Pre-Owned - Nikkor Telephoto Zoom Lens 85-250 mm F4-4.5
This lens is in excellent overall condition. Body has some minor bumps and bruises (not major), the glass is in great condition showing no signs of mold and/or fungus.
The Nikkor 85-250mm f/4-4.5 Auto is a highly historic vintage lens, notable for being Japan’s first commercially produced telephoto zoom lens. Originally introduced by Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) in November 1959 alongside the legendary Nikon F camera body, this lens represents a massive milestone in optical engineering history.
This specific unit with Serial # 162286 belongs to the second major design iteration of this lens model.
Lens Variant & Production Insights:
Nikon produced this manual-focus telephoto zoom in separate production batches with distinct design shifts:
• First Version (1959–1961): Had dual control rings—one dedicated ring for zooming and one for focusing. Only about 2,000 of these were ever made.
• Second Version (Post-1961): This matches your serial number range. Nikon transitioned the lens to a single large "push-pull" sliding collar. You twist the collar to adjust focus and push or pull it forward/backward to adjust the focal length. Roughly 16,000 total units of the single-ring version were produced across its remaining lifecycle.
Technical Specifications:
• Focal Length: 85-250mm (a massive range for the late 1950s/1960s).
• Aperture: Variable maximum aperture starting at f/4 (at 85mm) and sliding down to f/4.5 (by 250mm). Minimum aperture is f/16.
• Optical Formula: 15 glass elements arranged in 8 groups.
• Filter Thread: 82mm (an unusually large and imposing front element for its day).
• Physical Profile: Built strictly like a tank with all-metal construction and a built-in rotating tripod collar. It is exceptionally heavy, weighing in at nearly 2.0 kg (4.4 lbs).
• Lens Mount: Original Nikon F-mount (Non-AI).
