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Photo Forum / Digital Photography / DSLR Cameras / April 2007Using Lenses from Nikon 8080 film camera on Nikon D80 digital
Have decided to purchase a Nikon D80. Currently have a Nikon 8080 film camera with AF Nikkor 28-85mm 1:3.5-4.5 and AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 lenses. If I purchase a new digital lens, I am looking at the 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens. This is the kit lens and only adds about $200.00 to the price (separately the lens alone sells for about $330) so it would appear to be a good value. If I purchase a body only (and use my existing lenses) instead of getting a new digital lens with the body, what exactly am I losing other than the additional wide angle and telephoto capability? I am thinking in terms of functionality. My reading makes me think the old lenses will do all the autofocus and autoexposure just like the new digital lenses. What am I missing? Mel_J > Have decided to purchase a Nikon D80. Currently have a Nikon 8080 film > camera with AF Nikkor 28-85mm 1:3.5-4.5 and AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 lenses. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Mel_J Apart from the obvious loss of wide angle capability that you point out, the newer lenses have AF-s (AF motor in lens) and tend to focus more quickly than cheap screw-driven lenses that use the motor in body. The 18-135 has a "micro-motor" rather than better "ring motor" (called HSM or USM by other makers), but playing with that lens and the Nikkor 18-70 (with ring motor) on D70 and D80 bodies, the 18-70 is certainly faster, but not so much that the 18-135 would be considered slow focusing, and I expect much faster than the old 28-85. Also, the 18-70 and 18-135 have front elements that do not rotate when the camera focuses - which may be a significant advantage if you use a circular polarising filter. The AF-s lenses are also nearly silent when focusing. IIRC the 28-85 came in two versions - a really cheaply made version with a tiny thin focus ring at the front, and a slightly better earlier version (made in Japan) with wider focus ring. The 18-70 and 18-135, and possibly even the latest 18-55 aren't bad lenses, and at the price as a "kit" with the D80 are very good value. > polarising filter. The AF-s lenses are also nearly silent when focusing. > IIRC the 28-85 came in two versions - a really cheaply made version with > a tiny thin focus ring at the front, and a slightly better earlier No, the 28-85 build quality was pretty good for a consumer lens. I don't think you'll find many Nikon consumer lenses today that'll have better construction. > version (made in Japan) with wider focus ring. The 18-70 and 18-135, and >> polarising filter. The AF-s lenses are also nearly silent when focusing. >> IIRC the 28-85 came in two versions - a really cheaply made version with [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >> version (made in Japan) with wider focus ring. The 18-70 and 18-135, and I think you are right - I've assumed the Nikkor 28-80 - not 28-85. And I agree that "consumer" lenses are more fragile. Either cheap plastic, like the 18-55, or more complex mechanical design, like the 18-70 with formerly "pro" features like IF/non rotating front element assembly, but on plastic mechanisms. My 18-70 broke (fixed by Nikon under warranty) which was the first failure I've ever had with a Nikon lens - except for gummed up aperture blades on an AI-s 50mm f1.4. > Have decided to purchase a Nikon D80. Currently have a Nikon 8080 film > camera with AF Nikkor 28-85mm 1:3.5-4.5 and AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 lenses. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Mel_J Anything wide angle is likely going to be pretty bad when used on the digital. Stick with DX lenses for this, you can probably get away with old film lenses for longer lens applications. No real vignetting with the old lenses, but sharpness and resolution suffer compared to newer lenses. I compared 28-70 and 28-105 D lenses to a new DX 18-70 and it clobbered them. While distortion and vignetting were well- controlled on the old lenses (larger image circle) they were just nowhere near as sharp, contrasty and didn't have nearly the same resolution as the DX. > Anything wide angle is likely going to be pretty bad when used on the > digital. Stick with DX lenses for this, you can probably get away [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > nowhere near as sharp, contrasty and didn't have nearly the same > resolution as the DX. TOTAL NONSENSE! I know you didn't compare a 28-70/2.8 Nikkor to the 18-70 and got better results from the 18-70. I've had the 28-105 D a while back and for a slow lens it does really nice compared to the 18-70. If the 28-105 were a bit wider and didn't have that aggravating rotating front element it would be a sweet lens. I would take the old 28-105 over the 18-70 or the 18-200 VR any day of the week. Rita > > Anything wide angle is likely going to be pretty bad when used on the > > digital. Stick with DX lenses for this, you can probably get away [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > I know you didn't compare a 28-70/2.8 Nikkor to the 18-70 and got better > results from the 18-70. Not the f2.8 http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1030&message=22909693 >>> Anything wide angle is likely going to be pretty bad when used on >>> the digital. Stick with DX lenses for this, you can probably get [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1030&message=22909693 Sorry, my mistake. You're talking about the Nikon AF 28-70mm f3.5-4.5D. I know my 28-70/2.8 is razor sharp. Rita >>>> Anything wide angle is likely going to be pretty bad when used on >>>> the digital. Stick with DX lenses for this, you can probably get [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >>>> circle) they were just nowhere near as sharp, contrasty and didn't >>>> have nearly the same resolution as the DX. >>> TOTAL NONSENSE! >>> >>> I know you didn't compare a 28-70/2.8 Nikkor to the 18-70 and got >>> better results from the 18-70. >> Not the f2.8 >> >> http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1030&message=22909693 > Sorry, my mistake. You're talking about the Nikon AF 28-70mm f3.5-4.5D. I > know my 28-70/2.8 is razor sharp. > > Rita So is the 28-70mm f3.5-4.5 Nikkor, certainly at f7.1. RichA's results may be accounted for by mis-focus, a particular zoom model's poorer performance at close focus, camera shake, or? There is no reason why a wide angle lens that is sharp on 35mm would not be sharp on digital (and if anything, sharper than a middling-quality DX lens). For instance, the Nikkor 18-70mm is a decent lens on digital, but the 16mm f3.5 Nikkor is noticeably sharper, as is the 24mm f2.8. -- David Ruether d_ruether@hotmail.com www.donferrario.com/ruether/ (note address change) >> Sorry, my mistake. You're talking about the Nikon AF 28-70mm >> f3.5-4.5D. I know my 28-70/2.8 is razor sharp. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > instance, the Nikkor 18-70mm is a decent lens on digital, but the > 16mm f3.5 Nikkor is noticeably sharper, as is the 24mm f2.8. I agree. The 18-70 really isn't a bad lens for being a DX lens and for as little it costs. That has to be one of the best starter lenses ever offered by Nikon or any other manufacturer. What ever happened to the day when the old 50/1.4 AI was considered a starter lens? Rita According to Rita Ä Berkowitz <ritaberk2O04 @aol.com>: > >> Sorry, my mistake. You're talking about the Nikon AF 28-70mm > >> f3.5-4.5D. I know my 28-70/2.8 is razor sharp. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > by Nikon or any other manufacturer. What ever happened to the day when the > old 50/1.4 AI was considered a starter lens? It died somewhat after the time that the 50mm f1.4 *pre*-AI (just the half-moon clip for the Photomic meter) was considered a good step up from a 50mm f2.0 or so. :-) I've still got a couple of these, which I can't mount on the D70 -- unless I modify the aperture ring to give them the AI capability. But since I now have a 50mm f1.4 AF lens, why bother? 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 --- >What ever happened to the day when the > old 50/1.4 AI was considered a starter lens? That's a bit before my time but the thing that irks me is they don't even make an equivalent normal fast prime. It's simply not available, you have to go to Sigma's 30/1.4 SignaturePaul Furman Photography http://www.edgehill.net/1 Bay Natives Nursery http://www.baynatives.com > >>>> Anything wide angle is likely going to be pretty bad when used on > >>>> the digital. Stick with DX lenses for this, you can probably get [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > at close focus, camera shake, or? There is no reason why a wide angle lens > that is sharp on 35mm would not be sharp on digital Go look up parallel ray lens design as it applies to digital cameras and you'll understand why it performed that way. BTW; Whenever I do these tests, I use manual focus and a focus magnifier. > Have decided to purchase a Nikon D80. Currently have a Nikon 8080 film > camera Perhaps you mean a Nikon 8008? Signature- > >> Have decided to purchase a Nikon D80. Currently have a Nikon 8080 film >> camera > > Perhaps you mean a Nikon 8008? Oops....Yes, I meant the 8008. > Have decided to purchase a Nikon D80. Currently have a Nikon 8080 film > camera with AF Nikkor 28-85mm 1:3.5-4.5 and AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 lenses. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Mel_J Thank you all for your comments. You have been very helpful. |
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