lenses - digital vs film are they compatible?

wrote in message

> Hi everyone,
>
> Im considering buying a Nikon D70 (body only) and plannign on using my
> Nikkor lense (from an old N6006, film). Are the lenses interchangable
> between a film camera and a digital. Im assuming since there both mande
> by Nikon, they will be.
>
> Thanks
> JR
>

http://www.nikonians.org/nikon/compatibility.html
 >> Stay informed about: lenses - digital vs film are they compatible? 

On 31 Jul 2006 19:07:36 -0700, wrote:

> Im considering buying a Nikon D70 (body only) and plannign on using my
> Nikkor lense (from an old N6006, film). Are the lenses interchangable
> between a film camera and a digital. Im assuming since there both mande
> by Nikon, they will be.

Here are several messages from last year that somewhat address
your question. Note where the first says that the "D1 or D2 series
camera will meter just fine with that lens, they just chose to leave
it out of the D70 (and D100)". The more recent D200 also shares the
D1 and D2's metering compatibility. The last quoted message was
added just to allow you to follow the link to an author's website.
His Nikon guidebooks are acknowledged by many to be the best
available, they're available as eBooks (PDF file on a CD), and one
is available specifically for the D70. I don't own nor have I read
any of them. But if I get a digital body for my old AI-S lenses I
will. He also has a document titled "Making Sense of Lens Acronyms"
that you'll probably find useful with its table showing lens
functionality for different combinations of Nikon's lenses and
camera bodies:

http://www.bythom.com/lensacronyms.htm


For readability, the following unedited messages were copied
and pasted and weren't cluttered by adding more quote marks:


/**********************************************************************/

From: David Dyer-Bennet
Newsgroups: rec.photo.digital
Subject: Re: Nikon D70s and manual lenses
Date: 12 Aug 2005 13:30:02 -0500
Message-ID:

"Hamish Walker" writes:

> Am I right in thinking that a manual-focus, 'old-fashioned'
> Nikon-fit zoom lens will work quite happily on a Nikon D70s? I'm
> about to buy the D70s, but I have a Sigma APO 75-300 f4.5/5.6
> Nikon-fit lens which I currently use on my FE2, and it would be a
> shame to have to get rid of it.

If it's modern enough to be an "AI" or "AIS" lens, yes, with one
limitation: On a D70, it won't meter at all. You'll have to use
manual exposure. On a digital, with instant review, and histogram
display, manual exposure by trial and error doesn't bother me at
all.
Some other people it drives crazy. Anyway, them's the facts, decide
what you'll be happy with.

> Without a split-image focussing screen to help me focus, will some
> sort of focus confirmation work? Which semi-auto modes will work -
> I'm mainly going to be interested in aperture priority? Will shutter
> priority work (i.e. will the camera stop the lens down to the
> suggested aperture automatically)?

Yes, the focus confirmation dot would work, if the lens was fast
enough for auto-focus. Yours is just marginal.

None of the semi-auto modes will work. Not aperture priority, not
shutter priority. Metering is completely absent. This is a design
decision by Nikon; a D1 or D2 series camera will meter just fine
with
that lens, they just chose to leave it out of the D70 (and D100).
--
David Dyer-Bennet, ,
<http://www.dd-b.net/dd-b/>
RKBA: <http://noguns-nomoney.com/> <http://www.dd-b.net/carry/>
Pics: <http://dd-b.lighthunters.net/>
<http://www.dd-b.net/dd-b/SnapshotAlbum/>
Dragaera/Steven Brust: <http://dragaera.info/> Much of which is
still down


/**********************************************************************/

From: Dave
Newsgroups: rec.photo.digital
Subject: Re: Nikon D50 & Older Lenses
Message-ID:
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2005 15:10:21 -0400

dickbolt RemoveThis @his.com wrote:
> I have been using a Nikon film camera & assorted lenses for many yrs.
> Its not the top of the line however & older!
> I want to up grade to a D50 I think. If I buy a D50 & regular lens,I
> really would like to use my Nikkor telephoto lenses. My 300mm one I use
> for sports action shots(450mm with D50 I guess)is my prime concern. I
> can put up with manual focus just fine I think, did in film camera! Its
> the light level setting that I am concerned about. Nikon will not
> answer me & their on line info is confusing.I do not expect coupling,
> but a meter read out is likely needed at least on a check. Could a
> guess to light be made & a short taken & view results to adjust f-stops
> up or down? Is there a way to use the older Nikkor lenses that only
> have a pin coupler?
> Dick
>
FYI - There is a person who re-chips lenses to solve just this
problem.
I think it will only work with AI, AI-S and AIed lenses and he is
very
specific about which lenses he will work on.

Here is a link to his site. I have no personal experience with him,
but
others have used him for this.

http://home.carolina.rr.com/headshots/Nikonhome.htm

Be sure to follow his directions as he's quite fussy.

Hope this helps,
Dave



/**********************************************************************/

From: Father Kodak
Newsgroups: rec.photo.digital
Subject: Re: Thom Hogan
Date: Thu, 24 Nov 2005 23:13:54 -0800
Message-ID:

On Thu, 24 Nov 2005 21:54:35 -0800, "Monty X"
wrote:

>Hello All,
>
>The subject person writes guides to various camera's and his excursions in
>the pursuit of photography trips. I have briefly examined his web site and
>have access to one of his e-books on a camera model not related to my DSLR.
>
>If anyone here has purchased his e-books, please comment on them, did they
>help you understand your camera better, well written, good descriptions,
>etc. If you were not pleased let me know that as well and if possible why
>it was not your cup of tea?
>
>Thank you in advance.
>
>Monty
>
I haven't actually read one of his books. but ...

I tried to buy a copy of the Nikon Field Guide, which is
unfortunately
out of print. If you go on Amazon, people are selling _used_
copies
for upwards of $100. I forget the new book price, but it was about
$20-$25.

That should tell you something.

However, he focuses on Nikon cameras and lenses. Check out his web
site: www.bythom.com.

Hope this helps.

Father Kodak


/**********************************************************************/
 >> Stay informed about: lenses - digital vs film are they compatible? 

IF they are autofocus lens , I can say 99% yes.


wrote in message

> Hi everyone,
>
> Im considering buying a Nikon D70 (body only) and plannign on using my
> Nikkor lense (from an old N6006, film). Are the lenses interchangable
> between a film camera and a digital. Im assuming since there both mande
> by Nikon, they will be.
>
> Thanks
> JR
>
 >> Stay informed about: lenses - digital vs film are they compatible? 

ASAAR wrote:
>On 31 Jul 2006 19:07:36 -0700, wrote:
>
>> Im considering buying a Nikon D70 (body only) and plannign on using my
>> Nikkor lense (from an old N6006, film). Are the lenses interchangable
>> between a film camera and a digital. Im assuming since there both mande
>> by Nikon, they will be.

The D70 lack's a mechanical coupling for the AiS and Ai lenses
to indicate to the camera where the aperture ring has been set.
There is a previous message that ASAAR's post quoted that I
wanted to add to, which concerns that aspect and a couple other
points.

>"Hamish Walker" writes:
>
>> Am I right in thinking that a manual-focus, 'old-fashioned'
>> Nikon-fit zoom lens will work quite happily on a Nikon D70s? I'm
>> about to buy the D70s, but I have a Sigma APO 75-300 f4.5/5.6
>> Nikon-fit lens which I currently use on my FE2, and it would be a
>> shame to have to get rid of it.
>
>If it's modern enough to be an "AI" or "AIS" lens, yes, with one
>limitation: On a D70, it won't meter at all. You'll have to use
>manual exposure. On a digital, with instant review, and histogram
>display, manual exposure by trial and error doesn't bother me at
>all.
>Some other people it drives crazy. Anyway, them's the facts, decide
>what you'll be happy with.

As noted, some people would go bonkers...

The D70 light meter works only with lenses that have electronic
coupling.

Without the Ai/AiS mechanical coupling to tell the camera what
the aperture ring is set to, the D70 work with Ai/Ais lenses the
same as the D1 and D2 series works with the even older F mount
lenses.

For some purposes though, it isn't all that bad. I have a
wonderful old 1970's vintage 800mm lense with a F mount, and
have to use the histogram and blink-on-over-exposure display to
set correct exposure. One side effect, however, is learning to
do it *even* *with* *modern* *lenses* that have electronic
coupling! Reflected light exposure meters depend on an
"average reflective" scene, and most scenes are not, but they
are close. By using the blinking display on the camera it is
possible to set proper exposures within 1/3 of an fstop.

It certainly slows down your work though, and if lengthy setup
times are unreasonable, it fails. It is also more difficult
when the lighting changes from shot to shot, which makes for
tedious work.

>> Without a split-image focussing screen to help me focus, will some
>> sort of focus confirmation work? Which semi-auto modes will work -
>> I'm mainly going to be interested in aperture priority? Will shutter
>> priority work (i.e. will the camera stop the lens down to the
>> suggested aperture automatically)?
>
>Yes, the focus confirmation dot would work, if the lens was fast
>enough for auto-focus. Yours is just marginal.

Focusing is an issue with any of the older manual focus lenses.
It simply is *not* convenient to look down into the corner of
the viewfinder to check to focus indicator. Here is one
solution,

http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/

They sell focusing screens ($105 for the D70) with a split prism
center and a matte ground glass collar focusing aide in the
center of the viewing screen. I know there is at least one
other company that also makes them, but I don't recall what the
name was. Google will probably turn up references to both.

I can vouch for the effectiveness of the KatzEye Optics focusing
screens. It does in fact work to f/11 just as they say. While
I found trying to use manual focus lenses a real problem without
it, and don't find it nearly as fast to work with as Auto Focus,
it has made it *much* nicer to use all of those wonderful old MF
lenses that are selling for peanuts!

However, it works much better with shorter focal length lenses
than with something like the 800mm mentioned above, where I
perhaps actually find the viewfinder AF indicator slightly more
useful when using that lense.

>None of the semi-auto modes will work. Not aperture priority, not
>shutter priority. Metering is completely absent. This is a design
>decision by Nikon; a D1 or D2 series camera will meter just fine
>with
>that lens, they just chose to leave it out of the D70 (and D100).

One other solution is to bite the bullet hard and get a D200 or
even harder and get a D2x.

--
Floyd L. Davidson <http://www.apaflo.com/floyd_davidson>
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska) floyd RemoveThis @apaflo.com
 >> Stay informed about: lenses - digital vs film are they compatible? 

On Tue, 01 Aug 2006 01:58:06 -0800, Floyd L. Davidson wrote:

> The D70 lack's a mechanical coupling for the AiS and Ai lenses
> to indicate to the camera where the aperture ring has been set.
> There is a previous message that ASAAR's post quoted that I
> wanted to add to, which concerns that aspect and a couple other
> points.

Thanks for the annotations, and I've already copied your followup
to a Nikon archive. I especially liked the note that split prism
focusing screens are available, in case my old lenses find their way
onto a D70 body.
 >> Stay informed about: lenses - digital vs film are they compatible? 

wrote in message

> Hi everyone,
>
> Im considering buying a Nikon D70 (body only) and plannign on using my
> Nikkor lense (from an old N6006, film). Are the lenses interchangable
> between a film camera and a digital. Im assuming since there both mande
> by Nikon, they will be.
>
> Thanks
> JR
>

The Nikon Website used to have a chart which showed what functions were
available with what lenses and Cameras.

It was not the most easily read or understood chart, that I have come
across. You will also get a copy of it in the Instruction Manual for the
D70 Body.

Roy G
 >> Stay informed about: lenses - digital vs film are they compatible?