film camera lenses (Page 3): Thanks for the correction. I had intended on remarking about the difference in camera models and accidentally hit before I was ready. My last film camera...

Rdhalste

Thanks for the correction.
I had intended on remarking about the difference in camera models and accidentally hit [send] before I was ready.
My last film camera was an F4S with the appropriate lenses. I purchased the digital cameras with that in mind.

I sure wish the D800 had been available back then. I spent nearly two weeks at the big EAA fly-in At Oshkosh (set up plus the fly-in - I was one of the chairmen). I sent the film to Kodak rather than processing it myself. They ruined nearly every roll. Nearly all the slides (Ektachrome 400) were covered with small spots taking as much as an hour for retouching on the ones I could salvage.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

AndyGarcia wrote:

Be careful most vintage lenses, other than Nikon lenses, will not work because you won't be able to get an adapter. It's because of the flange distance (I think that's what it's called).

It’s called Flange Focal Distance.
There are adapters available for quite a number of lenses to fit Nikon:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Lens-Adapters/ci/3420/fct/fct_camera-fitting-male_1595%7Cnikon/N/4077634486

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

I have the pre AIS Micro-Nikkor-P Auto f3.5 55mm manual macro lens. It works well on my D3100. You can get it for less than $75 on ebay. I also bought the Nikkor M2 2x macro extension tube for that lens which goes for about $25 on ebay. I've seen them sold as a pair on ebay for less than $100. The funny thing is that although the Macro lens doesn't mount on my D7000, the extension tube does, so I can use the macro lens with the extender for a 1:1 macro lens on my D7000. All manual of course.

nauticalmike wrote:

Thank you everyone for all of the wonderful information that you gave!!! You have been most helpful. The original reason for my inquiry was because I was looking for a cheap MACRO lens and there are a plethora of them on ebay many along with a film camera as I mentioned in my original post.

BebuLamar

Bobspez wrote:

The non AIS or pre AIS lenses won't mount on the d7xxx cameras without the lens' mount being modified. (You can often do this yourself with a dremel tool). They will mount on the D3xxx and D5xxx Nikon DSLR's but the focusing, shutter speed and aperture will be manual. You still have auto iso though if you want it. I don't have any AIS lenses so I don't know how they will meter on the D7XXX cameras.

Auto ISO doesn't work with Pre AI or AI/AI-S lenses.

AndyGarcia

mas24 wrote:

Yes, they work on your cameras. But, those cameras probably have a Non-CPU feature in the menu, which gives you an advantage in using them. The camera discussed is the D5300. Which can use vintage lenses, but in a different way than your cameras. All Nikon digital menu systems are not alike. I don't own any vintage lenses. But considering. And most know they lack VR.

I'm sure you're right. As for VR not really important in most circumstances unless you're trying to shoot with a big, old heavy lens at slow shutter speed. Lived without it for 40 years....

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

You are correct. It must be set manually as well.

BebuLamar wrote:

Auto ISO doesn't work with Pre AI or AI/AI-S lenses.

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

Do search on Youtube for videos on macro with reversed lens - there are several that are very good - search for the brand you use.
Harvey

nauticalmike wrote:

Thank you everyone for all of the wonderful information that you gave!!! You have been most helpful. The original reason for my inquiry was because I was looking for a cheap MACRO lens and there are a plethora of them on ebay many along with a film camera as I mentioned in my original post.

Rdhalste

I thought that about VR lenses too, but it only took one to tell me that "for me" the VR was a definite improvement. I knew I wasn't as rock steady as I was when younger, but I didn't realize how bad I had become until I compared some enlargements of cropped areas. That was when I saw the undeniable loss in sharpness. Now, with VR, I was back to shooting as sharp as I did in my 20s an 30s, but without the grain of film. Now I can get those action shots sharper than Kodacolor 100 on a tripod. I could do it with substantial cropping even with a DX sensor. Even with Kodacolor and a tripod the grain would eventually become a problem. Needing to use ASA400 made grain much more of a problem.

Some of us are lucky and remain steady well into our 60s, but eventually that shake will creep in with age. Some of us don't remain steady even into our 50s or 60s.

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

RWR wrote:

My unmodified 85 f/1.8 non-Ai Nikkor (serial #431236) is no problem on my Df. Nikon offered Ai kit 37 for conversion to Ai.

***********************************************
My 85mm f/1.8 Nikkor Auto serial No. 207813...Seems to be a lower number than any information I can find. Have sent an Email to the only UK company listed, questioning them about conversion kits, but no reply yet.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Pablo8 wrote:

***********************************************
My 85mm f/1.8 Nikkor Auto serial No. 207813...Seems to be a lower number than any information I can find. Have sent an Email to the only UK company listed, questioning them about conversion kits, but no reply yet.

Probably all factory conversion kits for any lenses have been sold out for many years now, but you might want to check here: http://www.aiconversions.com/
I’m keeping mine original, so have no experience with him, but others have recommended him.
The 85 f/1.8 is the lens that pretty much established Nikon’s reputation - I’ll not part with mine! More information here:
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html#85

AndyGarcia

RWR wrote:

Probably all factory conversion kits for any lenses have been sold out for many years now, but you might want to check here: http://www.aiconversions.com/
I’m keeping mine original, so have no experience with him, but others have recommended him.
The 85 f/1.8 is the lens that pretty much established Nikon’s reputation - I’ll not part with mine! More information here:
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html#85

I've used John White at Ai Conversions a couple of times. He is a good guy and gives great, affordable service. Yse Nikon stopped offering conversion years ago as you say. I will, eventually, manage to get an 85mm Ai......but that's another story.

r.grossner Loc: Rockford IL & Sarasota FL

mas24 wrote:

I don't own any Nikon Vintage manual lenses. But, I've been told the the consumer cameras, such as the D3xxx and D5xxx Series, do not have the Non CPU menu setup. Only the higher end consumer cameras have it. Is that true? And if so, how do you set it up on those cameras? And will an Ai/Ais lenses work on them?

True, the D3xxx and D5xxx series don't have the aperture sensing tab on the camera lens mount nor the NON CPU menu and therefore cannot TTL meter with non-cpu lenses. The D7100, D7200 and almost all FF bodies can use most AI or AIS lenses with TTL Metering in Manual or Aperture modes. You need to enter the Focal length and Maximum Aperture for each Non-CPU lens to be used in the Non-CPU list in one of the cameras menus ( IE 50mm f/1.4) then select it and shoot in A or M modes. You have to manually focus of course. I regularly use my 50mm f1.4, 85mm f1.8, and 105mm f4.0 micro AI Nikkors on my D750 body. Check the lens compatibility page on the Nikon website.

r.grossner Loc: Rockford IL & Sarasota FL

BebuLamar wrote:

Auto ISO doesn't work with Pre AI or AI/AI-S lenses.

Auto ISO works on my D750 body with all my AI lenses. I almost always shoot in A mode.

jsmangis Loc: Peoria, IL

r.grossner wrote:

True, the D3xxx and D5xxx series don't have the ap... (show quote)

The D80 & D90 will also work with them.

r.grossner Loc: Rockford IL & Sarasota FL

Architect1776 wrote:

For 5xxx and 3xxx cameras no meter or AF. The OP has a 5xxx camera so 7xxx info does not help.

Just saying which bodies can meter AI lenses.