nikon mount to pl mount

[Poi Boy]

Is it possible and if so by whom to convert nikon lenses to a pl mount ?
Aloha
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[tj williams]

Wheoooooeeeee that sounds like it will cost a lot more than $500????

[Poi Boy]

Maybe and maybe not, do you know ? I would be willing to pay a couple of thousand maybe more to convert my lenses if it meant I could interchange with the red zoom and not have to worry about mount changes and all that seems to entail.(although we haven't gotten a comprehensive explanation from red on the facility of changing mounts regularly; we have certainly asked for that on several occasions?
Aloha

-A

[Sam Druckerman]

It's is possible.....

I've seen it discussed on the boards a few times.

A quick search revealed ......

http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?p=25151&highlight=pl+mount+conversion#post25151

You could try the old Red dvxuser board.

I think you're right, not having to switch mounts would be great.

Of course the down side is, besides giving up the use on your still camera, ...... might be hard to sell the lens after the conversion if you need to.

Lets try to compile a list of people doing that kind of work.

With enough interest maybe we could work a group power contract to obtain a discount.

[Poi Boy]

Thanks Sam,
I sent an e mail to a company in the uk and I'll post the response here.
It would be an ideal solution for me as I could switch easyly from nikon primes to red zoom. I am not concerned with resale and my still work is all digital back except for scouting or playing around for that I have a d200 with a zoom.
Aloha
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[Stephen Williams]

Hi,

I can recommend Les Boscher, his work is spot on.

Stephen

[Poi Boy]

Great, thanks Stephen, that is who I contacted. I'll let you know the outcome.
Aloha
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[Sam Druckerman]

Thanks Sam,
I sent an e mail to a company in the uk and I'll post the response here.
Aloha
-A

Cool.

Well, before I saw Stephen's post ......

I sent an e-mail to Clairmont Camera.

http://www.clairmont.com/index2.html

I'll post what I find out as well..... but

A recommendation from Stephen goes a long way.

[Sam Druckerman]

Poi Boy, here's an update.

Clairmont Camera declined.

They suggested Century Optics.

Century said "They generally don't do conversions to primes shorter than 200mm" When they do - do conversions to any lenses, they put a "Century Universal Mount" on the lens that requires a collar that would go "Century Universal Mount to (....? )" what you prefer, b4, PL, etc. So with the proper adapter, you can mount to anything. The advantage being you could buy a few collars and use your lens on different type mounts with ease.

The fee for converting a Nikor 200mm f2 to there Universal mount is.... $1900.00 + you need the collar universal to PL mount $325.00 If the lens you bring in requires any repairs, there would be additional charge.

FWIW, they also said it was Very difficult to try to convert the short primes. I guess that's why they don't do it.

Here's the # if you have other questions.

Century Precision Optics at 818-766-3715

[Poi Boy]

Thanks Sam, that is quite a bit more that I thought since I was thinking of converting 7 lenses. I'm still waiting to get more info from Les Boscher; he said some Nikkors could be converted but not others. I sent him my list and I'll see what he says.
Aloha
-A

[martinnoweck]

i am still very interested in rehousing still lenses to PL, but regarding the feedback i got on this forum and from P+S and bandpro in munich, it is quite expensive and you have some serious backfocus problems on short primes - with longer lenses it is less problematic.

maybe we should wait and see the nikon adaptor ...

but if you have any information on bulk still lens conversion, please keep posting - i AM interested!

regards,
martin

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Given the advertised cost of the RED prime set compared to the issues and cost associated with re-housing still lenses, would it even be worth the effort? Most anyone looking to re-house still lenses will have to go and buy lenses for this purpose or buy them already re-housed from a conversion shop. I've got a nice selection of Nikon glass, but I'm not about to re-house any of that -- I still need to use it with my still cameras.

[Stephen Williams]

Given the advertised cost of the RED prime set compared to the issues and cost associated with re-housing still lenses, would it even be worth the effort? Most anyone looking to re-house still lenses will have to go and buy lenses for this purpose or buy them already re-housed from a conversion shop. I've got a nice selection of Nikon glass, but I'm not about to re-house any of that -- I still need to use it with my still cameras.

Hi Jeff,

The P+S Zeiss/Nikon PL mounted lenses @ $2200 each are probably the only other viable option. Personally I would want to test the RED primes before spending cash on a conversion.

Stephen

[martinnoweck]

good points jeff and stephen: IMO we should really wait for the nikon adapter and the red lens collection.

martin

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Hi Jeff,

The P+S Zeiss/Nikon PL mounted lenses @ $2200 each are probably the only other viable option. Personally I would want to test the RED primes before spending cash on a conversion.

Stephen

Yeah, I'll definitely want to test out the RED primes or at least get some in-depth reports from the field from guys like Gibby before I plunk down the cash.. As good a deal as the RED prime set appears to be, it's still nearly double that of buying a similar set of conversions from P+S.

[Stephen Williams]

Yeah, I'll definitely want to test out the RED primes or at least get some in-depth reports from the field from guys like Gibby before I plunk down the cash.. As good a deal as the RED prime set appears to be, it's still nearly double that of buying a similar set of conversions from P+S.

Hi Jeff,

The P+S option is a bargain, I know a DP who paid £4500 per lens to rehouse Cooke SII/III glass. (Almost $9000 per lens) Makes RED lenses seem very attractive especially if they are made in the UK.

Stephen

[Poi Boy]

My first choice would be the red primes over my nikkor slr primes but A- I can't afford them at the moment and B- they won't be available when I get my first camera. I am just trying to work out the best way to use the nikkors and the red zoom without changing camera mounts. Paying $14K+ to convert my Nikkors is not the answer, I wonder if I can change the zoom to a nikkor mount ?
Aloha
-A

[Stephen Williams]

I wonder if I can change the zoom to a nikkor mount ?
Aloha
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Hi,

Whilst that may be possible I would not recommend it for 2 reasons.

1) Nikon mount not that strong

2) Nikon mount not really accurate enough IMHO as far as collimation is concerned.

Stephen

[Poi Boy]

OK I give up, I'll just have to make the best of it switching from pl to nikon and save as quickly as possible for the red prime set.
Aloha
-A

[Sam Druckerman]

I agree, it does seem too expensive....

And the lenses I was most interesting in converting were my fast nikkor short primes.... 28, 35, 50, & 85 f1.4's ..... which now seems it may not even be possible to do.

I understand why, but it's too bad the Red mounts couldn't snap in. That would've been so cool.

Poi Boy, I'm still curious what Les Boscher said?

If you do hear from him, please post.

[chuck colburn]

Hi Jeff,

The P+S Zeiss/Nikon PL mounted lenses @ $2200 each are probably the only other viable option. Personally I would want to test the RED primes before spending cash on a conversion.

Stephen


Looks like they still focus backwards. Which leads me to believe that they are just new shells and not complete new helicoids. Which makes sense for the price they are asking.