I purchased a Nikon NIKKOR 28mm f/2.8 Ai-S from a camera shop in Osaka’s DenDen town sometime in 2008 or so. I think it was only about a hundred dollars. I really like this lens. I love how close it focuses. I use it often for taking pictures of flowers and the like. I prefer the wide close up to the telephoto close up because I see more context and more color from nearby flowers.

I recently finally tracked down a close up filter. The PK-11a at 8mm. I have been also looking for the K-1 ring at 5.8mm but that one is MUCH rarer. Not having tracked one down in Japan means I probably will never find one. This allows me to get even closer with a wide angle.

I put the close up filter on my 28mm and tried some test shots. They were blown out. I thought the aperture arm was broken on the close up filter. It wasn’t. My 28mm was developing a sticky aperture. And the lens is now shockingly expensive to replace.

So I take it to a local place and get it cleaned for $80. It looks like a solid job. And I am happy to know that I have a place. It seems a bit expensive but so is replacing it. I am dreading my other lenses going like that… I have a lot of Ai-S glass.