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Photo Forum / Digital Photography / DSLR Cameras / January 2007Nikon SLR newb questions
I have some nice older Nikon film gear, and several lenses. Can I use old AI type lenses with Nikon digital SLR? If only certain models, which? What Nikon digital SLRs are considered "bargains" on the current used market? TIA > Can I use old AI type lenses with Nikon digital SLR? If only certain > models, which? The D200 and D2-series cameras work perfectly with those lenses. The D70, D50, and such can mount them and use them, but the camera's light meter will not function.  SignatureJeremy | jeremy@exit109.com > I have some nice older Nikon film gear, and several lenses. > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > TIA I made a mistake on my first question. I have NON-AI or pre-ai lenses, the ones with the ears the couple to the camera bayonet for the metering. Am I totally out of luck? >I made a mistake on my first question. I have NON-AI or pre-ai lenses, >the ones with the ears the couple to the camera bayonet for the >metering. Am I totally out of luck? The original non-AI lenses would have to be modified or converted to work with Nikon digital cameras. When the AI lenses first came out, Nikon offered a service to convert the non-AI's by replacing the aperture ring. Some of these replacement rings are still available (check Pacific Rim Camera). Otherwise, the aperture ring could be ground or milled to work with AI bodies (in my opinion, this is butchery, ruins the collector value of the lens, and is not worth doing anyway). Note, however, that the mere presence of "ears" doesn't mean that a lens isn't AI. Check to see if the "ears" have two holes in them, one on either side of the notch. If so, they're AI. >Otherwise, the aperture ring could be >ground or milled to work with AI bodies (in my opinion, this is >butchery, ruins the collector value of the lens, and is not worth >doing anyway). And for many pre-Ai lenses is worth considering selling them and buying Ai versions back. Often, Ai(s) versions have improved optics. Modifying a non-Ai by grinding/milling is not guaranteed to work. I have a 50/1.4 that requires extra attention putting it on a D1. SignatureThat was it. Done. The faulty Monk was turned out into the desert where it could believe what it liked, including the idea that it had been hard done by. It was allowed to keep its horse, since horses were so cheap to make. -- Douglas Adams in Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency >>Otherwise, the aperture ring could be >>ground or milled to work with AI bodies (in my opinion, this is [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > And for many pre-Ai lenses is worth considering selling them and > buying Ai versions back. Often, Ai(s) versions have improved optics. Which is why, among many reasons, pre-AI lenses tend to be worth very little, thus they aren't collector items, nor is having one adapted "butchery". It is why it's hardly worth doing, though, as you can purchase many AIS lenses for not a whole lot more than the cost of conversion, and you'll get better optics. On the other hand, someone gave me an old Pre-AI macro that I had adapted, and which I now use fairly frequently. > Modifying a non-Ai by grinding/milling is not guaranteed to work. I > have a 50/1.4 that requires extra attention putting it on a D1. Robert White of Ann Arbor, MI. >Which is why, among many reasons, pre-AI lenses tend to be worth very >little, thus they aren't collector items, nor is having one adapted >"butchery". It is why it's hardly worth doing, though, as you can purchase >many AIS lenses for not a whole lot more than the cost of conversion, and >you'll get better optics. On the other hand, someone gave me an old Pre-AI >macro that I had adapted, and which I now use fairly frequently. A true collector (as opposed to an investor) *likes* for the items he collects to be low-priced. That way he can assemble an impressive collection for little money. With the great shift from film to digital, this is a good time to pick up the high-end classics that were unaffordable back in the day. I'm putting together a collection of Nikon F2's, with all their accessories, that I couldn't possibly have afforded in the 1970's. As far as usability goes, they're not very practical in a digital age. But I suspect that in a few years, their value will go up as classic examples of mechanical craftsmanship (like Rolex watches). Regarding butchery, I've seen too many examples of pre-AI lenses "converted" with the use of a Dremel tool. To someone with a collector mentality, this is sickening. Even milling the aperture ring in a fixture is not much better. An official Nikon conversion ring, however, is acceptable. >Regarding butchery, I've seen too many examples of pre-AI lenses >"converted" with the use of a Dremel tool. To someone with a collector >mentality, this is sickening. Even milling the aperture ring in a >fixture is not much better. An official Nikon conversion ring, >however, is acceptable. As a collector I don't see any difference. An original lens has to have the original aperture ring. Many non-Ai lenses are produced in large enough quantities that they are not going to be worth much in the future anyhow. It is possbile that a rare lens non-Ai with a rare Ai ring becomes valuable on it own. SignatureThat was it. Done. The faulty Monk was turned out into the desert where it could believe what it liked, including the idea that it had been hard done by. It was allowed to keep its horse, since horses were so cheap to make. -- Douglas Adams in Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency According to Alexander Arnakis <invalid@address.none>: > >Which is why, among many reasons, pre-AI lenses tend to be worth very > >little, thus they aren't collector items, nor is having one adapted [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > collects to be low-priced. That way he can assemble an impressive > collection for little money. :-) [ ... ] > Regarding butchery, I've seen too many examples of pre-AI lenses > "converted" with the use of a Dremel tool. To someone with a collector > mentality, this is sickening. Even milling the aperture ring in a > fixture is not much better. An official Nikon conversion ring, > however, is acceptable. Unfortunately, for many of my lenses, there appears to never have been an official Nikon conversion ring. In the few cases where the focal length and the maximum aperture match, the serial number range does not (based on what Pacific Rim has in stock, at least). So -- if I want to use my 300mm f4 I will *have* to modify the existing aperture ring. Yes -- I have already bought a used 50mm f1.4 AF lens which is a lot more convenient than a modified 50mm f1.4 which only barely makes it to AI mode. Enjoy, DoN. SignatureEmail: <dnichols@d-and-d.com> | Voice (all times): (703) 938-4564 (too) near Washington D.C. | http://www.d-and-d.com/dnichols/DoN.html --- Black Holes are where God is dividing by zero --- >> I have some nice older Nikon film gear, and several lenses. >> Can I use old AI type lenses with Nikon digital SLR? If only [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >lenses, the ones with the ears the couple to the camera bayonet >for the metering. Am I totally out of luck? Please do *not* multipost. These articles should have been crossposted to the different newsgroups so that everyone will see all of the responses. SignatureFloyd L. Davidson <http://www.apaflo.com/floyd_davidson> Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska) floyd@apaflo.com >>>I have some nice older Nikon film gear, and several lenses. >>>Can I use old AI type lenses with Nikon digital SLR? If only [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > crossposted to the different newsgroups so that everyone will > see all of the responses. Whenever I crosspost, I get complaints about crossposting! >> Please do *not* multipost. These articles should have been >> crossposted to the different newsgroups so that everyone will >> see all of the responses. > >Whenever I crosspost, I get complaints about crossposting! No you don't. When you crosspost *off topic* articles, you get complaints. If you appropriately cross post to newsgroups that are on topic, nobody will even notice that it is crossposted. SignatureFloyd L. Davidson <http://www.apaflo.com/floyd_davidson> Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska) floyd@apaflo.com >>>Please do *not* multipost. These articles should have been >>>crossposted to the different newsgroups so that everyone will [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > If you appropriately cross post to newsgroups that are on topic, > nobody will even notice that it is crossposted. I'll keep that in mind for camera groups. For other groups, I have gotten complaints, even when subject matter is on topic for all groups posted. Often happens when crossposting between alt.guitar, alt.guitar.amps, and alt.guitar.effects. But that may be because each group has their own trolls that try to hijack threads! Hope that is NOT the case in camera groups. Sorry for any inconvenience. It does make sense to crosspost when possible. >>>>Please do *not* multipost. These articles should have been >>>>crossposted to the different newsgroups so that everyone will [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > Sorry for any inconvenience. It does make sense to crosspost when > possible. You're fine, Floyd just has a stick up his a.s. Always has. >> Please do *not* multipost. These articles should have been >> crossposted to the different newsgroups so that everyone will >> see all of the responses. > > Whenever I crosspost, I get complaints about crossposting! Somebody is going to complain about something, no matter what you do. Just ignore the self-appointed net-cops. Take a look http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/nikkor.htm Just D. >> I have some nice older Nikon film gear, and several lenses. >> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > the ones with the ears the couple to the camera bayonet for the metering. > Am I totally out of luck? |
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