Older Nikon Lens on Digital body

pk94100 RemoveThis @yahoo.com wrote:
> I would like to use my older Nikon lenses on a digital body. From what
> I read, using a D50 body should work. My question is to the poeple who
> have used this set up... what are the drawbacks I should be aware of
> and how best does one over come these?
>
> Thanks for your help
> pk


My lenses are not AF ( auto focus) but they are AI ( I think?) Does
that mean that the lenses will fit a D50 body but I will not have
through the lens metering? If that is the case, its time to break out
the hand held meter!!!

Thanks for all the input.
pk
 >> Stay informed about: Older Nikon Lens on Digital body 

<pk94100.DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1156086654.512694.143780@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
>I would like to use my older Nikon lenses on a digital body. From what
> I read, using a D50 body should work. My question is to the poeple who
> have used this set up... what are the drawbacks I should be aware of
> and how best does one over come these?
>
> Thanks for your help
> pk
>
Exactly how old?

Doesn't the manual tell you which can be used with full functionality and
which can't?

For example, for a D70:
Pre-AI lenses should be converted to AI first.
AI and AI-S lenses will mount but not one of the fancy features will work.
All AF lenses can be used with full functionality.

Isn't the D50 just like the D70?

As for me, what I am mad about is that G lenses can't be used on my F3.
Jim
 >> Stay informed about: Older Nikon Lens on Digital body 

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 >> Stay informed about: Older Nikon Lens on Digital body 

"Rita Ä Berkowitz" <ritaberk2O04 @aol.com> wrote in message
news:12ehbnbsh9rnac3@news.supernews.com...
> pk94100.DeleteThis@yahoo.com wrote:
>
>> My lenses are not AF ( auto focus) but they are AI ( I think?) Does
>> that mean that the lenses will fit a D50 body but I will not have
>> through the lens metering? If that is the case, its time to break out
>> the hand held meter!!!
>
> If you don't have one, pick up the old Pentax Spotmeter V and you'll have
> a
> killer combination. These things are dirt cheap and dead accurate and
> will
> beat any modern meter on the market.
>
>
>

Sorry, Rita, but modern Sekonic meters are just as accurate as the old
spotmeters. In fact, when buying a pentax spotmeter used one should look to
have it calibrated for accuracy, as they tend to drift over time.

--
Regards,
Matt Clara
www.mattclara.com
 >> Stay informed about: Older Nikon Lens on Digital body 

"Bill" <bill RemoveThis @c.a> wrote in message
news:3didnZrDpoKRJHXZnZ2dnUVZ_vOdnZ2d@golden.net...
> pk94100 RemoveThis @yahoo.com wrote:
>
>>> I would like to use my older Nikon lenses on a digital body. From what
>>> I read, using a D50 body should work. My question is to the poeple who
>>> have used this set up... what are the drawbacks I should be aware of
>>> and how best does one over come these?
>>
>>My lenses are not AF ( auto focus) but they are AI ( I think?) Does
>>that mean that the lenses will fit a D50 body but I will not have
>>through the lens metering? If that is the case, its time to break out
>>the hand held meter!!!
>
> You can check your lenses using info from this page:
He could also try reading the fine manual. The one for my D70 covers this
issue quite well. It would be surprising indeed if the one for the D50
doesn't as well.
Jim
 >> Stay informed about: Older Nikon Lens on Digital body 

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 >> Stay informed about: Older Nikon Lens on Digital body 

"George K" <gkaiseril DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1156110873.665695.129380@75g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
Use the rule of Sunny 16 and then use the histogram to refine the
exposure.

http://www.popphoto.com/article.asp?section_id=4&article_id=1175

A meter works great, but I tend to use the Sunny 16 rule and zero it in from
there with my older lenses. I have to say that you get used to autofocus
and autometering pretty quickly, which is why I've been replacing my old
lenses. Even so, there are still times you have to use manual mode and
focus.

I recently got a good shot of a cat in a tree, but the camera had no idea
what to focus on. I also take a lot of sunset photos, and you have to learn
how to only use the TTL meter as a guide, as you need to underexpose to
deepen those nice colors.
 >> Stay informed about: Older Nikon Lens on Digital body 

You should be looking at the Tech support section of the Nikon site:

Lens Model Compatibility

Nikon Autofocus lens:
AF, AF-I, AF-S, D, or G D50/D70/D70s/D100 - Full Compatibility
D1-series/D2-series - Full Compatibility

Nikon Manual focus lens:
AI, AI-S, AI-modified, E-Series D50/D70/D70s/D100 - Lens can be
used1 D1-series/D2-series - Full Compatibility

Nikon Manual focus lens:
Nikkor-s, Q-Series, O-Series, W-Series, other non-AI lens
D50/D70s/D70/D100 - Not compatible D1-series/D2-series - Not compatible


from Nikon USA Tech Support:
http://support.nikontech.com/cgi-bin/nikonusa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp....?p_faqi*&p_li=&p_topview=1


Jim wrote:
> "Bill" <bill RemoveThis @c.a> wrote in message
> news:VqydnWDyMINvJ3XZnZ2dnUVZ_qadnZ2d@golden.net...
> > Jim wrote:
> >
> >>>>> I would like to use my older Nikon lenses on a digital body. From what
> >>>>> I read, using a D50 body should work. My question is to the poeple
> >>>>> who
> >>>>> have used this set up... what are the drawbacks I should be aware of
> >>>>> and how best does one over come these?
> >>>>
> >>>>My lenses are not AF ( auto focus) but they are AI ( I think?) Does
> >>>>that mean that the lenses will fit a D50 body but I will not have
> >>>>through the lens metering? If that is the case, its time to break out
> >>>>the hand held meter!!!
> >>>
> >>> You can check your lenses using info from this page:
> >>
> >>He could also try reading the fine manual.
> >
> > He can't read the manual...he hasn't bought the camera yet!
> >
> >
> Well, then he could read the specs on the Nikon website.
>
> Which is what I did last night.
>
> The website does not describe which lenses one can use on the D50, D70s, or
> D80. However, it does mention that one can use AI, AI-S, and all AF lenses
> on a D200.
>
> As my D70 cannot control an AI or AI-S lens, I would conclude that the D50
> cannot either. By the way, the D70 does not have the mechanical lever which
> stops down all pre-AF lenses. That is one reason that these lenses cannot
> be used.
>
> Jim
 >> Stay informed about: Older Nikon Lens on Digital body 

"Bill" <bill.DeleteThis@c.a> wrote in message
news:VqydnWDyMINvJ3XZnZ2dnUVZ_qadnZ2d@golden.net...
> Jim wrote:
>
>>>>> I would like to use my older Nikon lenses on a digital body. From what
>>>>> I read, using a D50 body should work. My question is to the poeple
>>>>> who
>>>>> have used this set up... what are the drawbacks I should be aware of
>>>>> and how best does one over come these?
>>>>
>>>>My lenses are not AF ( auto focus) but they are AI ( I think?) Does
>>>>that mean that the lenses will fit a D50 body but I will not have
>>>>through the lens metering? If that is the case, its time to break out
>>>>the hand held meter!!!
>>>
>>> You can check your lenses using info from this page:
>>
>>He could also try reading the fine manual.
>
> He can't read the manual...he hasn't bought the camera yet!
>
>
Well, then he could read the specs on the Nikon website.

Which is what I did last night.

The website does not describe which lenses one can use on the D50, D70s, or
D80. However, it does mention that one can use AI, AI-S, and all AF lenses
on a D200.

As my D70 cannot control an AI or AI-S lens, I would conclude that the D50
cannot either. By the way, the D70 does not have the mechanical lever which
stops down all pre-AF lenses. That is one reason that these lenses cannot
be used.

Jim
 >> Stay informed about: Older Nikon Lens on Digital body 

In article <AEkGg.9716$%j7.5265@newssvr29.news.prodigy.net>, Jim
<jim-norris DeleteThis @sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> Well, then he could read the specs on the Nikon website.
>
> Which is what I did last night.
>
> The website does not describe which lenses one can use on the D50, D70s, or
> D80. However, it does mention that one can use AI, AI-S, and all AF lenses
> on a D200.

here is the chart and applies to more than just the d100. it is also
in the user manuals which can be downloaded.
<http://www.nikonusa.com/kdb/D100_lenses.jpg>

above chart referenced from:
<http://support.nikontech.com/cgi-bin/nikonusa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.p
hp?p_faqid=57&p_sid=L3yW9Ffi&p_lva=13349&p_accessibility=0&p_sp=cF9zcmNo
PSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfcm93X2NudD0xMDUxJnBfcHJvZHM9JnBfY2F0
cz0mcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9zZWFyY2hfdHlwZT1hbnN3ZXJzLnNlYXJjaF9ubCZwX3BhZ2U9
MQ%2A%2A&p_li=#>
 >> Stay informed about: Older Nikon Lens on Digital body 

Be advised that focusing a manual-focus lens on a digital SLR, especially
the cheaper ones, is a non-trivial task. The viewfinder and matte screen are
not really designed for it - old film cameras have far better
viewfinders,they are a lot bigger and have focusing aides ("focus snap"
and/or focus prism) that help. On the D70 at least you do get a focus
indicator light in the viewfinder when the camera thinks that something is
in focus, but this feature is nowhere near as good as it sounds. Try before
you buy.


<pk94100 DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1156086654.512694.143780@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
>I would like to use my older Nikon lenses on a digital body. From what
> I read, using a D50 body should work. My question is to the poeple who
> have used this set up... what are the drawbacks I should be aware of
> and how best does one over come these?
>
> Thanks for your help
> pk
>
 >> Stay informed about: Older Nikon Lens on Digital body 

"Ståle Sannerud" <staale.sannerud.DeleteThis@bibits.no> wrote:
>Be advised that focusing a manual-focus lens on a digital SLR, especially
>the cheaper ones, is a non-trivial task. The viewfinder and matte screen are
>not really designed for it - old film cameras have far better
>viewfinders,they are a lot bigger and have focusing aides ("focus snap"
>and/or focus prism) that help. On the D70 at least you do get a focus
>indicator light in the viewfinder when the camera thinks that something is
>in focus, but this feature is nowhere near as good as it sounds. Try before
>you buy.

Of course on the other hand, for about $100 there are
replacement viewing screens that are *much* better than those
from the "old film cameras".

A split screen focusing aide that works down to f/11, for
example.


><pk94100.DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:1156086654.512694.143780@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
>>I would like to use my older Nikon lenses on a digital body. From what
>> I read, using a D50 body should work. My question is to the poeple who
>> have used this set up... what are the drawbacks I should be aware of
>> and how best does one over come these?
>>
>> Thanks for your help
>> pk
>>

--
Floyd L. Davidson <http://www.apaflo.com/floyd_davidson>
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska) floyd.DeleteThis@apaflo.com
 >> Stay informed about: Older Nikon Lens on Digital body 

>
> Of course on the other hand, for about $100 there are
> replacement viewing screens that are *much* better than those
> from the "old film cameras".
>
> A split screen focusing aide that works down to f/11, for
> example.
>
>
By all means - I had one of these from Kats' Eye for my 300D for use with
manual Nikkors, and it worked quite well. Even so, the small mirror-box
viewfinders on these low-end crop cameras do not do the photographer any
favours at all when it comes to manual focusing. It's a lot easier on my
Canon 1D, with proper glass prism and a larger viewfinder all round. And
I've looked through the viewfinder of a friend's Nikon Fwhatever, the
viewfinder on that thing blows my (rather good in fact) 1D viewfinder out of
the water altogether. The D50 viewfinder is a tiny, dark, narrow well in
comparison.

What I'm saying is that manual focus lenses on a digicam is doable with the
right matte screen, but rather a pain in the backside if you have ever used
the real thing. Ignorance is bliss, in this respect
 >> Stay informed about: Older Nikon Lens on Digital body