Aperture Lever Nikkor-SW 90 1:8 - is this normal?

Hello everybody,

 

Just recently I purchased a used Nikkor-SW 90 1:8 in mint condition. What immediately made me become suspicious was that I could easily push the aperture lever far beyond the f/8 marking. Is this normal? Does anyone else here own such a lens and could check?

 

At f/8 the aperture blades start to become insivible so generally, this thing should work. I just wonder if it was reshuttered improperly which might also cause the other f-stop markings to be inaccurate.

 

My Nikkor-M 300 1:8 (which I bought new) has precise hard stops at f/9 and f/128. Otherwise I probably wouldn't have noticed. These are the only two lenses I own for 4x5.

 

Thanks for your help and best regards,

Tobias

I bet it is normal, my LF Nikkors perform in the same way. What seem odd to me is to have hard stops...

I have owned many LF Nikkor lenses in Copal shutters. All allow for considerable movement beyond the marked aperture's endpoints. I am, like Jose, am surprised that f9 and f128 are hard stops on your other shutter.

My 300 f/9 Nikkor M also opens only to f/9 and stops completely at f/128. Other (Rodenstock) lenses that I have in Copal shutters have more play at either end. This is probably a question of the size of the diaphragm in the shutter vs. the designed maximum and minimum aperture of a given lens. I doubt there is anything wrong with your Nikkor SW 90 f/8.

Depends on the shutter design. Some apertures will bind at the extreme ends of travel so a stop pin or screw was used to prevent it. Some makers use a stop pin to limit aperture travel as the setting beyond the pin is unusable and this prevents the photographer from accidentally going out of range. As long as the aperture works smoothly don't worry about it. Stops are not difficult to install if you need them.

I have the Nikkor-SW 90 1:8 and this is exactly how mine behaves: hard stop at f/64 but the aperture lever goes past f/8 even though the aperture does not observably open wider beyond f/8.

My Nikkor-W 150mm came in a Nikon re-badged Copal shutter, as did all Nikon LF lenses I believe.

 

It may be that the stop screw has fallen out. Anyway I wouldn't worry about it as long as the shutter is fully functional and the lens glass is clean. F/8 is usually only used for focussing, so the fact that the lever doesn't stop there shouldn't be an issue.

 

Try the lens out and if the pictures are sharp and the exposures correct, where's the problem?

What immediately made me become suspicious was that I could easily push the aperture lever far beyond the f/8 marking. Is this normal? Does anyone else here own such a lens and could check?

I also own that lens and mine also behaves exactly like yours. I never gave it a thought. I own a Fujinon lens that turns beyond f/64. May be you just worry too much. /Ferdi.

Edited April 30, 2017 by fwstutterheim

Thank you guys, that put my mind at ease. Coming from digital I really worry too much. Each sheet of Velvia is just so expensive ;). Can't afford any technical hiccups.:D