So, I was at Hunt's in Providence today window shopping. I'm not actually in the market for anything, I'm trying not to spend money until I maximize what I have. It has been a very good experience so far working with fixed "normal" lenses. The normal lens for a 35mm camera is 50mm (which is what I have for my 60's era Nikon f). After my experience borrowing the 21mm wide lens (which I used to shoot the National Geographic worthy shots that were ruined by the lab .... it's kind of like the size of the fish that got away) I'm hungry for another taste of ab-normal lenses. So, I asked and Hunt's answered, presenting me with the 1 lens they had with the little prongs that my Nikon f prism needs to read the aperture. The prongs aren't solid, they have little cutouts so this is an "AI" lens which is one generation newer than the camera I have. I checked it over and while playing with it I realized that it had a little tab that opened and closed the aperture. I asked if this would interfere with the camera but no one knew (I am assuming this is an "AI" specific lens feature.) The lens is a 35-135mm zoom/macro Tokina. I don't know much about Tokina lenses, but they are (apparently) a well known Japanese lens co. and I'm willing to take some things on faith - that and the $35 price tag for this almost perfect lens (no visible defects in the glass). I couldn't turn it down.

So I got home and admired how the aperture opened and closed as I rotated the f ring. I put it on my camera and whoops - all of a sudden the aperature was wide open. I turned the ring and it didn't change! My lens was not as great a deal as I had thought. This was too bad! I didn't understand - maybe I could cut off the tab. I scoured the web looking up "AI' and "non-ai" lenses trying to figure out modifications I could make. 45 minutes were spent scouring for cutting instructions. Eventually I discovered a page that explained that the aperture stays wide open until you take a photo..... ohhhh.... whoops ... - so it closes down to the right size as I release the shutter. Good to know. Saved my ruining a great deal on a lens.

** 10/18/06 update - I found out after this article that Tokina is just part of the name Tokina Hoya. Hoya is a big name.