Bob Moore
Well-known member
I thought I would post this as I know a lot of EPIC present and future owners would like to have an interim cheap option to use Nikon G lenses until
a Smart Nikon mount is approved and released for EPIC.
This is a simple non-destructive mod that can be set up quickly and removed in a couple of seconds...does not mar nor hurt lens nor camera.
Aperture on the G is controlled by a lever that rests in a well or trench ... most of the lenses rest at smallest aperture and moving the lever opens the lens. I decided to try inserting a soft
spacer to open up the lens ... with a bit of study I found that a small soft plastic tubing which is just a small bit larger than the well can be gently inserted and it will move the lever and open the
aperture. It turns out that one piece opens the lens to about F4-5.6 and two open it to max aperture.
Lever with two pieces:
Small segment of the tubing:
Due to diffraction effects 5.6 may be a great aperture for max sharpness....wide open suffices for limited DOF.
Add a Variable ND to the front or change shutter and you pretty much can use the lens in most situations.
Critical to the success of this is to pick a tubing that inserts with moderate difficulty so it will not move, cut the tubing so that only a small amount resides above the well but below the length of the lever -
this prevents it from being moved. The tubing should insert to the bottom of the well so that it is stable. Soft pliable tubing avoids any stress to the lens or mount.
Care should be taken when mounting and removing the lens to avoid pressure on tubing or lever.
Once you have done this a couple of times it is dead simple...you can even change from one segment to two in the field as desired with a pair or small needle nose pliers.
Best part of this is it costs nothing and when the Smart Mount arrives you will have infinitely better control over the lens.
Bob
a Smart Nikon mount is approved and released for EPIC.
This is a simple non-destructive mod that can be set up quickly and removed in a couple of seconds...does not mar nor hurt lens nor camera.
Aperture on the G is controlled by a lever that rests in a well or trench ... most of the lenses rest at smallest aperture and moving the lever opens the lens. I decided to try inserting a soft
spacer to open up the lens ... with a bit of study I found that a small soft plastic tubing which is just a small bit larger than the well can be gently inserted and it will move the lever and open the
aperture. It turns out that one piece opens the lens to about F4-5.6 and two open it to max aperture.
Lever with two pieces:
Small segment of the tubing:
Due to diffraction effects 5.6 may be a great aperture for max sharpness....wide open suffices for limited DOF.
Add a Variable ND to the front or change shutter and you pretty much can use the lens in most situations.
Critical to the success of this is to pick a tubing that inserts with moderate difficulty so it will not move, cut the tubing so that only a small amount resides above the well but below the length of the lever -
this prevents it from being moved. The tubing should insert to the bottom of the well so that it is stable. Soft pliable tubing avoids any stress to the lens or mount.
Care should be taken when mounting and removing the lens to avoid pressure on tubing or lever.
Once you have done this a couple of times it is dead simple...you can even change from one segment to two in the field as desired with a pair or small needle nose pliers.
Best part of this is it costs nothing and when the Smart Mount arrives you will have infinitely better control over the lens.
Bob
