Petri 4.5cm f/2.8… F-Mount!

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Here’s another one of my goofy projects. I had couple of Petri 2.8 Color Corrected Super rangefinder cameras from the 1960s that I picked up for peanuts. One day, I had a strange urge to try and convert one of the lens from the Petri into a Nikon F-Mount.
The lens on this Petri rangefinder is fixed, by the way. So I had to perform a major surgery to the camera before I was able to separate the lens from the body. As much as I tried I wasn’t able to salvage the focusing mechanical bits. The shutter mechanism that’s built into the lens barrel had to be removed since I didn’t need it and it was in the way. I was surprised to find a 10-blade aperture diaphragm on this budget model. The glass wasn’t in great shape but shots came out clean and surprisingly sharp.



Petri 4.5cm f/2.8 converted to Nikon F-Mount (notice the 10-blade aperture diaphragm!)

Doesn’t look all that bad on the Nikon D90.



Petri 4.5cm f/2.8 on Nikon D90

Turn any lens into a Nikon F-Mount by using the Nikon body cap!



Petri 4.5cm f/2.8 converted using Nikon body cap

Sample shots with Petri lens (Samsung NX100 w/ F to NX adapter)



Sample shots with Petri lens (Nikon D90)



Photo.2012.12

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Panasonic Lumix GF2, Sigma 19mm 2.8


Nikon D90, Nikkor 18-105mm


Nikon D90, Nikkor 18-105mm


Nikon D90, Nikkor 18-105mm


Samsung NX100, Nikkor 18-105mm


Nikon D90, Nikkor 50mm 1.8 D


Nikon D90, Nikkor 18-105mm


Nikon D90, Nikkor 18-105mm


Nikon D90, Nikkor 18-105mm


Nikon D90, Tamron SP 17-35mm 2.8


Canon Xti, Nikkor-S 50mm 1.4


Panasonic Lumix, Konica Hexanon 50mm 1.7


Panasonic Lumix, Sigma 19mm 2.8


Panasonic Lumix, Sigma 19mm 2.8


Panasonic Lumix, Konica 28mm 2.8


Panasonic Lumix, Sigma 19mm 2.8


Panasonic Lumix, Sigma 19mm 2.8


Panasonic Lumix, Sigma 19mm 2.8


Panasonic Lumix, Sigma 19mm 2.8


Panasonic Lumix, Sigma 19mm 2.8


Canon Xti, EF 28-105mm


Panasonic Lumix GF3, Sigma 19mm 2.8


Panasonic Lumix GF3, Sigma 19mm 2.8


Panasonic Lumix GF3, Konica Hexanon 50mm 1.7


Panasonic Lumix GF3, Sigma 19mm 2.9

Konica AR Mount & Nikon F Mount

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Here is the detailed look at both mounts; the Nikon F and the Konica AR. Bayonets on these are almost identical. Both have three tabs on the flange which are positioned almost exactly like the other. As a result, the AR-mount lens fits comfortably inside the Nikon F-mount. Once the flange sits nicely inside the camera mount, you need to turn the Konica AR lens in the opposite direction of how you’d normally mount a F-mount lens because of the way stoppers are situated.

The center top of the AR lens even ends up roughly in the center which is nice. You’re not going to hear the final ‘click’ as you mount. You somehow need to know instinctively when to stop turning. I stop as soon as I feel a hint of resistance. That’s when the top of the lens sits roughly in the center and the fit is firm enough to operate the lens and the camera. You DO NOT want to force rotate it more than you need to. You don’t want to find out what happens then.
Konica AR-mount on Nkion F-mount

Konica AR-mount on Nkion F-mount

And here it is on the Nikon D90. Of course, everything is manual and there is no focus to infinity. Also, unfortunately for the D90, there is no metering. But just look at that fit! And the Konica Hexanon is one darn good lens. Takes beautiful pictures and super crisp.
Konica AR-mount on Nkion F-mount

Example shot with Konica Hexanon 50mm monuted on Nikon D90
Konica AR-mount on Nkion F-mount

Another AR+F mount example: Vivitar MC 28mm Konica AR mount

*Please note: if you are attempting this fit, do it at your own risk. This particular combination has caused no damage to my Nikon but I’m not making any guarantees.

Photo: 2011.10

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f/3, 1/1600s, iso-800 (Nikon D90 w/ Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8)


f/6.3, 1/160s, iso-200 (Nikon D90 w/ Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8)


f/5.6, 1/125s, iso-200 (Nikon D90 w/ Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8)


f/6.3, 1/160s, iso-200 (Nikon D90 w/ Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8)


f/6.3, 1/160s, iso-200 (Nikon D90 w/ Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8)


f/1.8, 1/500s, iso-800 (Nikon D90 w/ Nikkor 50mm f/1.8)


f/1.8, 1/320s, iso-800 (Nikon D90 w/ Nikkor 50mm f/1.8)


f/2.8, 1/15s, iso-800 (Nikon D90 w/ Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8)

Samsung NX200

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Samsung has made quite an impression with the NX100 Mirrorless System Camera last year. The competition in the Mirrorless Camera market is fierce. To combat the likes of Sony NEX-7, Samsung just introduced the NX200. The spec looks very promising.

Sensor: APS-C CMOS (15.7 x 23.5mm)
Resolution: 20.3MP (there’s a slight concern for noise at this level for sensor of this size)
ISO: 100-12800
Max. Shutter Speed: 1/4000
Continuous Shooting: 7 fps

Although Samsung claims autofocus speed of 0.1 second – which is quite fast even for dedicated DSLR – I doubt the NX200 will reliably perform at that speed in real world situations. But I don’t care. I want one.
The NX200 is quite possibly the most desirable Mirrorless System Camera on the market right now.

UPDATE (Sept. 21, 2011): Nikon introduces mirrorless!

Samsung NX200

Samsung NX200

Samsung NX200

Samsung NX200

Samsung NX200

Samsung NX200

Samsung NX200

Samsung NX200

Canon EOS with Nikon F-mount Adapter

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Currently, my Canon Rebel Xti works in manual focus mode only.

Since the Canon EF lenses do not have aperture rings, it will be pointless trying to use those in manual mode. Instead, I bought a cheap Canon EF-to-Nikon F-Mount adapter. Now I can mount some old Nikon lenses that do have proper aperture rings.
Here is the cool thing. The Canon will meter with the old Nikon AI lenses. Same with the old Canon FD lenses and everything else (with adapters), the Canon will meter without any electronic or mechanical contact with the lens.

Canon EOS with F-mount Tokina

At this point I’d like to point out the great irony that no Nikon fan will want to talk about during the heated Canon vs. Nikon debate:
Nikon and its fans boast and pride themselves for having the ultimate lens compatibility with the F-mount and most will claim that any Nikon lens ever made since 1959 is compatible with modern Nikon cameras. This is simply not true.

- Most Nikon F-mount lenses produced before late 1970s must be modified to mount on modern Nikon cameras.

- Any non-G Series auto focus lenses will not auto focus on many of the mainstream modern Nikon DSLRs unless the camera has a built-in focus screw (D90 and up).

- And most importantly, with the exception of few high end models, modern Nikon DSLRs do not meter with the old manual lenses. The Canon does!

Canon EOS to Nikon F-mount adapter

Canon EOS to Nikon F-mount adapter
Canon EOS to Nikon F-Mount Adapter

Canon EOS with Nikkor 50mm AF 1.8D
Canon EOS with Nikkor 50mm 1.8D

Canon EOS with Ricoh Rikenon
Canon EOS with Ricoh Rikenon 50mm F/2
(Ricoh was converted to F-mount bayonet previously)

Canon EOS with Tokina F-mount
Canon EOS with AI F-Mount Tokina 100-300

Canon EOS with F-mount Tamron
Canon EOS with F-Mount Tamron 17-35mm F/2.8

Canon EOS with Nikkor-S 50mm 1.4

Canon EOS with Nikkor-S 50mm 1.4
Canon EOS with Nikkor-S 50mmF/1.4
(The non-AI F-mount lenses do not have to be converted to AI when using the EOS-Nikon adapter. Just need to remove the aperture indexing fork.)

Canon Xti Repair – Part 2

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Canon Xti repair part 1
The ribbon connector attached to this part (the lens communication pin assembly) is really all I needed to fix the lens communication and bring the auto-focus back. But unfortunately, I discovered the hard way that this piece isn’t simply replaceable by itself.

Canon Xti in parts

I got my hands on the Xti donor number one. The donor had damages beyond any hopes of repair but all I needed is a ribbon connector so I started taking it apart. However, as you can see in the picture, the ribbon connector is routed into the mirror assembly. This meant I’d have to dismantle the entire shutter mechanism attached to the mirror box. There were myriads of tiny gears, levers, and springs that I knew was impossible to put back once taken apart. My Xti is at least half functioning – it works fine with manual lenses. And I don’t want it to be fully broken. Therefore the risk was just too high only to get the auto focus back.

Canon Xti in parts

Canon Xti in parts

So my choices are either live without the auto focus or get another donor and awap out the entire mirror box and shutter assembly. So I chose the latter.
Canon Xti repair part 3