About to have two lenses AI converted - advice?

<p>After agonizing about it for a couple of years, I've finally decided on getting a couple of my old Nikon lenses AI converted. I always hoped to find the actual Nikon conversion kits but that doesn't look like it's going to happen. I really wanted to keep these lenses pristine but I also really want to be able to use them on my D700.<br>

The two lenses are:<br>

<strong>Nikkor-S 55mm f/1.2</strong><br>

<strong>PC-Nikkor 35mm f/3.5</strong><br>

I'd love to have it done locally here in the Dallas area but I don't know of anybody that does them around here. Do any of you?<br>

So, I'm considering both John White (<a href="aiconversions.com" rel="nofollow">aiconversions.com</a>) and this microbee that advertises on eBay (search "ai conversions" on eBay).<br>

I'd appreciate any opinions/experiences with these two choices and any other recommendations. I'd also like to hear any specific advice/pitfalls to watch out for on doing these particular lenses.<br>

Thanks.</p>

 

<p>I have contacted both of these folks regarding AI conversion.<br>

In the end, I decided to go with my usual go-to repairman:</p>

<p>Clarence Gass in Mission KS.<br>

His address is 5604 Johnson Dr., Mission, KS 66202<br>

Tel: 913-432-6057 (Tuesdays - Fridays 9-4:30 Central time, Saturday 9-12)</p>

<p>He was formerly one of the authorized Konica repair centers in the Midwest, but I've sent him just about everything, and he manages to fix them (Agfa Super Isolette, Polaroids, Certo Dollinas, Rolleiflex TLR, Zeiss Super Ikontas, etc). I also picked up a very clean Nikon F from his collection.</p>

<p>Clearence will clean out the lens, relube the focusing helix, and take the aperture ring off to mill the AI slot. No secondary aperture scale is offered. I didn't go with the other two mainly because I thought that the taped on aperture scale that they offered looked cheap. Currently, he is converting to AI my 50 f/2 HC, and a 135 f/2.8 Nikkor Q. I would suggest that you call him up, and talk to him.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I have used John and been very happy with the quality of his work. I had him AI my 58mm f/1.4 and install an original AI conversion kit on my 50mm f/2.<br>

John contacted me to make sure I really wanted to convert the 58mm as it is kind of a collectors item. He also cut me a deal on the installation of the AI kit.<br>

I really can't say enough good things about the quality of his work and his personal integrity.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Does the PC-Nikkor need a conversion? To my knowledge, none of the PC Nikkors are aperture coupled. The later ones fit all bodies, but I'm not familiar with the early one you have, maybe it interferes with the aperture coupling...if that's the case, the the conversion probably looks a bit ugly.<br />You could ask around for repairmen that have conversion kits, but I really can't help with that. The conversion is fairly simple, but won't keep the pristine look. One option would be to get a spare aperture ring and convert that, if available, so you would have the original pristine one if you want to reinstall it later.</p>

<p>Old PC Nikkors do need slight conversion, because the ring that is in place of an aperture ring does protrude too far back. However, this is extremely easy to change, since there is no coupling to worry about. If you remove the mount, the ring comes off and you can file, sand, grind or machine an eighth of an inch or so off the back side of it and put it back. There is no need for the precise stepping used on other AI conversions, so if you are patient, really all you need for this is a flat table and some sandpaper. </p>

<p>I've done a couple of my own but would never dare to do anyone else's. For most lenses it's not hard, but it depends a little on whether there is an extra spring coupling the aperture ring to the mechanism. The 85/1.8 and 35/2.8 were dead easy, but the last generation of pre-AI 105/2.5 was tricky to get back together. <br>

Http//www.Vermontcamera.com will do the basic milling job on pre-AI lenses at a reasonable price, or did last I knew. I think they quoted me $20 on a lens I bought there. Worth checking, anyway if nothing else is closer. </p>

<p>I had John White convert four of the lenses I used on my FTn to AI for use on my F100. He did an outstanding job. All four lenses worked perfectly on my F100 and continued to work perfectly on the FTn.</p>

<p>Mr. White does a professional job. I recommend him highly.</p>

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<p><em>John contacted me to make sure I really wanted to convert the 58mm as it is kind of a collectors item.</em></p>

</blockquote>

<p>For sure he is a proffessional.<br /> ---<br /> Sadly, in years there will be loads of "converted" lenses on the market. Like devalued, broken toys.<br /> Please excuse me, no pun intended, for sure everybody is free of making whatever they like on their lenses, but I cannot understand this behaviour. <br /> I just love to use them on their cameras. Maybe I`m one of that nasty collectors, I`m afraid.</p>

<p>I would also recommend John White. He did four lenses for me, and I was completely satisfied with his work. None of mine were collectors' items, and of course they still work fine on the nifty old film bodies they were originally designed for.</p>

<p>"<em>Old PC Nikkors do need slight conversion, because the ring that is in place of an aperture ring does protrude too far back.</em>"</p>

<p>Funny but my early 35/2.8 PC has no clearance problems at all.</p>

<p>Is there any chance that Nikon can fit the optional flip-up Ai tab ring to the D700 that was used on the F5? Just asking.</p>

<p>It`s easier than this; just buy any full electronic model (from the D40 to the new 24Mp D5200), and use it in Manual mode.<br>

Not so fast for action work, but enough for that two hours entertainment. </p>

<p>I know John, as he's local. Excellent work, and a real knowledgeable person.</p>

<p>John did three of my lenses. Absolutely first class work, they're very nicely done. I recommend him. Fast turnaround, too.</p>

<p>Totally agree with Jose. Never a fan of anyone's Dremel job Ai conversions even if a real Nikon kit isn't available. Have even bought crappy/busted old factory-converted Nikkors just to get the ring that's never older than the lens and swapped them onto mine.<br /> AFS-only bodies do the trick, old or new.</p>

<p>The 35mm f/2.8 PC Nikkor is an easy DIY "conversion" that only needs a screwdriver, a file and some masking tape to complete. A factory made ring offers no real advantage since there's no aperture coupling. There were at least three versions of this lens, and the earliest single-coated version with bright chrome shift-knob and scalloped focus ring does appear to have more clearance than the later multi-coated satin-chrome knob and rubberised focus lens. However, even the early version will interfere with the plastic Ai tab of a D700 if not mounted carefully.</p>

<p>Brian, if you have an early single-coated 35mm PC Nikkor, I'd say think hard before throwing any money at it. The later multi-coated version is far more flare resistant and has much better contrast - important because you can't fit a tight cropping hood on a shift lens. I "upgraded" my old single-coated PC lens simply by buying a later version. A move that probably cost me less than paying for a conversion.</p>

<p>The 55mm f/1.2 Nikkor S © also isn't a brilliant lens definition wise. Although it does have a certain "look" at wider apertures. My scalloped barrel version was already Ai'd when I bought it, but sees very little use these days on digital. Again, I'm not sure I'd throw a lot of money at it if it needed to be converted.</p>

<p>Lenses were made to be used. To me there's nothing sadder than a piece of precision gear lying disused in a display case. Who do you think will care about those old bits of glass and brass in future? And more to the point, will you care after you're gone? Or will you simply regret not having taken more pictures?</p>