The renowned Nikkor-P.C 8.5cm f2. An early chrome-barrel Nikon S-mount lens bearing the Nippon Kogaku Tokyo engraving. External bayonet type. Introduced in 1948.

This example was manufactured in Japan during the Allied occupation. A small Made In Occupied Japan engraving, commonly referred to as MIOJ, is discreetly marked on the black rangefinder-coupling cam at the rear of the barrel. It is believed to have been manufactured around 1950–51.

According to The Complete Nikon Rangefinder System by noted Nikon collector Robert J. Rotoloni, this version is classified as the HYBRID type, featuring the Tokyo engraving, MIJ marking, minimum aperture of f16, and no click stops.

Distance scale is in feet. The optical design is a Sonnar type with 5 elements in 3 groups. The lens alone weighs a substantial 473g on our scale, although it is somewhat lighter than the Leica-mount version. It accepts 48mm filters, and Series 7 filters can also be fitted into the included hood.

This is a historically significant lens famously used and highly praised by D.D. Duncan during the Korean War, helping to establish the outstanding reputation of Japanese lenses worldwide.

A rare piece.

There are some signs of use, including light rub marks and tiny scratches, but no dents or noticeable deterioration of the plating. Overall, the barrel remains quite clean while retaining the character of a lens that has been actively used. There is also an extremely minor ding on the mount, but it does not affect mounting.

A full overhaul was completed in July 2026. Both the aperture ring and helicoid now operate smoothly.

There are some very faint cleaning marks on the glass surfaces, but they should have no effect on image quality. There is no haze, and the glass is clear and bright. Test shooting also produced good results.

The original two-piece hood and rear cap are included.