amehta Loc: Boston

True, and everyone's got to make a living. The dealers keep the used market working, which keeps a lot of the great older lenses available. The ones with aperture rings. (Just bringing it back to the topic :-D )

JimGuy

Dont need aperture ring. Nikons (at least the higher end consumer and pro bodies) have a front and back dial..front for aperture, and back for shutter. You can see the settings in the viewfinder and top lcd. No need to take eye of subject.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Not to say that it can't be done, but that still begets the question, do you have your focus set to the button on the back, & if so, then you have to both focus & adjust the aperture/shutter speed with the same hand, slowing you down...Plus, you have to spend more for the latest gear. Not everyone can afford them... Another point is that as long as you have the aperture on a lens with a ring locked at the minimum, you still can control the aperture thru camera settings... . Thus, if you have the extra money and want them, go for the gelded lenses. If money is an issue, save some of it by going with the slightly older technology.... Problem solved !!!

rob s Loc: La Mesa, CA

With my T1i, then my 7D and now with my 6D all you need to do is roll the command wheel a click or so to left or right in Av mode. If you shoot Tv for some reason then use the back panel wheel to change the aperture.
How does it get easier than this?

Balian84 Loc: Atlanta

I do have a set, plus a double male adaptor. Still, I don't shoot macro that often. I guess I just hate insects, at least most of them.
Back to topic, it is absolutely necessary to have an aperture ring to use extension tube. In most cases it is imposible to focus with f/22 or bigger.

JimGuy

When I said "Dont need aperture ring. Nikons (at least the higher end consumer and pro bodies) have a front and back dial..front for aperture, and back for shutter. You can see the settings in the viewfinder and top lcd. No need to take eye of subject."

I was simply stating a fact.

I have had lens's with aperture ring, and today that feature is un necessary. You dont need it. If your lens has it, fine, but you still dont need it.

If you want to use the back button focus on a Nikon you dont have to "set" it . It just works.

That said I NEVER use the back button since depressing the shutter release half way to focus is MUCH faster and more efficient.
As far as Im concerned they could leave the back button off and move the af-l/ae-l button over to the right more.

kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy

For normal use the aperture ring is unnecessary, but it serves in other situations. When shooting video, using the dial will always result in stepped closing or opening of the diaphragm. Nikon is better than Canon with their feature using front buttons, but even then the movement happens in 1/8 rather than 1/3 steps. Many video shooters use Ai lenses (Canon too with an adapter) after having the click stops removed for smooth aperture changes, though anther way is to use a variable ND filter. I use bellows, macro teleconverters and the like, and in those cases the aperture ting is a necessity. The only way around that with G lenses is to physically open the aperture tab an immobilize it with something,or you are always shooting at minimum aperture.

gemartin Loc: Statesboro, GA

Having an aperture ring is especially helpful when using a "foreign" lens on a camera that only supports manual operation. For example, I use Canon lenses on my Sony A7r and with some adapters the only operation available is manual for both focus and aperture. The default with the Canon lenses when the lens is not actually in operation is to be wide open at maximum aperture - this aids in focusing through the viewfinder in normal operation. The workaround for this to set aperture is to go to Bulb mode on Canon camera, set aperture, depress shutter and remove the lens while it is at the desired aperture.