Re: Mystery El Nikkor Enlarging Lens

"HypoBob" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> I have an f/4, 50 mm El Nikkor enlarging lens which I have always
> thought is the "standard" f/4 version of this lens.  However, checking
> in Hillebrand and Hauschild's "Nikon Compendium", I notice that the El
> Nikkor f/4 has an f/stop range of f/4 to f/22 and takes a 40.5 mm filter.
>
> My lens, on the other hand, has a range of f/4 to f/16 and takes a 34.5
> mm filter, indicating a different size and design.  It is made in Japan,
> labeled Nikon El-Nikkor, and has serial number 279138.
>
> Searching the net has turned up nothing to match this lens.  Does anyone
> know what this beast is?  Does the "Compendium" simply have it wrong?
>
> Bob
>
> p.s.  Richard, I may have finally found an actual Spanish made Nikon
> lens.  You get first purchase option.  ;-)
>
Nikon has changed it's El-Nikkor lenses over the years. The main difference
was lens barrel material (metal vs. plastic), but the aperture mechanism has
also changed (although most have the same aperture range). The actual lens
design itself has not changed. Probably the multi-coating is better on the
newer lenses.

What difference does it make? The lens is a genuine El-Nikkor. No one would
bother to create a forgery of a 4-element lens.