Preowned Nippon Kogaku NIKKOR-H Auto 28mm f/3.5 Pre-AI Lens, Good Condition

A classic all-metal wide-angle prime for Nikon F-mount cameras, offering a naturally expansive perspective for landscapes, architecture, travel, street photography, and environmental images.

The NIKKOR-H Auto 28mm f/3.5 was one of Nikon’s important early wide-angle SLR lenses. The original 2.8cm version debuted in 1960 and used a retrofocus design developed to provide the mirror clearance required by the Nikon F while maintaining strong sharpness and well-controlled distortion. Nikon credits this lens with helping establish the SLR as a practical, multipurpose camera system rather than one reserved primarily for telephoto and close-up work.

Its 28mm field of view is wide enough to bring a strong sense of space into the frame without the more dramatic exaggeration associated with ultra-wide lenses. The fully manual focus design, substantial metal construction, scalloped control rings, and engraved markings give it the tactile feel associated with early Nippon Kogaku optics.

This is an original pre-AI Nikon F-mount lens. Compatibility varies among Nikon film and digital cameras, so please confirm that your camera supports non-AI lenses before mounting it.

Condition

This NIKKOR-H Auto 28mm f/3.5 lens is in Good condition, with visible wear consistent with its age and normal use.

The exterior shows scattered scratches, scuffs, rub marks, and areas of finish wear, particularly around the focusing ring, aperture ring, filter rim, and other frequently handled surfaces. The engraved focal-length, distance, and aperture markings remain clear and legible.

The glass appears generally clear in the photographs, with some visible dust or small specks. No obvious major scratches or significant coating damage are apparent in the images. The included filter also shows signs of use.

Please review all photographs closely, as they show the actual lens being offered and form an important part of the condition description.

The Looking Glass Take

This is a genuine piece of Nikon history, but it remains more than a collectible. The 28mm focal length is useful, approachable, and easy to incorporate into an everyday film kit. It is wide enough for architecture, interiors, landscapes, and environmental storytelling, yet restrained enough to avoid making every photograph feel overtly distorted.

Nikon specifically noted the lens’s strong detail, crisp contrast, low coma, and well-controlled distortion, characteristics that helped build the early reputation of NIKKOR wide-angle optics. Its closest focusing distance is approximately 0.6 meter, so it is best suited to broader compositions rather than close-up wide-angle work.

This example shows honest cosmetic wear and is best suited to a photographer who appreciates the construction and character of early NIKKOR lenses and intends to put it back to work.

Highlights

• Classic NIKKOR-H Auto wide-angle prime
• 28mm focal length
• Maximum aperture of f/3.5
• Aperture range from f/3.5 to f/16
• Manual focus
• Pre-AI Nikon F mount
• Approximately 0.6-meter minimum focusing distance
• Scalloped metal control rings
• Engraved distance and aperture markings
• Nippon Kogaku Japan construction
  

What’s Included

• Nippon Kogaku NIKKOR-H Auto 28mm f/3.5 lens
• Front lens cap
• Rear lens cap
• Lens filter

Camera body and other accessories are not included unless specifically stated elsewhere in the listing.

Looking Glass 30-Day Guarantee

This preowned Nikon lens is backed by the Looking Glass 30-Day Guarantee, giving you additional confidence when purchasing used photographic equipment.