Nikon's fast rangefinder portrait lens — the seven-element Nikkor-S 8.5cm f/1.5 in Leica screw mount.
The Nikkor-S 8.5cm f/1.5 is a very fast short-telephoto rangefinder lens from Nippon Kogaku (Nikon) in the Leica screw mount, introduced in the early 1950s. Nikon engraved focal lengths in centimetres, so 8.5cm equals 85mm. It was the fastest 85mm in Nikon's rangefinder line and a specialist portrait and low-light optic of its generation.
This is a manual-focus, rangefinder-coupled Leica Thread Mount lens with an 85mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/1.5. The -S suffix stands for Septem, from the Latin for seven, meaning a seven-element design. That seven-element construction is the product distinction the letter records. Weight and filter thread should be verified per version, as this is a substantial lens.
At 85mm and f/1.5 the lens delivers a shallow depth of field for strong subject isolation, making it a dedicated portrait optic. The fast Nikkors of the period are noted for smooth rendering into the out-of-focus background, which flatters faces. The wide aperture also supports available-light and stage or indoor reportage where speed matters more than compactness.
The fast 8.5cm f/1.5 is scarce and highly sought by collectors of Nikon rangefinder glass, so clean examples command high prices. Inspect the elements carefully for haze, fungus, separation and cleaning marks, and check coatings for scratches. Confirm the aperture blades are dry and the focus helicoid, which is longer on this lens, moves smoothly. An LTM-to-Leica-M ring, plus a further adapter, allows use on Leica M and mirrorless bodies.