Rebuild a Nikon 17-55 DX

[Bérenger Brillante]

Hi

I've bought GL Optics Tokina 11-16, didn't received it yet, but I asked Nan if he could rebuilt some other lenses the same way.

I'm thinking of rebuilding my old Nikkor Highspeed AIS (85 1.4, 105 1.8, and 135 2) and a zoom that could fits most of my needs, the 17-55 f/2.8G
I don't know this lens but Ken Rockwell said it was THE lens for DX, though I've never tried it, I'm confident in his statement.


Anybody knows if the old nikkor are well matched with the 17-55 ?

[Daniel Murphy]

17-55 is a very sharp lens if you can deal with crop factor. Sold mine just a month ago and purchased a 14-24mm 2.8 zoom to use with EPIC and Nikon D4. I still own a few AIS manual Nikkors like 50 1.4, 85 1.4 and 200 2.0 ED-IF telephoto. All great lenses. My wish is to use lenses As-Is but add rings with sprocket for follow-focus. Once they receive full conversion to PL there's no turning back.

[Ted Parkes]

The 17-55 is a very solid lens. Extremely sharp I am surprised it isn't talked about more here. I love mine and I use it a lot with my Scarlet. Going to pick up the Tokina 11-16 and along with my other Nikon zooms will have everything from 11.. to 200 covered and a few prime AIS primes. Use these on the lower budget projects and rent glass for the other jobs.

[Bérenger Brillante]

Thanks for your answers.

The PL point of no return doesn't matter for me. The lenses are sitting on a shelf for 2 years, desperatly waiting to be used.
If I had them in PL, I would regulary use them with my Epic.

I don't even understand why nobody is planning to rebuild AIS lenses, like the 11-16 Tokina Duclos and GL Optics are offering.
Paying 3500$ for Dragon ready lenses as good as the Nikon should be a big market ?

About the crop factor, there is none on Epic, DX size is about the same as Mysterium X no ?

With the Tokina 11-16, the 17-55, the 85 105 and 135, i'm pretty much covered I guess :)

[Mennovandijk]

I also have a 17-55 Nikon lens.
Using it with an EOS adapter on the Epic occasionally.
The problem I have with this lens is when you focus on infinity at 17 mm and zoom in at 50.. the focus is way off (as are the focus marks) So when I use it I only focus by eye and not trusting the lens marks. Well on a dslr lens they are often not accurate anyways.

Beside that, using it as a variable prime I really like this lens.

[Bérenger Brillante]

that's exaclty what I needed to hear ! Thanks !

[Jacek Zakowicz]

I also have a 17-55 Nikon lens.
Using it with an EOS adapter on the Epic occasionally.
The problem I have with this lens is when you focus on infinity at 17 mm and zoom in at 50.. the focus is way off (as are the focus marks) So when I use it I only focus by eye and not trusting the lens marks. Well on a dslr lens they are often not accurate anyways.

Beside that, using it as a variable prime I really like this lens.

you need to check and adjust the back focus that's all.
Berenger converting lenses to PL properly is a very complex and time consuming proposition.
Only done when money is no object.
all the conversion projects I was involved in never really worked as well as ground up PL lenses.
If you want FF lenses in PL just buy the CPs- they are by far cheaper than trying to convert the Nikkors properly.
Or just buy Nikon mount for the Epic.....

[Mennovandijk]

you need to check and adjust the back focus that's all.

It has the same effect on my 5DII.
So it might be an issue with this specific lens.

[Jacek Zakowicz]

Or the adapter could be wrong.
Back focus is the lens adjustment.
Camera adjustment is called flange depth. They get mixed up all the time...