my Nikkor 300mm telephoto: I just got my Nikkor 300mm with a stamped serial #53800(1977-1981), so it is a Ai model per http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/lenses.html#SuperZoom It...

tenny52 Loc: San Francisco

I just got my Nikkor 300mm with a stamped serial #53800(1977-1981), so it is a Ai model per
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/lenses.html#SuperZoom
It supposedly has a aperture stop of f4.5 - 22, but somehow when I put it on my D610, I can dial it as 2.8-16.
I notice that Nikon has a f2.8 IF-ED model for the same year, but I don't think mine belongs to this model.
Can anyone tell me what is going on, and how can I tell if mine is a real f2.8 or actually a f4.5

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

tenny52 wrote:

I just got my Nikkor 300mm with a stamped serial #53800(1977-1981), so it is a Ai model per
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/lenses.html#SuperZoom
It supposedly has a aperture stop of f4.5 - 22, but somehow when I put it on my D610, I can dial it as 2.8-16.
I notice that Nikon has a f2.8 IF-ED model for the same year, but I don't think mine belongs to this model.
Can anyone tell me what is going on, and how can I tell if mine is a real f2.8 or actually a f4.5

I’m unfamiliar with the lens but www.kenrockwell.com many times has good historical info on lens.

kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

tenny52 wrote:

I just got my Nikkor 300mm with a stamped serial #53800(1977-1981), so it is a Ai model per
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/lenses.html#SuperZoom
It supposedly has a aperture stop of f4.5 - 22, but somehow when I put it on my D610, I can dial it as 2.8-16.
I notice that Nikon has a f2.8 IF-ED model for the same year, but I don't think mine belongs to this model.
Can anyone tell me what is going on, and how can I tell if mine is a real f2.8 or actually a f4.5

If it was a f2.8, it would be HUGE and HEAVY.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Does it indicate 2.8 on the lens label?

tenny52 Loc: San Francisco

Thanks, I agree I just look at the picture of a 300mm f2.8 model which has a huge front lens of 122mm (filter size).
Mine looks and weighs exactly like a 300mm f4.5 model.
Now I know mine is not a real f2.8; I was over joyed momentarily.
I noticed that from the information of the picture taken, it shows that it is taken from a 24mm lens.
In fact, I have a 24mm f2.8-22 lens which my D610 has registered during a fine lens correction.
My conclusion is that my D610 is just got confused.
I haven't made a lens focus correction yet on my 300mm, and I don't know how yet since the closest distance for focus is 13 feet.
Strangely, when I dialed my lens at f4.5-22, my D610 indicates f2.8-16 accordingly; one stop wider.
Could there be some other explanation?

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

For your lens to Auto focus on the D610 the "Lens aperture Ring" will have to be locked at F/22. You fine tune focus in the same manner. If your going to use as a birding lens I would fine tune the focus from at least 50 ft.

tenny52 wrote:

Thanks, I agree I just look at the picture of a 30... (show quote)

tenny52 Loc: San Francisco

Sorry to mention my 300mm is all manual.
To do the lens correction, should I put a measuring ruler 50ft away same level with the lens and tilted at 30degree horizontally?

N4646W

tenny52 wrote:

I just got my Nikkor 300mm with a stamped serial #53800(1977-1981), so it is a Ai model per
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/lenses.html#SuperZoom
It supposedly has a aperture stop of f4.5 - 22, but somehow when I put it on my D610, I can dial it as 2.8-16.
I notice that Nikon has a f2.8 IF-ED model for the same year, but I don't think mine belongs to this model.
Can anyone tell me what is going on, and how can I tell if mine is a real f2.8 or actually a f4.5

Use your menu and set it up under the non CPU lens. Mine did the same. You will have to go to the menu each time the lens is returned to the camera, or program the fn button and one of the dials to bring up the Non CPU menu to scroll through your list.

Ron

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

I have several long lens. I normally adjust them at the distance I most likely would use. I think 50 ft would be a good distance. Placing the ruler at an angle helps dial in the focus. Even if your lens is manual, since the D610 has a focusing motor, won't it focus your lens?? Have you tried?????

tenny52 wrote:

Sorry to mention my 300mm is all manual.
To do the lens correction, should I put a measuring ruler 50ft away same level with the lens and tilted at 30degree horizontally?

tenny52 Loc: San Francisco

Thank you Ron, I did as told and now it reads correctly.
per Martin, I have never heard D610 can focus a manual lens. If it can, then mine would become an AF lens, wouldn't it?
Please show me how you did it.
It shows the light meters, in-focus indicator, A & S indicator.
I will find time to do the fine lens tuning.

kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

martinfisherphoto wrote:

I have several long lens. I normally adjust them at the distance I most likely would use. I think 50 ft would be a good distance. Placing the ruler at an angle helps dial in the focus. Even if your lens is manual, since the D610 has a focusing motor, won't it focus your lens?? Have you tried?????

No, a manual lens cannot be made an AF lens simply because the camera body has a focus motor. Manual stays manual. The only thing it will do is meter through the camera.

I used to have the 300mm f4.5 AI-s, but I don’t anymore. I do, however, have a 105mm f2.5 AI-s, and it works exactly that way. Manual focus, but will meter through the camera. My D7100 also has a focus motor, but my lens is still a manual focusing lens.

N4646W

tenny52 wrote:

Thank you Ron, I did as told and now it reads correctly.
per Martin, I have never heard D610 can focus a manual lens. If it can, then mine would become an AF lens, wouldn't it?
Please show me how you did it.
It shows the light meters, in-focus indicator, A & S indicator.
I will find time to do the fine lens tuning.

Your lens is strictly manual focus. Use the in focus dot in the viewfinder, and you should find it will be right on. These lenses had a very good focusing ring, well at least mine do.

Ron

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

Thanks, I've never owned an AI-s lens before.. Thought the in camera focusing camera would work.. Learned something new.....

kb6kgx wrote:

No, a manual lens cannot be made an AF lens simply because the camera body has a focus motor. Manual stays manual. The only thing it will do is meter through the camera.

I used to have the 300mm f4.5 AI-s, but I don’t anymore. I do, however, have a 105mm f2.5 AI-s, and it works exactly that way. Manual focus, but will meter through the camera. My D7100 also has a focus motor, but my lens is still a manual focusing lens.

carl hervol Loc: jacksonville florida

I believe I have the same lens and it a 4.5 a picture would help.

BebuLamar

N4646W wrote:

Use your menu and set it up under the non CPU lens. Mine did the same. You will have to go to the menu each time the lens is returned to the camera, or program the fn button and one of the dials to bring up the Non CPU menu to scroll through your list.

Ron

Yup! And if you want you can set it as an f/1.4 lens if you want. It's still an f/4.5 though.