Nikon lens database

[kari_karhu1]

<p>What has happened to http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/? Haven't been able to access lately?<br>

Kari<br>

p.s. Have been away from here for a while. So, excuse me if this issue has already been answered. Didn't find, though, using the search facility.</p>

[jwittenberg]

<p>I just followed the link you provided and connected w/o trouble...<br>

although all of the links under "Nikon lens information:" (which are links to other photosynthesis pages) return 404 errors, but a sampling of the other links (which are external links) worked fine.</p>

<p>/joel</p>

 

[scott_ditzel1]

<p>Maybe the site is getting updated?</p>

[craigd]

<p>The files are still there. From the page Kari linked to, if you click on (for example) "serial numbers", it sends you to this:</p>

<p>http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/nikon/serialno.html</p>

<p>which doesn't work, you get a 404 error. However, I have a bookmark directly to the serial numbers page, which still works, and it is this:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html">http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html</a></p>

<p>Notice that the bad link has an extra "nikon/" in it.</p>

<p>The funny thing is that if you just take out the "nikon/" in Kari's link, and go instead to just</p>

<p>http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz</p>

<p>you get the same page as Kari's link, but everything works. So for some reason Roland's site accepts the "nikon/" address, but then gets its internal links all confused.</p>

[kari_karhu1]

<p>Thanks!<br>

Joel, we probably connect through different routes.<br>

Scott, my first thought, too, but several days?<br>

Craig, this works! Have to update all related bookmarks.<br>

btw<br>

Roland's database is more accurate than Nikon's. Tried to register an 85 mm PC Nikkor at the NPU site of Nikon Nordic which told that there is a conflict between the type and serial number of my lens. The help desk, of course, insisted that I've made a mistake in filling up the form. Finally, I told them that I'll send my lens for surgery: just want a legitimate serial number carved on it. Next day, they replied with apologies and it appeared that they have checked - Roland's database.</p>

[craigd]

<p>Roland's database is amazing. I've spent a LOT of time there when I was shopping for old Nikon lenses. The level of detail he gets into is incredible, and I have yet to find a mistake in his information.</p>

<p>The other essential site, not nearly as complete but in some ways even more detailed when it comes to the little changes Nikon made in its parts over time, is Richard de Stoutz's Nikon F Typology:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.destoutz.ch/nikon-f.html">http://www.destoutz.ch/nikon-f.html</a></p>

[alan_bessler]

<p>No proplem here.</p>

[Kent Shafer]

<p>I am proud to have a picture of one of my very own lenses on Roland's terrific site: a <a href="http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/k600ed.jpg">600mm f/5.6 ED with AU1 focusing unit</a>.</p>

[johnw63]

<p>Holy Moly, Kent. That's a bazooka.</p>

<p> </p>

[bjørn rørslett]

<p>You should see some of the bigger lens heads on that AU-1 :)</p>

<p>Roland has recently moved his site onto a more powerful server. The glitches reported earlier arose from that move and should now have been sorted out.</p>

[andy_e.]

<blockquote>

<p>You should see some of the bigger lens heads on that AU-1 :)</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Here we go, I posted some photos of these lenses (and an AiS 180-600mm/8) in a thread at fredmiranda.com: (look for post #10)<br>

<a href="http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/963068/0">http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/963068/0</a><br>

The AiS 180-600mm/8 story is also on my site:<br>

<a href="https://nikonandye.wordpress.com/lenses/nikkor-ai-s-180-600mm8-ed/">http://nikonandye.wordpress.com/lenses/nikkor-ai-s-180-600mm8-ed/</a></p>

<p>regards, Andy</p>

<p> </p>

[Kent Shafer]

<p>Interesting Andy, thanks. I keep my eyes open for an 800 or 1200 head but haven't found one yet. (Would have to be the ED version.) The 600 ED is surprisingly good for its age, and I know Bjorn likes the 800 ED.</p>

[andy_e.]

<p>Kent,<br>

I do have the multicoated versions of the 400mm, 600mm and 800mm. Unfortunately, I don't have the 600mm and 800mm ED versions. My 1200mm just happens to be the very first ED lens head Nikon produced.<br>

BTW,<br>

Roland just fixed the links - the website is now fully operational.<br>

Andy</p>

<p> </p>

[conrad_smith]

<p>Andy --<br>

I may have the last 1200mm ED that Nikon ever produced -- Roland extended his list of serial numbers after I sent him a photo of mine (150080). Bought it as-is from KEH, then had Essex Camera realign the elements. It's now as sharp as my 500/4 P when I mount it on on a very sturdy tripod and heavy-duty fluid head. It's sharp even at the edges on a 6x6 Bronica frame, which the lens also covers (with very slight corner vignetting at infinity). Like you, I'm looking for the 600 ED and 800 ED -- the only example of either I've found, in the Philippines, costs way more than I'm willing to pay -- more than $6,000.</p>