Use of Nikon K series of extension tubes with modern equipment

I recently purchased the Nikon K1-K5 set. There was a discussion

about the Nikon K1-K5 extension tubes in <a

href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?

msg_id=00CaXA">this</a> previous thread which brought up a point I

was unaware of, namely that these K rings can damage AF equipment.

<p>

Can somebody give me more information or point me to it? I was

hoping to make good use of these rings and in fact have already used

the K1 with my D70 and 17-35mm AF-S. Everything seems to still work,

but will I do progressive damage if I continue to use this combo?

And does the damage occur to the camera or the lens or both?

<p>

Thanks,

The K1 Ring may chafe the AF contacts on your lens. If you

look at the K1 Ring you should see an area where the blacking is

marked by the AF contacts. This area needs to be milled or filed

out someway. I have not done this with my K1 Rings because I have

a number of AI and AIS Nikkors that I use with them. I have

several sets of K-Rings as I anticipate modifying at least one

and keeping one in original condition. I only own four AF lenses

and they arent good candidates for use with the K1 Ring.<br>

<br>

The K1 Ring is on the list of no-no(s) of the N80 and F100 but

fits the specific samples Ive tested. I used a small piece

of #20 or #24 copy paper to test for pressure between the K1 Ring

and the AF contacts and found none. The K1 Ring is good to go buy

the manuals for the F5 and D2H.<br>

<br>

The K2 Ring is on the list of no-no(s) for all of these bodies.

If fits OK but only locks in two of three positions on most

bodies. A little filing should make the K2 Ring lock in all three

positions. Perhaps an automotive points file would do the trick.

I have not had the incentive as yet to do this as I have a full

set of AI type PK tubes and some duplicates.<br>

<br>

The K1 Ring is unique in that its only 5.8mm, uniquely thin

among Nikon extension tubes. This make it useful with the 20/3.5,

24/2.8 and others. <br>

<br>

One of my first published photos was of an architectural model

where I shot from ground level. The architect was

thrilled as hed never seen this before. Models were

normally shot as aerial photos. I used a Vivitar 28/2.5 that I

owned for a few months. It didnt focus close enough so I

stopped down to f/16 for DOF. A K1 Ring would have been the

ticket but I was very green. The photo was more than sharp enough

for the size in publication.<br>

<br>

Sorry about rambling. I do this when Im really tired.<br>

<br>

Hope this helps,<br>

<br>

Dave Hartman.

Just to add briefly to what Dave has written -

The Manual for the F90X [or N90S (?) depending on your location] says that K2 rings "cannot be used with the Nikon F90X", and that "K1 rings cannot be mounted directly on AF Nikkor lenses". I take that to be an all-clear for using the K1 on the 90X body but with other rings between it and any AF lens.

The D100 manual simply lists both the K1 and K2 among the "Incompatible Accessories".

In response to my querying why the K1 would be OK on a 90X body but not on a D100, my retailer promptly removed the lens from his demo D100, inserted my complete K ring set with the K1 mounted on the body, replaced the lens and took some pictures with it.

But he did not attempt to use the K1 on its own.

Thanks, and no worries David about the rambling! I've been accused of the same, I always prefer too much detail over too little for technical things.

Sounds like I need to CAREFULLY attach these rings and watch for clearance issues, then consider taking a file to them...the possibilities seem too good to pass up.

<p>After the use of K rings on my D200, the camera get locked at f22 in A mode. i must unlock the lens to be able to adjust the f stop. i can do in S and P modes, but no at M.<br>

i. ve check the clearance, the contacts does not touch the ring......<br>

some idea about¿?<br>

thanks</p>

<p>B&H Used Dept advises against the use of the K tubes for Nikon digital cameras because, the man wrote, "the pins do not line up."<br /><br /> Nikon Support (USA) said in their first answer "Nikon no longer supports extension tubes" and after I nagged them a bit another support person said that the K set can be used on a D300 but that the K2 ring cannot be fitted to the camera body. The K1 ring (has both male and female bayonet ends; is only 5.8mm thick) can be used, as can the K3 (female; accepts lens). Without the K2 ring the utility of the set for contemporary cameras and lenses is diminished, but not horribly. <br /><br /> So I suspect the problems arise from using the K2 ring to attach to the camera body. If what Nikon Support says is true, the K1 ring is still the only way to achieve that minimum extension, great for short-focal-length lenses, and it and the other parts of the K set should be compatible with the more modern Nikon tubes.<br /><br /> Hope this helps someone else.<br /><br /> Rosemarie Arbur<br /><br /></p>

[in follow-up of last post:] I suspect problems

arise from Nikon no longer supporting extension

tubes.. Why they refused to introduce AF-

compatible rings in >20 years is annoying.

..obviously, I am a long-term fan of extension. I

have 2 sets of K-rings, one as spare. K1 for ultra-

short extension on short (AIS)lenses on D200/300.

K2 on BR2a reversal.

<p>Funny I was just using the K2 ring fooling around on my D300 (uh oh!) with my new Ai-S 28mm f/2.8 (I had one, sold it to get an f2, allegedly better, but missed the f2.8 and loved it more, sold the f2 and bought another f2.8 -- anyway) I'm so happy to be doing close ups on stuff on my desk I can't go to sleep. I love this lens.</p>

<p>K-2 Ring bothered my D300 not at all that I can tell. After taking a slew of these shots I put an AF lens back on and shot around the room and all was fine. If you look at the bottom, it has nothing that any lens or converter or ext tube would not have, indeed, it has slightly less. So I wonder what they think the problem is. Here are some K2-K3-K4 combo tube on AiS 28/2.8 macros.... a gazillion times life sized. One is an ocarina head on, and one is a bit of a rosary that sits amid some beach stones under my big monitor.....</p>

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<p>And here's the other. Btw, these are unprocessed raw files converted to tiny jpegs to load here but otherwise untreated, taken at H 1.0 which is I believe ISO 6400 on the D300; at f/11, 1/3 second resting on the desk. If you're curious. Pretty good sensor methinks. Not a D3s, but pretty good....</p>

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