I've done that myself Rafael though this looks like a lens worth keeping itself. It looks awfully clean. In the past I've swapped aperture rings on two 105 f/2.5 P lenses... or I should say I had a technician do it. I wasn't brave enough. I know you've been wandering around these lenses long enough with enough space at your lovely home that you doubtless have a work area with tools for doing this.
Today, after my rambling post about the 28 f/2 N.C. I visited E-Bay to see if I could find an N or N.C. in rough condition with an aperture ring I could harvest, but then decided I didn't want to spend $150 to upgrade a lens I bought for $208 just to save the need to turn the aperture on the camera body. But I understand the urge to do what you're prepared to do. Good luck with it.
Out of curiosity I just checked my 105 f/2.5 P.C. AI and the serial number is 516821. It is a beautiful lens but I'm smitten with the earlier optical design. This lens does have curved aperture blades but otherwise the optical design is the same as the AI-s. No doubt this is a fun game to be playing, however we do it...
Checking photosynthesis I see the lens you bought is a P... not a P.C. Now I understand.
Curtis, I paid $70 for the perfect 105 2.5 P with box and shade and $90 for the a little less perfect 105 P with the ai ring, I have learned to use a little solvent and JIS screwdrivers to avoid ruining lenses. When I finish converting the better lens, the other one will be sold quick for $60 or kept, or gifted to a friend to hook him into old manual lens photography. Entertaining.
rafaelcasd wrote:
Curtis, I paid $70 for the perfect 105 2.5 P with box and shade and $90 for the a little less perfect 105 P with the ai ring, I have learned to use a little solvent and JIS screwdrivers to avoid ruining lenses. When I finish converting the better lens, the other one will be sold quick for $60 or kept, or gifted to a friend to hook him into old manual lens photography. Entertaining.
Rafael - You paid $70??! $90 I haven't seen those sort of prices for 20 years. And you don't even want to keep it? You're just rubbing salt in the wound now.
CGrindahl wrote:
I enjoyed seeing those as well. I paid a premium for that lens shortly after I'd dumped the last five Canon lenses and it is an exquisite lens. The photos taken by the seller were absolutely spot on.
I love the lens but it is a monster. I believe when I did my comparison shot some time later, I was making the case for the 135 f/2.8 Q.C. AI both because it was such a fine performer, but also because it was lighter without losing enough size as to be comfortable handling.
And that was BEFORE I bought the Df and the 135 f/3.5 Q AI. I've made my own version of the choice you made Leighton... opting for a lighter kit. Both the Df and the slower pre-AI lenses offer relief for an aging shoulder. But I'll likely be motivated by what Rafael offers to take the f/2 for a spin. It doesn't have the stellar reputation as some other lenses but I was always happy with what it gave me.
Nice to read your fancy is a bit tickled by George's new Df. I certainly love mine.
Interesting tidbit: as I was setting up the camera on the tripod, a utility truck was driving by (there was some work going on the other side of these buildings), and the woman driving it asked (from a socially acceptable distance) if it was a large format camera.
Reading about the lens collection, acquisition, detailed comparisons, and parts swap adventures these past couple of pages reminds me of how my MFNAS is very much amateurish :-)
Nice shots Phong. What lens/s are you using? Looks long and very sharp wide open. The focal points in the second & third shots are popping off the screen
Much easier to focus this one, just set the Plaubel Makina on or close to infinity. With Ektachrome E100 slide film, developed using Arista Rapid E6 kit.
I'll mention this to Phong and to others relatively new to this thread... please mention the lens you're using for your photos. Since this thread exists only because of our shared interest in lenses, the matter of how they perform in different situations is essential to the conversation we're sharing. Since we've agreed to entertain photographers who mount these lenses on other cameras it is also useful to know that. We're all learning about these lenses and the information shared here has OFTEN led to lens purchases...
I checked in Flickr and noted the photos Phong shares above were taken with the 300 f/4.5, though which version isn't noted. My guess would be the AI-s ED-IF which is an outstanding lens. I've heard folks say the ED without internal focus is sharper but I've only shot with the IF. I LOVE that lens for shooting flowers, with and without extension tubes.
I haven't seen those sort of prices for 20 years. And you don't even want to keep it? You're just rubbing salt in the wound now.
Keep on posting those lotus scenes!
