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Instruction for Removing 600mm f/4 Mount
Instructions for Removing 400mm f/3.5 Mount
Instructions for Removing 300mm f/2.8 mount
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Nikon FAQ on Upgrading Manual Focus Lenses with Matrix Metering Chips.
THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED ON OCTOBER 4, 2004. I AM STILL IN BUSINESS AND HAVE NARROWED MY LIST OF LENSES THAT I SERVICE IN ORDER TO KEEP UP WITH POPULAR DEMAND.
Which
lenses can be converted? 28mm
f/3.5 PC Need entire lens (Auto metering must be done at full aperture) 35mm
f/2.8 PC Need entire lens (Auto metering must be done at full aperture) 105mm
f/1.8 Need entire lens 105mm
f/4 Micro Need entire lens 135mm
f/2 Need entire lens 135mm
f/3.5 Need entire lens 180mm
f/2.8 Need entire lens 200mm
f/2 200mm
f/4 200mm
f/4 Micro 300mm
f/2 300mm
f/2.8 300mm
f/4.5 400mm
f/2.8 400mm
f/3.5 400mm
f/5.6 500mm mirror lenses 600mm
f/4 600mm
f/5.6 800mm
f/5.6 50-135mmm
f/3.5 Need entire lens 50-300mm
f/4.5 Need entire lens 70-150mmm
f/3.5 Series E Need entire
lens 200-400mm
f/4 M Series Extension tube Tamron/Tokina/Sigma 300mm 2.8 manual focus Nikon Mount lenses Tamron/Tokina/Sigma Mirror lenses Chip used will be f/4 or f/5.6 but will still meter properly. Can
you modify my 105mm f/2.5 lens? If it’s not in the above list I don’t modify it. Let me repeat this, if it is not on the above list I don't do it. And just to make sure it is clearly stated because I get emails every day asking about lenses I don't fix.....If it is not on the above list I do not fix it.
I don’t modify
most extention tubes or ANY tele-converters either.
I don’t know any other camera technician that does these
modifications either. Sorry.
I broke my lens trying to do the conversion myself. Where can I buy parts? Can you tell me exactly how you do this so I can set up my own business and compete against you?
Surprisingly enough I can variations of this question on a weekly basis. Here is my official answer: "If you are not savvy enough to figure it out by looking at all the pictures on my web site and reading the FAQ, you should just send it into me and pay me to fix it." How
much does the conversion cost? Price
is $115 dollars PER LENS plus $5 S&H anywhere in the USA & Canada.
For foreign orders S&H and insurance cost is $15 per order.
Large orders may require additional S&H charges. What’s
“Need entire lens” mean in your above list? It
means you need to mail the entire lens to me.
For all other lenses all you need to send is the metal F-mount.
It can be available
at your local hardware store. Don't
worry Do
you give discounts on large orders? No.
I don’t care if you send 10 lenses to get upgraded, the price is the
same regardless of quantity because it takes the same amount of work.
Please don’t ask for discounts I find it annoying.
If you can find anyone to do it cheaper please give them your
business; it will give me more time to do what I love, photography. How
long does the conversion take? Approximately
10 to 14 days if you send a money order or certified check. If you send a
personal check I wait for it to clear before I ship the lenses back to
you. It helps if you email me
and tell me what lens you are shipping so that I can order any necessary
parts. Will
this work for the Fuji S1, S2, and Nikon D70, D100, D1, D1x, D1h Digital
Cameras? How about Kodak digital SLR's with Nikon bodies? Yes,
the conversion works with ALL Nikon and Fuji and Kodak AF cameras, even
the new ones coming out like the D2x, S3, etc.! Where
do I send the lenses and money to? Just
send lenses & money to me at: Rolland
Elliott 14019
Southbridge Forest Drive Charlotte,
NC 28273 USA ph#
704 504-3528 QUESTIONS? EMAIL ME AT portraits@carolina.rr.com Can
I preorder parts for faster turn around? Yes.
You can prepay and then I will order parts for your lenses. Once parts
arrive I will email you back and tell you to send your lenses. This
provides the fastest turn around time. I
don’t want to send my expensive lenses or Nikon f mounts through the
mail to you. Do you just sell the parts so I could do the conversion
myself? I
do not normally sell parts. Call up Nikon’s Parts department and order
them your self. Please note that if you think you’ll be saving money by
doing it yourself I think you’ll be quite disappointed.
Also please do not call me asking me how to put back together a
lens that you broke by trying to upgrade it yourself. Does
this matrix chip upgrade add "D" (distance) compatibility to my
lenses? Please
note that I do NOT upgrade non "D" lenses to "D"
lenses. I use “non-D” chips so that incorrect distance information is
NOT sent to the camera’s computer. Can
you upgrade ALL Manual focus lenses? NO SEE THE LIST UNDER THE FAQ ABOVE! Do
you guarantee your work? YES!
6 month warranty against defects in parts and labor, does not cover user
abuse. Have
people who have had this upgrade done left any feedback? You
can read some positive feedback about my services by going to: http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000UIq
and scrolling towards the bottom of the screen. There's not a lot of
comments. Generally, if
people are satisfied they tend to forget to leave feedback. Also note that
some comments are outdated since this feedback goes back a couple of
years. What happens with the contacts needed for the electronic connection, since the lens was not originally designed to have any electronic connection? The
whole point of the modification is that I install these electrical
contacts. Look at the pictures on my web site. Will this modification allow the spot meter to work with AIS lenses on the newer N-series cameras? It
will work fine on other Nikon AF cameras too. I'm assuming that installing your chips does not in any way affect the continuing manual focus operation of my lens with my older manual bodies? NO
EFFECT! How much each for a NEW F mount and matrix chip? I’ve
had a handfull of requests from Nikon users that are afraid that by
modifying their existing lens mount they will somehow be degrading the
value of their lens and therefore want me to supply them with a new
separate lens mount with the matrix chip attached.
The problem is that many MF lenses have light baffles on the inside
of the F mount
that need to be filed and cut so the matrix chip fits inside. So you therefore need to buy both a lens mount and a baffle to keep your lens in “pristine” condition. I actually use a very precise Dremell industrial drill that rotates at 30,000rpm so the modification looks like its factory done. I do not sell Nikon parts; if you
want to buy Nikon parts call up Nikon’s parts department and order them
yourself. Please note that if you don’t have an open repair account with
them prices are rather high. Personally
I think you guys are weird. You
probably have an obsessive compulsive disorder that makes you clean your
lenses so often you wear off the coatings.
See my web page for pictures of the modifications. Doesn't the matrix metering in Nikon Cameras need to know the focal length of the lens in use? And if so is this information transferred in your upgrade? First
of all, the lens focal length information is not needed for matrix
metering. This is backed up
by Nikon Literature. The "Nikon F5 Technical guide" ( a free
SALES brochure published by Nikon different from the standard F-5 sales
brochure) lists all the variables Color Matrix metering takes into
account. The focal length of the lens is not one of them. Matrix metering
does take in to account scene brightness & contrast which is dependent
on the maximum aperture
though. Nikon's
sales brochure for the N90s camera also describes how matrix metering
works and all the variables involves. Focal length isn't included in these
calculations. Nikon cameras
only use the focal length information to suggest a good shutter speed in
program mode. Since
the N70 and F100 use a similar matrix metering system compared to the
N90s, these cameras don't use focal length information either. Call up
Nikon at 1-800-Nikon-US and request these free brochures if you don't
believe me! Basically
all of Nikon's top AF cameras don't use focal length information for
matrix metering. And all of Nikon’s
older AF cameras (now out of production) don’t use focal length
information either. Secondly,
All the camera needs to know to matrix meter correctly is the lens maximum
aperture. I carefully choose the correct chip and install it into the
lens. If
you want to prove this to yourself order a 28mm f/2.8 chip, and a 180mm
f/2.8 chip and install them one at a time in a lens with an aperture of
2.8 and take various meter readings. The meter readings will be the same
even though one chip tells the camera it's a wide angle and the other chip
tells the camera it's a telephoto. Have
you done many lenses? Hundreds! Does your matrix chip upgrade electronically relay the focal length to automatic flash units like the SB-28? The
chip transmits two pieces of information 1.
The maximum & minimum aperture of the lens. The correct one for your
lens. 2.
A set focal length (not necessarily the correct one). Because of this you
will have to sometimes manually set the zoom flash setting on automatic
flash heads. This is because
some lenses like the Nikon 400mm f/3.5 lens have no AF equivalent and thus
an exact focal length match isn’t possible. You mentioned that your conversion basically gives me a manual focus lens that meters like an autofocus lens. Are there any shortcoming’s of having this conversion done? Here’s
what the upgrade doesn’t do: 1.
transfer focussing distance (as D type would). * 2.
transfer actual focal length while zooming on a manual focus lens. 3.
transfer a variable maximum aperture.
*
It should be noted that even Nikon’s D type lenses DO NOT transmit the
exact subject distance. If
you have ever looked at a “D type” chip you will see the circuit board
is divided into approximately 12 to 20 gold contact zones which rub up
against a gold contact on the inside of the focusing ring. Therefore there
are only 12 to 20 set distance zones that can be communicated to the body.
This is rather amazing since Nikon has basically divided the
distance from infinity to a few feet into a finite amount of distance
zones. Initially one would think many more divisions would be necessary,
but apparently only 20 or so are needed to obtain maximum benefits when
using flash photography. Your pictures on your web page don’t show any moving contacts! So how does the camera know what aperture the lens is set at? All
of Nikon's professional (All of the F series, N90s, N90, and N70) cameras
perform automatic metering by getting the maximum aperture information
from the Matrix Chip and then noting how far over the aperture index
coupling ring is moved over. Consumer
cameras like the N50, N55, N60, N65, Fuji S1, S2, D100, etc.,
have you set the lens’s aperture ring to the minimum aperture and
the camera senses this by a tab on the camera lens. The camera then knows
that the lens is always set at the minimum aperture and stops down the
lens the correct amount via a mechanical lever. Will my Nikon AF camera be able to use shutter preferred or program metering on an AIS lens that you convert? Yes. I have a question about a Vivitar Series 1 90-180/4.5 (constant) AI macro that I may be buying. Can you install a f4.5 CPU in this lens, especially given that it is AI and is not a Nikkor? I only convert the lenses in my above list. Sorry. You are out of luck. Does the conversion involve replacing the mount, (i.e. the chrome colored ring with the bayonet)? The reason I ask is because that portion of the mount on my 400 f3.5 needs to be replaced. If this is not a normal part of the conversion could I pay you extra to do the bayonet replacement at the same time as the conversion? A NEW MOUNT IS $50 EXTRA. Can the modified lens be then set at its minimum aperture and the aperture changed via the command dial (on an F5 or F100) or does the aperture have to be changed manually? You
can use the command dial. Your
probably know this, but on the F5/F100, the aperture for CPU lenses does
NOT appear on the camera display unless the lens it
set at its minimum aperture (even though the aperture can be
changed manually in
addition to via the command dial). So in other words, unless your chip
also tells the F5/F100 when it is set at its minimum aperture, the
aperture will not be displayed by the camera? The
camera knows the lens is set at its minimum
aperture by mechanical means (the AI tab is turned
all the way counterclockwise) not by the chip sending
it some electronic signal. The
reason I say this is because
there are NO electronics that go from the chip
to the aperture mechanism or aperture ring on Nikon
AF lenses so the matrix metering chip in the lens has
no way of determining when it is set at the minimum.
Thus the only way for the camera to know the lens is at it's
minimum is by the AI tab (this might not hold
true for AFS lenses, but if you have AFS lenses you
don't need a CPU upgrade) The four non-central spot meter areas on an F5/F100 do not work with non CPU lenses. Will this chip enable these? Yes,
it does. The F5/F100/D1 series records the focal length of the lens being used if it has a CPU. Does the chip you insert need to store this? I
try to use a chip with an exact focal length match, but sometimes this is
not possible. The thing that is important
is that it will transmit the correct
aperture information. "Could you share a little more detail about how you do this? How do you know which chip to use? Can you only do this for lenses where there are exact MF/AF equivalents?" I
just choose a NON-D type matrix
metering chip that has the same maximum aperture as the lens in
use. For
instance if you want your 400mm f/3.5 lens modified I would
probably use the
matrix chip from the 200mm f/3.5 EDIF AF lens (which is no longer
made, but
spare parts are still available) or the chip from the 28-70mm f/3.5
to 4.5 AF
lens or the 28-85mm f/3.5 to 4.5 N AF, etc.
The nice thing about the matrix
chips for the zooms is that by adjusting the electronics I can tell
the camera body what aperture to use.
Nikon makes so many lens, finding a match is easy. Also
for everyone that has asked if I make these lenses "D" distance
compatible the answer
is NO! Nikon's D lenses use a
flexible circuit board that comes
in contact with metal
contacts, usually on the inside of the focusing ring. Depending
on the focus's ring position the distance information is sent
to the camera.
Adding a flexible circuit board inside the lens' focusing ring
of a manual focus lens
would require the complete redesign of the lens,
which is exactly what
Nikon did to upgrade the D lenses. However
the "D" distance
information is only really beneficial for flash exposures.
In addition although
the matrix metering chips I add won't transmit distance
information they will
allow "advanced matrix balanced fill flash" which is a lot
better than the
center-weighted fill flash you'd get using regular manual
focus lenses.
What
about flash; will I get matrix-balanced TTL flash? Yes
you get Matrix Balanced TTL flash. Please note that you do not get 3D
Matrix Balanced Fill Flash. There was a discussion recently as to whether you were using the appropriate matrix chip for each specific lens type. I believe the crux of the argument centered on the appropriate maximum f-stop and the "long" telephoto notch on the mounting plate. Can you clarify this point, please? When
installing a matrix metering chip into a MF lens you must use a matrix
chip that has the same maximum aperture as the MF lens you want to modify.
Example: If you want your 300mm f/2.8 AIS lens to be capable of
matrix metering you must use a matrix chip that transmits a maximum
aperture of f/2.8 to the camera body. The
"long" telephoto notch on the mounting plate you refer to is
probably the AIS notch (forgot the official name of this notch), which
communicates the lens' focal length to older camera bodies.
This allows the body to choose the most appropriate shutter speed
aperture combination for a given lens.
IT DOES NOT INFLUENCE THE EXPOSURE READING. For example instead of
the camera choosing f/11 and 1/60 of a second for an exposure with a 500mm
f/4 lens, if the body knows the focal length via the notch it would
probably recommend f/4 and 1/500 of a second, thereby reducing potential camera
shake. On an electronic camera such as the F5 what will the computer think the F stop setting on the lens is? The
CPU lenses send the lens aperture to the
camera's CPU where the info is used and also
displayed in the finder. The
matrix chip will allow the F5 to know the aperture that the lens is set
at. The chip tells the camera
what the max and minimum aperture of the lens is.
When you use these modified lenses it will be just like using an AF
lens, in that you will get matrix metering, spot metering, and aperture
information in the finder except you will of course have to Manual focus
your lenses. I
assume neither the lens distance or aperture
setting is actually available to be transmitted by
the lens CPU in these conversions.
In the several Nikon
"P" lenses such as the 500/4.0 EDIF-P is the
aperture set on the lens transmitted to the camera? As
mentioned above the chip sends the min and max aperture of the lens to the
camera's CPU. The camera (in M&A modes) is able to determine any
aperture between the min and max by knowing how far over the aperture
index (AI) tab has been moved. The
AI tab is the little black tab that sticks out from the camera body and
couples with the lens’s aperture ring.
In P&S modes the aperture is always set at the minimum.
Somehow the camera knows how far down to stop the lens.
I don't know exactly how the camera does this.
But it works, so I don't complain! It
surprises me even more that Nikon has not offered this upgrade themselves? Far
from what most people think this conversion is not as simple as it looks.
You just don’t drill a couple of holes and put the chip in.
Nikon would have to make
new black baffles for many of it’s lenses and would have to make new
lens mounts with the holes necessary to attach the chips to.
I get around this by drilling the screw holes into the existing F
mount of the lens and modifying the black baffle. I
wanted to know if the addition would work just the same on an AI
series lens as it would on an AIS (or E) series lens One of my AI lenses was AI'd converted by Nikon for AIS operation. Will the conversion work with a lens that was converted in this manner? For
the most part yes, but there are some things you should be aware of.
I have actually added the aperture indexing ridge on some old
Nikkor lenses (the 80mm f/1.8, 135mm f/3.5 & 200mm f/4 lens) and they
seem to work fine in all auto exposure modes (P, M, A & S) However,
these NON AI (aperture indexed) lenses do not have a linear relationship
between the amount the aperture lever moves and the actual aperture of the
lens. You
could just use matrix metering in A & M modes, but based on my field
usage, these AI’d lenses with chips work fine in all exposure modes.
This may not be true for all Nikon AI lenses. As a side note Nikon Changed from the AI mount to the AIS mount in 1982. Therefore the above question is only a concern if your lenses are over 24 years old. Needless to say 99% of the lenses sent to me are AIS and I hardly convert any AI lenses.
I do not recommend converting AI lenses to be used on bodies where you can only control the aperture via a subcommand dial. (All Fuji and Kodak SLR's as well as Nikon D70 and D100.) Home | FAQ | Instruction for Removing 600mm f/4 Mount | Instructions for Removing 400mm f/3.5 Mount | Instructions for Removing 300mm f/2.8 mount | Contact Me |