Nikon F-mount - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Nikon F-mount is a type of interchangeable lens mount

Lens mount

A lens mount is an interface — mechanical and often also electrical — between a photographic camera body and a lens. It is confined to cameras where the body allows interchangeable lenses, most usually the single lens reflex type or any movie camera of 16 mm or higher gauge...

developed by Nikon

Nikon

, also known as just Nikon, is a multinational corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, specializing in optics and imaging. Its products include cameras, binoculars, microscopes, measurement instruments, and the steppers used in the photolithography steps of semiconductor fabrication, of which...

for its 35 mm

135 film

The term 135 was introduced by Kodak in 1934 as a designation for cartridge film wide, specifically for still photography. It quickly grew in popularity, surpassing 120 film by the late 1960s to become the most popular photographic film format...

SLR camera

Camera

A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...

s. The F-mount was first introduced on the Nikon F

Nikon F

The Nikon F camera, introduced in 1959, was Nikon's first SLR camera. It was one of the most advanced cameras of its day. Although most of its concepts had already been introduced elsewhere, it was the first camera to combine them all in one camera. It was produced until October 1973 and was...

camera in 1959, and features a three lug bayonet mount

Bayonet mount

A bayonet mount or bayonet connector is a fastening mechanism consisting of a male side with one or more pins, and a female receptor with matching L slots and spring to keep the two parts locked together....

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

Autofocus

An autofocus optical system uses a sensor, a control system and a motor to focus fully automatic or on a manually selected point or area. An electronic rangefinder has a display instead of the motor; the adjustment of the optical system has to be done manually until indication...

, but rather extended to meet new requirements related to metering

Light meter

A light meter is a device used to measure the amount of light. In photography, a light meter is often used to determine the proper exposure for a photograph...

, autofocus

Autofocus

, and aperture

Aperture

In optics, an aperture is a hole or an opening through which light travels. More specifically, the aperture of an optical system is the opening that determines the cone angle of a bundle of rays that come to a focus in the image plane. The aperture determines how collimated the admitted rays are,...

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

Nikkor

Nikkor is the brand of lenses produced by Nikon Corporation, including camera lenses for the Nikon F-mount.thumb|right|Nikko parent company brand, from which the Nikkor brand evolved....

lenses are compatible with the system. The F-mount is also popular in scientific and industrial applications, most notably machine vision

Machine vision

Machine vision is the process of applying a range of technologies and methods to provide imaging-based automatic inspection, process control and robot guidance in industrial applications. While the scope of MV is broad and a comprehensive definition is difficult to distil, a "generally accepted...

.

In addition to Nikon's own range of "Nikkor

Nikkor

Nikkor is the brand of lenses produced by Nikon Corporation, including camera lenses for the Nikon F-mount.thumb|right|Nikko parent company brand, from which the Nikkor brand evolved....

" lenses, brands of F-mount photographic lenses include Zeiss, Voigtländer

Cosina Voigtländer

Cosina Voigtländer refers to photographic products manufactured by Cosina under the Voigtländer name since 1999. Cosina leases rights to the Voigtländer name from Ringfoto...

, Schneider

Schneider Kreuznach

Schneider Kreuznach is the abbreviated name of the company Jos. Schneider Optische Werke GmbH, which is sometimes also simply referred to as Schneider. They are a manufacturer of industrial and photographic optics....

, Angénieux

Angenieux retrofocus

The Angénieux retrofocus photographic lens is a wide-angle lens design that uses an inverted telephoto configuration. The popularity of this lens design made the name retrofocus synonymous with this type of lens...

, Samyang

Samyang Optics

Samyang Optics Company Limited is a Korean company founded in 1972, manufacturing optical equipment, CCTV and photographic accessories. All Samyang lenses are produced in the company's plant in Masan, South Korea...

, Sigma

Sigma Corporation

is a Japanese company founded in 1961, manufacturing cameras, lenses, flashes and other photographic accessories. All Sigma products are produced in the company's own Aizu factory in Bandai, Fukushima, Japan...

, Tokina

Tokina

is a Japanese manufacturer of photographic lenses and CCTV security equipment.-History:Tokina, become a partner of Pentax, division of Hoya Corporation and jointly developed some lenses. These will be available under the Pentax and Schneider Kreuznach D-Xenon and D-Xenogon brands in Pentax K mount...

, Tamron

Tamron

is a Japanese company manufacturing photographic lenses, optical components and commercial/industrial-use optics. Tamron Headquarters is located in Saitama City in the Saitama Prefecture of Japan....

, Hartblei

Hartblei

Hartblei is a Ukrainian manufacturer of optical equipment for photography based in Kiev. They are primarily known for producing tilt-shift lenses . Taking lens designs produced by Kiev-Arsenal they modify these into tilt and shift designs of their own...

, Kiev-Arsenal

Kiev-Arsenal (photo camera)

Kiev is a Soviet brand of photographic equipment including cameras manufactured by the Arsenal Factory in Kiev, Ukraine. The camera nameplates show the name "KIEV", with older cameras using "КИЕВ" or "КИЇВ" in the cyrillic alphabet.At the end of November 2009 Gevorg Vartanyan of Arax, a Ukrainian...

, Lensbaby

Lensbaby

Lensbaby is a line of camera lenses for SLR cameras that combine a simple lens with a bellows or ball and socket mechanism for use in special-effect photography. A lensbaby can give effects normally associated with view cameras...

, and Vivitar

Vivitar

Vivitar Corporation was a manufacturer, distributor and marketer of photographic and optical equipment originally based in Oxnard, California. Since 2008 the Vivitar name serves as Sakar International's photographic and optical equipment brand.-Products:...

. F-mount photographic cameras include current models from Nikon

Nikon

, Fujifilm

Fujifilm

is a multinational photography and imaging company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.Fujifilm's principal activities are the development, production, sale and servicing of color photographic film, digital cameras, photofinishing equipment, color paper, photofinishing chemicals, medical imaging...

, Sinar

Sinar

Sinar AG is a Swiss company producing medium format and large format cameras.The name SINAR is explained as an acronym for "Studio, Industrie, Natur, Architektur, Reproduktion", though in , the acronym is explained as "Sach-, Industrie-, Natur-, undArchitekturfotografie sowie Reproduktion"...

, 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

Backward compatibility

In the context of telecommunications and computing, a device or technology is said to be backward or downward compatible if it can work with input generated by an older device...

and forward compatibility

Forward compatibility

Forward compatibility or upward compatibility is a compatibility concept for systems design, as e.g. backward compatibility. Forward compatibility aims at the ability of a design to gracefully accept input intended for later versions of itself...

. Many current autofocus F-mount lenses can be used on the original Nikon F

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

135 film

and the Nikon FX format, while DX designated lenses cover the 24×16 mm area of the Nikon DX format

Nikon DX format

The Nikon DX format is an alternative name used by Nikon corporation for APS-C image sensor format being approximately 24×16 mm. Its dimensions are about 2/3 those of the 35mm film format . The format was created by Nikon for its digital SLR cameras, many of which are equipped with DX-sized...

, and industrial F-mount lenses have varying coverage. DX lenses may produce vignetting

Vignetting

In photography and optics, vignetting is a reduction of an image's brightness or saturation at the periphery compared to the image center. The word vignette, from the same root as vine, originally referred to a decorative border in a book. Later, the word came to be used for a photographic...

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

Thailand

Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...

and China

China

Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

Designations

Nikon has introduced many proprietary designations for F-mount Nikkor

Nikkor

Nikkor is the brand of lenses produced by Nikon Corporation, including camera lenses for the Nikon F-mount.thumb|right|Nikko parent company brand, from which the Nikkor brand evolved....

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

F (also unofficially Pre-AI, Non-AI or NAI) — Designation for the first generation of F-mount lenses, introduced in 1959. These were all single-coated, and meter coupling was provided by a prong (known as the Meter Coupling Prong) fixed to the lens's aperture ring. The Photomic T through-the-lens light meter introduced in 1965 worked at full aperture, so the maximum aperture of the lens had to be communicated to the meter by mounting the lens with the aperture ring set to 5.6, and then turning the ring to first the minimum and then the maximum apertures. (The need for this step was eliminated by the AI system below.) Early versions are marked "Nippon Kogaku Japan" and have their focal lengths stated in centimetres, but models produced after about 1965 have focal lengths stated in millimetres. The "Nippon Kogaku Japan" engraving was replaced by "Nikon" from 1971 onwards.
Warning: Mounting a non-AI lens can damage many modern Nikon camera bodies. Non-AI lenses can be converted to the AI specification; see AI'd below.

T, Q, P, H, S, O, N, UD, QD, PD — Appears immediately before or after the "Nikkor" name on F-type lenses (see above), designating the number of optical elements in the design. Short for Tres (3), Quatour (4), Pente (5), Hex (6), Septem (7), Octo (8), Novem (9), UnoDecem (11), QuatourDecem (14) and PenteDecem (15). The terms Uns (1) and Bini (2) were also apparently designated, but never used. This designation scheme was dropped with the introduction of "Modern" (K-type) Nikkors in 1974.

Auto — Designation for F-type lenses indicating an automatic diaphragm (aperture
Aperture
In optics, an aperture is a hole or an opening through which light travels. More specifically, the aperture of an optical system is the opening that determines the cone angle of a bundle of rays that come to a focus in the image plane. The aperture determines how collimated the admitted rays are,...

). Not to be confused with automatic exposure or auto focus
Auto Focus
Auto Focus is a 2002 American biographical film directed by Paul Schrader that stars Greg Kinnear and Willem Dafoe. The screenplay by Michael Gerbosi is based on the book The Murder of Bob Crane by Robert Graysmith....

, the designation fell out of use in the early 1970s and was not carried onto K-type lenses.

C — Indicates a multicoated F-type lens. Appears with an interpunct
Interpunct
An interpunct —also called an interpoint—is a small dot used for interword separation in ancient Latin script, which also appears in some modern languages as a stand-alone sign inside a word. It is present in Unicode as code point ....

after the number of optical elements (in the form "Nikkor-X·C"). This designation was introduced in 1971 and discontinued in 1974 with the introduction of "Modern" (K-type) Nikkors, when multicoating had become standard practice.

K — "Modern" or "New" Nikkors introduced in 1974. While Pre-AI for compatibility purposes, K-type lenses introduced the new cosmetics that would be used from 1977 onwards for AI-type lenses (see below). The scalloped-metal focus rings were replaced with rubber grip insets, and the use of element number and coating designations was discontinued. The 'K' designation itself is believed to be derived from the Japanese "konnichi-teki", loosely translatable as "modern" or "contemporary".

AI — Manual focus with "Automatic Maximum-Aperture Indexing," introduced in 1977. AI-S adds a Meter Coupling Ridge to the aperture ring, which encodes the current aperture setting relative to the maximum, and a Lens Speed Indexing Post on the mounting flange, which encodes the maximum aperture itself. The Ridge and Post couple to the camera's light meter
Light meter
A light meter is a device used to measure the amount of light. In photography, a light meter is often used to determine the proper exposure for a photograph...

. Lenses designated AI-S, Series E, and AF all include these features of AI. Current professional Nikon camera bodies link with the Meter Coupling Ridge, but the Lens Speed Indexing Post is ignored and the maximum aperture value is set electronically by the operator instead. AI-designated lenses also improved on the original Meter Coupling Prong, adding cutaways which allow more ambient light to fall on the aperture ring, increasing visibility on cameras which optically projected the setting inside the viewfinder.

AI'd — An unofficial designation for lenses converted partially (Meter Coupling Ridge only) or completely from non-AI to AI. This is accomplished by replacing the aperture ring and the metering prong (using a long-discontinued kit procured from Nikon) or by modifying the original part. Some independent camera repair technicians continue to offer such conversions.

AI-S — The successor to AI, the AI-S specification added two mechanical enhancements — standardized aperture control, and the Focal Length Indexing Ridge — required for the shutter priority
Shutter priority
Shutter priority refers to a setting on some cameras that allows the user to choose a specific shutter speed while the camera adjusts the aperture to ensure correct exposure...

and other auto-aperture exposure modes of the Nikon FA
Nikon FA
The Nikon FA was an advanced amateur level, interchangeable lens, 35 mm film, single-lens reflex camera. It was manufactured by the Japanese optics company Nippon Kogaku K. K. in Japan from 1983 to 1987...

, F-301/N2000
Nikon F301
The Nikon F-301 was a manual focus, autoexposure, auto film loading and advancing 35 mm SLR camera sold by the Nikon Corporation beginning in 1985, it was the replacement for the FG....

, F-501/N2020
Nikon F501
The Nikon F-501 was the first successful autofocus SLR camera sold by the Nikon Corporation beginning in 1986. A nearly identical, albeit manual focus version, called the Nikon F-301 was also available...

, and F4
Nikon F4
The Nikon F4 was a 35mm autofocus single lens reflex film camera, first introduced in 1988 as the next generation in Nikon's line of F series professional cameras...

cameras. Later cameras did not require these features, and interoperate with AI and AI-S lenses identically. The term AI-S is now commonly used to refer to manual focus lenses, and Nikon continues to produce 8 prime lens
Prime lens
In film and photography, a prime lens is either a photographic lens whose focal length is fixed, as opposed to a zoom lens, or it is the primary lens in a combination lens system....

models in its AI-S line. All Nikon AF lenses with aperture rings (non-G) also meet the AI-S specification, except for their lack of a Meter Coupling Prong (which can be added).
- Standardized aperture control. AI-S lens apertures move in a standardized fashion in relation to their stop-down levers. The levers of AI and pre-AI lenses were intended only to close the aperture to its manual setting. The advance of aperture control by the camera body itself, by partial actuation of the stop-down lever, meant more precision was required for consistent exposure. This feature is indicated by a Lens Type Signal notch in the lens mount. Although later Nikon cameras cannot control the apertures of AI-S lenses as the F4, they control the apertures of AF lenses using the same method of partial lever actuation and standardized response.
- Focal Length Indexing Ridge. AI-S lenses with a focal length of 135mm or longer are indicated by a ridge on the lens mount, used by FA, F-501, and F4 to engage high-speed-biased Program Autoexposure.

Electromechanical and data communication

AF — The original autofocus
Autofocus
An autofocus optical system uses a sensor, a control system and a motor to focus fully automatic or on a manually selected point or area. An electronic rangefinder has a display instead of the motor; the adjustment of the optical system has to be done manually until indication...

designation, indicating focus driven by a motor inside the camera body. All AF lenses have a CPU. Used in the form "AF Nikkor", this should not confused with the original autofocus lenses for the F3AF camera, which were designated "AF-Nikkor" and are considered predecessors to AF-I lenses.

AF-D — Designation for an AF lens (as above) with "D" functionality (see "D" below).
AF-I — Autofocus-Internal. Driven by a coreless DC motor. Used only in long telephoto lenses (300 mm 2.8 through 600 mm 4.0) starting in 1992. Replaced with AF-S in 1996.
AF-S — Autofocus-Silent. Uses a "Silent Wave Motor" (ultrasonic motor

Ultrasonic motor

An ultrasonic motor is a type of electric motor powered by the ultrasonic vibration of a component, the stator, placedagainst another component, the rotor or slider depending on the scheme of operation...

) to focus quietly and quickly. Similar to Canon's "USM" technology. Introduced in 1996.
AF-N — Indicates the "New" version of an AF lens. The change from plastic focus rings on early AF lenses to the a new "rubber inset focus ring" (RIFR) is often indicated by the AF-N designation.

CPU — Central Processing Unit. The lens is fitted with electrical contacts for digital communication with the camera. All AF and AI-P lenses are CPU lenses. Some non-professional Nikon cameras require CPU lenses for metered operation. This designation appears in specifications but not lens names.

D — Distance. Indicated after the f-number in the name, and also occasionally designated AF-D. The lens electronically communicates focus distance information, which is incorporated into the camera's exposure calculations in 3D Matrix Metering mode, and also D-TTL and I-TTL flash autoexposure. All AF-I, AF-S, and G-type lenses are also D-type.

E or PC-E — Electromagnetic
Electromagnetism
Electromagnetism is one of the four fundamental interactions in nature. The other three are the strong interaction, the weak interaction and gravitation...

diaphragm. The aperture diaphragm of an E lens is controlled digitally by the camera, and actuated electromagnetically by a system housed within the lens, rather than employing the F-mount's traditional mechanical diaphragm linkage. Currently this system appears only in certain Perspective Control lenses, designated PC-E, with designs that preclude a mechanical linkage. The E feature is only supported by the Nikon D3
Nikon D3
The Nikon D3 is a 12.1 megapixel professional grade full frame digital single lens reflex camera announced by the Nikon Corporation on 23 August 2007 along with the Nikon D300 DX format camera. The D3, along with the Nikon D3X, was a flagship model in Nikon's line of DSLRs, superseding the D2Hs...

, D3X
Nikon D3X
The Nikon D3X is a 24.5 megapixel professional-grade full frame digital single-lens reflex camera announced by the Nikon Corporation on 1 December 2008. The D3X is the third camera in Nikon's line to offer a full frame sensor, following the D3 and D700...

, D3S
Nikon D3S
The Nikon D3S is a 12.1 megapixel professional-grade full frame digital single-lens reflex camera announced by Nikon Corporation on 14 October 2009. The D3S is the fourth camera in Nikon's line to feature a full frame sensor, following the D3, D700 and D3X. It is also Nikon's first full frame...

, D700
Nikon D700
The Nikon D700 is a professional grade full-frame digital single-lens reflex camera introduced by the Nikon Corporation in July 2008 and manufactured in Japan. It uses the same 12.1 megapixel "FX" CMOS image sensor as the Nikon D3, and is Nikon's second full-frame digital SLR camera...

, D300
Nikon D300
The Nikon D300 is a 12.3-megapixel professional DX format digital single-lens reflex camera that Nikon Corporation announced on 23 August 2007 along with the Nikon D3 FX format camera. It replaced the D200 as Nikon's DX format flagship DSLR...

, and D300S
Nikon D300S
The Nikon D300S is a 12.3 megapixel DX format digital single-lens reflex camera announced by Nikon on 30 July 2009. It replaces the D300 as Nikon's DX format flagship DSLR adding HD video recording...

cameras. PC-E lenses require manual diaphragm operation on other cameras. Not to be confused with Series E lenses.

G — Designation for lenses without an aperture ring, indicated after the f-number in the name. G lenses retain the mechanical diaphragm coupling of other Nikkors, but the aperture setting can only be controlled by the camera body. Only autofocus bodies with command dials are capable of controlling G lenses. Older autofocus bodies will work with G lenses in shutter priority and program modes with full opened aperture. Some recent G lenses feature a weatherproofing gasket
Gasket
thumb|sright|250px|Some seals and gaskets1. [[o-ring]]2. fiber [[Washer |washer]]3. paper gaskets4. [[cylinder head]] [[head gasket|gasket]]...

around the mounting flange. G lenses otherwise have the same characteristics as D lenses.

P or AI-P — "AI with Program." CPU-enabled variation of AI-S. Includes only the 45/2.8P, 500/4P and 1200-1700/5.6-8P Nikkor lenses. Zeiss ZF.2 and Voigtländer SL Ⅱ lenses are also AI-P designs, although they are not designated as such. Not to be confused with early lenses marked "Nikkor-P" meaning a 5-element lens (see pre-autofocus designations above).

Optical design

CRC — Close Range Correction. Improved performance at close focus distances. Achieved by internal focus movements that move differently relative to the movement of the other focusing elements. This designation appears in specifications but not lens names.

DC — Defocus Control. DC lenses have a separate control ring for spherical aberration, which affects primarily the appearance of out-of-focus areas, also known as bokeh
Bokeh
In photography, bokeh is the blur, or the aesthetic quality of the blur, in out-of-focus areas of an image, or "the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light."...

. At extreme settings, DC lenses can generate an overall soft-focus effect. Includes only the AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 2D and AF DC-Nikkor 135mm 2D.

ED — "Extra-low Dispersion" glass incorporated to reduce chromatic aberration
Chromatic aberration
In optics, chromatic aberration is a type of distortion in which there is a failure of a lens to focus all colors to the same convergence point. It occurs because lenses have a different refractive index for different wavelengths of light...

. Lenses using ED elements usually carry a gold ring around the barrel to indicate the fact (although on some low-end lenses gold foil is used instead), and older lenses were also marked "NIKKOR✻ED". In addition to normal ED glass, "Super ED" glass is used in some lenses.

GN — Guide Number
Guide number
The guide number for an electronic flash measures its ability to illuminate the subject to be photographed at a specific film or sensor sensitivity and angle of view...

. Assists in flash exposure on cameras without automatic flash metering. The flash's guide number is set on the lens, and the aperture is accordingly coupled to the lens's focus ring for correct exposure. The only GN lens, the supercompact GN Auto Nikkor (it was the second smallest Nikon F-mount lens ever made), was built during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

IF — Internal Focus. Focusing is accomplished through the movement of internal lens groups, eliminating extension and rotation of the front lens element, allowing focus to be driven quickly by a small motor. IF lenses also allow the use of a polarizing filter
Polarizing filter (Photography)
The polarizing filter used with most modern cameras is a circular polarizer. The first stage of the polarizer is a linear filter which filters out light that is linearly polarized in a specific direction...

without the need to readjust it after focus.

Micro — Micro-Nikkor lenses are capable of high reproduction ratios, typically 1:2 or 1:1, for macro photography
Macro photography
Macrophotography is close-up photography, usually of very small subjects. Classically a macrophotograph is one in which the size of the subject on the negative is greater than life size. However in modern use it refers to a finished photograph of a subject at greater than life size...

. The first Micro-Nikkor lenses were created for producing microform
Microform
Microforms are any forms, either films or paper, containing microreproductions of documents for transmission, storage, reading, and printing. Microform images are commonly reduced to about one twenty-fifth of the original document size...

s of Kanji
Kanji
Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...

text.

N — Indicates the Nano Crystal Coat, a relatively new type of lens coating that originated in Nikon's semiconductor division. Lenses with this coating feature the logo of an "N" inside an elongated hexagon on the name plate.

NIC — Nikon Integrated Coating, a proprietary multicoating. Appears in specifications but not lens names.

PC — Perspective Control
Perspective correction lens
In photography, a perspective control lens allows the photographer to control the appearance of perspective in the image; the lens can be moved parallel to the film or sensor, providing the equivalent of corresponding view camera movements...

. Lens features shift movements (and also tilt movements on some models) to control perspective and depth-of-field. Newer PC lenses are designated PC-E (see designation E above). Not to be confused with early lenses marked "Nikkor-P·C" meaning a 5-element coated lens (see pre-autofocus designations above).

Reflex — Designates a catadioptric
Catadioptric
A catadioptric optical system is one where refraction and reflection are combined in an optical system, usually via lenses and curved mirrors . Catadioptric combinations are used in focusing systems such as search lights, headlamps, early lighthouse focusing systems, optical telescopes,...

(mirror) lens.

SIC — Super Integrated Coating, a proprietary multicoating. Appears in specifications but not lens names.

UV — Lenses designed for imaging ultraviolet
Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays, in the range 10 nm to 400 nm, and energies from 3 eV to 124 eV...

light.

VR — Vibration Reduction. Uses a moving optical group to reduce the photographic effects of camera shake. Some VR lenses also support a panning
Panning (camera)
In photography, panning refers to the horizontal movement or rotation of a still or video camera, or the scanning of a subject horizontally on video or a display device...

mode, detecting horizontal movement of the lens and minimizing only vertical vibration. The second generation of VR is called VR II, which is designed to offer another 1-stop advantage over original VR, but lenses with this feature are still designated simply "VR."

Alternate product lines

DX — Lens designed for the smaller Nikon DX format
Nikon DX format
The Nikon DX format is an alternative name used by Nikon corporation for APS-C image sensor format being approximately 24×16 mm. Its dimensions are about 2/3 those of the 35mm film format . The format was created by Nikon for its digital SLR cameras, many of which are equipped with DX-sized...

. Vignetting
Vignetting
In photography and optics, vignetting is a reduction of an image's brightness or saturation at the periphery compared to the image center. The word vignette, from the same root as vine, originally referred to a decorative border in a book. Later, the word came to be used for a photographic...

may occur if used on a 135 film
135 film
The term 135 was introduced by Kodak in 1934 as a designation for cartridge film wide, specifically for still photography. It quickly grew in popularity, surpassing 120 film by the late 1960s to become the most popular photographic film format...

or Nikon FX format camera in full-frame mode, although some DX lenses cover the full 135 frame at longer focal lengths.

IX — Lenses designed for use with the now-defunct Pronea APS
Advanced Photo System
Advanced Photo System is a film format for still photography first produced in 1996. It was marketed by Eastman Kodak under the brand name Advantix, by FujiFilm under the name Nexia, by AgfaPhoto under the name Futura and by Konica as Centuria.- Design :The film is 24 mm wide, and has three...

SLR. These are all autofocus zoom lenses. They are not compatible with cameras outside of the Pronea system unless mirror lock-up
Mirror lock-up
Mirror lock-up is a feature employed in many Single Lens Reflex cameras. It allows the operator to reduce vibration-induced motion blur during exposure...

is used

Series E — A line of lower-cost lenses manufactured during the 1980s for Nikon's amateur SLRs. They sacrificed some construction quality and employed simpler optical designs. All were specified as AI-S, but not branded Nikkor, instead carrying the text "Nikon Lens Series E."

Esoteric

Bellows — Lens designed exclusively for use on a bellows
Bellows (photography)
In photography, a bellows is the pleated expandable part of a camera, usually a large or medium format camera, to allow the lens to be moved with respect to the focal plane for focusing....

unit, primarily for macro photography
Macro photography
Macrophotography is close-up photography, usually of very small subjects. Classically a macrophotograph is one in which the size of the subject on the negative is greater than life size. However in modern use it refers to a finished photograph of a subject at greater than life size...

. Also called short mount. Since some Nikon bellows allow for a front rise, they allow a limited variety of lenses to be used similarly to a PC lens (see Optical design above).

Medical — Nikkor designation for a macro
Macro photography
Macrophotography is close-up photography, usually of very small subjects. Classically a macrophotograph is one in which the size of the subject on the negative is greater than life size. However in modern use it refers to a finished photograph of a subject at greater than life size...

lens with a built-in ring light strobe system, designed for clinical and scientific applications.

Noct — "Night." Specialty low-light lens designed for maximum sharpness at the widest aperture setting. The name has been applied only to the Noct-Nikkor 58mm 1.2.

OP — Orthographic Projection. Fisheye lens that produces an image which maintains the same brightness in the image as in the object, with no falloff at the edges
Vignetting
In photography and optics, vignetting is a reduction of an image's brightness or saturation at the periphery compared to the image center. The word vignette, from the same root as vine, originally referred to a decorative border in a book. Later, the word came to be used for a photographic...

.

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

Electric motor

An electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.Most electric motors operate through the interaction of magnetic fields and current-carrying conductors to generate force...

. Today these are the Nikon

Nikon

D40

Nikon D40

The D40 is a now-discontinued Nikon F-mount entry-level digital SLR, announced November 16, 2006. Compared to its predecessor, the D50, the D40 had several features removed, a few added, and a lower price: US$499.95 ESP as of November 2009 with the 18–55 mm G-II kit lens, positioning it as an...

, D40X, D60

Nikon D60

The Nikon D60 is a 10.2 megapixel Nikon F-mount digital single-lens reflex camera announced in January 2008. The D60 succeeds the entry-level Nikon D40x...

, D3000

Nikon D3000

The Nikon D3000 is a 10.2 megapixel DX format DSLR Nikon F-mount camera announced by Nikon on 30 July 2009. It replaces the D40 as Nikon's entry level DSLR. It features a 3.0-inch 230,000-dot resolution LCD monitor, CCD sensor with ISO 100–1600 and 3D tracking Multi-CAM1000 11-point AF system...

, D3100

Nikon D3100

The Nikon D3100 is a 14.2 megapixel DX format DSLR Nikon F-mount camera announced by Nikon on August 19, 2010. It replaces the D3000 as Nikon's entry level DSLR. It introduces Nikon's new EXPEED 2 image processor and is the first Nikon DSLR featuring full high definition video recording with full...

, D5000

Nikon D5000

The D5000 is a 12.3 megapixel DX format DSLR Nikon F-mount camera, announced by Nikon on 14 April 2009, and rumored to have been discontinued in November 2010. Although it is listed as discontinued on the Nikon Japan website, it is still available in other regions as of April 2011. The D5000 has...

, D5100

Nikon D5100

The Nikon D5100 is a 16.2 megapixel DX format DSLR F-mount camera announced by Nikon on April 5, 2011. It features the same 16.2-megapixel CMOS sensor as the D7000 with 14-bit resolution, while delivering Full HD 1080p video mode with up to 30fps...

and the Nikon 1 series

Nikon 1 series

The Nikon 1 series are high-speed mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras. Announced on 21 September 2011, Nikon claims that it is "Nikon's most significant announcement since we introduced our first digital camera 14 years ago"...

with FT1 adapter. Currently listed are 57 Nikon Nikkor lenses including teleconverters

Teleconverter

A teleconverter is a secondary lens which is mounted between the camera and a photographic lens. Its job is to enlarge the central part of an image obtained by the objective lens...

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

Nikon D3

The Nikon D3 is a 12.1 megapixel professional grade full frame digital single lens reflex camera announced by the Nikon Corporation on 23 August 2007 along with the Nikon D300 DX format camera. The D3, along with the Nikon D3X, was a flagship model in Nikon's line of DSLRs, superseding the D2Hs...

, D3S

Nikon D3S

The Nikon D3S is a 12.1 megapixel professional-grade full frame digital single-lens reflex camera announced by Nikon Corporation on 14 October 2009. The D3S is the fourth camera in Nikon's line to feature a full frame sensor, following the D3, D700 and D3X. It is also Nikon's first full frame...

, D3X

Nikon D3X

The Nikon D3X is a 24.5 megapixel professional-grade full frame digital single-lens reflex camera announced by the Nikon Corporation on 1 December 2008. The D3X is the third camera in Nikon's line to offer a full frame sensor, following the D3 and D700...

, D700

Nikon D700

The Nikon D700 is a professional grade full-frame digital single-lens reflex camera introduced by the Nikon Corporation in July 2008 and manufactured in Japan. It uses the same 12.1 megapixel "FX" CMOS image sensor as the Nikon D3, and is Nikon's second full-frame digital SLR camera...

, D300

Nikon D300

The Nikon D300 is a 12.3-megapixel professional DX format digital single-lens reflex camera that Nikon Corporation announced on 23 August 2007 along with the Nikon D3 FX format camera. It replaced the D200 as Nikon's DX format flagship DSLR...

, D300S

Nikon D300S

The Nikon D300S is a 12.3 megapixel DX format digital single-lens reflex camera announced by Nikon on 30 July 2009. It replaces the D300 as Nikon's DX format flagship DSLR adding HD video recording...

and D7000

Nikon D7000

The Nikon D7000 is a 16.2 megapixel digital single-lens reflex camera model announced by Nikon on September 15, 2010. It is a new class of camera placed between the professional D300S and the 'midrange' D90...

cameras. With earlier camera models, a PC-E lens operates like a PC lens. The PC Micro-Nikkor 85 mm 2.8D lens offers only preset aperture control, actuated mechanically by pressing a plunger.

History

In July 1962, Nikon

Nikon

released the first interchangeable perspective control lens available for a single-lens reflex camera

Single-lens reflex camera

A single-lens reflex camera is a camera that typically uses a semi-automatic moving mirror system that permits the photographer to see exactly what will be captured by the film or digital imaging system, as opposed to pre-SLR cameras where the view through the viewfinder could be significantly...

camera, the 35mm 3.5 PC-Nikkor. This was followed in 1968 by a redesigned 35mm 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.

The 35mm PC-Nikkor did not meet the need of photographers for a wider-angle lens, so in July 1975 Nikon released the 28mm 4 PC-Nikkor. In February 1981 Nikon released an improved version of this lens, the 28mm 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
24mm 3.5 PC-E Nikkor	2008	3.5–32	13/10	0.21m–∞	electronic	90° R/L / 30°	11.5mm/8.5°	metal	25.7 oz. (730g)	82.5mm × 108mm	77mm
28mm 4 PC-Nikkor	1975	4–22	10/8	0.3m–∞	manual	360°/30°	11mm/none	metal	14.5 oz. (410g)	78mm × 68mm	72mm
28mm 3.5 PC-Nikkor	1981	3.5–22	9/8	0.3m–∞	manual	360°/30°	11mm/none	metal	13.5 oz. (382g)	78mm × 69mm	72mm
35mm 3.5 PC-Nikkor	1961	3.5–32	6/6	0.3m–∞	manual	360°/30°	11mm/none	metal	10.2 oz. (290g)	70mm × 52mm	52mm
35mm 2.8 PC-Nikkor	1968	2.8–32	8/7	0.3m–∞	manual	360°/30°	11mm/none	metal	11.6 oz. (330g)	70mm × 66.5mm	52mm
35mm 2.8 PC-Nikkor	1980	2.8–32	7/7	0.3m–∞	manual	360°/30°	11mm/none	plastic	11.3 oz. (320g)	62mm × 66.5mm	52mm
45 mm 2.8D ED PC-E Nikkor	2008				Electronic
*85 mm 2.8D PC Micro-Nikkor**	1999				Manual
85 mm 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

Cosina

is a designer and manufacturer of cameras and lenses, and a glassmaker, based in Nakano, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.-History:Cosina is the successor to Nikō , a company set up as a manufacturer oflenses in 1959...

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

Infrared

Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...

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

135 film

or Nikon FX format, and lenses 28 mm and longer share a common T-stop of 2.1.

Hartblei
Hartblei
Hartblei is a Ukrainian manufacturer of optical equipment for photography based in Kiev. They are primarily known for producing tilt-shift lenses . Taking lens designs produced by Kiev-Arsenal they modify these into tilt and shift designs of their own...

Hartblei Super-Rotator lenses are 360° tilt-shift lenses manufactured in Ukraine

Ukraine

Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...

. Some current versions of the Super-Rotator feature German-made Carl Zeiss

Carl Zeiss

Carl Zeiss was a German maker of optical instruments commonly known for the company he founded, Carl Zeiss Jena . Zeiss made contributions to lens manufacturing that have aided the modern production of lenses...

optics.

Hartblei optics
- 35 mm 2.8 MC TS-PC Super-Rotator
- 65 mm 3.5 MC TS-PC Super-Rotator
- 80 mm 2.8 MC TS-PC Super-Rotator
- 120 mm 2.8 MC TS-PC Super-Rotator
"Optics by Carl Zeiss"
- 40 mm 4 IF TS Super-Rotator
- 80 mm 2,8 TS Super-Rotator
- 120 mm 4 TS Macro Super-Rotator

Voigtländer
Cosina Voigtländer
Cosina Voigtländer refers to photographic products manufactured by Cosina under the Voigtländer name since 1999. Cosina leases rights to the Voigtländer name from Ringfoto...

Voigtländer SL-series lenses are manufactured by Cosina

Cosina

Angénieux
Pierre Angénieux
Pierre Angénieux was a French engineer and optician, one of the inventors of the modern zoom lenses, and famous for introducing the Angénieux retrofocus.-Biography:...

28–70 mm 2.6 AF
35–70 mm 2.5-3.3
70–210 mm 3.5
180 mm 2.3 DEM APO
200 mm 2.8 DEM ED

Schneider Kreuznach
Schneider Kreuznach
Schneider Kreuznach is the abbreviated name of the company Jos. Schneider Optische Werke GmbH, which is sometimes also simply referred to as Schneider. They are a manufacturer of industrial and photographic optics....

PC Super-Angulon 28 mm 2.8
PC-TS Super-Angulon 50 mm 2.8 HM
PC-TS Makro-Symmar 90 mm 4.0 HM

Tokina
Tokina
is a Japanese manufacturer of photographic lenses and CCTV security equipment.-History:Tokina, become a partner of Pentax, division of Hoya Corporation and jointly developed some lenses. These will be available under the Pentax and Schneider Kreuznach D-Xenon and D-Xenogon brands in Pentax K mount...

AT-X 17 PRO AF 17mm 3.5
AT-X M35 PRO DX AF 35mm 2.8 MACRO
AT-X M90 90mm 2.5 MACRO
AT-X M100 PRO D AF 100mm 2.8 MACRO
AT-X 300 PRO AF 300mm 2.8
AT-X 304 AF 300mm 4
AT-X SD AF 400mm 5.6
AT-X 107 DX AF fisheye 10-17mm 3.5~4.5
AT-X 116 PRO DX AF 11–16mm 2.8
AT-X 124 PRO DX AF 12–24mm 4
AT-X PRO FX AF 16-28mm 2.8
AT-X 165 PRO DX AF 16–50mm 2.8
AT-X DX AF 16.5-135mm 3.5-5.6
AF 193 AF 19-35mm 3.5~4.5
AT-X 235 PRO AF 20-35mm 2.8
AF 235 20-35mm 3.5-4.5
AT-X 240 AF 24-40mm 2.8
AT-X 242 AF 24-200mm 3.5~5.6
RMC 25-50mm 4
AT-X AF 28-70mm 2.8
AT-X 270 PRO AF 28-70mm 2.6-2.8
AT-X 287 PRO SV AF 28–70mm 2.8
AT-X 280 PRO AF 28-80mm 2.8
AT-X 285 28-85mm 3.5-4.5
AT-X 235 28-135mm 4-4.6
AT-X 357 35-70mm 2.8
AT-X 35-200mm 3.5-4.5
AT-X SD 35-200mm 3.5-4.5
AT-X 535 PRO DX AF 50–135mm 2.8
AT-X 525 50-250mm 4-5.6
AT-X 120 60-120mm 2.8
AT-X 828 PRO AF 80-200mm 2.8
AT-X 840 D AF 80-400mm 4.5~5.6
AT-X 340 AF 100-300mm 4
AT-X 150-500mm 5.6