Nikkor Pre-AI Lenses (1959 – 1977) — The Original F-Mount Era
Introductory paragraph
When Nikon introduced the F-mount in 1959, it set a standard for mechanical precision and long-term compatibility that would survive for decades.
The early Pre-AI (also called Non-AI) Nikkor lenses were fully mechanical and relied on the camera body’s external coupling prongs—known among collectors as the “rabbit ears”—to communicate the selected aperture to the camera’s meter.
These lenses formed the foundation of the Nikon system and remained in production, with incremental updates, until the introduction of Automatic Indexing (AI) in 1977.
Despite their age, many Pre-AI lenses remain optically excellent and can still be used today on digital and analog bodies that accept unmodified F-mount glass. However, caution is required: forcing a Pre-AI lens onto a later AI-compatible body can damage the meter coupling tab.
Technical Characteristics
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Mount type | Nikon F bayonet (mechanical coupling only) |
| Meter coupling | “Rabbit ears” prong engages camera meter coupling pin |
| Focus | Manual only |
| Aperture control | Mechanical, ring-based |
| Coating | Early single coating → later “Nikkor-H.C.” multicoated versions |
| Compatibility | Fully compatible with Nikon F, F2, Nikkormat FT, FTn, and early Photomic finders |
| Unsafe on | F3, FM, FE, FA, and all AI-type bodies (unless AI-converted) |
Typical Lenses from the Pre-AI Era
| Focal Length | Maximum Aperture | Lens Name | Production Years | Filter Thread | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 mm | f/3.5 | Nikkor-UD Auto | 1967 – 1974 | 52 mm | Early ultra-wide, 9 elements |
| 24 mm | f/2.8 | Nikkor-N Auto | 1967 – 1977 | 52 mm | Classic reportage wide-angle |
| 35 mm | f/2 | Nikkor-O Auto | 1965 – 1977 | 52 mm | Sharp, common street lens |
| 50 mm | f/1.4 | Nikkor-S Auto | 1962 – 1977 | 52 mm | Standard lens on Nikon F |
| 85 mm | f/1.8 | Nikkor-H Auto | 1964 – 1975 | 52 mm | Portrait lens with superb rendering |
| 105 mm | f/2.5 | Nikkor-P Auto | 1959 – 1977 | 52 mm | Legendary portrait classic |
| 135 mm | f/3.5 | Nikkor-Q Auto | 1959 – 1977 | 52 mm | Compact telephoto |
| 200 mm | f/4 | Nikkor-Q Auto | 1961 – 1977 | 52 mm | Long reach, tripod collar optional |
| 300 mm | f/4.5 | Nikkor-H Auto | 1964 – 1977 | 72 mm | Common sports lens |
| 500 mm | f/8 | Reflex-Nikkor | 1968 – 1976 | Rear 39 mm | Catadioptric mirror lens |
Collector’s Note
Most Pre-AI lenses can be AI-converted by milling the aperture ring and adding the AI ridge. Nikon offered factory conversions for popular focal lengths during the late 1970s; these lenses are stamped with a small “AI” mark near the mount.
Unmodified Pre-AI lenses are still prized for their all-metal construction and classic rendering, especially on film.
