The 13.5cm f3.5 was one of the most massively successful and produced rangefinder lenses that was introduced very early (with the initial "M") in the rangefinder lineup and was produced right up to the end of that line in 1964. Based originally on a very successful variation and set of improvements on a Zeiss Sonnar and it was sufficiently excellent that, that basic optical formula was continued for some time in the Nikon F line.

Despite the relatively huge raw numbers of total production and because of significant design variations over its life a number of the design variations are significant, rare and obviously desirable and very, very collectible.

The earliest production is broken into two serial numbers series and lenses were produced for four camera body types. The first 500 or so were 50060XXX numbers. the next series comprising approximately 3000 were 253XXX to 256XXX. All of the "50060's" are MIOJ lenses. Many, though not in any kind of strict sequence, of the following sequence were MIOJ and many were not. According to Rotoloni there was a jumping around in the sequence as to which were MIOJ and which were not. The MIOJ designation was an internal engraving on the rangefinder cam.

These lenses had a minimum f-stop of 16 and no click stops.

Above 256000 the click stops appear and the minimum aperture becomes 32, with no apparent change in optical design:



July 1956 NK introduced a response to the heavy criticism it had come under for the relative massiveness of its early 13.5 f3.5 embodiments that generally weighed between 20 to 23 ounces. The new black lens came in at 14 ounces by substituting aluminum for brass in a trimmer barrel as well as in a number of internal parts.



Only available in Nikon Rangefinder and Leica SM mounts. Serial numbers through 283029. 26000 of these were produced.