Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-UD Auto 1: 3.5 f = 20mm Short Review

According provided by lens Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-UD Auto 1: 3.5 f = 20mm (PRE AI, NON AI) huge thanks to the store FOCUSFILM (subscribe to INSTAGRAM)... There are many iconic film cameras and lenses to be found there.

Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-UD Auto 1: 3.5 f = 20mm

Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-UD Auto 1: 3.5 f = 20mm

In short

The Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-UD Auto 1: 3.5 f = 20mm is an old ultra-wide angle lens for Nikon film cameras. Produced since November 1967. The first lens from Nippon Kogaku Japan / Nikon with a focal length of 20 mm. Prior to that, only recilinear lenses with a minimum focal length of 21 mm were produced.

Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-UD Auto 1: 3.5 f = 20mm is interesting for its low distortion and rather sharp picture in the center of the frame.

Important: Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-UD Auto 1: 3.5 f = 20mm from this review is Non-AI / PRE-AI the lens. Without its alteration (the so-called AI-conversion), there will be problems when trying to install on certain CZK Nikon. Information on this issue, with an exact list of cameras that do not require alteration to install it, can be found in the section Pre-ai... How to use manual lenses on modern Nikon digital signal centers can be found in the section 'How to work with non-CPU lenses on modern Nikon central controllers'.

For full-frame cameras, 20mm focal length is the borderline between ultra-wide and wide-angle optics.

Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-UD Auto 1: 3.5 f = 20mm

Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-UD Auto 1: 3.5 f = 20mm

Main technical characteristics of Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-UD Auto 1: 3.5 f = 20mm:

Name of instances from review Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-UD Auto 1: 3.5 f = 20mm
Basic properties
  • Cars - semi-automatic aperture control, transferring aperture values ​​to the camera
  • FX (Nikon fx) - lens designed for Nikon FX full-frame cameras
  • MF (Mannual Focus) - manual focus only
  • NON AI - aperture control ring with “ears” and with transmission of the aperture value to the camera, one row of aperture numbers
  • Non-g (Non gelded) - the presence of a diaphragm control ring
  • UD (UN.I.+ DECI) - one and ten, in the sum of eleven, a reference to the structure of the optical scheme 11/9
  • metal case
  • enlightened optics
  • Nippon Kogaku Japan is the old name of Nikon
Front Filter Diameter 72 mm, metal thread for filters
Body materials All parts of the lens housing are made of metal
Focal length 20 mm, EGF for cameras Nikon DX is 30 mm, EGF for cameras Nikon CX is 54 mm
Diagonal viewing angles 94 ° for FX cameras, 71 ° for DX cameras
Zoom ratio 1 X (this is a fixed lens without the ability to change the focal length)
Designed by for Nikon film cameras with Nikon F mount
Number of aperture blades 7 straight (not rounded) petals
Tags
  • marking on the focus ring with the focusing distance in meters (white) and feet (yellow)
  • DOF scale for F / 3.5 (green), for F / 5.6 no, F / 8 (pink), F / 11 (yellow), F / 16 (blue), F / 22 (orange)
  • infrared mark (red dot near the depth of field scale)
  • Ring with aperture values ​​(standard and for direct reading from the camera), there are labels for F / 3.5, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22 (one additional value can be set between F / 3.5 and F / 5.6)
Diaphragm F / 3.5 to F / 22

The lens has an aperture ring (Non-G - lens type)

MDF (minimum focusing distance) 0.3 meters, maximum magnification ratio approximately 1:10
The weight
  • 388 grams (measured, only the lens itself)
  • 422 grams (measured, lens with original covers)
Optical design 11 elements in 9 groups. The lens does not use special optical elements.

Diagram Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-UD Auto 1: 3.5 f = 20mmLater versions Nikon 20/4 1974-1978 and Nikon 20 / 3.5 1977-1981 had simplified 10/8 and 11/8 layouts

Lens hood Nikon HN-9 metal lens hood screwed into front filter thread
Period From November 1967, in 1971 changed the name to the classic 'Nikon'
Manufacturer country LENS MADE IN JAPAN (The lens is made in Japan, the inscription on the case on the back)
Prices

F / 3.5 is 2/3 stops darker than later Nikon 2.8 / 20 lenses. For a wide-angle lens, a high aperture It’s not always important, because, for example, in landscape or architectural photography, most often used are very covered diaphragms.

Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-UD Auto 1: 3.5 f = 20mm

Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-UD Auto 1: 3.5 f = 20mm

Assembly, control, focus

Lens body made very high quality... Metal is used for all parts of the body. The front cover is metal, screwed into the thread of the front light filter. The back cover is plastic, marking 'Nippon Kogaku KK Japan'.

The focusing ring is wide, not rubberized, comfortable, rotates by about 90 degrees... Focus ring travel is a little tight, but smooth. There is a hard stop (hard infinity mechanical stop) which allows you to accurately and quickly focus the lens to infinity under any external temperature conditions.

During focusing, the front of the body frame with the threads for the filters extends forward, but doesn't spin. The focus ring shifts slightly toward the front lens during focusing.

The diaphragm device consists of only 7 petals.

On the case there is a focus distance scale, a depth of field scale (in the form of colored stripes) and a label for working in the infrared spectrum.

Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-UD Auto 1: 3.5 f = 20mm

Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-UD Auto 1: 3.5 f = 20mm. The front cover is most likely not original and is taken from a later modification of this lens, which used the more familiar 'NIKON' instead of 'Nippon Kogaku Japan'.

Image quality and sample photos

Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-UD Auto 1: 3.5 f = 20mm has weak complex distortion, closer to barrel distortion, it is difficult to notice it in real photographs, which is very, very good for a 1967 development. In the center of the frame at F / 3.5 there are no complaints about the resolution, but the edges and corners are getting much worse. When the aperture is closed down to F / 5.6, the edges and corners are substantially tightened. There is a noticeable vignetting at F / 3.5. Overall, the lens does a good job of handling strong light sources in the frame. Chromatic aberrations fixed well. I can't even believe that this is a 1967 lens. Image quality is almost as good as autofocus Nikon 20mm 1: 2.8D AF... Most likely huge prices for Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-UD Auto 1: 3.5 f = 20mm on EBAY just related to good image quality and build 'for the ages'.

Unfortunately, this lens is without AI alterations / conversions not installed on the camera Nikon D4... If it is not snapped into the bayonet, then due to the long 'skirt' of the aperture control ring, it is slightly moved away from the camera sensor, due to which the ability to focus to infinity is lost. Yes, and you can only shoot in Live View mode, otherwise the mirror rests / hits against a specific protrusion from the side of the mount. Therefore, there are few full-frame examples. Converting original RAW files with the original Nikon Capture NX-D v 1.4.6 utility.

And examples are off-label to the camera Nikon D40, on which the Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-UD Auto 1: 3.5 f = 20mm sits without any problems. JPEG from camera.

Download jpeg source photos c Nikon D40 can at this link (12 files).

Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-UD Auto 1: 3.5 f = 20mm

Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-UD Auto 1: 3.5 f = 20mm

Original similar autofocus solutions

Nikkor F for SLR cameras:

  1. Nikon 14 mm 1: 2.8D AF
  2. Nikon 16 mm 1: 2.8D Fisheye AF
  3. Nikon 18 mm 1: 2.8D AF
  4. Nikon 20 mm 1:2.8 AF
  5. Nikon 20 mm 1: 2.8D AF
  6. Nikon 20 mm 1: 1.8G N AF S
  7. Nikon 8-15 mm 1: 3.5-4.5E Fisheye AF S
  8. Nikon 14-24 mm 1: 2.8G N AF S
  9. Nikon 16-35 mm 1: 4G VR N AF S
  10. Nikon 17-35 mm 1: 2.8D AF S
  11. Nikon 18-35 mm 1: 3.5-4.5D AF
  12. Nikon 18-35 mm 1: 3.5-4.5G AF S
  13. Nikon 20-35 mm 1: 2.8D AF

Nikkor Z for mirrorless cameras:

  1. Nikon 20 mm 1:1.8 S
  2. Nikon 14-24 1:2.8 S
  3. Nikon 14-30 mm 1:4 S
  4. Nikon 17-28 mm 1:2.8
Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-UD Auto 1: 3.5 f = 20mm

Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-UD Auto 1: 3.5 f = 20mm

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

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Comments: 3, on the topic: Short review of Nippon Kogaku Japan NIKKOR-UD Auto 1: 3.5 f = 20mm

  • spitzer

    What prevented you from testing it on the bzk? Confused, from close-range shots in the vicinity of super-wide.

    • Michael

      Well, yes, although: "The image quality is almost equal to the autofocus Nikon 20mm 1: 2.8D AF." Which, in general, gives some understanding

    • Ihor

      so go ahead and do it

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