Modifying the Nikonos V for land use..

[Huss]

Ok, so the Nikonos V and 35 2.5 lens is awesome for land use. I've found the lens to be super sharp and contrasty. But I wanted to make it better and take care of its one weakness. That big chunk o protective glass in the front that helps it to be waterproof. Problem is that can cause flaring if the sun hits it just wrong. I have 2 Nikonos Vs, and 2 really nice 35 2.5 lenses. So I didn't want to hack into one of those. The solution was to buy a cheapo lens from Roberts that I wouldn't care about, and yank that protective glass out of there.
$25 later I had the lens. Being all handy and mechanically inclined - because I am handy - I removed the four screws out of the back. Sprooiiiinnnngg! They (ok the first one) flew across the room as it is spring loaded. Took care of that and the lens body came it really easily. What was surprising is how tiny the lens actually is. But still the glass was there, and I couldn't figure out how to take it out. I was about to take a hammer to it but at the last second pulled out the o-ring that sealed it in. Then the glass dropped right out, and boy is that a thick chunk. So all I had to do was to remove that -o-ring and it would have taken seconds..
The next issue was the faceplate that has the indicating arrows for the aperture and focus settings is also held in by the glass, so that now fell out.. I put it back, but there is nothing to hold it in so I used a few small strips of electrical tape.
I now have a 35 2.5 Nikonos lens that should flare much less. I wrote this up because I couldn't find any info about how to do it out there, and to save anyone some grief in doing what I did. When all you have to do is pull the o-ring.
😱😀

 

[sanmich]

How about a hood?

 

[Huss]

How about a hood?

I have two - the little plastic one, and the big rubber one. Can only help so much against that uncoated flat piece of glass in front of the lens.
Which is why I bought a 3rd beater lens to experiment with. I have high hopes, as the only thing beater on this lens was the casing, the lens itself looks great.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

I presume once so modified the lens and camera will no longer be waterproof.
I don't dive but my Nikonos V and 35/2.5 UW Nikkor is my all-weather camera.

Chris

 

[Livesteamer]

I have a Nikonos III with the 35mm f2.5 lens and it is my bad weather camera. I also have this lens in Leica thread mount and it is a wonderful, small jewel of a lens. My only complaint is the odd filter size, 34.5 mm but that can be got around with old series 6 filters and holders. It makes lovely images and is one of my favorite lens's. I also have the Nikkor 2.8cm f3.5 which looks very similar to the Nikkor 3.5cm f2.5 and works as well. I use them with Voigtlander finders on my IIIc. Joe

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I've been trying to find an element already ground and fit to the barrel of the Nikonos lenses so I can use the 28mm above water. I want just a tad wider but that formulation unmodified requires the lens be underwater to focus properly. Grrr. Other than that, the 35mm Nikkor on the Nikonos is fantastic. That kit was the best $25 I ever spent. That and a frustrating drive way out on Roosevelt Blvd. to the burbs to pick up the green Nikonos V, 35mm lens, 3 sets of O rings, a few extra body caps for battery and flash covers. Outstanding system that I need to shoot with way more. It's often my camera that is in my bike bag.
I really want the 85mm in spite of having to zone focus the thing.

Phil Forrest

 

[charjohncarter]

I have the Nikonos II (Calypso)(two off them). I use them (because of my age) only out of water, now, I have done zero modifications to mine except an EBAY purchased rangefinder to the cold shoe.

Kodak Gold 100 by John Carter, on Flickr

Fuji 200 by John Carter, on Flickr

I do use the Nikonos Hood.

 

[Huss]

I presume once so modified the lens and camera will no longer be waterproof.
I don't dive but my Nikonos V and 35/2.5 UW Nikkor is my all-weather camera.

Chris

No, no longer waterproof from the front of the lens. But you could still use it as an all weather camera to the same extent as any other 'regular' camera, as the lens/body seal is still there, as well as the seals on the rest of the body. So it still would be way more weather resistant than say a Nikon F, F2, Canon F1 etc.

If I want it to be fully weather resistant/proof, I'd just use one of my unmodified 35 2.5 lenses.
This really is just an experiment to see how the lens performs w/o that hunk of uncoated glass in front of it, and to use it in 'normal' non wet usage. The way most people out there use their cameras.

 

[Noserider]

Yes I have long wished for a above water solution for the Nikonos 28mm; I am under the impression that the underwater correction is provided from the ground front glass so by removing it would correct back to air usage. However I've wanted the waterproofness (not just splash proof like the other 28mm) for using in surf photography so perhaps swapping a 35mm front into a 28mm would do it; How did you remove the lens front O-ring?

 

[Huss]

How did you remove the lens front O-ring?

Just pulled it out w/ needlenose pliers. It wasn't easy, it ruined the o-ring.
I was surprised that that was all that was holding the glass in because it felt rock solid.

 

[peterm1]

I had no idea that was even possible. But I understand fully. I had a Nikonos 5 which I enjoyed using above water even more than below (to be truthful if you are going to shoot underwater you really need an ultra wide so as to be able to get in close to eliminate some of the intervening suspended solids in the water). But it flared like the dickens when shot on the surface where there was any hint of sun.

I was even tempted to buy one recently because I love how robust they are giving them the ability to use them in all kinds of adverse weather etc. But I realized now shoot too little film to really warrant it even considering how cheap theya re on the used market these days. I also loved how they felt in hand as well as the solid clunk of the shutter which was somehow very reassuring and the smell of the camera when it was opened to put film in, a smell which was quite unique - all that rubber and silicone grease I suppose.

 

[L. M. Tu]

There is a version of the 28mm lens that can be used in the air; it's called the UW version. I searched for it but gave up on that idea since the asking prices were too high. Right now, I'd like to find a small, "classic" 35mm rangefinder lens to mount on a Sony mirrorless. Since the Nikonos 35mm is supposedly the same design as the old s-mount lens, and it is already sitting on my IV body, the perfect solution would be a Nikonos to e-mount adapter. Well....such an adapter has been made and offered for sale on ebay for $80. A lot of money to adapt just one or two lenses, but I've been known to go for less sensible purchases than that, so maybe one day!

 

[presspass]

I have a Nikonos III and 35 that I have used for years as my bad weather camera. With a generic 52mm rubber wide angle hood, it works fine. After all, sun is not usually a problem when it's raining or snowing. I have used it in good weather and with a bit of care, no problem with flaring.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Yes I have long wished for a above water solution for the Nikonos 28mm; I am under the impression that the underwater correction is provided from the ground front glass so by removing it would correct back to air usage. However I've wanted the waterproofness (not just splash proof like the other 28mm) for using in surf photography so perhaps swapping a 35mm front into a 28mm would do it; How did you remove the lens front O-ring?

This is not the case. I pulled the front element and it is indeed an element, not just a thick piece of glass. It's plano-concave. Removing this made the image awful. Replacing it with the chunk from the 35mm is no good either. This is why I'm hoping to find a thick lens solution to account for the refractivity difference between water and air.

Phil Forrest

 

[Huss]

I had no idea that was even possible. But I understand fully. I had a Nikonos 5 which I enjoyed using above water even more than below (to be truthful if you are going to shoot underwater you really need an ultra wide so as to be able to get in close to eliminate some of the intervening suspended solids in the water). But it flared like the dickens when shot on the surface where there was any hint of sun.

My ones that have the protective glass (keeping them waterproof etc) actually did pretty well against flaring. And if the sun was not in the shot, they are just plain great. Perhaps the protective glass on yours was scratched/hazed?

Anyway, I completed a roll of film today with my test lens, and by tomorrow night when I get my film back I will see how it works w/o that protective glass.

 

[Huss]

There is a version of the 28mm lens that can be used in the air; it's called the UW version.

UW = Under Water.

You are thinking of the LW lens. LW = Land (&) Water. It's very rare because it was not very good so very few people bought it.

 

[Huss]

Slight digression here but.... just found out that one can buy an adapter to use the Nikonos lens on Sony or m4/3 cameras. I have an m4/3 but wish they made one for Leica M mount. This would look very interesting on my M240 (focus via live view) and would maintain the angle of view.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Adapter-ring...505880?hash=item33a90c93d8:g:hIUAAOSwpDdVWbGD

 

[Phil_F_NM]

it would be very inexpensive to even make a Nikonos-Leica M adapter.
Get a broken or even not broken Nikonos IV-a or III (since those are the least expensive), take apart the mount, graft it to a LTM-M adapter, and you're good to go.

Phil Forrest

 

[Huss]

How would you determine the correct flange distance?

 

[Phil_F_NM]

How would you determine the correct flange distance?

Measure the distance from the film plane of the Nikonos to the lens flange.
The film to flange distance of a Leica M is 27.8mm.
Make the adapter take up this space, if possible. There isn't much room to work with since the lens registrations of the two systems are pretty close. I know it's been done before though, I've seen a Nikonos lens on a Leica M.

Phil Forrest