p.2 #1 · What's a fair price for a Nikkor 16/3.5 AI fisheye?
What would you guys think a non-AI is worth? He's willing to pay for the conversion but as I recall John saying, those fetch a lower price and are somewhat older, I guess.
He seems to have someone locally who can do it but Lord knows if he knows what he's doing. I checked with John White, as suggested, and he is still doing his conversions...that's all-in for about $50 including shipping. How much is a non-converted one woorth, do you imagine?
p.2 #2 · What's a fair price for a Nikkor 16/3.5 AI fisheye?
j.liam wrote:
What would you guys think a non-AI is worth? He's willing to pay for the conversion but as I recall John saying, those fetch a lower price and are somewhat older, I guess.
He seems to have someone locally who can do it but Lord knows if he knows what he's doing. I checked with John White, as suggested, and he is still doing his conversions...that's all-in for about $50 including shipping. How much is a non-converted one woorth, do you imagine?
I'd say an excellent condition non-converted one is $400 or so . . . for the minimal investment to have it professionally converted it is worth the price. Plus, if you happen to actually find a factory kit sometime down the road it's an easy thing to change after the fact.
Just make sure the optics are in excellent condition!
- John
EDIT - I would not have anyone do the AI conversion except for John White or perhaps this guy not too far away from me:
p.2 #5 · What's a fair price for a Nikkor 16/3.5 AI fisheye?
Yeah, 350-375 is my range. Don't know much about the Sigma but I recall its of the older, flimsier build. The 16/3.5 appealed to me because of its compact size and superior optics c/w the new 2.8 versions. May have to wait a while 'til I find one if this one falls through. What got me interested altogether was my friends Canon 8-15 FE zoom. Never even considered the genre until I saw and used that crazy thing on his 7D. Since then, I briefly fiddled with a 8/2.8, talking about a crazy lens you don't really need but damn, it would be fun to have every so often.
I think of what Roger Cicala said as commentary to the Canon zoom, "shots with fisheyes are like tequila, a few are fun. Too many makes you sick". Some truth to that. And why keeping it to a really small, portable and affordable package makes sense. The old Nikkors were build almost to military spec and I love that.
p.2 #6 · What's a fair price for a Nikkor 16/3.5 AI fisheye?
Getting the Sigma 15/2.8 purely for comparison to my 16/3.5 is on my list of things to do - if only I can find a used Sigma that is not optically compromised . . .
p.2 #7 · What's a fair price for a Nikkor 16/3.5 AI fisheye?
jhinkey wrote:
Getting the Sigma 15/2.8 purely for comparison to my 16/3.5 is on my list of things to do - if only I can find a used Sigma that is not optically compromised . . .
p.2 #8 · What's a fair price for a Nikkor 16/3.5 AI fisheye?
I've been looking for a 16mm f3.5 for over a year now. Last one I saw on ebay went well past my $370 bid. Right after that I just bought a Rokinon 14mm f2.8, which isn't the same thing, but for now gets my ultra-wide needs covered. I figure I can always distort it in Photoshop if I want to make things look real goofy
I'll keep looking, but it seems that this lens is just getting more and more expensive, now that FX bodies are becoming more and more common.
p.2 #9 · What's a fair price for a Nikkor 16/3.5 AI fisheye?
I too looked for about a year for a 16/3.5 before I finally snagged my initial copy (that I since had sold to Curtis).
At times I've seen two for sale at reasonable prices while long stretches go without one surfacing anywhere in the world. The first of the two that I currently have I found right here on FM after it seemed to languish on the B&S forum for a couple of weeks at a super reasonable price!
My second copy I found locally at the largest pro shop in town - the price was $550 (totally reasonable), but none of the supposed "experts" behind the counter knew anything about this lens and immediately dismissed it due to it's non-AF capabilities . . . .
Patience and the being at the right place/right time is often required . . .
p.2 #11 · What's a fair price for a Nikkor 16/3.5 AI fisheye?
raboof wrote:
Someone please buy a 3D printer and start printing these AI kits. I need them
Seriously - if the right thermoset/thermoplastic material could be used (it needs to be tough enough and dimensionally stable enough) AND the the replacement aperture ring appropriately copied it would be very cool.
In fact, if this process was cheap enough I'm sure there would be a not-insignificant market for making AI replacement rings for a variety of non-AI lenses. The key would be the material selection and the reverse engineering for each particular ring . . . not an insubstantial task.
I've toyed around with buying a 3D printer through my business, but have not pulled the trigger yet on such a fun thing.
p.2 #12 · What's a fair price for a Nikkor 16/3.5 AI fisheye?
Well, after some negotiation with the seller I got the lens, a pre-AI, and probably paid a little more than I should have (but I've spent more on less in the past). It was in pretty nice shape, cosmetic scuffs on the barrel and the focus ring has one very mildly stiff spot midway along the rotation. Glass is clean and it still has the original metal front cap.
I decided to ship it off to John White as he seems to be one of the better known names left in this niche conversion business.
Just a question to those who might know, because I've never used a non-factory AI'd lens before, will it function just like any AI/AIS (or kit AI conversion), in that the aperture remains wide-open when you stop down the aperture ring?
p.2 #13 · What's a fair price for a Nikkor 16/3.5 AI fisheye?
j.liam wrote:
Well, after some negotiation with the seller I got the lens, a pre-AI, and probably paid a little more than I should have (but I've spent more on less in the past). It was in pretty nice shape, cosmetic scuffs on the barrel and the focus ring has one very mildly stiff spot midway along the rotation. Glass is clean and it still has the original metal front cap.
I decided to ship it off to John White as he seems to be one of the better known names left in this niche conversion business.
Just a question to those who might know, because I've never used a non-factory AI'd lens before, will it function just like any AI/AIS (or kit AI conversion), in that the aperture remains wide-open when you stop down the aperture ring?...Show more →
p.2 #14 · What's a fair price for a Nikkor 16/3.5 AI fisheye?
Damn you, John Hinkey and your fisheye images!
So.....I get back the K-version newly converted to AI and start to learn what the hell to do with the lens (damn, these old lenses were made to endure the ages) and another one comes available, an older F-version (diamond-pattern of the focus ring), factory-AI'd and in stellar condition. Not a mark on the barrell, super clean glass. And a fair price to boot. I just....just.....couldn't let it slip away.....
p.2 #15 · What's a fair price for a Nikkor 16/3.5 AI fisheye?
j.liam wrote:
Damn you, John Hinkey and your fisheye images!
So.....I get back the K-version newly converted to AI and start to learn what the hell to do with the lens (damn, these old lenses were made to endure the ages) and another one comes available, an older F-version (diamond-pattern of the focus ring), factory-AI'd and in stellar condition. Not a mark on the barrell, super clean glass. And a fair price to boot. I just....just.....couldn't let it slip away.....
