Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar 135mm f2.0 Classic-series and mechanical Nikon cameras

[Lumi]

Nikon experts:

I want to pair my Apo Sonnar 135mm f2.0 Classic-series for Nikon F with an analog Nikon camera, F2 plain prism or a Nikkomat FT2. I don't need light metering, but during exposure the aperture must close as selected. Since the lens have no rabbit ears (and no provisions for them) I guess I must expose with a manual set aperture.

Are there ways around this?

Thanks for any advice.

Lumi

 

[MarkS]

The "rabbit ears" only connect the lens with the light meter on pre-1977 Nikons. A lever inside the camera body activates the lens' aperture, via a corresponding lever inside the lens mount.I'm not familiar with your lens, but if it lacks this internal lever, you will have to set the aperture manually.

 

[reddesert]

I don't have this lens. Pictures of it on the internet show it has the aperture stop-down lever (really an aperture hold-open lever) on the rear. The rabbit ears are only for meter coupling as MarkS said.

Virtually every Nikon lens and body before the newest electronic aperture lenses use this body-lens mechanical coupling to hold open and stop down the lens aperture. (That is, even a consumer level AF camera like an N55 or D3000 that doesn't meter with mechanical lenses, uses the mechanical lever to stop down the lens when the shutter fires.)

You can verify that the lever works by pressing the DOF preview button on a Nikkormat, Nikon F, F2, etc.

 

[Lumi]

Thanks for informative comments!