D800E & AiS

<p>I've been using my D800E for the past week, running around downtown Chicago. I brought lenses Nikons 20mm 1.8G, Sigma 35mm f1.4, Nikon 85mm f1.8G. these are fairly small but still don't fit into a pocket, and still look like "honking big lenses" to passersby. I also brought a Nikon F3T with AiS 28mm f2, 50mm f1.2, 105mm f2.5. Much smaller lenses, easily fit into a coat pocket. They do work on the D800e but the aperture does not register correctly. When set to f2.8, the camera reads it as f4 etc. I am using M mode, and center weighted metering. I did go into the menu and add the lenses under "non CPU lenses," but the camera doesn't seem to recognize them automatically. The lenses are vintage 1980s like the camera. I am able to use them--the camera meter is close and I can then check LCD and get exposure more precise. So, what's the deal? Am I doing everything right and this is as good as it gets? I do love the small size of these lenses. Mostly, I've just been shooting the F3T with HP5. Very small package and fairly inconspicuous.</p>

<p>Kent in SD</p>

<p>Kent - from your description, I can't tell if you are setting the non-CPU lens data each time you mount a new manual focus lens. If the lens doesn't have a CPU, then you have to tell the camera what is mounted (i.e. focal length and maximum aperture). Personally, I assign non-CPU lens data to the front Fn button. The camera will store a number of different lenses. Just press on the Fn button and scroll through to find the right lens information.</p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>but the camera doesn't seem to recognize them automatically</p>

</blockquote>

<p>No, the camera does not recognize them automatically. You only have to enter them into the non-CPU menu once - but you have to select the "correct" one every time you mount it. How would the camera know which one is mounted - it only gets the maximum aperture information from the mounted lens which in most cases isn't sufficient to distinguish between the lenses that are in the list.</p>

<p>I did the same thing as Chip suggested - program the function button to directly access the non-CPU lens menu.</p>

<p>Beside all of my autofocus lenses, I prefer most of the time the beautiful old AI-& AI-S lenses. I using the cameras, D3s, D4, and the most loved Df. Non of the camera has any problem by using those AI etc lenses. The aperture is connected by a mechanical arm to the lens, and the NON electrical contact do nothing to hinder my photography. For the reference I have to set the NON CPU setting to the manual lens I using, and those information is for the image file so, I know later on, what lens I was using for a certain image. The aperture is always what aperture I was setting on the aperture ring. Your camera has no information what manual (AI) lens you used, because it has no electrical contact and CPU to communicate to the cameras computer. You still can use "A" aperture priority and the camera automatically set the required shutter sped for it. <br>

Dieter suggestion is perfect, <em>program the function button to directly access the non-CPU lens menu.</em></p>

<p>It's possible to add a chip (with the contacts) to most manual focus Nikkor's. Here http://pindelski.org/Photography/2012/03/08/adding-a-cpu-to-mf-nikkor-lenses-part-i/ are some informations about it. But I just change the "non-CPU"-setting when changing lenses.</p>

<p>Yeah, that must be it. I haven't been digging into the menu every time I change lenses. I have the horizontal and vertical levels assigned to Fn button. I don't shoot with the AiS lenses on D800E enough to change that, so I'll keep doing what I'm doing until I get back home. It's not that big of a deal. I'm mostly using the 28mm f2 anyway.</p>

<p>Kent in SD</p>

<p>Kent, I use two old Ais lenses on my D 800E. All I did was enter them into "non CPU lenses. " The camera always gets the aperture I use correct. I shoot in Aperture Priority mode. I do not assign anything to the Fn button. I have entered an old 35mm f2.0 lens and a 55mm f2.8 micro. <br>

I would reload the non cpu data again and make sure you hit OK or some other such button to make sure the camera registers the lens info.<br>

Try A mode and see if that works. If not, maybe you have a sticky aperture and the aperture is not getting set when you thiunk you have changed the aperture. </p>

<p>Joe</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Kent, what others said is exactly what I do.</p>

<p>You can also keep an eye on the excellent Voigtlander SL II glass, most of it using 52mm filters, three of them having between 180-205g. All of them are compact, with a great build quality, surpassing that of Nikon legacy glass. The big advantage is that they are AI-P lenses, being factory chipped. I do have three: 20/3.5 40/2 and 58/1.4. But I'm lusting for 28/2.8 and 90/3.5, hoping that one day I'll add to my kit. Their focusing ring is very creamy, being a real pleasure to work with it. Their IQ is really excelent, on par with D800, only 20/3.5 being just OK but improving stopped down. They are pocketable lenses, being perfect when you need less intimidating glass or when you want to travel without a heavy bag.</p>

<p>There is also a sweet Nikon 45/2.8 AI-P with a Tessar design, 4 elements in 3 groups, having only 120g, that's very good too. You can use it as a body cap too, due its pancake design :) The only disadvantage, I found it too small for my fingers... preferring Voigtlander 40/2 which offers one stop more light as well.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>The camera always gets the aperture I use correct.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I don't see how that is possible. If you mount your f/2 lens onto the camera and have the setting for the f/2.8 lens active in the non-CPU lens menu, then your camera display and the EXIF data will show f/2.8 when the lens is set to f/2. Or f/8 when set to f/5.6. Metering will work OK, all you get is wrong exposure information.</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>I have the horizontal and vertical levels assigned to Fn button.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>As have I. It doesn't have to be the Fn button to gain access to the non-CPU lens menu, others can be programmed to access it as well. And if they can't, then a possible workaround would be to assign the non-CPU menu to MY MENU and either select it from there or program a button to access it (or its top entry).</p>

<p>Kent,</p>

<p>I regularly use different older AI(d) lenses on my D810, with good success other than wide angle focus is a bit hit or miss. To keep from having to dig around in the menu, I add the non-cpu lens menu item to the "MY MENU" which makes access pretty quick. The 28/2 and 55/1.2 are gems, IMO. I like the 35/2 OC and old 58/1.4, also.</p>

<p>Robert, I concur with your "MY MENU" suggestion. This is a great spot to park those particular menu items I use frequently (auto-ISO) and also the ones I want to be able to quickly access in the moment (AF-actuation, self-timer, etc). </p>

<p>Without a chip in the lens it will not automatically register them. You can, however, add one to a lot of the AIS lenses without too much fuss. In manual AIS lenses there is no communication between lens and camera. I shoot AIS lenses exclusively with my D300/D700 and honestly I really can't be bothered with changing the non-CPU settings most times, but that's just me.</p>