Nikkor-S.C 8.5cm f1.5 for Nikon S mount. Introduced in 1951, this is a fast medium-telephoto lens made by Nippon Kogaku. Its substantial black-paint and chrome construction gives it a very impressive presence. Optical design consists of 7 elements in 3 groups. Distance scale is marked in feet. It accepts 60mm screw-in filters, or Series 8 filters can be placed inside the dedicated two-piece lens hood.
It is said that approximately 2,000 examples of the Nikkor 85mm f1.5 were produced in total across the Nikon, Leica, and Contax mount versions. As you would expect from such a fast telephoto lens, it contains a substantial amount of glass and has a reassuringly solid feel in the hand. This example weighs approximately 554g.
Please note that although the Leica-mount version shares the same Nikkor 85mm f1.5 name, its filter size and hood mounting system are different from those of the Nikon-mount version.
Wide open, the lens produces a soft, gentle rendering with beautiful bokeh, while still offering excellent resolving power. Even when stopped down, it retains a smooth and relaxed character rather than becoming overly hard. A superb design that makes full use of the strengths of the Sonnar-type optical formula.
There is a very slight ding near the red index dot at the base of the barrel, but it has no effect on mounting, removal, or focusing.
The black-painted and chrome-plated areas show a fair amount of paint loss and small scratches from normal use, but the lens has developed a very appealing, well-used character. The included hood has one fairly large scratch on the side, while the black paint on the rest of it remains well preserved.
The aperture blades, helicoid, and other controls all operate smoothly, and the aperture blades are clean. Focus and rangefinder coupling have been checked on our Nikon S test body, and optical performance has also been confirmed on a Leica SL.
The glass contains some fine dust, and there is the typical Nikkor balsam separation around the edge of the rear element, but we found no noticeable effect on actual images. Otherwise, there are no significant cleaning marks, fungus, or haze, and the glass remains clear and bright.
Included are the original lens hood, a rare hood cap, original rear cap, and leather case.
A practical 8.5cm Nikkor that can be used without hesitation.
