Tools and how to use them is the greatest asset to any craft. Over the years I came upon these classics one way or another.
The Nikon F (SN# 6444829) was the first 35mm I owned, purchased in 1990. I purchased it with the classic NIKKOR-S 1:1.4 50mm lens along with a Steinheil Munchen Auto-D-Tele-Quinar 135mm 1:2.8. I later purchased a 35mm NIKKOR 1:2 lens; Tamron 70-210mm 1: 4-5.6; and to top things off, after I spent 3 years looking to get my favorite NIKKOR Zoom-35-70 macro 1:3.5. Throw in a Tamron teleconveter 2X just for good measure and some Tiffen filters.

To compensate for the shortcomings of internal battery operated light meters, I purchased a Gossen Pilot.

To help with flash I obtained a Sunpack auto 322. At this time I found out that the F camera body’s flash did not work. All this was to begin my photography in photographing the bicycles that I built out of the Shoppe. I finalized my flash needs with a Nissin 300TZ and a pair of Quantaray MS-1 Strobes for fill.

I found an excellent Nikon F (SN# 6991428) to become my main unit. I like to joke to campers that it works great for pounding tent stakes in!
Then came in was the leather case found in an attic. There were two Topcon lenses. A 25mm 1:3.5 and a 135mm 1:3.5. No body but an owner’s manual for a Topcon RE Super. The search was on!
Three years latter I find one in a used camera shop. Cost: $50 with a prism that is dented and a scuffed lens 58mm 1:1.8. I took it home, sent the lens to be cleaned up and recoated. The rest is history. The final addition to this great camera is the Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 4/20. By chance its lens mount is an Exacta and with a slight modification works great with this body!

Now I have reached the digital age with a full passion! I have had the Canon S200 for almost 3 years and although very capable of many tasks, it just doesn't cut it for Pro. I have been studying the market for the best digital with interchangeable lenses for almost a year now and was almost sold on the Nikon D70 until I stumbled upon the vast amount of lens converters for the EOS platform. I purchased a Canon Rebel XT over the 20D because it is basically the same unit at more than half the cost, and also offered a built in flash!

I have ordered a lens converter for my Nikon lenses and I have made a converter for my Zeiss to fit the EOS as well as a Minolta MD mount.
Yes! A Nikon F on a Rebel XT!

 

Yes! An Exacta mount Carl Zeiss on a Rebel XT! All the photos above were taken with a Canon S200 2 megapixel wonder.

New lenses acquired from EBay in 2006-07 are a new, in the box 70-210mm Vivitar Series 1 (1994) manual with macro in the 210mm setting; Carl Zeiss 135mm fixed and a rare 70-210mm Carl Zeiss with macro throughout the focal range.

This photo was taken with the setup you see in the photo above using the 20mm Zeiss lens.

 

http://www.desperadocycles.com

Jalon Hawk