In article <50ms59$qvm@ssbunews.ih.lucent.com>, rlbunting@lucent.com says...

>I need to shoot 1:1 macros, photocopy old photographs, 35mm slides,
>postage-stamps, etc. I currently use the macro capabilities on my AF
>zoom (which aren't sufficient at 1:1) and I'd like to get back to 1:1
>work using my N8008.
>My current equipment is:
>Nikon F(FTN) 35mm, 50mm, 105mm, 200mm Nikkor S lenses (old dudes)
> PB-4 bellows (on which I mount an old 75mm enlarging lens
> for near 1:1 flat work)
>Nikon 8008 AF 35-70mm f2.8 and 85mm f1.8
>Please bear with the questions, I've lost all my manuals and reference
>materials in a recent flood.
>What capabilities will I have if I purchase a 65mm or 105mm macro AF
>lens?

Aside from the auto-aperture, which may not be necessary with the still
subjects you are shooting (though VERY useful for bugs, flowers, etc.),
maybe none (assuming you are using a good enlarging lens, at an optimum
aperture - old [or new] 4-element Tessar-type lenses can still be
excellent for close-up work, as can symmetrical 6-element designs).
BTW, few people use the AF feature for macro (some of us don't use
it for anything! ;-). (Also, it seems to me that if you added a 60
or 105mm, that you would have three very similar FL AF lenses - I
would spend the money on something completely different...)

>Can I use my PB-4 bellows on my AF (N8008) body without messing up the
>electrical contacts?

Yes, mine works fine.

>Can either of the new 65mm or 105mm AF D lenses be mounted directly on
>my manual PB-4 bellows?

Yes, but the furthest distance focusable may be too close, due to the
great minimum thickness of the bellows.

>Won't a short-mount 105mm on the PB-4 be an ideal combination for 1:1
>work? Is there such a thing as a short-mount (105mm lens elements
>only, no focusing stuff) lens in the Nikon line?

Yes, and some will focus to infinity, making a large and awkward (but
useable) tilt-shift lens. There is a rather poor Novoflex 100mm
short-mount, and a not much better Nikkor (collectable, and expensive)
105mm f4 available (used), but I prefer using good enlarging lenses
(Schneider Comparon and Componon-S, Vivitar VHE, Nikkor, etc.) adapted
with BR-2 rings (a strong skylight filter may be needed to correct the
color to match Nikkor SLR lenses). I got a 100mm Ektar to operate well
at infinity, but a 135-150mm FL will allow easy bellows movement at
infinity-focus for tilting and shifting (though the longer lens will
reduce the close-up magnification possible).

>Thanks for your assistance

Anytime.
Hope This Helps