Nikon F-mount refers to a lens mount developed by Nikon for its 35 mm SLR cameras. The F-mount was first introduced on the Nikon F camera in 1959, and features a three lug bayonet mount with a 44 mm throat and a flange to focal plane distance of 46.5 mm.

The large variety of F-mount compatible lenses makes it the largest system of interchangeable flange-mount photographic lenses in history. Over 400 different Nikkor lenses are compatible with the system. The F-mount is also popular in scientific and industrial applications, most notably machine vision.

The Nikon F-mount is one of only two photographic lens mounts (the other being the Pentax K mount) that were not abandoned by their associated manufacturer upon the introduction of autofocus, but rather extended to meet new requirements. This has resulted in the continued development of F-mount lenses and cameras to progressively higher levels of sophistication and automation. F-mount photographic lenses are currently made by Nikon, Zeiss, Voigtländer, Schneider, Sigma, Tokina, and Tamron. F-mount photographic cameras include current models from Nikon, Sinar, Fujifilm, and Kodak. Numerous other manufacturers employ the F-mount in non-photographic imaging applications.

The F-mount has a significant degree of both backward and forward compatibility. Many current autofocus F-mount lenses can be used on the Nikon F, and the earliest manual-focus F-mount lenses of the 1960s and early 1970s can, with some modification, still be used to their fullest on all professional-class Nikon cameras. Incompatibilities do exist, however, and adventurous F-mount users should consult product documentation in order to avoid problems. In particular, many electronic camera bodies cannot meter without a "CPU" enabled lens, the aperture of G designated lenses cannot be controlled without an electronic camera body, and non-AI lenses manufactured prior to 1977 can cause mechanical damage to later model bodies unless they are modified to the AI specification.

Most Nikon F-mount lenses cover the standard 36x24 mm area of 135 film, while "DX" designated lenses cover the 23.7x15.7 mm area of the Nikon DX format, and industrial F-mount lenses have varying, often small, coverage. "DX" lenses produce vignetting when used on film cameras. However, Nikon lenses designed for film cameras will work on Nikon digital system cameras with some limitations.

Compatible Lenses

Nikkor

Designations

The growing list of Nikon's proprietary designations for F-mount Nikkor lenses reflects the development of the mount, as well as the lenses available for it.

Pre-AI or Non-AI or NAI - The original F-mount, which offers light meter coupling by means of a prong fixed to the aperture ring. Not an official Nikkor designation, but in common use.
U, B, T, Q, P, H, S, O, N, D - Appears immediately before or after the "Nikkor" name on early lenses, designating the number of elements in the design. Short for Uns (1), Bini (2), Tres (3), Quatour (4), Pente (5), Hex (6), Septem (7), Octo (8), Novem (9), or Decem (10).
C - An early Nikkor designation for a coated lens. This designation was retired once lens coatings became the norm.
AI - Manual focus with mechanical "Aperture Indexing" light meter coupling.
AI-S - Manual focus with Auto (aperture) Indexing. The successor to AI. The lens has a notch on the aperture ring that allows the camera to sense the current aperture. AI-S added a tab to the back of the lens which affected metering on certain older cameras. Generally used to refer to manual focus lenses, however all Nikon autofocus lenses with aperture rings are also AI-S.
AI-P - AI with Program. CPU-enabled variation of AI-S.
P - Program. CPU-enabled manual-focus lens without AI coupling.
E or Series E - A lower-cost series of amateur manual-focus lenses, branded "Nikon" but not "Nikkor."
AF - The original autofocus designation, indicating focus driven mechanically from a motor inside the camera body.
AF-S - Autofocus-Silent. Uses a "Silent Wave Motor" (ultrasonic motor) to focus quietly and quickly. Similar to Canon's USM technology. Introduced in 1996.
AF-I - Autofocus-Internal. Driven by a coreless DC motor. Used only in long telephoto lenses (300 mm f/2.8 through 600 mm f/4.0) starting in 1992. Replaced with AF-S in 1996.
ED - Extra-low Dispersion glass. Reduces chromatic aberration. Recently, "Super ED" glass has been introduced as well.
IF - Internal Focus. Focusing is accomplished through the movement of internal lens groups, eliminating extension and rotation of the front lens element.
DX - Lens designed for Nikon DX format sensors. The image circle matches the smaller sensor area of Nikon's digital SLRs. A vignetted image may be produced if used on a 135 format camera, although some DX lenses cover the full 135 frame at longer focal lengths.
VR - Vibration Reduction. Uses a moving optical group to reduce the photographic effects of camera shake. Some VR lenses also support a panning mode, detecting horizontal movement of the lens and minimizing only vertical vibration. Similar to Canon's Image Stabilizer, Sigma's OS, etc. The latest VR type, implemented in the 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR DX and 105 mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR N Micro-Nikkor, is called "VR-II," but is not currently official Nikkor nomenclature.
D - Distance/Dimension. Indicated after the f-number number. It means the lens is capable of using Nikon's 3D Matrix Metering on bodies that support it. The lens transmits focal distance information, which is incorporated into the camera's exposure calculations.
G - Indicated after the f-number. G lenses do not have an aperture ring, and the aperture can only be controlled electronically by the camera body. Only autofocus bodies with command dials are capable of controlling G lenses. Older autofocus bodies will work with G lenses in shutter priority and program modes. G lenses otherwise have the same characteristics as D lenses.
GN - Guide Number. Aides in making flash exposures on cameras without automatic flash metering. The flash's guide number is set on the lens, and the aperture is accordingly coupled to the lens's focus ring for correct exposure.
Micro - Micro lenses are capable of high reproduction ratios for macro photography.
N - Indicates the Nano Crystal Coat, a new type of lens coating that originated in Nikon's semiconductor division. The coating is currently used in the 300 mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR and 105 mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro Nikkor. Lenses with this coating feature the logo of an "N" inside an elongated hexagon on the name plate. To further confuse things, "N" is also sometimes used as an unofficial designation of "New," indicating cosmetic changes on otherwise identical lenses. For example, the change from the plastic focus rings on early AF lenses to rubber focus rings like AI and AI-S lenses is often noted with an "N".
PC - Perspective Control. Lens includes movements to control perspective and depth-of-field. These include the shift-only 28 mm and 35 mm PC Nikkors, and the tilt/shift 85 mm f/2.8D PC Micro Nikkor.
DC - Defocus Control. DC lenses have a separate control ring for spherical aberration, which affects primarily the appearance of out-of-focus areas, also known as bokeh. At extreme settings, DC lenses can generate an overall soft-focus effect.
IX - Lenses designed for use with the now-defunct Pronea APS SLR. These are all autofocus zoom lenses. They are not compatible with cameras outside of the Pronea system. [1]

Manual Focus Primes

6 mm f/2.8 Circular Fisheye
6 mm f/5.6 Circular Fisheye (mirror-up lens)
7.5 mm f/5.6 Circular Fisheye (mirror-up lens)
8 mm f/2.8 Circular Fisheye
8 mm f/8.0 Circular Fisheye (mirror-up lens)
10 mm f/5.6 OP (Orthographic Projection) Circular Fisheye (mirror lockup lens)
13 mm f/5.6
15 mm f/3.5
15 mm f/5.6
16 mm f/2.8 Full Frame Fisheye
16 mm f/3.5 Full Frame Fisheye
18 mm f/4.0
18 mm f/3.5
20 mm f/2.8
20 mm f/3.5 UD
20 mm f/3.5
20 mm f/4.0
21 mm f/4.0 (mirror-up lens)
24 mm f/2.0
24 mm f/2.8
28 mm f/2.0
28 mm f/2.8
28 mm f/3.5
35 mm f/1.4
35 mm f/2.0
35 mm f/2.8
45 mm f/2.8 GN
45 mm f/2.8 P
50 mm f/1.2
50 mm f/1.4
50 mm f/1.8
50 mm f/2.0
55 mm f/1.2
55 mm f/4.0 UV
58 mm f/1.2 Noct
58 mm f/1.4
85 mm f/1.4
85 mm f/1.8
85 mm f/2.0
105 mm f/1.8
105 mm f/2.5
105 mm f/4.0 UV
120 mm f/4.0 IF Medical
135 mm f/2.0
135 mm f/2.8
135 mm f/3.5
180 mm f/2.8 ED
200 mm f/2.0 ED-IF
200 mm f/4.0 Q
200 mm f/4.0

200 mm f/5.6 Medical Nikkor, mounted on a Nikon F with high-speed motor drive.

200 mm f/5.6 Medical
300 mm f/2.0 ED-IF
300 mm f/2.8 ED-IF
300 mm f/4.5 P
300 mm f/4.5 H
300 mm f/4.5 ED
300 mm f/4.5 ED-IF
400 mm f/2.8 ED-IF
400 mm f/3.5 ED-IF
400 mm f/4.5
400 mm f/5.6 ED-IF
500 mm f/4.0 P ED-IF
500 mm f/5.0 Reflex
500 mm f/8.0 Reflex
600 mm f/4.0 ED-IF
600 mm f/5.6 ED-IF
800 mm f/5.6 ED-IF
800 mm f/8.0 ED
800 mm f/8.0 ED-IF
1000 mm f/6.3 Reflex
1000 mm f/11.0 Reflex
1200 mm f/11.0 ED-IF
2000 mm f/11.0 Reflex

Autofocus Primes

14 mm f/2.8D ED AF
16 mm f/2.8D AF Full Frame Fisheye
18 mm f/2.8D AF
20 mm f/2.8 AF
20 mm f/2.8D AF
24 mm f/2.8 AF
24 mm f/2.8D AF
28 mm f/1.4D AF Aspherical
28 mm f/2.8 AF
28 mm f/2.8D AF
35 mm f/2.0 AF
35 mm f/2.0D AF
50 mm f/1.4 AF
50 mm f/1.4D AF
50 mm f/1.8 AF
50 mm f/1.8D AF
80 mm f/2.8 AF (F3AF dedicated)
85 mm f/1.4D AF
85 mm f/1.8 AF
85 mm f/1.8D AF
105 mm f/2.0D AF DC
135 mm f/2.0 AF DC
135 mm f/2.0D AF DC
180 mm f/2.8 ED-IF AF
180 mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF
200 mm f/2.0G ED-IF AF-S VR
200 mm f/3.5 ED-IF AF (F3AF dedicated)
300 mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR N
300 mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-S II
300 mm f/4 ED-IF AF
300 mm f/4D ED-IF AF-S
400 mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-I
400 mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-S II
500 mm f/4D ED-IF AF-S II
600 mm f/4D ED-IF AF-S II

Teleconverters

TC-1 (2.0x)
TC-2 (2.0x)
TC-200 (2.0x)
TC-300 (2.0x)
TC-201 (2.0x)
TC-301 (2.0x)
TC-14 (1.4x)
TC-14A (1.4x)
TC-14B (1.4x)
TC-14C (1.4x)
TC-14E (1.4x)
TC-16 (1.6x)
TC-16A (1.6x)
TC-20E (2.0x)
TC-14E II (1.4x)
TC-17E II (1.7x)
TC-20E II (2.0x)

The world's first shift lens in the 35 mm format: the 1961 35 mm f/3.5 PC-Nikkor.

Perspective Control (PC) Lenses

28 mm f/4.0 PC-Nikkor (1975)
28 mm f/3.5 PC-Nikkor (1981)
35 mm f/3.5 PC-Nikkor (1961)
35 mm f/2.8 PC-Nikkor (1968)
85 mm f/2.8 PC-Micro-Nikkor (1999)

Micro Lenses (for macro photography)

55 mm f/2.8 Micro
55 mm f/2.8 AF Micro
55 mm f/3.5 Micro
60 mm f/2.8D AF Micro
85 mm f/2.8D PC Micro
105 mm f/4.0 (bellows lens)
105 mm f/4.0 Micro
105 mm f/2.8 Micro
105 mm f/2.8D AF Micro
105 mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR N Micro
135 mm f/4.0 (bellows lens)
200 mm f/4.0 IF Micro
200 mm f/4.0D ED-IF AF Micro
70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6 ED AF-D Micro

Manual Focus Zooms

25-50 mm f/4.0
28-45 mm f/4.5
28-50 mm f/3.5 Macro
28-85 mm f/3.5-4.5 Macro
35-70 mm f/3.5
35-70 mm f/3.5 Macro
35-70 mm f/3.3-4.5
35-70 mm f/3.5-4.8
35-85 mm f/3.5-4.5 Macro
35-105 mm f/3.5-4.5 Macro
35-135 mm f/3.5-4.5
35-200 mm f/3.5-4.5 Macro
43-86 mm f/3.5
50-135 mm f/3.5 Macro
50-300 mm f/4.5
50-300 mm f/4.5 ED
70-210 mm f/4.5-5.6
80-200 mm f/2.8 ED
80-200 mm f/4.0
80-200 mm f/4.5
85-250 mm f/4.0-4.5
100-300 mm f/5.6 Macro
180-600 mm f/8.0 ED
200-400 mm f/4.0 ED
200-600 mm f/9.5
360-1200 mm f/11.0 ED
1200-1700 mm f/5.6-8.0 P ED-IF

Autofocus Zooms (professional)

12-24 mm f/4G AF-S DX
17-35 mm f/2.8 ED-IF AF-S
17-55 mm f/2.8G AF-S DX
20-35 mm f/2.8D IF AF-S
28-70 mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-S
35-70 mm f/2.8D AF
70-200 mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR
80-200 mm f/2.8D ED AF
80-200 mm f/2.8D ED AF-S
80-400 mm f/4.5-5.6D ED AF VR
200-400 mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR

Autofocus Zooms (consumer)

18-35 mm f/3.5-4.5D ED-IF AF
24-50 mm f/3.3-4.5 AF
24-50 mm f/3.3-4.5D AF
24-85 mm f/2.8-4D IF AF
24-85 mm f/3.5-4.5G ED-IF AF-S
24-120 mm f/3.5-5.6D AF
24-120 mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR
28-70 mm f/3.5-4.5D AF
28-80 mm f/3.3-5.6G AF
28-85 mm f/3.5-4.5 AF
28-100 mm f/3.5-5.6G AF
28-105 mm f/3.5-4.5D AF
28-200 mm f/3.5-5.6D IF AF
28-200 mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF
35-70 mm f/3.3-4.5 AF
35-80 mm f/4-5.6D AF
35-105 mm f/3.5-4.5 AF
35-105 mm f/3.5-4.5D AF
35-135 mm f/3.5-4.5 AF
70-210 mm f/4 AF
70-210 mm f/4-5.6 AF
70-210 mm f/4-5.6D AF
70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6D ED AF
70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6G AF
70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED AF-S VR
75-240 mm f/4.5-5.6D AF
75-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 AF

Nikkor 12-24 mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S DX lens, mounted on a Nikon D200 digital camera body.

Lenses for Nikon DX format

10.5 mm f/2.8G ED AF DX Full Frame Fisheye
12-24 mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S DX
17-55 mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S DX
18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX
18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S II DX
18-70 mm f/3.5-4.5G ED-IF AF-S DX
18-135 mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX
18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR DX
55-200 mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX
55-200 mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX

Nikon Series E

28 mm f/2.8
35 mm f/2.5
50 mm f/1.8
100 mm f/2.8
135 mm f/2.8
36-72 mm f/3.5
70-210 mm f/4.0
75-150 mm f/3.5

Zeiss

Zeiss ZF lenses are manual-focus designs with Nikon AI-S type aperture indexing. They are manufactured by Cosina to Zeiss specifications.

Distagon T* 25 mm f/2.8 ZF
Distagon T* 35 mm f/2.0 ZF
Makro-Planar T* 50 mm f/2.0 ZF (Projected availability 2007 March)
Makro-Planar T* 100 mm f/2.0 ZF (Projected availability 2007 May)
Planar T* 50 mm f/1.4 ZF
Planar T* 85 mm f/1.4 ZF

Voigtländer

Voigtländer SL lenses are manual-focus designs with Nikon AI-S type aperture indexing. They are manufactured by Cosina, and are being discontinued in concert with the introduction of Zeiss ZF lenses (see above).

12 mm f/5.6 SL Ultra Heliar (aspherical)
15 mm f/4.5 SL Heliar (aspherical)
40 mm f/2 Ultron (aspherical)
58 mm f/1.4 Topcor
75 mm f/2.5 Color-Heliar
90 mm f/3.5 APO-Lanthar
125 mm f/2.5 APO-Lanthar (1:1 macro)
180 mm f/4 APO-Lanthar

Schneider Kreuznach

28 mm f/2.8 PC Super Angulon

Sigma

Tamron

Tokina

AT-X PRO Series

AT-X M100 AF PRO D AF 100 mm f/2.8 MACRO
AT-X 124 AF PRO DX AF 12-24 mm f/4
AT-X 535 PRO DX AF 50-135 mm f/2.8

AT-X Series

AT-X 242 AF 24~200 mm f/3.5~5.6
AT-X 840 AF D 80~400 f/4.5~5.6

AF Series

AF 193 AF 19~35 mm f/3.5~4.5

Compatible Cameras

All single-lens reflex cameras made by Nikon
All Fujifilm SLR's based on Nikon bodies, including:
Many Kodak SLR's based on Nikon bodies, including:
- Kodak DCS-100
- Kodak DCS-200
- Kodak DCS 315 / 330
- Kodak DCS-410
- Kodak DCS-420
- Kodak DCS-460
- Kodak NC2000 / NC2000e
- Kodak DCS 620 / 620x
- Kodak DCS 660 / 660M
- Kodak DCS 720x
- Kodak DCS 760
- Kodak DCS Pro 14n
- Kodak DCS Pro SLR/n
35 mm Mirror Module of the Sinar "m" system
Red One digital video camera (planned; no release date)
Kiev 19M

Nikon F-mount