F100 metering with AI lenses

I'm thinking about "upgrading" my F801s (N8008s) towards an F100. I

have only a doubt: can the F100 use its matrix metering mode with AI

or AIS manual lenses? (yes, I know the F4 and F5 can do it, but they

are outside my budget and are a bit heavy for my taste :)

Of the film bodies, only the F4, F6 and FA matrix meter with manual lenses without a CPU. The F5 and F100 do not have this feature.

The F100 can't Matrix meter with Ai and AiS lenses, but the center-weighted works rather well. The shot below was with F100 and MF55/f2.8 AiS.

I've used the F-100 with a mix of AI, AIS and AF lenses and have had no problems with metering. True, with an AI or AIS lens you get center-weighted metering but you also can use the spot meter function. This works well for me as I rarely determine exposure with just the meter but use many years of experience to supplement the camera meter. I'd rather not get rid of my AIS 24mm F/2 and 85mm F/1.4 as they are great lenses.

i used to use fill flash on center weight with slide film with an old 105 all the time.

Ilkka is exactly right. As far as metering goes, the F801s, F90(x), F100 and F5 have the same restrictions against AI/AI-S lenses. If the lens does not have a CPU, there is no matrix metering, but center weighted and spot will work. Therefore, if you get the F100, the situation will not change from your F801s.

The only other annoyance on the F100 is that because there is no "ADR" window, you cannot see the aperture you've selected in your viewfinder, so you'll have either to count clicks, look at the lens, or base aperture on the DOF preview.

 

And don't forget that you cannot use shutter priority or program modes with non-CPU lenses.

Mathew,

 

when you leave the exposure selection on P on the F100 and have a AIS lens on the camrera, the viewfinder (and camera) automatically go to indicate A mode. So you do not have to reset your camera when interchanging lenses AF - AI. P will be rerouted to its default A setting with AIs. Idiot proof in my book. And quite convenient, too, since I like P* exposure mode best.

Thanks a lot for your help and hints. The F801s is a great camera, but the F100 tempts me. Could you imagine some reasons to make the "upgrade" towards the F100? (I don't use flash). I need to convince myself and my wife, too!

Oops, I forgot to tell: my lenses are Nikkor AF28mm f/2.8, 35mm f/2 AI, AF50mm f/1.8, AF85mm f/1.8, AF28-70mm f/3.5-4.5, 200mm f/4 AI and Sigma APO 300mm f/4. Only the Sigma has D features.

<I>Could you imagine some reasons to make the "upgrade" towards the F100? (I don't use flash). I need to convince myself...</I><P>

 

I was tempted with the F100 when it came out, but I too was using a pair of N8008s bodies, almost always with prime AI / AIS Nikkors. The one and only thing it would do for me (over the N8008s) would be for those very few times that I use a variable aperture AF zoom (like my 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 D). I like the ability to control the f-stop from the body on the F100. You can dial in f/8 for example and then the lens is at f/8 from 28mm to 70mm. this effectively turns a variable aperture lens into a constant aperture lens, other than at the maximum end.<P>

 

In the end, I usually just use prime lenses, so after doing the financial math, I kept using the N8008s.

Albert, this is exactly the key. While my heart calls me for the F100, my minds tells me that my actual F801s is a superb camera. At the actual e-*ay prices for F801s bodies, I think this is one of the best options for those entering the film Nikon system.

Since you have no AF-S lenses and if you don't need fast AF, you really cannot take advantage of the difference between the F801s and F100. This may not be the answer you want to hear, but I'd suggest staying with the F801s. Your money is better spent elsewhere.

With the n90s and the f100, you get in between shutter speeds that yoiu do not get on teh 8008s. If you shoot slides, this makes a big difference. Joe Smith

<I>With the n90s and the f100, you get in between shutter speeds that yoiu do not get on teh 8008s. If you shoot slides, this makes a big difference.</i><P>But the shutter is stepless in A and P modes, and one can always adjust the aperture instead of the shutter when in manual mode, letting the same amount of light in.

Shun, you're enterely right. Thanks very much for putting everything in perspective.

Luis, I have owned both a F801 for 16 years and a F100 for 5, and while I think the F801 is still a great camera, I have found the F100 has several definite advantages, includig among others the following:

 

- The alternative, through custom settings, of effectively making variable aperture zooms fixed, which facilitates metering and DOF management in various situations.

 

- The alternative, also through custom settings, of setting the aperture using the body's secondary dial, which in practice makes aperture adjustment faster and more convenient.

 

- Aperture and speed adjustable alternatively in full, halves or thirds of a stop, the latter making exposure adjustment, and indirectly also DOF management, much faster and convenient, especially if you regularly shoot slide film on manual mode, as I do.

 

- Programmable auto-bracketing, which you can conveniently combine with continuous shooting.

 

- Appreciably better matrix metering, very good actually, which has become plain on the rare occasions I was forced to auto-expose less-than-obvious scenes on slide film.

 

- Much faster and quieter autofocus and motor drive.

 

- Better body insulation (O-rings), whereas the F801's electronics have often left me stranded under certain temperature and humidity conditions or sharp changes therein.

 

- Viewfinder coverage of 96% (92% on the F801), so what you see is virtually what you get on the framed slide.

 

- Ergonomics! Incomparable with the F801's, the F100 is a joy to handle, with a great grip both through the boby's shaping and its rugged rubber finish, and if you often use the DOF preview button the F100's electronically activated one is a breeze compared to that of the F801. However, the F100 body is also some 100 gr. heavier.

 

All such advantages have eventually made me leave my good old F801 home or take it just as a backup ... until the day Nikon produces the FM3 with spot metering, if that day ever comes!

 

I would be cautious about the metering with AI lenses. I do not own any, but my F100 manual states that 10-segment matrix, center and spot metering are possible with AI-Ps, only center and spot with "AI modified", and NONE with AI-S, AI and Series E. I think you had better check with your dealer or, even better, take your lenses and try them on the camera first.

All pro-sumer Nikon AF film bodies including the F801/N8008(s), F90/N90(s) and the F100 can center weighted and spot meter with AI and AI-S lenses, including Series E. (The N8008/F801 has no spot meter, but the N8008s has.) None of them can matrix meter with those MF lenses unless the lens has a built-in CPU, i.e. AI-P or a CPU is added aftermarket.