Matrix Metering now available for older M.Focus Nikon Lenses

Do you install the contacts also?, How much?

I might be willing to believe you can make MF lens matrix meter with N70, N8008, N6006, N90, F4, F100 and F5 with just a ROM chip because these cameras use the normal mechanical aperture info transfer. But N50 and N60 (an N4004 and N5005) requires a rotary encoder in the lens to feed aperture info through the electric contacts. Do you install the rotory encoder on the aperture mechanisms as well?

Yes, I also install the contacts. My upgrade installs both the chip and the contacts that connect the chip to the camera. Cost is between $50 and $90 depending on the lens, email me for a quote.

As far as the N50, N60, N4004, N5005, compatibility issue is concerned, I don't have a concrete answer for you. I was not aware that these cameras used a different aperture system! Actual testing would be the best way to determine computability. However, I would like to note that I have taken apart numerous Nikon AF lenses that are matrix metering compatible with the N50, N60, N4004, N5005 cameras, and NONE of them have any kind of electronic rotary system to transmit aperture information. ALL THEY HAVE IS A MATRIX CHIP and SOME RESISTORS, that are mounted on a flexible circuit board which has metal contacts at one end to send signals to the camera's computer system. I believe my upgrade with work with these cameras.

Anways, I think most people who will want this upgrade, probably have the more advanced Nikon bodies such as the N70, N90s, F100, and F5 that I know will work with my upgrade. If the lens upgrade doesn't work with one of the above bodies, I'll give you a refund.

Let me apologize for talking before thinking. I just realised that the N50 and N60 does not need to know the position of the aperture ring because the aperture is controlled through the body. So there is no need for the rotory encoder. Sorry about that.

All the N50 and N60 need to know is that the aperture is set to minimum. They know this by a little tab on the aperture ring near the bottom of the lens.

Rolland, could you share a little more detail about how you do this? How do you know which chip to use? Can you only do this for lenses where there are exact MF/AF equivelents? Forinstance, there is no AF equivelent to the 24/2 or the 400/3.5. The chip needs to send the maximum aperture to the body as well as the focal length.

Paul wrote: "The chip needs to send the maximum aperture to the body as well as the focal length."

The only thing your Nikon body needs to know to determine the correct exposure is the maximum aperture of the lens. It DOES NOT need to know the focal length of the lens in use. The matrix metering chip does transmit the focal length information to the body and it is used to determine the "most appropriate" shutter speed and aperture combination. Nikon's exposure programs are based on the familiar rule that your shutter speed should be at least 1/"focal length" to ensure sharp pictures free from camera shake. Nikon has printed these curves in several publications. I know that their brochure for the N6006 camera has some lens exposure curves in it. As an example suppose you are using an 80-200mm f/2.8 constant aperture zoom lens set at 200mm. Furthermore say that you have your camera set on program mode. The matrix metering system determines the correct exposure to be f/5.6 & 1/250 sec. at 200mm, but if you zoom out to 100mm the aperture & shutter speed combination might change to f/8 & 1/125 sec. You still get the correct exposure, just using a different combination of aperture & shutter speed.

"Could you share a little more detail about how you do this? How do you know which chip to use? Can you only do this for lenses where there are exact MF/AF equivalents?"

I can do the modification for any lens! I just choose a NON-D type matrix metering chip that has the same maximum aperture as the lens in use. For instance if you want your 400mm f/3.5 lens modified I would probably use the matrix chip from the 200mm f/3.5 EDIF AF lens (which is no longer made, but spare parts are still available) or the chip from the 28-70mm f/3.5 to 4.5 AF lens or the 28-85mm f/3.5 to 4.5 N AF, etc. The nice thing about the matrix chips for the zooms is that by adjusting the electronics I can tell the camera body what aperture to use. Nikon makes so many lens, finding a match is easy. For the 24mm f/2 lens I could use the chip from the 35mm f/2 AF lens or the 135mm f/2 AF DC lens.

The only thing I haven't tested, that I'm curious about is how manual focus variable zoom lens will perform.

Also for everyone that has asked if I make these lenses "D" distance compatible the answer is NO! Nikon's D lenses use a flexible circuit board that comes in contact with metal contacts, usually on the inside of the focusing ring. Depending on the focus's ring position the distance information is sent to the camera. Adding a flexible circuit board inside the lens' focusing ring of a manual focus lens would require the complete redesign of the lens, which is exactly what Nikon did to upgrade the D lenses. However the "D" distance information is only really beneficial for flash exposures. In addition although the matrix metering chips I add won't transmit distance information they will allow "advanced matrix balanced fill flash" which is a lot better than the center-weighted fill flash you'd get using regular manual focus lenses.

Hope this helps, Rolland_Elliott@yahoo.com

I just received my two AIS telephotos (400/3.5 and 600/4) back from Rolland; he did the CPU conversion on these lenses and had them back to me within one week including shipping both ways. Both lenses now meter in color matrix mode on my F5 and show the aperture in the electronic viewfinder display.

I wrote an article theorizing that this CPU addition should work and give new life to many expensive AI/AIS lenses over one year ago. It is fantastic to have found someone offering the service to all of us who have manual Nikon glass and are frustrated with the lack of metering compatibility on newer Nikon bodies. Thanks Rolland!!

Hi Roland,

What is your URL, I don't see it in the post or your profile. Thanks very much; your service sounds great.

Sean

ProAssist - Boston, Online Photographic Assistants

Never mind Roland, I see it now. BTW, you should probably write your posts with the HTML option. You would type the address like this: <a href="www.homestead.com/rolland">Roland's Site</a>

This way the URL would stand out. Just an idea.