Nikkorex

Nikkorex F with NIKKOR-S Auto 1:2 f=5cm lens

The Nikon Nikkorex series were low-cost, fixed-lens, 35 mm film, single-lens reflex cameras produced by the Japanese optical manufacturer Nippon Kogaku K.K. (now Nikon Corporation). They were designed and marketed as low-cost, feature-reduced versions of Nikon's flagship F SLR. Whereas the F was aimed at professionals and serious amateurs, the Nikkorex series were designed to bring the advantages of through-the-lens viewing to consumers who were not interested in the flexibility (and cost) of the F system.

Models

Nikkorex 35

The Nikkorex 35 was the first model of the Nikkorex series, produced in 1960. Several key differences between the F model and the Nikkorex model helped keep the price low: the Nikkorex incorporated a selenium-cell meter mounted behind a honeycomb lens on the front of the camera rather than through-the-lens metering (as in the Nikon Photomic prism) and used a leaf shutter rather than the more expensive focal-plane shutter found in the Nikon F and similar higher-end SLRs. The Citizen MVL shutter had speeds from 1 second to 1/500th second that were set by a ring on the lens, rather than by the more conventional method of a dial on the top of the body of the camera. The ISO (film speed) was also set by a nontraditional lens ring. The lens itself was a fixed four-element Nikkor-Q 50mm f/2.5, the limited nature of which was somewhat supplemented by two screw-on accessory lenses, a 35mm wide-angle and a 90mm telephoto, both f/5.6.

Nikkorex 35 II

The Nikkorex 35 II was a 1962 revision to the Nikkorex which addressed the unreliability of certain elements of the original design. The Citizen shutter was replaced with a more reliable Seikosha SLV shutter assembly, and the corners of the body were rounded to give a more comfortable grip. The name "NIKKOREX" was also printed on the front of the meter lens.

Nikkorex F

Was an F-mount, removable lens Nikkorex, although its body was completely different from any other Nikkorex.

Nikkorex ZOOM 35

The Nikkorex Zoom 35 was a variation on the Nikkorex 35 II. Released in 1963, the Zoom 35 shares the Nikkorex 35 II's distinctive nameplate mounted to a black selenium cell meter. Instead of a 50mm lens, the Nikkorex Zoom 35 has a fixed 43-86mm f/3.5 lens that is a predecessor to the Nikkor F-mount 43-86mm lens released later in 1963. Like the earlier fix-lens Nikkorex models, virtually all control of the camera was done using rings on the lens. Shutter speed, aperture, film ASA (ISO) number, zoom and focus each had a control ring on the lens, while only the shutter release and film wind were on the camera body.

Nikkorex Auto 35

The Nikkorex Auto 35 was a new design replacing the Nikkorex 35 II. The camera body was redesigned with curved surfaces, the shutter release button on the front on the body rather than the top and the film advance on the back of the camera. New features included a 48mm f/2.0 Nikkor lens, a new instant return mirror design, improved pentaprism viewfinder and a shutter priority auto-exposure mode.

References

• "Nikon camera models SLR 1959–1965" at Photography in Malaysia
• "Review of the mid-1960's Nikkorex 35/II " at furnfeather.net.