Ai conversion for non Ai-lenses?

[kzphoto]

Anyone know a reputable place I can send a lens or two to have them modified to an Ai mount? The lens in question is my 35 f/2.8... Won't work on my Nikon EM or my D-200 without some kind of modification.

 

[kxl]

John White did some work for me a few years back - good work.

http://www.aiconversions.com/

 

[lewis44]

I have used John White for years. Highly Recommend.

 

[Vics]

RFf's own Camera Quest works on old Nikon stuff. I used to send mine to Photography on Bald Mountain, but it took forever and cost a lot. Don't know his current status.

 

[besk]

John White - about $25.00 plus shipping.

See his website.

 

[Nikon Bob]

There are some original ai kits still out there. If you do a search you might luck into one. Fairly easy to do at home.

Bob

 

[Brian Legge]

Agreed on the kits if possible. I converted one of the later 50mm 1.4 lenses - the version that looks a lot like the AI lens - with one of the original kits for $20. Cheap way to pick up a 50mm 1.4 as it only cost $80 in total for a lens that looked like-new.

 

[nikon_sam]

This should work...try contacting them before buying...
I did this to a 24mm Non-Ai lens I had...takes about ten minutes to change out...click here
Check out the other things they have too...

 

[RMontgomery]

Just had an 85mm Nikkor HC-Auto f/1.8 AI'd by William Sampson about a month ago and he did an excellent job. Here is his website:
http://www.aimodification.com/

 

[kzphoto]

Looks like the kit will work! Woo! In the future I'll check out that John white fellow. Prices are great for the service. Thanks gang!

 

[Brian Legge]

Hah, I got all excited when I saw the ebay link as I could use a #26 ring which koh - the place I used before - doesn't have. And of course the ebay shop is theirs.

I have a 28mm f/2 which is partially converted - it looks a bit like John Whites 'A' conversion. I should just send the ring out and have the 'B' part of it done. I've been shooting mostly rangefinder for a while so it hasn't been a priority but I should stop putting it off.

 

[kshapero]

I have used John White for years up to 2 weeks ago. Good work and I especially like the white tape he ueses. makes reading F stops so much easier.
http://www.aiconversions.com/

 

[Nikon Bob]

One caveat on getting original Nikon ai conversion kits, make sure you get the correct one. There may be several offered for the same focal length and speed. For the 35/2.8 there seems to be two offered http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/aimod.html .

Bob

 

[kzphoto]

Bob, Thanks for the heads up! My lens has a serial number of 7773 something, so it should be fine.

 

[Nikon Bob]

No problem, glad it will work out for you.

Bob

 

[James24]

Personally I don't like the diy ai conversions on offer. I think they are unsightly bodges on classic lenses. I used to have several pre ai lenses. When I wanted to get them ai'd I bought a few genuine Nikon ai rings and converted those lenses that I could. But that still left a few lenses that I was unable to get ai'd owing to shortages of the genuine Nikon rings. There was a simple solution - I sold the pre ai lenses on eBay and replaced them with others from eBay - mostly with lenses of similar vintage that already had been converted with genuine Nikon ai rings, but in a couple of cases with AIS lenses with more modern coatings. The cost of doing this was very low - no more than the cost of an ai conversion in most cases.