Using Vintage Nikon Super-Telephoto Lenses on a Sony NEX-5

A rare Nikon 1200mm f/11 lens recently appeared on eBay. The earliest Nikon non-refractive long lenses were the Nikkor-Q 400mm f/4.5, Nikkor-P 600mm f/5.6, Nikkor-P 800mm f/8, and Nikkor-P 1200mm f/11. All of them were on the market around 1964 and withdrawn in the mid-1970. These lenses are actually lens heads and require a focus unit to be functional.

The following image shows the lens heads:

The first focus unit was the CU-1 (1964), which was replaced by AU-1 (1974). All lens heads share the same focus tube. There was a cradle that was used as a lens support so that a heavy lens head would not bend the weak lens unit making focusing difficult. I can tell you that even the smallest Nikkor-Q 400mm f/4.5 mounted on CU-1 can make focusing difficult. Therefore, I always use the AU-1.

There were two versions of the Nikkor-P 800mm f/8 lens head. The older version has a longer conical section between the larger head and the cylindrical lens tube.

The following images show each lens mounted on a focus unit and the Sony NEX-5. Sorry, I could not find any images of the Nikkor-P 600mm f/5.6. The use of a very sturdy tripod and a Gimbal head is required.

Manual focusing is always difficult with the Sony NEX-5. The following was taken using the Nikkor-P 600mm f/5.6 at 5.6. The second image is the center 1200×1800 crop. It is a bit soft, but OK. This may be due to some focusing error.

The following was taken using the Nikkor-P 1200m f/11 at 11. The distance is about 40m. The second image is center 600×1200 crop.

As you can see, these 1960’s era lenses are not bad at all.

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