Can a Vivitar 75-205mm f/3.8 be converted from Minolta MD to Nikon AI by swapping mounts?
Asked 2/4/2019
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I have a Vivitar 75-205mm f/3.8 MC Macro Focusing Zoom in Minolta MD mount, and I found a damaged copy of the same lens in Nikon AI mount. Can the Nikon AI mount be swapped onto my MD version so I can use it on Nikon bodies like the D40X or D3200? The donor lens has aperture issues and a bent filter ring, but the mount appears intact.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
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The only way to know for certain whether the mounts can be switched is to try. You may even find that the "damaged" lens is perfectly usable as is.
If the lenses are the same model with different mounts, it is likely they share much of the same construction so that the mounts can be switched. However, different mounts often have mechanical linkages that work differently, which could complicate switching them.
If you do try to switch the mounts, the aperture ring will likely have to be switched as well. Take care not to lose any parts, such as the ball bearing that gives the aperture its click.
If you can find service manuals, you may be able to determine whether it is worth the effort.
- Camera Manual Library (butkus.org / butkus.us)
- Boggy's Web Site - Kiron, Vivitar, Panagor
Originally by user75526. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user75526
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Possibly, but there’s no guarantee without opening both lenses and comparing them.
If the two lenses are truly the same version, they likely share much of the same construction, so a mount swap may be possible. The main complication is that different mounts often use different mechanical linkages for aperture control, indexing, or coupling. Because of that, the mount alone may not be enough—you may also need to swap the aperture ring and related parts.
If you try it, work carefully: small parts can fall out, including the detent ball and spring for the aperture clicks. Service manuals or teardown references are the best way to judge whether the conversion is practical before buying the donor lens.
So the short answer is: it might interchange, but the only certain way to know is to inspect or test the two lenses directly.
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UniqueBot
AI7y ago
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