Nikon F-mount

Nikon F-mount
The Nikon F of 1959 embodies the original F-mount.
Type Bayonet
External diameter 44 mm
Tabs 3
Flange 46.5 mm

The Nikon F-mount is a type of interchangeable lens mount developed by Nikon for its 35 mm SLR cameras. The F-mount was first introduced on the Nikon F camera in 1959, and features a three lug bayonet mount with a 44 mm throat and a flange to focal plane distance of 46.5 mm. The company continues to use variations of the same lens mount specification for its film and digital SLR cameras.

The Nikon F-mount is one of only two SLR lens mounts (the other being the Pentax K-mount) which were not abandoned by their associated manufacturer upon the introduction of autofocus, but rather extended to meet new requirements related to metering, autofocus, and aperture control. The large variety of F-mount compatible lenses makes it the largest system of interchangeable flange-mount photographic lenses in history. Over 400 different Nikkor lenses are compatible with the system. The F-mount is also popular in scientific and industrial applications, most notably machine vision.

In addition to Nikon's own range of "Nikkor" lenses, brands of F-mount photographic lenses include Zeiss, Voigtländer, Schneider, Angénieux, Samyang, Sigma, Tokina, Tamron, Hartblei, Kiev-Arsenal, Lensbaby, and Vivitar. F-mount photographic cameras include current models from Nikon, Fujifilm, Sinar, Kenko and Horseman. Numerous other manufacturers employ the F-mount in non-photographic imaging applications.

The F-mount has a significant degree of both backward and forward compatibility. Many current autofocus F-mount lenses can be used on the original Nikon F, and the earliest manual-focus F-mount lenses of the 1960s and early 1970s can, with some modification, still be used to their fullest on all professional-class Nikon cameras. Incompatibilities do exist, however, and adventurous F-mount users should consult product documentation in order to avoid problems. For example, many electronic camera bodies cannot meter without a CPU enabled lens, the aperture of G designated lenses cannot be controlled without an electronic camera body, and non-AI lenses (manufactured prior to 1977) can cause mechanical damage to later model bodies unless they are modified to meet the AI specification.

Most Nikon F-mount lenses cover the standard 36×24 mm area of 135 film and the Nikon FX format, while DX designated lenses cover the 24×16 mm area of the Nikon DX format, and industrial F-mount lenses have varying coverage. DX lenses may produce vignetting when used on film and FX cameras. However, Nikon lenses designed for film cameras will work on Nikon digital system cameras with the limitations noted above.

Unlike most other lens mounts, F-mount lenses lock by turning counter-clockwise (when looking at the front of lens) and unlock clockwise. Likewise, nearly all F-mount lenses have focus and aperture controls which operate in the reverse direction from the norm. From the perspective of the operator behind the camera, the focus ring turns clockwise towards infinity, and the aperture ring turns clockwise to close.

Originally all Nikon bodies and lenses were manufactured in Japan. Since 1991, however, increasing amounts of high-volume production (mostly consumer bodies and lenses) have been shifted to production centers in Thailand and China.

Contents

Compatible Lenses

Nikkor

Designations

Nikon has introduced many proprietary designations for F-mount Nikkor lenses, reflecting design variations and developments both in lenses and the F-mount itself. There are also "unofficial" designations used by collectors and dealers to differentiate similar lenses.

Pre-autofocus
Electromechanical and data communication
Optical design
Alternate product lines
Esoteric

Manual Focus Primes

  • 6 mm f/2.8 Circular Fisheye
  • 6 mm f/5.6 Circular Fisheye (requires MLU)
  • 7.5 mm f/5.6 Circular Fisheye (requires MLU)
  • 8 mm f/2.8 Circular Fisheye
  • 8 mm f/8.0 Circular Fisheye (requires MLU)
  • 10 mm f/5.6 OP Circular Fisheye (requires MLU)
  • 13 mm f/5.6
  • 15 mm f/3.5
  • 15 mm f/5.6
  • 16 mm f/2.8 Full Frame Fisheye
  • 16 mm f/3.5 Full Frame Fisheye
  • 18 mm f/4.0
  • 18 mm f/3.5
  • 20 mm f/2.8
  • 20 mm f/3.5 UD
  • 20 mm f/3.5
  • 20 mm f/4.0
  • 21 mm f/4.0 (requires MLU)
  • 24 mm f/2.0
  • 24 mm f/2.8
  • 28 mm f/2.0
  • 28 mm f/2.8
  • 28 mm f/3.5
  • 35 mm f/1.4
  • 35 mm f/2.0
  • 35 mm f/2.8
  • 45 mm f/2.8 GN
  • 45 mm f/2.8 P
  • 50 mm f/1.2
  • 50 mm f/1.4
  • 50 mm f/1.8
  • 50 mm f/2.0
  • 55 mm f/1.2
  • 55 mm f/4.0 UV
  • 58 mm f/1.2 Noct
  • 58 mm f/1.4
  • 85 mm f/1.4
  • 85 mm f/1.8
  • 85 mm f/2.0
  • 105 mm f/1.8
  • 105 mm f/2.5
  • 105 mm f/4.5 UV
  • 120 mm f/4.0 IF Medical
  • 135 mm f/2.0
  • 135 mm f/2.8
  • 135 mm f/3.5
  • 180 mm f/2.8 ED
  • 200 mm f/2.0 ED-IF
  • 200 mm f/4.0 Q
  • 200 mm f/4.0
  • 200 mm f/5.6 Medical
  • 300 mm f/2.0 ED-IF
  • 300 mm f/2.8 ED-IF
  • 300 mm f/4.5 P
  • 300 mm f/4.5 H
  • 300 mm f/4.5 ED
  • 300 mm f/4.5 ED-IF
  • 400 mm f/2.8 ED-IF
  • 400 mm f/3.5 ED-IF
  • 400 mm f/4.5
  • 400 mm f/5.6 ED-IF
  • 500 mm f/4.0 P ED-IF
  • 500 mm f/5.0 Reflex
  • 500 mm f/8.0 Reflex
  • 600 mm f/4.0 ED-IF
  • 600 mm f/5.6 ED-IF
  • 800 mm f/5.6 ED-IF
  • 800 mm f/8.0 ED
  • 800 mm f/8.0 ED-IF
  • 1000 mm f/6.3 Reflex
  • 1000 mm f/11.0 Reflex
  • 1200 mm f/11.0 ED-IF
  • 2000 mm f/11.0 Reflex

Autofocus Primes

  • 14 mm f/2.8D ED AF
  • 16 mm f/2.8D AF Full Frame Fisheye
  • 18 mm f/2.8D AF
  • 20 mm f/2.8 AF
  • 20 mm f/2.8D AF
  • 24 mm f/1.4G ED AF-S N
  • 24 mm f/2.8 AF
  • 24 mm f/2.8D AF
  • 28 mm f/1.4D AF Aspherical
  • 28 mm f/2.8 AF
  • 28 mm f/2.8D AF
  • 35 mm f/1.4G AF-S
  • 35 mm f/2.0 AF
  • 35 mm f/2.0D AF
  • 50 mm f/1.4 AF
  • 50 mm f/1.4D AF
  • 50 mm f/1.8 AF
  • 50 mm f/1.8D AF
  • 50 mm f/1.4G AF-S
  • 50 mm f/1.8G AF-S
  • 80 mm f/2.8 AF (F3AF dedicated)
  • 85 mm f/1.4D AF
  • 85 mm f/1.4G AF-S N
  • 85 mm f/1.8 AF
  • 85 mm f/1.8D AF
  • 105 mm f/2.0D AF DC
  • 135 mm f/2.0 AF DC
  • 135 mm f/2.0D AF DC
  • 180 mm f/2.8 ED-IF AF
  • 180 mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF
  • 200 mm f/3.5 ED-IF AF (F3AF dedicated)
  • 300 mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-I
  • 300 mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-S II
  • 300 mm f/4 ED-IF AF
  • 300 mm f/4D ED-IF AF-S
  • 400 mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-I
  • 400 mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-S II
  • 500 mm f/4D ED-IF AF-S II
  • 600 mm f/4D ED-IF AF-I
  • 600 mm f/4D ED-IF AF-S II

Teleconverters

  • TC-1 (2.0x)
  • TC-2 (2.0x)
  • TC-200 (2.0x)
  • TC-300 (2.0x)
  • TC-201 (2.0x)
  • TC-301 (2.0x)
  • TC-14 (1.4x)
  • TC-14A (1.4x)
  • TC-14B (1.4x)
  • TC-14C (1.4x)
  • TC-16 (1.6x) (F3AF only)
  • TC-16A (1.6x)
  • TC-20E (2.0x)
  • TC-14E (1.4x)
  • TC-14E II (1.4x)
  • TC-17E II (1.7x)
  • TC-20E II (2.0x)
  • TC-20E III (2.0x)

Micro Lenses (for macro photography)

  • 40 mm f/2.8G AF-S DX Micro
  • 45 mm f/2.8 ED PC-E Micro
  • 55 mm f/2.8 Micro
  • 55 mm f/2.8 AF Micro
  • 55 mm f/3.5 Micro
  • 60 mm f/2.8D AF Micro
  • 60 mm f/2.8D AF-S G Micro N
  • 85 mm f/2.8D PC Micro
  • 85 mm f/2.8D PC-E Micro
  • 105 mm f/4.0 (bellows lens)
  • 105 mm f/4.0 Micro
  • 105 mm f/2.8 Micro
  • 105 mm f/2.8D AF Micro
  • 135 mm f/4.0 (bellows lens)
  • 200 mm f/4.0 IF Micro
  • 200 mm f/4.0D ED-IF AF Micro
  • 70–180 mm f/4.5-5.6 ED AF-D Micro

Manual Focus Zooms

  • 25–50 mm f/4.0
  • 28–45 mm f/4.5
  • 28–50 mm f/3.5 Macro
  • 28–85 mm f/3.5-4.5 Macro
  • 35–70 mm f/3.5
  • 35–70 mm f/3.5 Macro
  • 35–70 mm f/3.3-4.5
  • 35–70 mm f/3.5-4.8
  • 35–85 mm f/2.8-4.0 (prototype only)
  • 35–105 mm f/3.5-4.5 Macro
  • 35–135 mm f/3.5-4.5
  • 35–200 mm f/3.5-4.5 Macro
  • 43–86 mm f/3.5
  • 50–135 mm f/3.5 Macro
  • 50–300 mm f/4.5
  • 50–300 mm f/4.5 ED
  • 70–210 mm f/4.5-5.6
  • 80–200 mm f/2.8 ED
  • 80–200 mm f/4.0
  • 80–200 mm f/4.5
  • 85–250 mm f/4.0-4.5
  • 100–300 mm f/5.6 Macro
  • 180–600 mm f/8.0 ED
  • 200–400 mm f/4.0 ED
  • 200–600 mm f/9.5
  • 360–1200 mm f/11.0 ED
  • 1200–1700 mm f/5.6-8.0 P ED-IF

Autofocus Zooms (professional)

Autofocus Zooms (consumer)

Vibration reduction (VR) lenses in FX (full-frame) format

  • 16–35 mm f/4G ED AF-S VR N
  • 24–120 mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR
  • 24–120 mm f/4G ED AF-S VR
  • 28–300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR
  • 70–200 mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR
  • 70–200 mm f/2.8G ED AF-S VR II
  • 70–300 mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR
  • 80–400 mm f/4.5-5.6D ED AF VR
  • 105 mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro N
  • 200 mm f/2G ED-IF AF-S VR
  • 200 mm f/2G ED AF-S VR II
  • 200–400 mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR
  • 300 mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR N
  • 300 mm f/2.8G ED AF-S VR II
  • 400 mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR N
  • 500 mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR N
  • 600 mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR N

Lenses for Nikon DX format

Vibration reduction (VR) lenses in DX format

Nikon Series E

  • 28 mm f/2.8
  • 35 mm f/2.5
  • 50 mm f/1.8
  • 100 mm f/2.8
  • 135 mm f/2.8
  • 36–72 mm f/3.5
  • 70–210 mm f/4.0
  • 75–150 mm f/3.5

Lenses with integrated autofocus-motor

Nikon lenses with integrated autofocus-motor are designated AF-S and AF-I. They are needed for new cameras with lack of an autofocus motor. Today these are the Nikon D40, D40X, D60, D3000, D3100, D5000, D5100 and the Nikon 1 series with FT1 adapter. Currently listed are 57 Nikon Nikkor lenses including teleconverters and 81 lenses from other manufacturers.

Perspective control (PC) lenses

Nikon PC lenses, like other perspective control lenses, offer adjustments that duplicate certain view camera movements. The 28mm and 35mm PC lenses support shifting the lens in relation to the film or sensor plane, while Nikon's 24mm, 45mm, and 85mm PC-E lenses also support tilting.

Nikon currently offers 4 different PC lenses for sale: the three PC-E Nikkors (2008), and the 85mm PC-Nikkor (1999). The 45 mm and 85 mm “Micro” lenses offer close focus (0.5 magnification) for macrophotography. The PC-E lenses (the "E" designates an electromagnetic diaphragm) offer automatic aperture control with the D3, D3S, D3X, D700, D300, D300S and D7000 cameras. With earlier camera models, a PC-E lens operates like a PC lens. The PC Micro-Nikkor 85 mm f/2.8D lens offers only preset aperture control, actuated mechanically by pressing a plunger.

History

In July 1962, Nikon released the first interchangeable perspective control lens available for a single-lens reflex camera camera, the 35mm f/3.5 PC-Nikkor.[6] This was followed in 1968 by a redesigned 35mm f/2.8 PC-Nikkor in which the shifting portion of the lens was further from the camera's body, in order to clear the new "Photomic" meters. The last optical redesign of this 35mm lens was released in 1980.[7]

The 35mm PC-Nikkor did not meet the need of photographers for a wider-angle lens, so in July 1975 Nikon released the 28mm f/4 PC-Nikkor. In February 1981 Nikon released an improved version of this lens, the 28mm f/3.5 PC-Nikkor, with a new optical design. This was the last of the completely manual PC-Nikkors to be offered.

Specifications
Lens Intro Aperture Range Elements/ Groups Focus Stop-Down Rotation / Click Stops Max. Shift/Tilt Shift Knob Weight Size (Diameter × Length) Filter Thread Photo
24mm f/3.5 PC-E Nikkor[8] 2008 f/3.5–f/32 13/10 0.21m–∞ electronic 90° R/L / 30° 11.5mm/8.5° metal 25.7 oz. (730g) 82.5mm × 108mm 77mm
28mm f/4 PC-Nikkor[9] 1975 f/4–f/22 10/8 0.3m–∞ manual 360°/30° 11mm/none metal 14.5 oz. (410g) 78mm × 68mm 72mm
28mm f/3.5 PC-Nikkor[10] 1981 f/3.5–f/22 9/8 0.3m–∞ manual 360°/30° 11mm/none metal 13.5 oz. (382g) 78mm × 69mm 72mm
35mm f/3.5 PC-Nikkor 1961 f/3.5–f/32 6/6 0.3m–∞ manual 360°/30° 11mm/none metal 10.2 oz. (290g) 70mm × 52mm 52mm
35mm f/2.8 PC-Nikkor[11] 1968 f/2.8–f/32 8/7 0.3m–∞ manual 360°/30° 11mm/none metal 11.6 oz. (330g) 70mm × 66.5mm 52mm
35mm f/2.8 PC-Nikkor[12] 1980 f/2.8–f/32 7/7 0.3m–∞ manual 360°/30° 11mm/none plastic 11.3 oz. (320g) 62mm × 66.5mm 52mm
45 mm f/2.8D ED PC-E Nikkor 2008 Electronic
85 mm f/2.8D PC* Micro-Nikkor 1999 Manual
85 mm f/2.8D PC-E Micro-Nikkor 2008 Electronic

Zeiss ZF

Zeiss ZF series lenses are manual-focus designs Nikon AI-S type aperture indexing. They are manufactured by Cosina to Zeiss specifications. Four design variations are designated ZF, ZF.2, ZF-I, and ZF-IR.

ZF is the original product line. ZF.2 lenses are CPU-enabled (similar to Nikon AI-P lenses) offering full metering compatibility with the full range of AF Nikon SLR cameras. ZF-I lenses add mechanical locks for focus and aperture, and additional environmental sealing, for industrial applications. ZF-IR lenses are adapted to infrared imaging, with coatings that transmit wavelengths up to 1100 nm, and focus scales marked for infrared.

Zeiss CP.2

CP.2 lenses are a series of Zeiss "CompactPrime" cinema lenses which present F-mount as one of three mounting options. The lenses cover the 36×24 mm area of the 135 film or Nikon FX format, and lenses 28 mm and longer share a common T-stop of 2.1.

Hartblei

Hartblei Super-Rotator lenses are 360° tilt-shift lenses manufactured in Ukraine. Some current versions of the Super-Rotator feature German-made Carl Zeiss optics.

Kiev-Arsenal

Voigtländer

Voigtländer SL-series lenses are manufactured by Cosina.

SL

Voigtländer SL lenses are manual-focus designs with Nikon AI-S type aperture indexing. They were discontinued in concert with the introduction of Zeiss ZF lenses (see above).

  • 12 mm f/5.6 SL Ultra Heliar (aspherical)
  • 15 mm f/4.5 SL Heliar (aspherical)
  • 40 mm f/2 SL Ultron (aspherical)
  • 58 mm f/1.4 SL Topcor
  • 75 mm f/2.5 SL Color-Heliar
  • 90 mm f/3.5 SL APO-Lanthar Close Focus
  • 125 mm f/2.5 SL APO-Lanthar (1:1 macro)
  • 180 mm f/4 SL APO-Lanthar

SL 

Voigtländer SL  (also written SL II) lenses are described by the manufacturer as CPU-enabled manual-focus designs with Nikon AI-S type aperture indexing. The Nikon term for such a design is AI-P, although these lenses are not designated as such. The CPU of SL  lenses enables full compatibility (except for autofocus) with the full range of AF Nikon SLR cameras.

  • 20 mm f/3.5 SL Skopar (aspherical)
  • 40 mm f/2 SL  Ultron (aspherical)
  • 58 mm f/1.4 SL  Nokton/Topcor
  • 90 mm f/3.5 SL  APO-Lanthar Close Focus

Angénieux

Schneider Kreuznach

Samyang

Sigma

Tamron

Tokina

Compatible Cameras

External links

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Joseph D. Cooper and Joseph C. Abbot. Nikon F Nikkormat Handbook of Photography (2nd, including four updates ed.). New York: Amphoto. pp. 5.1–5.85. 
  2. ^ Nikon Lens Technology Ken Rockwell
  3. ^ Nikon Lens Compatibility Ken Rockwell
  4. ^ Ultra Micro Nikkor Grand History
  5. ^ Nikon IX (APS) Lenses
  6. ^ "Tale Seventeen : PC-Nikkor 28 mm f/4". Nikon Corporation. http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/technology/nikkor/n17_e.htm. 
  7. ^ "Nikon 35mm f/2.8 PC Nikkor". photography_review.com. http://www.photographyreview.com/mfr/nikon/35mm-primes/PRD_387833_3111crx.aspx. 
  8. ^ PC-E Nikkor 24mm F/3.5 Nikon User's Manual, 2008
  9. ^ PC-Nikkor 28mm F/4 Nikon Instruction Manual, Nikon Kogaku, K.K., 1978
  10. ^ PC-Nikkor 28mm F/3.5 Nikon Instruction Manual, Nikon Kogaku, K.K., 1981
  11. ^ PC-Nikkor 35mm F/2.8 Nikon Instruction Manual, Nikon Kogaku, K.K., 1977
  12. ^ PC-Nikkor 35mm F/2.8 Nikon Instruction Manual, Nikon Kogaku, K.K., 1981