Val

Testing the old NIKKOR-H 85mm f/1.8 wide open after an AI modification for use on digital bodies.
Location
Home, rear deck
Equipment Used
Nikon D700 Nikkor-H 85mm f/1.8
Exposure
1/5000 sec f/1.8 ISO 200
Digital Post Processing Details
Crop, resize
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  1. Yes
Nice picture, which also shows just what selective focus does with an 85mm lens.

However I'm quite interested in what modification of an 8 element Nikkor lens would/will make it more suitable for a digital camera? I don't have a digital body and doubt I'll ever own one, but my interest has been aroused about this modification.
 
Hi Mick, I should have said newer film & digital bodies. Its not an optical modification but a mechanical one. Its called an AI (aperture index) mod or conversion so the older non-AI Nikkors could be used on the newer film and digital bodies. The old Nikon bodies like the F & Nikkormat model used a pin on the body to connect to the lens via the "rabbit ears". Nikon used to sell an AI conversion kit but they're no longer available so this modification lets me take advantage of some excellent old glass.

You can see an explanation of the modification in the first 2:30 seconds of this video I made AI modification of modifying an old 35mm f/2. At the 24:40 minute mark you can see it mounted on the D700
 
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Lovely portrait!
 
What a small world.

Some time late last year, I watched that clip.

Around 35 years ago I picked up a Nikkor 35mm f/2 and had it Ai'd using the AI kit Nikon had available at the time. Unfortunately I sold that lens some years later in a part trade of an 18mm lens, I sort of regretted doing that, but....
 
Well done. Great portrait.
 
I've since sold that lens but I did get the newer Ais version cause I missed it.
 
Interesting portrait, the closeness, the framing, and the light. Intimate, really.
That lens is certainly working well. That old Nikon glass is superb. When I picked up my Sony a7ii mirrorless camera, I made sure to get an adapter for my Nikon lenses. It's not the smoothest operation in the world because the aperture has to be preset and it does cause a little more noise in the electronic finder. However, I've gotten used to it, and don't much notice it anymore. And the noise certainly is not on the image.
 
Thank you. I find similar issues when adapted to the mirrorless bodies, and the FTZ adapter. I also find it a bit harder to focus without the split screen despite the digital focus sensor and my less than perfect eyesight!
 

Media information

Category
Standard Gallery
Added by
Acere
Date added
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Comment count
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Image metadata

Device
NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D700
ISO
200
Filename
DSC_8413 copy.jpg
File size
172.1 KB
Date taken
Tue, 13 September 2022 6:46 PM
Dimensions
983px x 983px

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