Nippon Kogaku 10.5CM - DPChallenge Forums

12/07/2006 01:48:57 PM · #1

I was so happy to be reunited with my old 1960's lens. I got it at a recycle shop in Japan about 3 years ago and it had a problen with the iris blades, I sent it to Nikon Japan and they fixed it saying that it was a design fault with that particular lens and it will happen again, and, sure enough bang on cue it happened the following week again so it had been sitting in a box for about 2 years. Now my wife has just returned from Japan and she bought my baby home with her. I asked around a few shops for advice on fixing it and one guy said "Rip out the iris totally and just use it wide open at f4 then, if you ever want to sell/restore it send it to Nikon and have them put in a whole new iris section, but to be honest I'de just take the whole thing out and use it, lenses are made for shooting not for looking at". YESSSS! great idea. I set about it tonight and have removed all the iris blades, A lot of them were broken and very brittle I made a plastic coller that was a perfect fit into the barrell to stop the iris mount from moving around and even cleaned off a bit of mould that was inside too... now I have it back working great at f4 only...

Anyone else ever fixed/bodged a lens? I think it was a very interesting thing to do.

Here is my lens, my ACTUAL lens if anyone is interested.. I'll be shooting the next challenge with it, it has a very old flavour to it and the BOKEH is awsome.

Cheers

Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra

12/07/2006 02:10:35 PM · #2

I have some photos of it. I like the way a 1960's lens can still fit and work on a 2006 camera 45 years on.

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm f/4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

12/07/2006 02:14:52 PM · #3

That's a cool-looking beast, isn't it? I had one of those back in the mid-60's myself, got rid of it when the iris broke. Love what you've done with it, and good luck in the challenge :-)

R.

ralph

Nikon Z9

12/07/2006 02:44:25 PM · #4

very cool /& a great idea for the nonfunct. lenses...

12/07/2006 04:47:39 PM · #5

Just been playing around with it and tried a few shots on its own and with the ext tube too.. its gonna be fun when I can get more light into it. Taking it out tomorrow for a day out.. yohoho.

12/08/2006 03:34:00 AM · #6

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

That's a cool-looking beast, isn't it? I had one of those back in the mid-60's myself, got rid of it when the iris broke. Love what you've done with it, and good luck in the challenge :-)

R.

Hi Robert, I would be interested to know WHAT Nikon camera you used back in the days.. When I found this lens it was with 2 other Kogaku lenses (I sold) a 50mmf2 and a 35mm f3.5 and the body was a seriously old (and broken) Nikorex (poor mans Nikon i believe)

I paid about $50 for the lot I think. I miss the junk shops in Japan they tend to place very little value on their own made things. for example I bought a TOKAI gold top guitar (a gibson LP replica from 1978) it was $60... in UK now that guitar is worth (easy to sell too) $850 approx. I found a Nikon F at a junk shop about 8 years ago for $20 had a shutter problem that was fixed by Nikon (my father-in-law STILL shoots with it today.

Message edited by author 2006-12-08 03:34:59.

hyperfocal

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 105mm f/2.5 AIS

12/08/2006 01:37:12 PM · #7

It is ironic that someone mentions this lens now. I've been really interested in UV photography lately, and I thought that the 105mm f4 would be a great candidate with its 3 lenses in 3 group construction and primitive lens coatings if any. Unfortunately I haven't found one to try. I even have some 34.5mm filtration that I use on my Nikkor EL 50mm and EL 75mm enlarger lenses. Years ago I shot with the rangefinder version of this lens, which has the same optical construction. But if my memory serves me I had neither a very positive or negative impression, so Iâ��m interested in your results. If you ever want to sell it, Iâ��d be VERY interested.

BTW, I find it very strange that for a community as large as the DPC that so many of the legendary Nikon lenses are under represented. Nikon is so unique in the industry in that the mount hasnâ��t changed since 1959. I understand some of the more esoteric lenses like the 58mm f1.2NOCT or the 200-400 f4AIS not being used, but only 4 people owning the 105mm f2.5? Many consider it one of the best portrait lenses ever made. I realize that Nikon abandoned chip-less lenses for a while, but especially now with the D200 Iâ��d expect more.