FWIW and in case anyone is interested, for that lens comparison I posted pics resized to 1400 pixels long side. When the FM website displays them on my screen they show up a bit smaller and much of the detail is lost. I have no idea what your screens do. So if you want to see the original jpgs here they are. They tend to be about 16 Mbytes each. The differences between lenses are much more pronounced.
Way way back, Curtis was the one who would constantly be dangling new lenses in front of us, igniting NAS almost on a daily basis, enough so that when I was out one night, I grabbed a shot of this guy just sitting there...
He always included links, always successful at getting one of us to take the bait, hook line and sinker.
grantgoodes wrote:
My apologies: I actually thought it was traditional here NOT to appear to be shilling for eBay. Hopefully it was someone here who grabbed it! My offer stands: Anyone wanting a perfectly functional Model II Bellows (in original box) can PM me. I'm in Canada, so shipping will alas not be as cheap as what is commonly available in the US. If you're in Ottawa area, you're welcome to pick it up.
NightOwl Cat wrote:
Way way back, Curtis was the one who would constantly be dangling new lenses in front of us, igniting NAS almost on a daily basis, enough so that when I was out one night, I grabbed a shot of this guy just sitting there...
He always included links, always successful at getting one of us to take the bait, hook line and sinker.
Thanks for the insights into how this thread functions, and in future I will make sure to include links. I actually wasn't trying to "ignite NAS" so much as comment on the way that when you are looking for something relatively rare (in this case, the Bellows-Nikkor 105/4 that I had been casually seeking for over 30 years), it suddenly seems to start turning up everywhere. I'm happy with the copy I got (I prefer the more modern look of the 92xxxxx serial-number range, with the lens data on the outside), but that 91xxxxx copy with the original packing sure was pretty (and someone got a great deal!). I was actually able to obtain an original box and plastic-bubble for my Bellows-Nikkor for $20, so now it sits on my shelf in near NIB splendour.
I will say that this thread was partly the inspiration for me to resurrect my "first love" of the 105/2.5, which I had foolishly sold long ago to finance the purchase of a Micro-Nikkor 105/2.8. Due to this thread, and the MANY lovely images take with 105's, I've reacquired an AiS copy, and even picked up the original Sonnar version, a 100/2.8 Series-E, and now the Bellows version. I really do appreciate the appreciation of old glass that all you folk demonstrate!
NightOwl Cat wrote:
Wait for the introduction to tubes... and reversing rings
The prices for used Nikon tubes are a bit high these days for some reason (though numerous after-market sets abound for MUCH less, and some even include AF-support), but you can get a K-ring set for very little money which gives you quite a lot of different combinations of extension, and even allows you to play with compound lens macro (mounting one lens in front of another). And agreed, a BR-2A (or cheaper BR-2 if not on an AF body) is also a lot of bang-for-buck. I have managed to acquire almost all the Nikon tubes and rings for my OCD collection of Nikonia (only missing the BR-1 and BR-5, neither of which I could use), but by being patient managed to avoid paying very much for any of them.
Honestly, I prefer to use my PB-4 rather than just about any of the tubes or rings, even though it is quite bulky: In addition to great results, it just looks so bad-ass!
jimmuller wrote:
And an MG Service Center? Haven't seen one of those octagon signs in decades!
MG is on the up these days after being bought by a Chinese state-owned company. I'm seeing a lot of them locally after having disappeared in the mid-2000s. They have only been back for two years. They have expanded a little bit down market but the cars are generally cute.
I was finally able to quickly try out the Bellows-Nikkor with the PB-4, and as I had always suspected, it's of very limited use at infinity: The bellows is almost entirely collapsed (maybe 2-3mm of extension), so NO movements are possible. Even at closer distances where movements are possible, the image circle is pretty limited, and it easily vignettes if you go too far.
Back when I got the PB-4 I had already estimated that I would need more than 105mm to get any movements at infinity, and would need a larger image circle, so that's why I looked for 135mm medium-format lenses. It turns out the Nikkor 120/5.6 AM-ED is actually perfect for playing with the PB-4, as it allows for (almost) full movements at infinity (though it is of course not optimized for that range), and has a super-large image circle (designed for 4x5).
I will still check out the results of the Bellows-Nikkor (within its limits): It is a very nice piece of kit, and a small piece of Nikkor history.
