Almost every product announced at that show has turned out to be one of the more valuable and interesting items in the rangefinder line, but none more than the 21mm Nikkor. To say that this widest of all RF Nikkors is a "hot" item is an understatement if there ever was one. It possesses that special mystique that all "rare and unusual" pieces need to rise to the top of most collector's want lists which is precisely where the 21mm Nikkor resides today. It deserves this status for some very good reasons, not the least of which is the fact that relatively few were made. It's late release, and rather exotic focal length, limited the number that were eventually produced. To date, based on recorded serial numbers, less than 600 were ever made. Contrast this to the literally thousands that were made in the F mount as well as the readily avail able Zeiss and Leitz offerings in the same focal length. Demand definitely out strips supply and has driven the value of the 21mm Nikkor up nearly 500% over the last 5 years! It is also important for the fact that it represents the widest lens made for the rangefinder Nikons. Add to this the fact that it is really a very modern and impressive design that also proved to be a rather sharp lens for it's time. Because of this many were used by professionals and are still being used today, which means that even less are available to collectors. All of this adds up to an impressive, important and relatively rare item, that has taken on the status of a "virtual necessity" for most collectors. These are the ingredients of which great collectibles are made, and the 21mm Nikkor has them all!
In this article we will take a close look at this important lens and cover it in greater detail than I could in my book, where I had only limited space and could not give it the coverage it deserved.
The eight element 21mm/f4.0 Nikkor was of an advanced optical design using rare earth elements and modern coatings. It's layout was nearly symmetrical with the diaphragm placed squarely at the midpoint. Except for a small modification to the rear element, the S and F versions of this lens were optically identical, since the reflex lens was used with the mirror locked up and a separate finder. The barrel design of the RF 21mm Nikkor was very similar to the new series of Auto-Nikkors released with the Nikon F. That is it had the same satin black design accentuated by one or more chrome rings. The diaphragm was of the more modern equidistant type and the engraving of the front identification was identical in style to that used on the new 50mm/f2.0 Auto-Nikkor. The end result was a lens that appeared more reflex like than the one that was actually made for the "F" and very unlike any of the other wide angles made for the rangefinder series! It looked, and still looks very modern, even by today's standards. I am pointing all of this out in order to support my statement that Nippon Kogaku still felt committed to the rangefinder series. Here we have a lens that arrived very near what turned out to be the end of the RF era at Nikon, yet it is more impressive than its reflex counterpart, and demonstrates that Nikon was willing to put new research and development into the rangefinder system. This lens, along with the 1000mm/f6.3, 350mm/f4.5 in semiautomatic mount, and a completely redesigned 50mm/fl.1, represent many hours of work as well as a great deal of Yen. It seems doubtful that any company would put this amount of effort into a system they were ready to discontinue. I feel that Nippon Kogaku really thought that the "S" and "F" series would coexist for quite some time, possibly through the sixties, and didn't foresee the massive success of the Nikon F and eventual "squeezing" out of the rangefinder system. Whatever the circumstances, the result was one of the most collectible Nikkors in the entire RF series, and a real prize today!
From all evidence available at this time, the serial numbers used on the 21mm Nikkor begin at #621001 (which is pictured here!!). Starting a series at "001" was, and is, a very common practice at Nippon Kogaku. Many lenses, and most of the body types, begin with such numbers. They even continued this practice into the reflex era right up to today. Therefore, the first production piece is usually "001" and not "000". (which might be reserved for the Prototype). When I first wrote my book the highest recorded number was #621330, but I estimated production at around 500 units, allowing for the possible appearance of higher numbered specimens. Since then lens #621526 has been reported to me so production did exceed 500 lenses. How high they really did go is still not definitely known, the picture will become clearer as more numbers are reported. It is possible that the final figure may go as high as 600, or even 700! But anyway you look at it, production was low and I doubt if supply will ever meet the demand for this lens, especially for collector quality specimens.
One reason that I went a little high with my original estimate had to do with the evidence concerning the special finder made for this lens. Almost from the beginning the serial numbers seen on the finders appeared to go much higher than those for the lenses themselves. The numbers used on the finders appear to begin at either #600001 or #600101 and have been recorded as high as #601656. To date the earliest seen has been #600112, so the actual starting point is unclear. But either way, the numbers suggest between 1600 to 1700 finders were produced, which is entirely out of line with the lens production. The probable answer to this paradox has to do with those lenses made for the Nikon F. As I mentioned in the book, those finders meant for the Nikon F had an entirely different mounting shoe and a different serial number type. This was necessary because the "F" had a unique dove-tail type shoe and no room for the standard type that had been used on 35mm cameras since the Leica A. Because of a lack of space this different finder was not illustrated in the book, but I have included it here for comparison. From the photos it is obvious that, except for the mounting shoe, the two types are actually the very same finder!! As a matter of fact, the "F" version can be used to repair an "S" type, including the glass! The factory simply mounted the special dove-tail shoe the "F" needed and gave it a different number beginning with "200". This brings us back to the inconsistency between the number of lenses and finders produced. From evidence available at this time it appears that during the earlier life of the "F" many of the 21mm reflex lenses were shipped with finders that had the standard rangefinder type shoe and serial number (which is stamped on the shoe itself)! I have talked to people who recall buying the reflex lens only to discover that they also needed to purchase the small accessory Nikon made that allowed flash units with standard shoes to mount on an "F". This item was made of plastic and metal and fit over the unique "F" rails and was topped with a regular shoe we are all familiar with. Although really meant for flash units, it worked perfectly in this case and allowed any RF finder to be mounted on an "F" if wanted. The point is, however, that reflex 21mm Nikkors were shipped with finders that were originally meant for the RF series, and that it was a random process. The official reflex version of the finder is shown in the earliest "F" literature and was available from the very beginning. If this is what did occur it would explain why at least 3 times as many finders as lenses appear to exist. A further bit of evidence is the "act that this author has actually found two RF 21mm finders with reflex lenses (which I promptly sold but retained the finders!). I have also used a reflex finder to repair a RF version and they are identical in all respects save for the mounting shoes! I have included photos of the reflex version that were missing in my book to make all of this a little clearer.
Another accessory unique to the 21mm Nikkor was the special plastic rear cap. It must qualify as the most elaborate in the RF series, save for that made for the screw mount 50/fl.1 that also had provision for mounting the 50mm finder unique to that lens. Over 2 inches deep to clear the rear element of the 21mm, it also had the ability to retain the finder, although externally as opposed to internally in the case of the fl.1 lens. on it's rear surface was molded an actual accessory shoe similar to that found on the cameras themselves. One would simply slide the finder onto the rails for storage, which made for a very compact arrangement. This is illustrated here as well, since there was not sufficient room in the book.
The final accessory made for the 21 has proven to be the most elusive for collectors. Although not every lens is found with its proper rear cap, most are. As for the finder, many have been separated from their matching lens over the years, but many were also used with other makes such as Zeiss and Leitz and can be found, as mentioned, mated to reflex versions of this lens. Unlike the cap and finder, this last item was not sold with the lens as standard equipment, which may account for its rarity today. In addition, it isn't the most impressive item and many were probably set aside and forgotten since it wasn't absolutely necessary for the operation of the lens, as was the finder. I am talking about the extremely hard to locate shade made only for this lens!
After collecting Nikons for awhile one realizes that many times small accessories turn out to be the most difficult to find. And shades for certain lenses are a case in point. Take for instance the special filter holder/shade for the 25mm,the massive fl.1 vented shade made in both metal and plastic, the 85/fl.5 shade and the very elusive diaphragm collar for the Micro. In the Nikon system the shade for the 21 has to rank as one of the most desirable and elusive of all. The only sample I own was found separately and did not come with any lens. As a matter of fact, none of the 21s that I have been able to buy have come with the shade. The one pictured here was found in a West Coast store new in its original box having never been mounted. I have only seen 3-4 others over the years and this is the only one I have seen boxed.
It does not bayonet on as does the 25mm. type, nor does it snap on like so many others in the Nikon system. It has a 43mm screw mount and does not reverse for storage. Although it is not overly bulky when mounted, it does turn a rather compact -outfit into a not so compact one. Add to this the fact that it could not be reversed for storage, and one can see just why so few seem to have been made. Whatever the reasons, the shade for the 21mm Nikkor is today one of the most sought after accessories in the entire Nikon RF system. I have included photos with the shade mounted as well as in it's box.
As far as I can determine the 21mm Nikkor was only made in one version, save for those with "EP" markings and the few calibrated in meters. I have examined lens #621001 as well as #621302 and #621330, all of which appear identical. Also pictured here is lens #621011 and it seems to be identical as well. There are two design aspects of the 21 that have always struck me as rather unusual for such a late lens. The first is the extremely reflective front aperture ring. Although it is the satin type, it is really bright!
It's inner surface containing the filter threads is of the same finish. one would think that flare would be an item of extreme concern on such a wide lens, yet this bright chrome ring seems to be just waiting to reflect light. A black finished ring with white lettering would seem to make more sense here. Secondly, the focusing ring has a very fine knurling pattern that is unique to this lens. However, it seems out of place here. By the time this lens was designed Nikon had begun to use it's familiar scalloped focusing ring design on many of its lenses. The new 50mm/fl.1 had it as did the 35mm fl.8 and the new 105/f4.0. The long 180, 250 and 350mm lenses also had this easier to grip design and those other lenses that didn't have it at least had their rings "roughened" over the years for better feel. Also those lenses just introduced for the, "F" all had the improved scalloped focusing rings. Why such a late lens as the 21 was not given a version of this new ring instead of one with such fine knurling doesn't quite make sense.
However, Nikon did do the same thing with the even later redesigned "Olympic" 1.4, so your guess is as good as mine. Except for these two small points, this widest of all the RF Nikkors is also one of the most impressive in the system and ranks as a true collectible today.
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Above right...Lens #621001 which is probably the first production lens in this series!! Nippon Kogaku would generally give the first item off the assembly line a number ending in "001" and not "000". It is shown here with its proper screw in shade...Bill Kraus Left three photos...This is lens #621011 which would be the 11th 21mm Nikkor made. In these photos is shown not only the correct shade but also the rear cap as well as 21mm finder. Note that the rear cap has the provision for mounting the finder for storeage purposes and and that the front cap is the usual 43mm snap-on type. The bottom photo shows this lens mounted on a Nikon SP...Mike Symons Bottom right...The optical formula for the 21mm Nikkor. Note that it is nearly a symetrical design and that the diaphragm is centerally located. This same formula was used for the reflex version as well.
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| This series shows lens #621302 along with its various accessories. Note the method used to mount the finder to the rear cap for storage. It is compact and works and one wonders why they didn't do the same with other lenses such as the 25mm! Top photo shows the lens and finder mounted on Nikon SP #6200207. Below left illustrates the very deep set rear element of this lens The small protruding tab helps to prevent scratching the rear glass but careful handling was still necessary The bottom photo shows boxed versions of both the finder and shade for the 21mm Nikkor. Note that they are plain unmarked boxes with that for the finder finished in gray and the shade in dark blue. |
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| The photos on this page illustrate the difference between the RF and reflex versions of the finder I did not have space in my book to show this although I did mention it in the text. Except for the different shoes these finders are absolutely Identical! Yet another type was made for the 'IF" which has a metal shoe instead of plastic, but I could not obtain one for this article. However, again the finder is the same and only the shoe varies The photo to the left shows the 'IF" version mounted on the special dovetail shoe unique to the reflex Nikons. So now I hope what I was talking about in my book finally makes sense! |
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