To chip or not to chip

adamzadamz Posts: 842Moderator
edited January 2014 in Nikon DSLR cameras
As this topic hasn't been brought up recently I would like ask you what is your opinion and experience on putting chip on manual lenses. Personally, I'm considering to put a chip on my 50/1.2.

Comments

  • shawninoshawnino Posts: 453Member
    How easy is that to do? It would open up a whole new world to me at the right price point.
  • adamzadamz Posts: 842Moderator
    price wise it's not a problem, as you can get a decent chip from ebay for app $30 (P&S incl.)
  • HipShotHipShot Posts: 528Member
  • michael66michael66 Posts: 231Member
    Just to be clear, this chip will only provide you metering, not AF. Won't you need to make a few cuts in the back-side of older lenses? Pre-AI, <1977(?), I think.
  • henrik1963henrik1963 Posts: 567Member
    As I understand it you get focus confirmation, control of aperture and metering with old lenses.
  • michael66michael66 Posts: 231Member
    edited January 2014
    hmmm... I have to check that out. On my D7100, I thought I got focus confirmation with my AIS manual focus 300mm f/4.5 ( 1470 ). At least the ball lights up. It has no chip.
    Post edited by michael66 on
  • AdeAde Posts: 1,071Member
    Focus confirmation doesn't require a chip. However, if the lens front- or back- focuses, you will need the chip to "fix" the confirmation using AF Fine Tune.

    @adamz The 50/1.2 is not a great candidate for self-chipping due to very tight tolerances around the rear baffle. Lens disassembly and machining will be required, and you'll need to sand down the rear of the chip also to provide more clearance.

    There's an outfit called Legacy2Digital which provide a chipping service for this lens (costs around $400).
  • adamzadamz Posts: 842Moderator
    thanks Ade. my main idea to chip it was to get the lens data in EXIF, as it's sometimes useful. however, for $400 I'll simply skip that - not worth the money. as for the green AF dot, I don't trust that at all :)
  • AdeAde Posts: 1,071Member
    edited January 2014
    Well you could do it yourself if you're mechanically inclined and good with a Dremel tool. :)

    Here's a nice writeup on modifying the 50/1.4:

    http://pindelski.org/Photography/2012/05/09/nikkor-s-50mm-f1-4-lens/

    The 1.2 has even less clearance, so the chip itself will need to be further sanded down. The Legacy2Digital people use a different "2-piece" chip with thin mechanical contacts separated by wires from the actual "cpu".

    I read someone chipped the 58mm Noct, which involves grinding the rear lens element! @-)
    Post edited by Ade on
  • NSXTypeRNSXTypeR Posts: 2,286Member
    edited January 2014
    Focus confirmation doesn't require a chip. However, if the lens front- or back- focuses, you will need the chip to "fix" the confirmation using AF Fine Tune.

    @adamz The 50/1.2 is not a great candidate for self-chipping due to very tight tolerances around the rear baffle. Lens disassembly and machining will be required, and you'll need to sand down the rear of the chip also to provide more clearance.

    There's an outfit called Legacy2Digital which provide a chipping service for this lens (costs around $400).
    That's what I heard too- chipping isn't a given with every lens, the rear element is pretty large so it's hard to chip the 50mm 1.2.

    By the way, you still should be able to get focus confirmation and EXIF info if you plug in the data for "Non-CPU lenses". I get EXIF info for my dad's 50mm 1.2 on the D7000.

    Check out these test shots, and check out the EXIF data on it too.

    DSC_0123

    Exif is all there!

    DSC_0133

    I would like to add that the 50mm 1.2 is also quite sharp at F11. :D
    Post edited by NSXTypeR on
    Nikon D7000/ Nikon D40/ Nikon FM2/ 18-135 AF-S/ 35mm 1.8 AF-S/ 105mm Macro AF-S/ 50mm 1.2 AI-S
  • AdeAde Posts: 1,071Member

    By the way, you still should be able to get focus confirmation and EXIF info if you plug in the data for "Non-CPU lenses". I get EXIF info for my dad's 50mm 1.2 on the D7000.
    Yes but not all of the EXIF fields are filled in correctly. E.g., on the above images the "Lens" field shows "0mm f/0" and many aperture fields (like "Max Aperture Value") are all set to f/1.0.

    These fields are used by programs like Aperture and Lightroom -- e.g., to list all pictures taken with a specific lens, or to enable lens correction profile to be applied automatically -- so if you want such capabilities then you'll need to correct the EXIF data, manually or using a script.

    Also, without the CPU, the camera will only operate in M or A modes. Adding the CPU enables operation in all modes (P, S, A, M).
  • NSXTypeRNSXTypeR Posts: 2,286Member

    By the way, you still should be able to get focus confirmation and EXIF info if you plug in the data for "Non-CPU lenses". I get EXIF info for my dad's 50mm 1.2 on the D7000.
    Yes but not all of the EXIF fields are filled in correctly. E.g., on the above images the "Lens" field shows "0mm f/0" and many aperture fields (like "Max Aperture Value") are all set to f/1.0.

    These fields are used by programs like Aperture and Lightroom -- e.g., to list all pictures taken with a specific lens, or to enable lens correction profile to be applied automatically -- so if you want such capabilities then you'll need to correct the EXIF data, manually or using a script.

    Also, without the CPU, the camera will only operate in M or A modes. Adding the CPU enables operation in all modes (P, S, A, M).
    Ah, I see what you mean. But how would P mode possibly work when the aperture ring is manually adjusted?
    Nikon D7000/ Nikon D40/ Nikon FM2/ 18-135 AF-S/ 35mm 1.8 AF-S/ 105mm Macro AF-S/ 50mm 1.2 AI-S
  • AdeAde Posts: 1,071Member
    The chip allows the camera to control the aperture via the command-dial. Like on AF-D lenses, the aperture is has to be physically set to its minimal position (highest f-number).

    This is only recommended for AI-S lenses. For older lenses (AI and pre-AI), it's best to manually use the aperture ring since the camera will not set the aperture properly.
  • adamzadamz Posts: 842Moderator
    hmm... interesting NSX, it must be sth wrong than with my setup as I don't see the 50mm in my EXIF:(
  • PB_PMPB_PM Posts: 4,494Member
    edited January 2014
    If you set the set aperture and focal length in the non-CPU data it should show in the EXIF data. It does for my files.
    Post edited by PB_PM on
    If I take a good photo it's not my camera's fault.
  • NSXTypeRNSXTypeR Posts: 2,286Member
    hmm... interesting NSX, it must be sth wrong than with my setup as I don't see the 50mm in my EXIF:(
    Maybe you didn't hit OK after entering the info? Nikon cameras tend to not do anything until you do that.
    Nikon D7000/ Nikon D40/ Nikon FM2/ 18-135 AF-S/ 35mm 1.8 AF-S/ 105mm Macro AF-S/ 50mm 1.2 AI-S
  • PB_PMPB_PM Posts: 4,494Member
    Yes, once you put the data in you need to go up to Done and press OK (not the center button). Then when you use a lens you need to switch the settings based on which lens is in use.
    If I take a good photo it's not my camera's fault.
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