The strength of Nikon's products was and still is versatility. Nearly everything will fit or can be connected; even if there is a great difference in age. The latest flash (aka speedlight) may fit the earliest camera, the earliest lens may fit the latest camera. If it is not possible to place/fit an lens and/or accessory direct to an other product Nikon supplied an adapter. Through the years the number and diversity of adapters has grown enormously. As early adapters didn't have a product code, and because nobody knows what has been produced it is impossible to name all adapters.
AS-adapters are used to connect flash units to a camera, BR-adapters are used to place a lens in reverse on a SLR camera and UR-adapters are used to place a wide-angle (WC) or tele-converters (TC) on digital compact cameras (Coolpix-series).
AS adapters.
These adapters are made to place a flash unit on a camera. As not all early rangefinder and SLR cameras as well as many (film or digital) compact cameras do not have an accessory and/or flash (hot) shoe, adapters (some with an additional cable) have to be used. Early flash shoe adapters do not have a product code.
AS-1 = to place flashes with ISO-shoe on Nikon F and Nikon F2
AS-2 = to use older flash units on ISO shoe on any camera
AS-3 = to use a SB-7 on Nikon F3
AS4 = to use an ISO shoe flash unit on a Nikon F3
AS-5 = to use a SB-12, SB-16A or SB-17 on a Nikon F or Nikon F2
AS-6 = to use a SB-16A, SB-17 and SB-21A (for Nikon F3) on any SLR with ISO flash hot shoe
AS-7 = to be used on any Nikon F3, where it can be fastened by screwing the front screw into the flash connector. It has a ISO hot shoe. Using this flash connector will keep the rewind knob free.
AS-8 = to connect a SB-16A to a Nikon F3
AS-9 = to connect a SB-16B to any ISO hot shoe
AS-10 = to connect one camera via SC-18 or SC-19 cable with up to three flash units for simultaneous flash; can be mounted on a tripod.
AS-11 = to use a Nikon F3 flash on a tripod
AS-12 = external power pack for Nikon F3 flash units (SB-21A); takes 4 AA batteries.
AS-13 this code is not used, maybe superstitious salesmen?
AS-14 = external power pack for SB-21B.
AS-15 = for use with Nikon cameras with standard ISO shoes that do not have a sync terminal.
AS-16 = replacement hot-shoe attachment for SK-6 Power Bracket.
AS-17 = adapts ISO type TTL speedlights to the F3 and provides TTL operation.
AS-18 = TTL adapter for Coolpix 950/990/995
AS-19 = flash stand
AS-20 = flash stand for SB-R200
AS-21 = flash stand for SB-900
These adapters are in fact rings to use a lens in reverse position for macro-photography on a camera. Most lenses with a 52 mm or 62 mm. filter thread can be used in reverse on any SLR camera. It is also possible to use enlarging and/or CRT lenses - with 39mm. thread - on a SLR.
BR1 = to use the head of the 4/135mm. lens on a bellows
BR2 = to use a MF lens with 52 mm filter thread in reverse on a SLR camera
BR2A = to use an AF lens with 52 mm filter thread in reverse on a SLR camera
BR3 = to place filters and/or hoods on the bayonet of a lens in reverse position
BR4 = a macro ring for MF-lenses on a bellows (4 or 5). To close the aperture of the lens an AR-4 release cable can be fitted
BR5 = step down ring to make use of MF-lenses with a 62mm filter thread on a BR-2.
BR6 = semi-automatic macro ring in combination with a BR-2A. Release cables AR-4, AR-7 and AR-10 may fit.
BR-15 = to use an enlarging or CRT lens with 39 mm. (Leica) thread mount on a SLR camera.
BR-16 = to use enlarging lenses and RMS microscope lenses with larger thread mount (to the BR-15) on a SLR camera.
This page is still under construction. More details will follow asap.