Nikon Nikkor 'P' Series Lenses (AI-P)

This is a small article about evolutionary offshoots in the development of the Nikkor line of lenses.

There are only a few 'P' type lenses:

  • Nikon Nikkor 45mm 1: 2.8P (chrome or black) - Feb 2001 to 2006, 4 elements in 3 groups
  • Nikon ED Nikkor 1200-1700 1: 5.6-8P - April 1988 to 1998, 18 elements in 13 groups
  • Nikon ED Nikkor 500mm 1: 4P - from April 1988 to 2005, 8 elements in 6 groups (review here)

These lenses are somewhere in between 'Nikon AF'lenses and'Nikon AI-S'lenses. Their main feature is manual focus only and, at the same time, availability microprocessor pins. Lenses have 5 microprocessor pins.

Nikon Nikkor 45mm 1: 2.8P

Nikon Nikkor 45mm 1: 2.8P (white or silver or chrome version)

Nikon Nikkor 45mm 1: 2.8P

Nikon Nikkor 45mm 1: 2.8P (black version)

Nikon ED Nikkor 1200-1700 1: 5.6-8P

Nikon ED Nikkor 1200-1700 1: 5.6-8P

'P' type lenses support auto metering exposure with any Nikon central locking system, and also allow you to work in any exposure control mode on any modern Nikon camera (Besides Nikon D3400, D3500). You can even turn on the 'green zone' mode and everything will work fine. 'P' type lenses work in a similar way to 'Nikkor NON-G AF / AF-S' lenses set to manual focus.

Originally 'P' type lenses were designed to support 3D matrix metering... Most likely the 'P' in the lens name stands for 'Processor' or 'Programmed'. Microprocessor allows correct display and recording EXIF data, control the aperture through the organs of the camera, accurately meter the exposure. 'P' type lenses do not transmit the focus distance value to the camera.

The 'P' mark should not be confused with lenses AF-P (with a stepper motor, for example, Nikon DX AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6G VR) and Nikkor-P ('Penta', with 5 elements in the optical design, e.g. Nikon Nikkor-P Auto 1: 2.5 f = 105mm).

In short, the 'P' is a manual lens crutch aimed at improving camera-lens communication. This crutch did not take root. Now this idea is used by Lushnikov and other inventors in modern adapters with 'decoys' chips - 'dandelions'.

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Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

Add a comment: Dmitriy

 

 

Comments: 47, on topic: Nikon Nikkor 'P' Series (AI-P) Lenses

  • Dmitriy

    and all? !! Where is the review? !!

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Evil people. At the very beginning, a "small article" is written :) This is an article, not a review.

  • anonym

    I was exiled and exhausted, and it’s just not up to us, I’ll go away ... very sorry ...

    • Yarkiya

      Hmm, you snickered, however. It is said that this is a small article, not a review.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      I don’t keep anyone here. If you still find information on these lenses with a microprocessor and the lack of AF on other Russian-language resources, click on the link, I'll be glad :)

    • Andrei

      Instead of gratitude to a person who spends a lot of time and effort on good informative reviews and finding useful information (which is shared with us for free), you allow yourself shameless rudeness. I think Arkady will not be very upset after losing such a “reader”)

      • Arkady Shapoval

        In fact, in our difficult times, the site needs any readers and visitors. A bad visitor is always ready to write what he doesn’t like, or what he didn’t understand, so, with the right approach, you can improve the site or the information on the site. In the case of Anonimo, who wrote above, one can clearly see the person’s expectation to see an interesting detailed overview of some modern lens such as 200-500 / 5,6, and as a result, he sees system information that doesn’t help him in this life.

    • KalekseyG

      goodbye :-(

      • Antor

        and you don’t cough there

    • Vitaly

      And who called here at all?
      Arkady has great respect for his colossal work in popularizing photo-making and photo literacy.

  • vk.com/fsale

    at 45mm it would be interesting to see the review, and indeed try the glass. ;-)

  • anonym

    “There are only three 'P' type lenses:” ??? maybe not 3 lenses, but 3 models or modifications of the lens?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Fixed Although everything was clear already (to whom it was not clear, unsubscribe here). It is foolish to assume that only 3 lenses were released, since such long periods of time are indicated.

  • anonym

    “I don't keep anyone here. If you still find information on these lenses with a microprocessor and lack of AF on other Russian-language resources, click the link, I will be glad :) ”Is this sarcasm? or do you really consider yourself so irreplaceable?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      There are no irreplaceable people. Seriously, you will find information specifically on Nikon 'P' lenses, please send me, I will be glad. Personally, I was interested in digging and finding out what these lenses are and how they work. I found information in different sources and only in snatches, so I decided to write and prepare my own article on this topic. Of course, this is not a complete review, but a piece of information for organizing Nikon lenses. I also added these 'P' lenses to the article https://radojuva.com.ua/2012/06/nikon-ai-s-old-lens-about/ since this is a continuation of AI-S lenses that have not yet become autofocus.

    • Andrei

      It's simple. If you can do better - do it) Everyone can criticize.

  • Lynx

    Comment!

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Twenty six!

      • Lynx

        forty two!

        • KalekseyG

          Do I have bad skis or is snow falling? What is dialogue about?

          • Lynx

            About towels

    • Denis

      Happy Cosmonautics Day!

      • Lynx

        and you!

    • anonym

      what about the leather lens cover? there generally with serving

      • anonym

        There are no problems with the product. You come to the shooting with a case, you get it gracefully, take off the case, collect the ̶v̶i̶n̶t̶o̶v̶k̶u̶ system and go

  • Andrei

    Arkady, do not waste time on the rednecks.

  • Lef

    Recently I thought it would be cool to get a pancake lens. So you look and a fotik with you would often carry. He is too big with a helix =)

    • Jury

      Recently I bought myself a Quick Strap, hung a D800 + 180 2.8 on it and walking is much more comfortable than a neck or wrist strap, hands are free, almost no weight is felt.

      • Jury

        it is difficult to put on in the same way - the standard belt has two rigid attachment points in the upper corners of the case, while the Quick Strap has one, at the bottom and is movable along the belt, and one EN-El15 will definitely fit into a small pocket. And money is something like that, now you can buy Quick Strap for 7-10 dollars, not much money :)

  • varezhkin

    Ken attributed this particular pancake to the ten worst lenses of Nikon Corp .: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/10-worst.htm

    • Lef

      Well so. the simplest tessar soar for 450 bucks. If for adequate money to get it, why not? But its awesome plus in compactness.

  • Pastor

    It is a pity that since then Nikon has not baked pancakes. Judging by the reviews 45 2.8 quite good, quite sharp and pleasant in drawing. Canon has baked 40 2.8, maybe Nikon will change his mind and update his pancake. The pentax, it seems, also has a pancake lim.
    He looked at prices and was surprised, in Russia he could find only one 45 2.8, and even that one for 20 thousand. I understand, collectible value, but still not so old for now. It’s easier to take 50 1.4g thousand for 15.

  • Dmitriy

    I think this type of lenses (telephoto) is due to the fact that it was difficult and under an hour unrealistic to implement the mechanics of focus - the lens units are too heavy. And as a result, too powerful motors are required to drive the “screwdriver”.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      these are all excuses, it was possible to put an external motor with external batteries. Moreover, for the 45 2.8 it does not take a lot of effort to twist the tiny lenses. We put 'P' for the sake of exposure and convenience. Moreover, in 1988 the Canon EF 600mm f / 4L was somehow able to move the lenses using a USM motor powered by the camera, and the Nikon 500 / 4P did it only 4 years later (model 600/4 AF-I).

      • Dmitriy

        Arkady, did the Nikon company at that time have an ultrasonic motor, or even a motor on optics? As far as I know, Nikon does not have optics with a motor from an external power source. For some reason, sigma 200 ... 500mm 2,8 always comes to mind with a battery and a display for displaying the focal length.

        • Arkady Shapoval

          They were with the built-in micro-motor Nikon AF-Nikkor 80mm 1: 2.8 and Nikon AF-Nikkor ED 200mm 1: 3.5, which were introduced in April 1983.

          These lenses have built-in micro-motors, which is 5 years ahead of the Canon EOS system with their Canon EF mount. Unfortunately, Nikon further developed a different concept for auto focus.

          The first micro-motors began to put in ordinary lenses in 1992 (AF-I line).

          Nikon introduced classic ultrasonic motors in 1996, the first being the Nikon 300 / 2.8 AF-S 1996 and the Nikon 600/4 AF-S (July 1996).

          • zivert

            It is likely that installing the motor would negatively affect the price, which is not always beneficial to the manufacturer. Or, as an option - the glasses are sharpened for a certain work of photographers.

          • Dmitriy

            Thanks for the information!

  • zivert

    Price tag.
    Nikon Nikkor 45mm 1: 2.8P - about 25 sp.
    Nikon ED Nikkor 500mm 1: 4P - about 100 sput.
    Nikon ED Nikkor 1200-1700 1: 5.6-8P - 60 US dollars !!!
    Let's add motors, boards, etc. electronics there.
    What will be the price tag? !!!

    • Arkady Shapoval

      You can buy an autofocus set-top box for Sony for 300 bucks and get an autofocus 1700 mm lens), however, you will have to focus with a cable or wi-fi.

      • zivert

        This is another song ...

  • Vladimir

    I want such a pancake!

    • Lynx

      22 thousand on ebee

    • Andrei

      Like new with a box of 17 thousand
      If it's interesting, write to the mail. Moscow.

    • Alexander

      I had one in a silver case, I also took silver under Df. Frankly, I was not impressed, I like planars fifty dollars more. Now I left myself 1,4D.

  • film

    Strange people, dissatisfied with the "little article". Personally, I came here purely out of interest, what kind of Ai-P lenses are, and there was as much information as needed.

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