Looking at a used Macro lens: I put a want add in craigs list for a lens to reverse and a guy called me tonight and had a couple. But he also has a Nikon macro lens that won't focus at...

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

I put a want add in craigs list for a lens to reverse and a guy called me tonight and had a couple. But he also has a Nikon macro lens that won't focus at infinity. How big a problem is this going to be. He is selling it for $80.00 He says it seems to focus at more than 1:1. Any thoughts. I am meeting him tomorrow morning.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

What lens is it? There are dozens.

larrycumba

,
Don't know anything about Nikon but as far as macro goes, I would get one specificaly for macro shooting. Not one that might be a zoom lens with macro in the aperture description. An example is a mag I'm looking showing a Sigma. It reads 17-70mm 1:2.8-4 MACRO. I don't think this is what you need. A true macro might read 50mm, 60mm, 100mm etc., not to be confused with primes with the same mm numbers. Sorry I don't know how big a problem the infinity issue would be but I would take a trip to "Pass" city.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Take your camera and a ruler (metric if possible). Attach lens, set to manual, minimum focus. Moving camera/lens in & out, take a few photos of ruler. Compare captured image with actual ruler to determine magnification ratio. If 1:1 (life-size), you have a true macro lens.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

MT Shooter wrote:

What lens is it? There are dozens.

I was having trouble understanding him due to a thick accent, and my inability to hear well on the phone to start with.

The one that he originally called me about is a Nikkor H F2 AI lens. That I would buy and reverse. I may still buy it if this other one isn't going to workout.

The $80 one is suppose to be a true Macro, though he says it won't focus to infinity. Something about one of the lens coming from the factory aligned wrong. I think he was saying that it was tighter than 1:1 But unfortunately between his accent and my lack of knowledge I couldn't follow him. He was talking way over my head.

Maybe I am getting myself into trouble.
:-o

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

Nikonian72 wrote:

Take your camera and a ruler (metric if possible). Attach lens, set to manual, minimum focus. Moving camera/lens in & out, take a few photos of ruler. Compare captured image with actual ruler to determine magnification ratio. If 1:1 (life-size), you have a true macro lens.

Thank you for explaining to me how to do this.
I will be taking my camera, but no way to print off a print. I am more concerned with the focus issue.
I figure that I am going to learn about these lens one way or the other and hopefully it isn't the hard way. :?
I don't know if meeting him and seeing them in person is better or worse them buying one off of e-bay. :|

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

I would definitly take your camera and see what all is wrong with it. Even the older Nikon lenses go for pretty good money in working order. Did he list the others by name?
Erv

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

If it is AI i will work on your camera, but will be full manual.
Erv

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

Erv wrote:

I would definitly take your camera and see what all is wrong with it. Even the older Nikon lenses go for pretty good money in working order. Did he list the others by name?
Erv

He didn't list them. I had a want ad in Craigs list asking for a 50mm prime manual focus to reverse. I said I only wanted to spend $40.00 He called and said he had these and others. The one prime was $50, which is about what I would probably pay on e-bay with shipping. The macro he said was $400 lens if the focus wasn't off. I believe they both have metal mounts.
I just wanted to play around with macro without getting a ton of money tied up in it. Hence the reverse lens thing.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Country's Mama wrote:

quote=MT Shooter What lens is it? There are dozen... (show quote)

My personal opinion based on the info you have put up so far would be to forget the meeting. Its an AI lens, this means old. It will not focus to infinity in a manual lens indicates a mechanical malfunction. I would suspect it probably also has aperture blade problems based on this other problem. Also, the only Nikkor "H" series (Hex-6 blade aperture) lens I know of that came in an F2 was a 50mm, and they go for around $50 on Ebay all the time in good shape. No idea what the 80mm Macro might be. I think you could probably find much better things to spend your money on, maybe a set of extension tubes for $79.95.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

MT Shooter wrote:

quote=Country's Mama quote=MT Shooter What lens ... (show quote)

I will probably keep the appointment, only because I made an appt. for the computer to be looked at, so I might as well look at what he has. I have also talked my photographer daughter into going, though she knows very little about Macro. lens. So I shouldn't get too ripped off. You are probably right I think I will think hard about extension tubes. It is just so hard buying this kind of stuff when you know so little and you have a little budget.

twowindsbear

Country's Mama wrote:

I put a want add in craigs list for a lens to reverse and a guy called me tonight and had a couple. But he also has a Nikon macro lens that won't focus at infinity. How big a problem is this going to be. He is selling it for $80.00 He says it seems to focus at more than 1:1. Any thoughts. I am meeting him tomorrow morning.

Would you tell me a bit about what you want to photograph?

IF this lens will focus at 'macro' distances, and function with your camera - I really don't see much of a problem with it not focusing to infinity. . . you'll have a 'macro only' lens.

I really think you'll have better results with a set of extension tubes than just a reversing ring. With the set of tubes, you get at least some 'variety' of magnifications. The ring is pretty much just 1 magnification.

A 'good' set of extension tubes should allow all 'automatic' features of your camera & lens. A 'less expensive' set may not, and a reversing ring will not!

Macro is a LOT of fun, too!

Good luck.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

twowindsbear wrote:

quote=Country's Mama I put a want add in craigs l... (show quote)

I will mostly be photographing flowers and insects, but who knows as I learn more I want to do more. ;-)

effrant Loc: New Hampshire

Listen to MT Shooter. Sometimes eighty bucks can buy five hundred dollars worth of trouble. Forget it and look for a fully functioning macro lens, and save some more money if needed......

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

Country's Mama wrote:

I put a want add in craigs list for a lens to reverse and a guy called me tonight and had a couple. But he also has a Nikon macro lens that won't focus at infinity. How big a problem is this going to be. He is selling it for $80.00 He says it seems to focus at more than 1:1. Any thoughts. I am meeting him tomorrow morning.

make sure you play with that lens before laying down cash and if if it focuses well in the macro ranges and you like it - buy it