forjava Loc: Half Moon Bay, CA

Hi. I'm a first-time commenter and a learning, not-yet photographer.

On Feb 7, 2015, there was discussion of N for Nikon's zoom lenses of today which have the Nikkor Integrated Coating. Each of the responders seem to be correct, but perhaps it is worth extending the discussion because N has had at least various meanings.

I own a prime -N lens from about 1967-1977, the NIKKOR-N Auto 24mm f/2.8. Pictures: http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/6070nikkor/wides/24mm.htm

This lens introduced a historically significant mechanical close-range focus-correction system -- floating adjustment. See, http://nikkor.com/story/0014/.

The current N symbol, as discussed in earlier posts here, now indicates an anti-internal-reflections coating. The N is found on the body of the lens, in gold. The -N of my comment is found on the front of the lens, appended to the name, NIKKOR.

The -N suffix on my lens appeared before the first multi-coated lens, the Ai Nikkor 35mm f/1.4S, in 1971. The NIKKOR-N Auto lens was updated with a multi-layer coating in 1972. The multi-layer coating of these post-1972 lenses targets anti-ghosting and anti-flare. This coating is different from the later Super Integrated Coating (SIC) and is different from today's Nano Crystal Coating, which originated in semiconductor manufacturing, the sequentially third meaning of N.

The sequentially second use (2005) of the N designation was for AI lenses: http://bythom.com/lensacronyms.htm

Nikon has used N to refer to new types of glass: http://nikkor.com/story/nwords-e.html#retrofoc but I doubt that this glossary entry is the same N as the -N of my lens.

Still another N is suffixed to f/2.8, as in http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens/glossary.htm, meaning, "new," as in certain improvements to the EL-NIKKOR 50mm f/2.8N in 1979. See http://nikon.com/about/feelnikon/recollections/r15_e/index.htm

For more on coatings, see SIC and N in this glossary: http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens/glossary.htm. See also http://nikkor.com/history/03.html.

So what does the -N on my lens stand for? At first, I thought it might refer to the presence of a negative meniscus lens element. However, it seems likely that -N refers to the close-focus mechanical innovation that makes this lens significant as noted above. Evidence for this view is the use of -N in the 35mm f/1.4 Nikkor-N Auto Wideangle Lens, which appears to include the same near-focus mechanics. Since I have not seen any remarks to this effect, it would be nice to hear the views of others.

RJarvis Loc: Seattle, WA

What??!!!!!

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

Welcome aboard. Today is brought to you by the letter N. Photography is a never ending stream of acronyms and abbreviations. There are several good lists of them here at the Hog when you want to get beyond the letter N. Must be bad weather in Seattle, I'm going out for a morning walk with my camera. I will ponder N while doing that.

Erik_H Loc: Denham Springs, Louisiana

Java,
Welcome to the Hog! Very interesting post, thanks for the expanded definition.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Welcome to our forum!

drmarty Loc: Pine City, NY

Great post! Welcome to the forum!

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Nikon's use of added letters to lens names seems to be rather schizoid. For another example they used the term Nikkor-W for 1953 Rangefinder camera lenses and modern Nikon view camera lenses. I own an 1980's vintage Nikon-W 150mm f/5.6 Copal Shutter lens. Also Nikon enlarging lenses have odd probably meaningless designations (to us) as well. They added letters seem to just differentiate one product from a similar one that was made at the same time.

Have you "googled" your Nikkors to see how your specific model differs from others? Seems like perhaps you have.

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

I think the N you mention is refer to number of glass element using in the lens.

Check this out:

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

Welcome to the Hog.

forjava Loc: Half Moon Bay, CA

Valuable input, wingclui44, because it fits all my data, for example:

-The two -N lenses I mentioned have nine elements, per your info
-My Nikkor-S Auto 50mm f/1.4 Prime has seven elements, per your info
-My Nikkor-Q Auto 135mm f/3.5 has four elements, per your info

For related info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_F-mount

Thank you.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Welcome to UHH.
You give me a headache.

N = Nothings too mundane to Photograph.

So there!

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

You are welcome!

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

I thought that the n lenses were the equivilant to canon L lenses. well built pro lenses. also for all questions Nikon related MT Shooter is the Yoda of Nikon info, " May the F6 be with you." :lol: 8-) :thumbup:

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

The original question of this post was talking about the "N" letter on the old Nikon during 1967 -197x, it was not the same "N" as the new Nikon digital lenses as to day!
Yes you are right the new "N" is the indication as Nikon's pro lens!