Nikon's fast rangefinder portrait lens — the five-element Nikkor-P 8.5cm f/2, smooth rendering, in Leica screw mount.
The Nikkor-P 8.5cm f/2 is a fast short-telephoto rangefinder lens from Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) in the Leica screw mount, dating from the late 1940s. Nikon engraved focal lengths in centimetres, so 8.5cm equals 85mm. It was Nikon's fast portrait-length Nikkor of the rangefinder era and earned a strong reputation among the photojournalists who used the system.
This is a manual-focus, rangefinder-coupled Leica Thread Mount lens with an 85mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/2. The -P suffix stands for Penta, from the Greek for five, meaning a five-element design. That five-element construction is the product distinction the letter records. Filter thread and other details should be confirmed on the specific example rather than assumed.
At 85mm and f/2 this is a natural portrait lens, isolating a subject with a shallow depth of field and a comfortable working distance. The fast Nikkors of this era have a known reputation for smooth rendering, giving a pleasing transition into the background well suited to head-and-shoulders portraits. The extra speed also helps in low light and indoor reportage.
The Nikkor-P 8.5cm f/2 is one of the more collected Nikon rangefinder lenses, prized for its portrait rendering, so clean examples hold their value. Examine the elements for haze, fungus, separation and cleaning marks, and check coatings for scratches. Confirm the aperture blades are oil-free and the focus is smooth and even. An LTM-to-Leica-M ring, plus a further adapter, allows use on Leica M and mirrorless cameras.