NIKON 400MM F/3.5 AIS Question: Has anyone used this lens with their DSLR? It was/is a great lens on 35mm film camera's. Did a search and did not come up with anything on this lens for...

juicesqueezer Loc: Okeechobee, Florida

Has anyone used this lens with their DSLR? It was/is a great lens on 35mm film camera's. Did a search and did not come up with anything on this lens for use on FX bodies.
If anyone can comment on using this lens, it would be most appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

juicesqueezer wrote:

Has anyone used this lens with their DSLR? It was/is a great lens on 35mm film camera's. Did a search and did not come up with anything on this lens for use on FX bodies.
If anyone can comment on using this lens, it would be most appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

You will find it as great on a DSLR FX body as on a film camera. A dream lens. Manual focus, manual or aperture priority exposure modes, center-weighted or spot metering.

juicesqueezer Loc: Okeechobee, Florida

RWR wrote:

You will find it as great on a DSLR FX body as on a film camera. A dream lens. Manual focus, manual or aperture priority exposure modes, center-weighted or spot metering.

Thanks! Have been looking for a big prime lens and this one fits more into my budget. Had looked at the Sigma 150-500 and also the new Tamron 150-600, but the prime is the way to go as long as I don't have to hock the wife and my planes. lol
Have you used this lens and if so, on what body?

onyxtiger Loc: Northern California

RWR wrote:

You will find it as great on a DSLR FX body as on a film camera. A dream lens. Manual focus, manual or aperture priority exposure modes, center-weighted or spot metering.

Not to hijack the thread, but now this makes me wonder if I could use my old 500 mm reflex Nikkor on a DSLR? Anybody have any thoughts or knowledge on that?

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

juicesqueezer wrote:

Thanks! Have been looking for a big prime lens and this one fits more into my budget. Had looked at the Sigma 150-500 and also the new Tamron 150-600, but the prime is the way to go as long as I don't have to hock the wife and my planes. lol
Have you used this lens and if so, on what body?

I was fortunate enough to shoot 2 rolls of film with my F5 mounted on one (you don't mount a 6-pound lens on a camera!). Was never fortunate enough to own one. It is sharp enough to easily make up the 100 or 200mm advantage of the zooms you mention. Enjoy. :-)

juicesqueezer Loc: Okeechobee, Florida

RWR wrote:

I was fortunate enough to shoot 2 rolls of film with my F5 mounted on one (you don't mount a 6-pound lens on a camera!). Was never fortunate enough to own one. It is sharp enough to easily make up the 100 or 200mm advantage of the zooms you mention. Enjoy. :-)

Thanks!

jcboy3

I use the 400mm with my Olympus E-M1. It is manual focus, but focus peaking helps speed things up. It is as fast as my 50-200 SWD at 200mm and nearly 2 stops faster than my Sigma 50-500 (and much sharper) I don't use it for BIF, but for low-light or long distance shots it is great.

It is very heavy, and very front heavy (really big glass in front, 122mm filter). I use it on a tripod with a gimbal mount. Because my camera is light, the tripod mount is too far back for balance, so I have a 120mm Arca plate attached to the tripod mount which lets me move the lens back for balance.

It takes drop in filters (39mm). The polarizing filter requires a special drop in that has a rotator knob on top; very expensive (but so are 122mm filters).

It also works well with a TC-14 for even more reach, while still remaining bright.

I like the lens. I have also gotten a 122mm metal plate to use as a lens cover (in addition to the neoprene one that comes with it). Just that extra bit of safety. I use a LowPro lens bag for it, and can squeeze it with TC-14 into the bag.

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

Depending on the camera, it's a snap. If you have a D200 or better, you will get metering in either aperture or manual modes You do have to enter the max aperture & focal length into the cameras memory banks if you want the correct EXIF info though.. If you are shooting with a base model Nikon DSLR, the lenses will mount, but not meter. Use a hand held meter or the old "Sunny 16" rule to get in the ballpark & then the LCD/Histogram to fine tune the exposure. Not the fastest way to shoot, but it will work. One caveat to mention is that if you are using really old Pre-Ai (or Non-Ai) mount lenses, they can be used safely on the base models but will damage higher end model unless they have been modified..

onyxtiger wrote:

Not to hijack the thread, but now this makes me wonder if I could use my old 500 mm reflex Nikkor on a DSLR? Anybody have any thoughts or knowledge on that?

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

onyxtiger wrote:

Not to hijack the thread, but now this makes me wonder if I could use my old 500 mm reflex Nikkor on a DSLR? Anybody have any thoughts or knowledge on that?

Sure you can. If your camera will meter with a lens with no CPU you can use manual or aperture-preferred exposure mode. If not, use either a hand-held meter or guess the exposure.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Screamin Scott wrote:

One caveat to mention is that if you are using really old Pre-Ai (or Non-Ai) mount lenses, they can be used safely on the base models but will damage higher end model unless they have been modified..

Are you saying my Df is a base model :?: :?:

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

That is the one exception to the Pre-Ai modification issue for higher end Nikon DSLRs. That said, while it looks nice, that camera is way overpriced for what it offers....

RWR wrote:

Are you saying my Df is a base model :?: :?:

C.R. Loc: United States of Confusion

jcboy3, which lowepro case are you using? i have this lens and it needs a case, plan on using it with a modified tc-16a

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Screamin Scott wrote:

That is the one exception to the Pre-Ai modification issue for higher end Nikon DSLRs. That said, while it looks nice, that camera is way overpriced for what it offers....

Can't deny that. I did pay a lot just for digital, spot metering, intermediate shutter speeds and the ability to use my good lenses, although it would have cost much more for new replacements. (What I'd really like is a digital Exakta VX IIa :lol: ).

onyxtiger Loc: Northern California

Screamin Scott wrote:

That is the one exception to the Pre-Ai modification issue for higher end Nikon DSLRs. That said, while it looks nice, that camera is way overpriced for what it offers....

I have to agree on the pricing. I'd really like one, but I can't justify nearly 3 grand for that body.

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

Yeah, I'm in the same boat... Like the nostalgic look but ,on a fixed income. can't afford one...

onyxtiger wrote:

I have to agree on the pricing. I'd really like one, but I can't justify nearly 3 grand for that body.