded as the bible for
Nikon users, Nikon System Handbook, 5th Edition, at page 70, B.
Moose Peterson wrote the following about this lens:
"A unique
lens sneaked into the lens lineup in 1962, the 55mm [sic] f/3.5
Micro Pre-set. This extremely rare lens was on the market for less than a
year. It has an aperture value range from f/3.4 [sic] to f/22, no meter
coupling, a filter size of 52 mm, an angle of view of 43° , and a weight of 11.5 oz.
(326 g). Its length is unknown [!]. What makes this lens so unique is it
focuses down to 1:1 with 8.14 inches (20.7 cm) of working distance. I have
never shot with this lens and have never heard of its optical reputation. It is
one of the true ghosts of the Nikon lens line and eludes many a
collector."
How about that!
An interesting
point about this lens that I have never heard addressed before is that --
despite Nikon’s advertising that every Nikon can mount every Nikkor made --
this lens will NOT mount on my 8008s when it is set at the infinity focus
position. The reason is that the rear of the focusing ring overhangs the rear
of the lens mount flange. This lens is designed so that as focus is brought
closer, the focusing ring travels away from the camera body (as shown in the
photo, above). As a result, to get the lens to mount, the focus must be adjusted
so that the ring moves forward so that its rear is equal to or further out from
the lens mounting flange. Doing so permits mounting. The focus setting at the
point of being able to mount equates to about 1 foot. Bottom line: This lens
will not focus to infinity on some Nikons such as is the case with the 8008s. In
use, this is no big deal because infinity focus is not the purpose for which
this lens was designed.
Despite the
mounting anomaly, the lens is very easy to use on the 8008s. To determine
exposure, the camera’s meter system is set to ‘manual’, and the aperture is
manipulated until the center -- null -- bar of the readout is illuminated.