Nippon-Kogaku Nikkor-S.C 85mm f/1.5

Nippon-Kogaku Nikkor-S.C 85mm f/1.5

The Nikkor-S.C 85mm f/1.5 is Nippon Kogaku's fast postwar portrait lens in factory Leica screw mount, combining a compact Sonnar-type optical unit with a substantial focusing barrel.

Optical qualities

Rendering

Nikon documents a seven-element, three-group Sonnar-type construction. At f/1.5 it can show lower contrast and residual flare that soften fine detail away from the focus plane. Stopping down increases clarity and uniformity, while the sixteen-blade iris keeps the aperture close to circular.

Handling

The LTM barrel is rangefinder coupled and focuses to roughly 3.5 ft. Its large front section and dense construction make it heavier than slower 85mm rangefinder lenses, but the focusing scale and aperture control remain fully self-contained.

History

Development and Launch

Nikon records that development began in 1950 and passed through several trial optical layouts before the production lens debuted in the early 1950s. The final design became one of Nippon Kogaku's signature high-speed rangefinder lenses.

Production Evolution

The lens is encountered across Nikon, Contax and Leica rangefinder mounts. Engraving and coating details can vary, but confirmed factory LTM examples retain the same optical identity.

Special Editions/Variants

This entry covers the original black-and-chrome Leica screw-mount barrel. Other native mounts are related production versions and should not be mistaken for later adaptations.

Collector Notes

Confirm the S.C engraving, original LTM mount and continuous operation of all sixteen aperture blades. Examine large glass surfaces for haze, separation, cleaning marks and coating damage.