I bought an MF lens from Japan on eBay, no tariffs, (then), and no import duties either. Lens is perfect, the seller documented well.
NNL. wrote:
I wasn't sure if I should start a new thread, or simply ask here...
I'm thinking about buying a 55mm f/1.2 (was considering the 50mm f/1.2, but the 55mm is cheaper). Are there significant differences between the different 55mm versions? From what I've read earlier versions' MFD is 0.6m whereas the later ones are 0.5m. I don't care too much about this as I wouldn't be buying it for macro capabilities. Also the later ones have better coatings? Is it that big of a difference? I'm thinking about getting one of the earlier pre-AI ones and sending it to John White (http://www.aiconversions.com/ - anyone have experience doing this?) for AI conversion.
My current MF lenses are the 50mm f/1.8 and 75-150mm f/3.5, both Series E. I'm wanting to get a proper Nikkor MF lens and thought the 55mm, with its super shallow DOF would be fun. I primarily shoot newer AF-S lenses (24-120mm f/4 and 300mm f/4), so I don't want to spend big money on MF lenses which won't get as much usage, but I'd still like to try it out.
Also, has anyone bought lenses from Japan through eBay, and what was your experience? Did you have to pay import duties/taxes to the US on items <$300? The Japanese sellers list items with better photos/detail than US sellers in general, which is a positive....Show more →
I bought an AF Nikkor from Map Camera (Japan) via eBay: duty free, flawless, free shipping, 36 hrs from BIN to my door. Also bought a D4 from them with identical effect.
I bought a few lenses from Japanese ebay sellers and neither had problems with the shipment to me, nor with the one return shipment I had to initiate due to a bad description of the item.
So far I bought 5 of my lenses from Japanese sellers and never had a problem there. Generally the condition of the item exceeds my expectations. The only item I ever had to return to a Japanese seller was a camera which smelled of cigarettes real bad. Shipping cost and even timport tax was gracefully reimbursed to me by the seller.
Now on to the 55mm. They are all good. From samples I have seen, the Ai and K appear slightly sharper then my S.C, but that might as well be due to sample variation.
I would happily buy any version without hesitation
NNL. wrote:
I wasn't sure if I should start a new thread, or simply ask here...
I'm thinking about buying a 55mm f/1.2 (was considering the 50mm f/1.2, but the 55mm is cheaper). Are there significant differences between the different 55mm versions? From what I've read earlier versions' MFD is 0.6m whereas the later ones are 0.5m. I don't care too much about this as I wouldn't be buying it for macro capabilities. Also the later ones have better coatings? Is it that big of a difference? I'm thinking about getting one of the earlier pre-AI ones and sending it to John White (http://www.aiconversions.com/ - anyone have experience doing this?) for AI conversion.
My current MF lenses are the 50mm f/1.8 and 75-150mm f/3.5, both Series E. I'm wanting to get a proper Nikkor MF lens and thought the 55mm, with its super shallow DOF would be fun. I primarily shoot newer AF-S lenses (24-120mm f/4 and 300mm f/4), so I don't want to spend big money on MF lenses which won't get as much usage, but I'd still like to try it out.
Also, has anyone bought lenses from Japan through eBay, and what was your experience? Did you have to pay import duties/taxes to the US on items <$300? The Japanese sellers list items with better photos/detail than US sellers in general, which is a positive....Show more →
rafaelcasd wrote:
These are the usual suspects. I have used on D800 and D810- the following successfully:
Fisheye (7.5mm f/5.6, 8mm f/8, OP 10mm f/5.6)
TC-16A AF Teleconverter - modified so it autofocuses.
Lenses that require the AU-1 focusing unit (400mm f/4.5, 600mm f/5.6)
NIKKOR-S Auto 5cm f/2 (50mm f/2)
Medical-NIKKOR Auto 200mm f/5.6
Auto NIKKOR Telephoto-Zoom 85-250mm f/4-4.5
The above is good news, we can do aperture priority on the Z cameras, as the adapter must have the aperture tab. I am not saying to use those lenses I listed, just that the list is conservative. besides, if I can obliterate the adapter to use non-ai lenses, I will... it is not a camera. I will be buying a Z with no rush. ...Show more →
I checked, the FTZ adapter does not have the ai coupling. so it would be stop down meterring for ai and ais lenses, shame, I was about to order it, but will get the D850 instead.
rafaelcasd wrote:
I checked, the FTZ adapter does not have the ai coupling. so it would be stop down meterring for ai and ais lenses, shame, I was about to order it, but will get the D850 instead.
Yeah, same as using adapted glass on Fuji, Sony, etc. Which I have had no issues with doing. Will be interesting to see what type of 3rd party adapters come out over time.
The pre-set 5.5cm Micro-Nikkor also works on the D800. Its rear mount is such that there's no interference with the camera excepting close to infinity. But then I have never really used that lens at or near infinity anyway.
Maybe someone can convince Nikon to have another version of the FTZ adapter that handles AI and pre-AI lenses.
rafaelcasd wrote:
These are the usual suspects. I have used on D800 and D810- the following successfully:
Fisheye (7.5mm f/5.6, 8mm f/8, OP 10mm f/5.6)
TC-16A AF Teleconverter - modified so it autofocuses.
Lenses that require the AU-1 focusing unit (400mm f/4.5, 600mm f/5.6)
NIKKOR-S Auto 5cm f/2 (50mm f/2)
Medical-NIKKOR Auto 200mm f/5.6
Auto NIKKOR Telephoto-Zoom 85-250mm f/4-4.5
The above is good news, we can do aperture priority on the Z cameras, as the adapter must have the aperture tab. I am not saying to use those lenses I listed, just that the list is conservative. besides, if I can obliterate the adapter to use non-ai lenses, I will... it is not a camera. I will be buying a Z with no rush. ...Show more →
Today I went with my boys to an aircraft museum which is housed in an underground former air force base close to the city of Gothenburg on the West Coast of Sweden.
Inspired by Rafael's photos I took the AI 16 F3.5 fisheye with me. Sadly my battery was empty after a few shots and I had neglected to bring a spare.
NightOwl Cat wrote:
On your Mac, put it in your calendar. It'll pop up and remind you to visit us again next year
Not even one flower shot? WOW
I didn't try very hard, did I...
To make up for it one photo from the brief shoot I did this afternoon for a friend who is very photogenic. When she noted how unhappy she is with photos of herself, I offered to take a few. This was shot with the 85 f/1.4 AI-s.
This is the old jail located behind the Greene County, Georgia Courthouse. It was built in 1807 and was used until 1895. There is a trap door located on the second floor just above the front door where a condemned prisoner stood with a noose around his neck. The hangman would pull a lever that opened the trap door, allowing the condemned man to fall to his death.
Hey Leighton, I know you have an affinity for doors, but how about prison doors?
Both photos taken with Fuji X-T2 and Nikkor-0 35mm f/2.
To make up for it one photo from the brief shoot I did this afternoon for a friend who is very photogenic. When she noted how unhappy she is with photos of herself, I offered to take a few. This was shot with the 85 f/1.4 AI-s.
Thanks Kevin. Life is good, but then it is summer and Marin is NOT experiencing any fires. Yes, with winds in certain directions we do get smoke from fires in Sonoma and Mendocino counties, but so far we're safe from the devastation being experienced elsewhere. I'm spending quite a bit of time on the trail of late. I'm taking my trekking poles rather than my camera, however.
Nice to know the usual suspects are still showing up on the thread. How does it happen your kids keeping getting older so fast? Time flies doesn't it?
NNL. wrote:
I wasn't sure if I should start a new thread, or simply ask here...
I'm thinking about buying a 55mm f/1.2 (was considering the 50mm f/1.2, but the 55mm is cheaper). Are there significant differences between the different 55mm versions? From what I've read earlier versions' MFD is 0.6m whereas the later ones are 0.5m. I don't care too much about this as I wouldn't be buying it for macro capabilities. Also the later ones have better coatings? Is it that big of a difference? I'm thinking about getting one of the earlier pre-AI ones and sending it to John White (http://www.aiconversions.com/ - anyone have experience doing this?) for AI conversion.
My current MF lenses are the 50mm f/1.8 and 75-150mm f/3.5, both Series E. I'm wanting to get a proper Nikkor MF lens and thought the 55mm, with its super shallow DOF would be fun. I primarily shoot newer AF-S lenses (24-120mm f/4 and 300mm f/4), so I don't want to spend big money on MF lenses which won't get as much usage, but I'd still like to try it out.
Also, has anyone bought lenses from Japan through eBay, and what was your experience? Did you have to pay import duties/taxes to the US on items <$300? The Japanese sellers list items with better photos/detail than US sellers in general, which is a positive....Show more →
I note that a couple of folks responded to this post but I probably should chime in since I was such a cheerleader for the 55 f/1.2 lens first brought to the thread by a fellow named Brad living in Portland. I owned the 50 f/1.2 AI-s so initially was not that excited by the older lens. But then Ben who lives in Sydney dropped a few photos taken with the 55 on the thread and my curiosity was piqued. Of course, Ben also had a wide assortment of pre-AI lenses that I'd never bothered with so after first buying a 55 f/1.2 AI I picked up an S.C. with the lovely scalloped focusing ring and a Nikon AI conversion kit. That was the beginning of the second chapter of my Nikon adventure. Yes, I loved how the lens rendered images, but I also was smitten with the all metal build and the pleasure of turning the scalloped ring. I eventually bought 24 pre-AI Nikon lenses, including THREE copies of the 55 f/1.2 S.C., all with Nikon AI conversion kits. Yes, it is absurd to own three of these lenses. I know there are folks on this thread who would happily take one off my hands, but at least at the moment it isn't going to happen.
Shooting wide open with the lens is definitely a bit of a crap shoot since the focal plane is razor thin. If you're smitten with bokeh play it can be fun to shoot wide open, but as George notes, the lens really comes into its own at f/2. It is very sharp and produces a delicious bokeh without the veiling he mentions. I find it a perfect walk around lens.
I appreciate that converted lenses can be rare and often carry a higher price tag. I have an aversion to cutting the aperture ring as John White does, but then I own a Df so I can mount unconverted pre-AI lenses and have done so... but I bought the 55 f/1.2 lenses before I bought the Df. As George notes, if you're willing to consider a pre-AI version, try to find the S.C. which has the same coating found in the K and AI. From my reading of photosynthesis.co.nz the S.C. has the same optical design as the later version, though I defer to Buddy on that matter since he is much more knowledgeable on such matters than I am.
Happy shopping. There are so many amazing manual focus Nikon lenses to play with...
The Nikon Z would not benefit from an Ai coupling. They do not have a mirror to look through, which means they do not have a pentaprism either. Without these two, you won't suffer from dim biews through the viewfinder at small apertures. Instead you can peek through the finder and will be presented with a nice TV show, showing you a corrected view on reality where the camera will give you a live feed from the cameras sensor. This view is pasted with camera controlled brightness adjustment so your view through the finder will be bright and still show the working diaphragm and DoF.
I don't like watching TV but I also understand why they left out the Ai coupling. It just doesn't make sense on a rangefinder.... I mean, mirrorless camera
rafaelcasd wrote:
I checked, the FTZ adapter does not have the ai coupling. so it would be stop down meterring for ai and ais lenses, shame, I was about to order it, but will get the D850 instead.
