saph wrote:
Last week I posed a mystery about a very rare Nikkor lens (the lens itself is not rare at all, and neither is the camera for which it was produced, but the combination is very rare). George did come close in solving the riddle, but not quite.
Throughout the 1950s, about 800+ Nippon Kogaku 13.5cm f3.5 QC lenses were produced for the Exakta mount. For some reason, Nikon only made Exakta-mount lenses in the 13.5cm focal length, and in very limited quantities. What is interesting is that this is the Nikkor RF 13.5cm lens, while the Exaktas were very much SLRs. The lens itself was shortened to fit the Exakta with its flapping mirror, so this version of the 13.5cm is shorter than the S-mount, Contax mount and the Leica thread mount 13.5 Nikkors.
Here's the combo, the very rare Exakta Nikkor mounted happily on an Exakta Varex. The system is getting some rest after some heavy duty use for "street" work earlier today. I just love the waist-level finder on the Exaktas. When the subject is in focus, it really stands out in the frame. Of course how well the film roll actually works we shall find out, in a week or so. Exaktas were pretty common once upon a time, so there's still plenty of these quirky cameras around, only challenge is to find one that mostly works.
Maybe send a PM to Fred about that. IIRR, the file size used to be about 700kb when I first joined.
Max Power wrote:
I don’t disagree with any of this. I just wish that in all the benefits of joining buy sell to post photos, they would have seen fit to mention the extremely low file size requirement. Since I have benefited from this forum in other ways, I am going to consider this a $35 donation and look at other ways to manage image posting.
The GAS bug hit me too. After a long and patient search, I finally found an "affordable" 2.8cm/3.5 NKJ W-NIKKOR·C in Leica Thread Mount. I had been using an adapted S mount version but the LTM mount is much harder to find. Prices all over the place. There is actually one posted on eBay for $2199 . Have seen a couple over the last year in the $800 range. I took a chance on one for much less (I could almost sell it to KEH for what I paid for it) .
It seems the original owner had blackened out the area of the filter ring and surrounding area around the front element with black permanent marker/paint. These 1952 lenses are chrome plated brass construction. So I was not sure if the reason they marked that area was to cover chrome coming off or what the reason.
Long story short, after removing the front element so I would not damage it in a cleaning effort and after a lot of time with acetone, isopropyl alcohol, and cotton swabs the lens looks like new. With the exception of a little oil on the aperture blades, this thing is near mint. I will post a before and after tomorrow.
Had a cold and rainy Saturday yesterday so I did not get out like I wanted to, but did make a trip to the state farmers market to pick up some sweet potatoes and took a couple shots there. Posted one below. Hopefully next weekend weather will be nice. I have a couple areas I want to give this lens a good test.
George, thanks! And that's one very neat find, the 2.8 in LTM is pretty rare!! Glad you got it into good shape, results at the farmers market look very nice.
jhinkey wrote:
Somewhat rare conditions of cold, clear, and a very very stiff wind from the North making for some cold-looking white caps on Puget Sound.
300/4.5 ED-AI @ f/5.6 + CPL
John,
Are you using the spot removal tool to take out the ferries lately?
Reagan, it definitely gets one some interesting looks walking around in public with that contraption and staring down into that little tunnel to take pictures
For those who missed seeing my morning photo, here is a picture after sunrise. The scene changed rapidly after sunrise and it became too bright white light so I stopped after this shot.
ramkumar999 wrote:
I like them all. Now you have intrigued my interest in an 18mm.
Here is a picture to kick start the sunday with a great sky. Both shot with the 24mm f2.8 AI lens.
Reagan wrote:
John,
Are you using the spot removal tool to take out the ferries lately?
R
I actually have a ship tracking app and it showed that no ferries were going to be anywhere near this view for a long time - I wanted to wait, but had no time.
Yes, I seem to be on a ferry dry spell lately.
In all seriousness I've had little time for anything but gymnastics and candid photography of family members. Itching to really go wild this summer depending on the work schedule.
Was supposedly going to Chile on business in Jan., but that fell through. Now it's supposed to be Peru sometime this year. I plan to take at least the 16/3.5 AI with me on that trip if it ever comes to pass.
The 24mm 2.0 bokeh looks like spaghetti-oh Ram. That 35mm 3.5 pc is the first version,I once had one, it was optically flawed, the 28mm pc is certainly not!
Samy and his Leica / Nikkor art, very commendable
Scott what a room! that was a real house, Eastman would have been happy with the 18mm
There is no better place to live than the bay area Curtis (if you do not work that is) great panos
Christian, i love the 55mm 3.5 too, so cheap and so good
Congrats on your new partner Leighton
A different angle on that gull Subbu
That morning sunshine is looking at you with 'it is too early for photos' look Chuong, and congrats on that 400mm 5.6 a perfect partner to your 100mm 4,5 ED, both ED but non IF
Great series Kevin love the light on your daughter's
Did not know the 300 2.8 was a great birding lens Sar
Steve, the resting horse is film at its best, and the rally cars look lie the 70s, but the old style for real I thank you for
Ken Hill what is the true brand of the K-M racecar?
Beautiful roads Colin
Great composition Venky
Ken. you complement Scott's18 3.5 eastman house with open desert landscape, well shot
San Diego art Jeff
I am in total photographic rut brought on by work, accidents, and buying a lens i love and do not know how to use (800mm)
I have been invited to photograph a regatta in San Diego bay from the Judge's boat next week by my Naval friends, a little apprehensive as I have no idea of the distances and times, will take two cameras, one with 25-50mm and the other with 50-300mm and hope for the best.
Peter, I remember them. The 18mm 3.5 is good for many things.
The first 35mm camera I saw was an Exakta owned by an American engineer from Cleveland named Frank Tyneski. He was involved in building a vegetable oil plant for a company that my dad managed. We lived in a small town on the Transvaal gold fields and Frank used to take great pictures of the mine dumps, head gear and African mine dancers.
I was about 9 or 10 at the time -- long, long ago!
rafaelcasd wrote:
The 24mm PC lake sunset is just beautiful Jay
Ken Hill what is the true brand of the K-M racecar?
I am in total photographic rut brought on by work, accidents, and buying a lens i love and do not know how to use (800mm)
I have been invited to photograph a regatta in San Diego bay from the Judge's boat next week by my Naval friends, a little apprehensive as I have no idea of the distances and times, will take two cameras, one with 25-50mm and the other with 50-300mm and hope for the best.
Peter, I remember them. The 18mm 3.5 is good for many things.
Raphael - You got me unless it's Wayne Taylors Konica -Minolta primary sponsor for his #10 Car, a Cadillac with a Corvette engine. Sooooo I'm guessing that since this is the Nikon Forum K-M the answer is "NIKON."
Not sure how the weather is in rest of the areas. It has started to warm up and also rain which is an indication of change in weather.
Spring is around the corner here. A tree from our neighbourhood is already starting to bloom.
. Have seen a couple over the last year in the $800 range. I took a chance on one for much less (I could almost sell it to KEH for what I paid for it) 
. 
