How to get non-AI Nikkors converted?

[Matthew Currie]

Thanks for the tip! The only thing that has to be removed is on the aperture ring, from where I mount the lens, to f11 and 1/3? Or am I missing something?

The thing you're missing on this particular lens is that the aperture ring is held on with an additional internal spring that is rather hard to get off and back on without damage.  It's been some years since I did mine, and don't remember the details, but I'm pretty sure Richard Haw can.  All I remember is that it was pretty frustrating and involved multiple tries with a tiny tool to get it back together. It's not impossible, but it's not as easy as some others because of that spring.

The other thing, for which John White's site is useful, is the conversion to clear the minimum aperture switch if you expect ever to use it on older AF cameras that lack an AI metering follower.  The need for this is limited, but lower-end AF film cameras and digitals before the D3000 or so require more milling than the basic AI conversion.

[Peter_S]

Looking at all your conversions I see that you mill down the aperture rings beyond the bayonet.
I looked at my original AI and AIS lenses and they have also a deeper cut out.
I have to check this evening that the lever of the DSLRs is not bent 🤔

I attached my latest conversions from the weekend. What do you think, should I mill down more??
If yes, there will be a lot of work for the next weekend to mill down all the converted lenses 😬

Looking forward hearing your answers
Peter

[Bjørn Rørslett]

All I can say is this looks splendid.

[Matthew Currie]

Of the various ones I have, which have been converted in various ways by myself and others, a couple were done with the rings still on (ugly looking, probably Dremel work, very cheap to buy!) , which pretty much demands that they be flush with the mount.  They work fine.  The AI tab is just about flush as well, but all the ones I've seen also have a tiny bit of play, and for safe mounting a miss is as good as a mile.  I'd try the lenses and maybe use a little piece of paper as a feeler.  If you can put the paper in, you're plenty safe.

The ones in the pictures look very nice. 

[brent_e]

3 more of my lenses went on the chopping block the other night - 16mm f/3.5, 50mm f/2, and 50mm f/1.4.  The 50 f/2 didn't get completed as I hadn't received the right JIS driver to take the ring off. 

[Erik Lund]

What a nice machine,,, 

[brent_e]

What a nice machine,,, 

she's twice as old as I am, at least! 

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Erik will dream of this machine

[armando_m]

I'll have this with me by Monday ... this thread is most helpful

[Peter]

Aren't them old Nikkor's a work of true and timeless art?
If it last forever it's not considered land fill waste!!

[Bjørn Solberg]

My first....    Cut thin slices  of my sofa leg until it fitted the ring(work bench), file and screwdriver.

[Peter]

What is the sofa leg for?

[Steven Paulsen]

Anyone in my area can contact me on Ai conversions. If I charge anything, it's little more than the cost of a modest fast food meal.

I mark the lens with an F3, remove the ring & flat file, close, then carefully make the match  exact. Long ago, I used the guy everyone recommends, but had to clean up what I consider sloppy work. There was also a local guy with an honest repair shop, (film days.) His work was more than horrible.

There are a few that get more complicated where you have to remove the stop down mechanics.

My opinion only. In the US there are now variances on truth.

<humor>

[gryphon1911]

Just looking to see if the consensus thinks it is worth the cost to get the following lenses AI converted.  My thought is yes, just for the easier handling on the Df...but what the heck I'll inquire anyway

55/3.5 Macro
135/3.5 Q
200/4 QC

[Hugh_3170]

Andrew, it is definitely well worth the effort to get them converted.  It is not as if this three lenses are particulary unique or rare lenses. 

But why pay to have them converted - learn to modify them yourself - there are a number of examples on this site as to how it is done.  Good luck.