Yes Great deal good job!^^

Have fun with your new lens Henry! :^D

I made the purchase today. From my previous posts it was just too good of a deal to pass up. A brand new AF-S 24-120mm VR lens for $260.00.

At the very least if I change my mind later I should be able to at least get my investment back on EBay.

Thanks to everyone for all of there comments.

I say buy the lens for that price. Like the 18-200mm VR its a great walk around lens, but there is more barrel distortion especially over 70mm. Its not a landscape lens either, but it takes great pictures when on the fly, and if you don't want to change primes.

Be careful about sample variation though. Just because this lens is cheap it might not be as good as other 24-120 lenses. Sometimes price isn't everything and its worth it to try out several copies if possible before buying. That is a great price though! Good luck!^^

I'm not saying that. I'm saying that my dad is my dad.

I can do it Niko. Just wait. I'm going to take it easy, but I'm going to ask him again. This is important, and I know he'll understand. Will he agree with me? Maybe not. I just want to make sure he understands. Last time he didn't even listen, he got cross before I could finish. Probably because I started wrong. But I can do it, it just will take a little time and effort.

My mom says my dad and I are too similar. That's very true.

You're right alpha I have no idea how adult fathers think.

Really? Actually the lens belonged to my dad's mom, and I explained RC's whole concept of my grandfather wanting me to be able to use this lens to her, and she understood completely.

NikoDoby said:
Besides I bet you'd rarely even use it if you did convert it.

Now that is a false statement, Niko, and I am annoyed. Today I was using when we went to the city. It was the only lens I brought, because I wanted something simple, lightweight, and effective. I use this lens a whole lot more than you think. It's on my body forwards, and backwards, stopped from ƒ/1.2 to ƒ/16. This is my prime 50mm lens. I don't have anything else to use in it's place, now, do I? I use it in the studio, I use it at school, I use it around the house, at night, and during the day. If I can only bring two lenses somewhere I'd rather have this accompany either my 80-200mm or my 18-70mm. And it's still sitting on my D300 as I type. *Humph*

Buying a converted one later??? These things are expensive! I'm not going to annoy my dad, I'm going to sit down and talk it through with him. He hasn't said "No" yet. Technically, he has, but I know when he really means "No". Don't worry Niko, I understand my dad a lot better than you do.

If your dad doesn't agree then you should just drop it already alpha. The lens probably means more to your dad then it does for you. If it belonged to your dad's father I can see why he doesn't want to risk losing it or something. Besides I bet you'd rarely even use it if you did convert it. Just leave it be and honor what your father wishes. You can buy a converted one later. No big deal and it's not worth continually annoying your dad over it.

Recent Convert said:
Good luck. Your father has a stressful job . . . so pick your battles carefully.

I know. He recently switched hospitals to lower his workload—it's been better on all of us, but still isn't perfect. Ah well, that's life.

Recent Convert said:
Ever seen a video of an octopus opening an oyster? When they tire on two of their arms, they take the next two (after all, they have eight). Eventually, the oyster gives up. Picture yourself as the octopus. . .

I'll have to look one up...

I know I can convince him in the end. Always up front it's been difficult for me, but that's just who he is. I just need to convince him it's the right thing to do, so I'll be able to use this lens to its full potential, and someday be able to pass it down to my son (or daughter, for that matter) for them to be able to use. It's just it's a valuable family possession, and all that my dad sees that's happening through the Ai-conversion process is the lens is being scarred and risks destruction.

I wish my grandfather had had the lens properly converted so many years ago... *sigh*

alphanikonrex said:
Personally, I think you gave me great advice. Unfortunately, not everybody does :^(

Good luck. Your father has a stressful job . . . so pick your battles carefully. Ever seen a video of an octopus opening an oyster? When they tire on two of their arms, they take the next two (after all, they have eight). Eventually, the oyster gives up. Picture yourself as the octopus. . .

Hasn't happened yet—I'm taking it slow. Last week I brought it up with my dad and he got all angry. He's going to be the hard person to convince. He's saying stuff like "I'm not buying you anything" and etc. I told him that I'll pay for it and all but he's not budging. I'm thinking about bringing it up again tomorrow after he's had the weekend to rest—he's an anesthesiologist and some days he works through the night.

I think the problem is he watched me wreck my D300, and he doesn't want to watch me have the same happen to my lens. I even dug up a lot of the photos I took using it and that hasn't helped at all.

I'm not going to rush it, since it's not urgent or anything. But as long as I keep on mentioning it, I think I'll convince him. My mom understands I think. After all, the lens belonged to her dad.

When my dad used his D70 he never mounted that lens on it because he thought it was too old and incompatible. My dad just won't do things like that. I've been the "risk-taker" so far.

I'm not letting go though. I promise to keep you updated. After all, didn't it take me some time to think it through? I think he just needs to do that too.

Personally, I think you gave me great advice. Unfortunately, not everybody does :^(

alphanikonrex said:

50mm ƒ/1.2

ANR: how did the conversion of the 50mm f/1.2 go? I know it's off topic, but I'm dying to know whether you think I gave you good advice.

?

j/k ;^)

No, that wasn't funny.

I just hope he doesn't see that video of the Canon camera being dropped out of the sky :^O

LOL thanks I needed a good laugh alpha! LOL

NikoDoby said:
Was that the same classmate you convinced to buy a Nikon because of it's superior durability and ruggedness over canon cameras and lenses? LOL :^)

Yeah, I think so. Shhh... 8^D

alphanikonrex said:
Did I tell you the story about when my classmate's 18-105mm fell off his D90 because of the blasted plastic mount?

Was that the same classmate you convinced to buy a Nikon because of it's superior durability and ruggedness over canon cameras and lenses? LOL :^)

Fair enough.

I have tried to stay away from any Nikors that have the plastic mount. I have a client that bought a brand new D80 and 18-135mm that had the plastic mount for vacation. They were in security at the airport and when he later opened his bag the lens was broke off the camera. He could not get the mount off of the camera. When they landed in Spain he went to a local camera store there and they removed the mount and were kind enough to sell him a 18-200mm lens for $1,500.00. They told him there would be no charge for the mount removal from his body.

So I stay away from the plastic mount lenses.

NikoDoby said:
LOL, jonny and his D90 and 18-105 loving :^)

Did I tell you the story about when my classmate's 18-105mm fell off his D90 because of the blasted plastic mount?

jonnyapple said:
What about the 18-105? Similar price and I love that lens.
A couple of tests:
18-105 http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/1221/cat/13
24-120 http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/132/cat/13

LOL, jonny and his D90 and 18-105 loving :^)

I use to have some pretty high end Nikors last year and I was very nervous walking around with them and I am not a pro. This is just a hobby for me and my wife so I sold all of them for a small profit with the price hike that occurred. Now we stick to the higher end consumer lenses and there is much more room for movement for us now. $1,500 to $2,500 per lens is way too much for us as a hobbly, but $300 to $800 is much better and can be dealt on EBay pretty easy without much loss at all.

NikoDoby said:
Sure alpha, the D3S can make you hot soap when you have H1N1 too :^)

LOL, great...