Nikkor S.C 5cm f1.4. Nippon Kogaku Tokyo. A rangefinder-coupled standard lens in Leica L mount.

This lens was introduced in October 1950, just a year after the release of its predecessor, the Nikkor-SC 50mm f1.5. While it retains the 3-group, 7-element Sonnar-type optical design, unlike the f1.5 which was a direct copy of the Zeiss Sonnar, the f1.4 version was an evolved design with original improvements. The distance scale is in feet. It maintains rangefinder coupling down to 1 meter; beyond that, it becomes uncoupled, though it allows focusing as close as 50 cm.

This particular lens is an early example from the serial number series beginning with 5005. The number 5005 represents the design date—May 1950 (50 = year, 05 = month). Approximately 2,000 units were produced with this 5005 serial prefix, in both Nikon S mount and Leica screw mount versions.

This item was previously sold by our store and has now come back. It was carefully used by the previous owner and remains in the same excellent condition as when we last sold it. Minimal signs of use, and overall a very clean piece.

Fully overhauled in November 2022, with smooth operation across all components thanks to meticulous servicing. Rangefinder coupling is fully functional.

The glass is also beautifully clean, allowing you to enjoy its original optical performance. It comes with a rare early aluminum case and the original box, making it ideal for collectors. Please note that the box shows considerable signs of wear.