asjohnston3 Loc: Irving, TX

Does anyone have experience with this lens? What exactly does non-AI mean? Can I use this as a manual focus lens on my D5100?

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

Basically AI was a newer way of coupling Nikon compatible lenses to the newer bodies for metering functionality. It pretty much developed in the mid 70's when the FM / FE system was developed. It did away with the "fork". There are plenty of Nikon experts around here that can give a better answer as far as compatibility between older lenses and newer bodies. :thumbup:

Blasthoff Loc: Life halved NY and IN

I had one I used with a Nikkormat FT2. The non AI lenses coupled to the meter with the "rabbit ears" on the aperture ring, to a pin on the camera of the Nikon F, F2 and Nikkormat series of Cameras. You probably should not try to mount it. AI lenses have a ridge on the backside of the aperture ring that couples with a tab on the camera on all later MF cameras beginning with the FM, FE, F3 and all later film cameras. The problem is, with cameras that have the AI "tab". The aperture ring on non AI lenses don't have clearance for the tab and can damage the tab and coupling on the camera. The early AI cameras, original FM, original FE, if memory serves me, along with the F3 and most later Pro models, the tab could be unlocked and lifted out of the way to utilize non-AI lenses. All other Nikons the tab was fixed and you were not supposed to use non-AI lenses. The reality was, on my FE2 some non AI lenses would definitely jam the tab and you wouldn't want to "lock" the lens in the mount in fear of damage to the camera aperture coupling, however with some non AI lenses, I found they would just clear the tab (barely) and I'll admit to cheating the rules with a couple of non AI lenses and use them on occasion. That said, I wouldn't want to be the one to tell anyone to try it.

Now, what I don't know is this, I don't believe your 5100 couples the meter with AI lenses. I believe only the 2 and 3 digit Nikon dslr's do (possibly the 7100). Which in turn, would mean your lens mount most likely does not have an AI tab to get damaged. That said, with all the electrical contacts for auto focus etc in the camera body I wouldn't attempt to mess around with it, it just isn't worth it. I think I only paid about $20 for that lens back in the early '80's. I never tested it critically but it was on the soft and flat side unless you stopped it down. I loaned it out once and never got it back. I didn't miss it.

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

It should mount & shoot without issues but only in manual mode. Besides no AF, you will not get metering either...Use the old "Sunny 16" rule to get in the ballpark & then use the LCD/Histogram to fine tune the exposure. That or else use a hand held meter.... Not the best option for fast action or rapidly changing light....I moderate a group over in the Flickr forums dealing with using these older manual focus lenses on Nikon digital bodies... Just an average performer lens

Bigfoot73 Loc: Canada

I have D5100 so this is what I can advise you:
- this lens DOES mount on D5100 but DOES NOT mount on higher class bodies it can DAMAGE those bodies (I have worked with non-AI on D5100)
- Except Manual mode & Sunny 16 rule do not expect anything else
- I have 135mm 2.8 M42 mount with adapter without glass and it is sharp "as a razor" (lenses with adapter on Nikon DO NOT focus infinity) and I love it (don't know about this one)
Good luck and enjoy it

asjohnston3 Loc: Irving, TX

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Thanks for the info. I guess what I'm really looking for is an older 'macro' lens to be used on a tripod in manual. (using zoom liveview to focus)

asjohnston3 Loc: Irving, TX

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Thanks for the feedback.... Any recommendations on an older macro?

Blasthoff Loc: Life halved NY and IN

AhHa, so it is OK to mount on cameras without an AI tab. I thought that was the case.

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

Couple of problems with your reply... Vivitar was a marketer of photo gear, not a manufacturer & as such, there were any number of lens makers that made lenses for them. I have the Vivitar 135mm F2.8 CF (Close Focus) model (goes to 1/2 life size) that was made by Komine in Ai mount. Komine also made a "standard F2.8 version, as did Kino Precision & Tokina, plus there may have been others. The serial # will give you an indication as to who made it although it was likely Tokina or Kino...Many 3rd party lenses can be safely mounted on any Nikon DSLR as the problem with Pre-Ai lenses was due to the aperture ring "skirt" extending down past the face of the mount. Many 3rd party made lenses have a flush mount & thus won't damage any Nikon DSLR, but if you go to mount one & it binds, then stop ,of course.... As for your M42 mount with an adapter, you don't get infinity focus with it as the registration difference is different. The only way to achieve infinity focus with an adapter on Nikon is the adapter has to have a glass element (which btw, also changes the focal length of the lens. I moderate a group over in the Flickr forums dedicated to using the older glass on Nikon DSLR's. I have used several Pre-Ai 3rd party lenses on a D70s without a problem. I have only had a problem with one 3rd party Pre-Ai lens on the D70s

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

I have 6 macro lenses, all but one are older manual focus models.They all give good results. Good macro shots are more a product of good technique as opposed to gear...What to get depends on your budget & what you intend to shoot. Shorter focal lengths 50-70mm are fine for static subjects but insects tend to scurry away as they get too close for the insects comfort. Longer focal lenths give the most working distance, but tend to become very pricey (even older MF version) as well as large & heavy. The 90-105mm focal length is the best out there for capturing smaller critters as you still are far enough away without the lens costing a lot or being unwieldy...My macro lenses run from 50- 135mm in focal length

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

Any base model Nikon DSLR that requires lenses with built in focus motors can use any brand or any type of F mount lens Nikkor or otherwise without damaging the camera......Except older lenses that required the mirror to be up in order to use the lens. Here is a link to the group I moderate on Flickr where we use older lenses on Nikon DSLR's if you want to glean any info from it......
http://www.flickr.com/groups/365610@N21/discuss/72157640321642203/

Bigfoot73 Loc: Canada

There might be a problem but not at all with my reply, I know about everything you mentioned and more (32 years behind camera)! You should have noticed that I already mentioned that M42 does not focus infinity, but maybe you were busy replying and giving lectures so you missed the point ...
The point here is to help our friend who has little experience with this matter and therefore I simply wrote what Nikon officially recommends about compatibility.
Pre-AI lens are not subject of experiments for inexperienced users with more expensive cameras !
Although everything you said is really true, you should ask yourself how much of it an average user will understand, and will your comment help or make more confusion.
Is an old Pre-AI lens worth of destroying 1000 $ camera for somebody who is not experienced in this ???

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

Well, I've been shooting since the late 60's & I did see your mention of the loss of infinity focus & I explained why that was. I also have linked to a group of users (3,248) who regularly use these older lenses on Nikon's DSLR's, thus a novice can always search the groups posts for pertinent information regarding their questions. Nikon also says that the focus screen isn't replaceable on many of it's DSLR's but that isn't exactly true either... Thus just because they say don't do something, doesn't mean that doing so will result in turning the camera into a paperweight. They have a vested interest in selling you the "latest & Greatest" & not everyone can afford that...I assume you missed my point about not forcing a lens to mount if it binds? I am well versed in photography & not just Nikon
http://www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/sets/72157604924638757/

Bigfoot73 Loc: Canada

Let's not turn this into our debate, and stop here. I didn't say that you are not versed, just that your post is too deep for the topic ... I might be interested in your post very much, but I don't think that it is what out friend needed to know
How many average users do you think will really know what "not forcing a lens to mount if it binds" really means? - definitely not all ...
Many things can be done ? - Yes, You know, I know, many people do but also many people don't so let's just not confuse them - every day users - until they show interest on their own, when they come to the point where they are interested I am very sure they will visit your link and read the post ...
Let's just keep the answers simple, until they ask for more ... Do you agree?

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

Yes, we should just drop this nit picking that we are engaging in...It's not helping the average user...Only us gearheads...