Exit Pupil Distance
The position of the exit pupil has a big effect on how well a legacy lens will perform when used with a digital sensor instead of film. This article on the Lensrentals blog has a good explanation of the effect, and also contains a table with the exit pupil distance for many lenses.
To expand that table, I recently started to measure the exit pupil position of lenses I had access to. My measurements are not that precise, so the numbers might differ from those in the Lensrentals article by up to 1-2mm. In cases where it was particularly hard to measure, the number is prefixed by a tilde. For focus-by-wire lenses I can only hope that the lens stayed at infinity. The numbers for such lenses are prefixed with ☇. Entries in italics are from the Lensrentals article.
With CPU lenses, Nikon cameras record the exit pupil position in the EXIF data. I have listed values obtained this way in the third column. Here is a table with values obtained from EXIF data.
The value in this table is the exit pupil position at infinity. Classic lenses focused by extension have larger values for near subjects, but lenses with internal focusing often reduce their focal length for closer subjects and might have a lower value than at infinity.
Nikon F primes · Nikon F zooms · Nikon F 3rd party · Nikon rangefinder · Nikon Z · Sony E · Medium format · Others
Lens | Exit pupil distance (mm) | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Nikon F-Mount Primes | ||
Nikkor 3.5/18 AI-S | 58.0 | |
Nikkor 4/20 | 47.3 | |
Nikkor 2.8/20 AF-D | 53.0 | EXIF: 55.4 |
Nikkor-O 1:4 f=2.1cm | 19.0 | Requires mirror lock-up and F, F2, or Nikkormat |
Nikkor 2.8/24 AI-S | 60.5 | |
Nikkor 2/24 AI | 68.6 | |
PC-Nikkor 4/28 | 62.3 | |
Nikkor 3.5/28 AI | 57.0 | |
PC-Nikkor 3.5/28 | 63.0 | |
Nikkor 2.8/28 AI-S | 55.0 | |
Nikon Series E 2.8/28 | 56.8 | |
Nikkor 2/28 AI-S | 61.5 | |
Nikkor-S Auto 2.8/35 | 50.5 | later 7/6 version |
Nikon Series E 2.5/35 | 57.5 | |
Nikkor 2/35 AI | 58.5 | |
Nikkor 1.4/35 AI-S | 79.3 | |
GN Auto Nikkor·C 1:2.8 f=45mm | 44.4 | |
Nikkor 45mm 1:2.8 P | 52.0 | EXIF: 55.4 |
Nikkor-S 1:2 f=5cm | 51.5 | |
Nikkor K 2/50 | 59.5 | |
Nikkor 1.8/50 AI, AI-S, AF | 55.0 | EXIF: 55.4 |
AF-S Nikkor 1.8/50 G | 63.8 | EXIF: 66.1 |
Nikkor K 1.4/50 | 85.5 | 7 elements in 5 groups version |
Nikkor 1.4/50 AI-S | 71.6 | |
Nikkor 1.2/50 AI-S | 103.4 | |
Micro-Nikkor 2.8/55 AI-S | 58.0 | |
Nikkor 1.2/55 AI | 91.8 | |
Nikkor-S 1:1.4 f=5.8cm | 71.5 | |
Nikkor AF-S 1.4/58 G | 68.5 | EXIF: 73.1 |
Nikkor 1.2/58 Noct | 83.0 | |
AF-Nikkor 2.8/80 | 96.0 | |
Nikkor 2/85 AI | 69.5 | |
Nikkor K 1.8/85 | 67.5 | |
Nikkor 1.4/85 AI-S | 67.2 | |
AF Nikkor 85mm 1:1.4 D | 54.5 | EXIF: 58.5 |
Nikon Series E 2.8/100 | 68.5 | |
Nikkor-T 1:4 f=10.5cm | 112.5 | |
Micro-Nikkor 4/105 | 109.5 | |
Micro-Nikkor 2.8/105 AI-S | 79.5 | |
Nikkor 2.5/105 AI, AI-S | 90.0 | |
AF DC-Nikkor 2/105 | 131.0 | EXIF: 136.5 ∞, 97.5 close |
Nikkor 1.8/105 AI-S | 82.5 | |
Nikkor 3.5/135 AI | 92.5 | |
Nikkor-Q 1:2.8 f=135mm | 90.5 | |
Nikon Series E 135mm 1:2.8 | 81.0 | |
Nikkor 135mm 1:2.8 AI-S | 81.7 | |
Nikkor 135mm 1:2 AI | 71.8 | |
Nikkor-P 1:2.8 f=180mm | 110.5 | |
Nikkor ED 2.8/180 AI-S | 75.5 | |
AF Micro Nikkor ED 4/200 | 159.5 | EXIF: 157.5 ∞, 128 close |
AF-Nikkor ED 3.5/200 | 107.0 | |
Nikkor ED 5.6/400 | 135.5 | |
Nikon F-Mount Zooms | ||
Zoom-Nikkor 4/25-50 @ 25mm | 50.0 | |
Zoom-Nikkor 4/25-50 @ 50mm | 69.5 | |
Zoom-Nikkor 4-5.6/35-80 AF-D New @ 35mm | 64.0 | EXIF: 66.1 |
Zoom-Nikkor 4-5.6/35-80 AF-D New @ 80mm | 95.5 | EXIF: 97.5 |
Zoom-Nikkor 3.5/50-135 | 93.0 | |
Zoom-Nikkor ED 4.5/50-300 | 108.5 | |
Nikon Series E 3.5/75-150 | 96.0 | |
Third-party lenses for Nikon F-Mount | ||
Voigtländer 20mm F3.5 SL II | 50.7 | EXIF: 52.5 |
Zeiss Distagon T* 2/25 ZF.2 | 74.5 | EXIF: 62.1 |
Yongnuo 40mm F2.8 N | 53.1 | EXIF broken |
Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 2/50 ZF.2 | 57.5 | EXIF: 53.9 |
Sigma 2.8/70 Macro | 82.5 | EXIF: 89.0 |
Voigtländer Color-Heliar 2.5/75 SL | 60.0 | |
Zhongyi Creator 2/85 | 87.0 | |
Voigtländer APO-Lanthar 3.5/90 SL II | 72.5 | EXIF: 73.1 |
Voigtländer APO-Skopar 2.8/90 SL IIs | 54.2 | EXIF: 66.1 |
Youngnuo YN100mm F2N | 104.5 | EXIF: 75.9 |
Sigma EX DG Macro HSM OS 2.8/105 | 116.8 | EXIF: 136.5 ∞, 120.5 close |
Voigtländer Macro APO-Lanthar 2.5/125 SL | 70.5 | |
Zeiss Apo Sonnar T* 2/135 ZF.2 | 83.5 | EXIF: 68.3 |
Sigma AF APO Macro 5.6/180 | 76.5 | EXIF: 85.3 |
Nikon Rangefinder | ||
Nikkor-O 1:4 f=2.1cm | 19.0 | |
W-Nikkor 1:4 f=2.5cm | 25.4 | |
W-Nikkor 1:3.5 f=2.8cm | 29.4 | |
W-Nikkor 1:3.5 f=3.5cm | 35.1 | |
W-Nikkor 1:2.5 f=3.5cm | 35.3 | |
W-Nikkor 1:1.8 f=3.5cm | 37.9 | |
Nikkor-Q 1:3.5 f=5cm | 48.5 | |
Nikkor-H 1:2 f=5cm | 37.5 | |
Nikkor-S 1:1.4 f=5cm | 35.0 | |
Nikkor-N 1:1.1 f=5cm | 56.0 | |
Nikkor-P 1:2 f=8.5cm | 50.4 | |
Nikkor-S 1:1.5 f=8.5cm | 55.3 | |
Nikkor-T 1:4 f=10.5cm | 112.5 | |
Nikkor-P 1:2.5 f=10.5cm | 63.4 | |
Nikkor-Q 1:3.5 f=13.5cm | 90.2 | |
Bellows Nikkor-Q 1:4 f=13.5cm | 140.5 | |
Nikkor-H 1:2.5 f=18cm | 125.5 | |
Nikon Z | ||
Z-Nikkor 2.8/26 | ☇ 36.2 | |
Z-Nikkor 2.8/28 | ☇ 46.0 | |
Z-Nikkor 1.8/35 S | ☇ 48.5 | |
Z-Nikkor 2/40 | ☇ 42.0 | |
Z-Nikkor 1.8/50 S | ☇ 49.5 | |
Voigtländer Macro APO-Lanthar 65mm F2 | 40.0 | EXIF: 43.6 |
Z-Nikkor 1.8/85 S | ☇ 49.0 | |
Z-Nikkor MC 2.8/105 S | ☇ 70.5 | |
Medium format | ||
Nikkor-D 1:4 f=40mm | 88.8 | Zenza Bronica |
Nikkor-O 1:2.8 f=50mm | 96.0 | Zenza Bronica |
Nikkor-P 1:2.8 f=75mm | 74.0 | Zenza Bronica |
Nikkor-H 1:2.8 f=75mm | 88.0 | Zenza Bronica |
Nikkor-Q 1:3.5 f=105mm | 95.0 | Zenza Bronica |
Nikkor-Q 1:3.5 f=135mm | 135.0 | Zenza Bronica |
Zenzanon 1:3.5 f=150mm | 128.0 | Longer non-"MC" version |
Nikkor-P 1:5.6 f=300mm | 170.0 | Zenza Bronica |
Sony E | ||
Voigtländer Ultra Wide-Heliar 5.6/12 Aspherical III | ~ 56.0 | |
Voigtländer Macro APO-Lanthar 2/65 | 39.0 | Should be identical to the Z-mount version within measuring tolerance |
Zeiss Loxia 2.4/85 | 55.0 | |
Others | ||
A.Schacht Ulm Travegon 1:3.5/35 R | 40.8 | |
Konica Hexanon AR 1.8/40 | 50.0 | |
ISCO-Göttingen Iscotar 1:2.8/50 | 48.4 | Triplet with front lens focusing |
ISCO-Göttingen Westagon 1:1.9/50 | 53.5 | |
Minolta MC Rokkor-PG 1:1.4 f=50mm | 76.5 | |
Minolta MD Rokkor 1:1.4 f=50mm | 63.5 | |
Olympus OM G.Zuiko Auto-S 1:1.4 f=50mm | 66.0 | |
Pentax 50mm f/1.4 Super Takumar | 70.5 | |
Konica Hexanon AR 1.8/52 | 57.0 | |
Nikon EL-Nikkor 1:3.5 f=63mm | ~ 61.5 | |
Minolta MD Rokkor 85mm 1:2 | 65.5 | |
A.Schacht Ulm Edixa-Mat-Travenar 1:2.8/90 | 59.5 | |
Asahi Takumar 1:2.8/120 | 71.6 | |
ISCO-Göttingen Tele-Westanar 1:3.5/135 | 51.2 | |
Konica Hexanon AR 3.2/135 | 90.5 |