chase4 Loc: Punta Corona, California

A question for all: Has anyone here on the UHH tried to or have replaced the plastic lens mount on any Nikkor lens with a metal one?

Background: I asked Nikon Support if they could replace the plastic lens mounts on my AF G type lenses with a metal mount.

Here is their response "Thank you for contacting Nikon. I am happy to help you today with your inquiry if we could replace plastic lens mounts with metal lens mounts on your two lenses.
At this time, we do not have metal lens mounts on our Nikon store. I do apologize for the inconvenience. The lenses are made with Nikkon specific technology, materials, workmanship and products.
If you need any more assistance, feel free to call or email us. Please Click the "Update My Question" link on the email to respond. For any other questions, please contact us via email or call us at 1-800-NikonUS or 1-800-645-6687 from 9:00 a.m to 8:00 p.m. EST.
Sincerely,
Diana
Nikon Technical Support Team"

Thanks in advance for any help regarding this matter you can provide. chase

P.S. For all you "just Google it first" folks, I thought it better to ask here first rather
than find some obtuse reference on the internet about this subject.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

If you want a lens with a metal mount, buy a lens with a metal mount. The Nikon response was just being polite ...

chase4 Loc: Punta Corona, California

Thanks CHG - I have a bucket load of metal mount Nikkors, mostly primes and I think I can afford others if wanted/needed. I just have a favorite AF 28-200 G that I would like to have a metal mount if possible. Cheers, chase

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

PS why should you care what the mount is made of?
I have a wonderful 10-18mm with a synthetic mount and it works perfectly and is very light and easy to carry. I trust major makers like Nikon and Canon etc. to make the mount to match the lens. They would not make a lens with a synthetic mount unless they felt it is good enough to not cause problems. The plastic mount dates to the series E lenses I believe.

chase4 Loc: Punta Corona, California

Thanks Archi - I once had a plastic lens mount fail and I thought metal might prevent such a recurrance. I have several plastic mount Nikkors and they are currently doing well with no problems. I just wanted to ask about some extra benefits of the metal mount for an often used favotiate lens. chase

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

There was a guy, somewhere in Michigan, I believe, who modified Vintage Nikon manual lenses to fit the "F" mount without complications. Someone mentioned him on this forum not long ago. He may have some spare metal mounts from broken lenses. Nikon saves money by using plastic. Or you may want to check eBay for broken Nikon lenses for parts. And have a local photo repair shop to install them for you. Plastic is the future now. And they are quite tough. Good luck.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

I see lots of those lenses with polycarbonate mounts on eBay sold as parts lenses due to the mount breaking. I think I recently saw a seller selling metal mounts to replace those polycarbonate ones. Nikon never used polycarbonate in their mounts till the advent of "G" lenses. The older Series "E" lenses had polycarbonate bodies but metal mounts...Thought I found a metal replacement mount but I was mistaken. All of my lenses have metal mounts...

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

In 1995 I switched from Pentax to Canon because I liked the new new EF lens system. The 28-80 lens kitted with that first camera system had a "plastic" mount, but I used it the entire eleven years I used that camera, and when I went digital, that lens went into the camera bag for the new camera to supplement the 18-55 lens kitted with it; I might have used that lens for nearly twenty years if I hadn't lost it in an embarrassing accident - I hope the squirrels enjoy it. The 18-55 lens kitted with my first Rebel lasted the entire 7-1/2 years I used Rebels, even though it also had a "plastic" mount; I eventually went back to Pentax in 2015 because of the Rebel bodies, certainly not because of those lenses. I find that use of plastic-type materials bothers Pentax and Nikon users; I don't hear many Canon users complain about it. Plastics really do work.

chase4 Loc: Punta Corona, California

Thanks mas24, Scott and rehess for you replies - My original question was if anyone here had done this (Nikkor plastic to metal lens mount exchange) and what were their results. I appreciate all the replies and suggestions but would like to hear from someone that has tried or done this and what were their results. I know that metal mounts are available from used/broken lenses and thought I might hear from someone that has already done this. At this point, I am unwilling to experiment with such an exchange without experienced input. I guess if this were really important to me I could buy a used AF Nikkor 28-200 G on ebay and conduct my own experiment and share the results here on the UHH. Happy shooting to all............chase

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I am sorry, but NONE of my QUALITY Nikon Glass have plastic lens mounts. Are you sure they are WORTH the conversion.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Nikon has made millions of lenses with plastic mounts, and they seem to hold up very well. My son dropped his Nikon and broke the plastic mount on an 18-105mm (I think). I bought a mount on ebay and replaced it. If the mount was very strong, the fall might have broken the camera or lens. It's like a fail-safe breakaway. Maybe all lenses should have plastic mounts.

If you find a metal mount - not made by Nikon - I wouldn't want to use it.

Jeffcs Loc: Myrtle Beach South Carolina

Never owned a plastic mount lens
Not sure the lens is worth spending the price of the change

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Actually the original E mounts had synthetic mounts then it was changed because the stick in the muds reactionaries freaked out about it. Kind of like the first reaction to the M-16 not having wood. Now synthetic stocks are the norm for better properties than wood on nearly every rifle made today.
The "Heavy" lenses have metal mounts and those anticipating abusive use. Most non pros baby their equipment to extremes so mount damage is virtually impossible unless there is a drop and a synthetic mount that breaks would be a huge advantage as you are less likely to rip the front off your camera and perhaps even prevent further damage to the lens as the break point is right at the easily repairable mount.

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

Contact rjriggins11 on this site Ric lives in Colorado Springs. He has a camera service shop and he can do a lens mount conversion for you. He’s a good man and his rates are reasonable.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

The 28~80 f/3.5-5.6 AF D of 1995 had a polycarbonate bayonet. The Series E 75~150 f/3.5, at least, never had a polycarbonate bayonet. I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect low end lenses to be very durable.