What Camera do I Have?

My son gave me his old AF NIKKOR 70-210mm 1:4. It is a wonderful

camera, but would even be more wonderful if I had a clue how to use

it. He is extremely intelligent and figures his poor mom is as quick

witted. He has given me a few "lessons," but only the camera has a

photograpic memory. SO, if anyone can help a helpless, clueless

grandma, I'd bake you a dozen or so cookies-or at least take a great

picture of a dozen or so cookies.

 

Thanks,

magpie

What camera are you using this lens on?

 

Alex

Does HMC 62mm UV(0) or 70-210mm 1:4 mean anything??

magpie

Has he actually given you a camera as well? Because it sounds like you just have a lens!

Yup! The lense is on a Nikon . There is an N8008s and AF on the actual camera. I have taken pictures with it, but keep messing up the lense.

 

He has promised me a new lense for Christmas, and I am a bit panicked.

 

I believe if I can figure this thing out, I will get some awesome photos, as I really enjoy and have done well with a simple 35mm.

 

magpie

If you can corner your son, try and see if he can 'present' a AF 60mm f2.8 Micro-Nikkor for you to learn some of the camera functions **before** going forth with the zoom lens. A standard lens that can focus very close may be a more gentle way for you to see thing photographic.

 

Good luck.

I will try. No telling what I might be receiving for Christmas! I do love photograpy. Anything worth doing is worth learning about. Meanwhile, I am going to try to figure out what I have.

 

Thanks,

 

magpie

Don't give up on the lens. It's old, but one of the sharpest Nikon has made. I bought one used on Ebay, and find that to get autofocus to work, you have to twist the lens focus back from infinity just a hair. It's also a loooong lens and is pretty slow at af, but you can't beat the optics.

Joh,

I LOVE your attatchment!

My problem is deciperhing all the numbers. I took a trip with the camera and totally messed up the settings. Someone tried to help me with them and made it worse. So when I got home, my son reset it and last night, my husband inadveratntly twisted the lense. Is there a way to get some sort of manual?

amgpie

I've only gotten one Nikon lens new in the box, but it didnt really come with a "manual" - i got a piece of paper that basically just listed the diagrams and specifications.

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If by "twisting the lens" you mean he changed the aperture setting, just set it to it's minimum opening (be careful, its actually the <b>largest </b>number, probably 22)and look for a little thumbswitch to lock it in place. It should be the ring closest to the rear of the lens, having a line of numbers alternating between multiples of 1.4 and 2 (1.4, 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, etc.)

</p>

If however, you meant he just changed the focal distance, um... yeah. Thats what it's supposed to do.

Did figure how to change the focal distance : )

 

But the other you mentioned helped greatly. Like I said, I'm not giving up. Thanks and any other suggestions would be fantastic.

 

magpie

There is a book available for your camera, "Nikon F801S/N8008s (Hove User's Guide)". Amazon lists it as out of stock, but you might find a copy at your local camera store.

 

Take a look at www.nikonlinks.com under "Other autofocus". You might be able to download a manual for the F601/N6006 or for the F90/N90, which have similar buttons that work mostly the same way. I have a N6006, which is very similar to the F801/N8008.

 

Here's a little hint:

Next to where the lens connects to the camera is a switch that you can turn. It is labeled "M S C".

If you turn it to "M", then you can turn the focusing ring on the lens (The skinny metal or hard plastic ridged ring all the way at the front where the light comes in).

If you turn it to "S", then if you switch the camera ON, and VERY LIGHTLY press the shutter-release button, the camera should focus the lens for you.

 

The really big wide rubber ring on the lens is for zooming. Probably you noticed that.

 

As someone already mentioned, there is a metal or hard plastic ring on the lens where it connects to the camera. It will be labeled "4 5.6 8 11 16 22 32". (The photo I see of the lens goes up to 32...) The last number should be in orange. Turn it to the orange number. ("32") Then on the side of the lens is a silly teeny little push and turn button that locks it at "32".

 

Hopefully, everyone's hints can help you take some pictures. If you have a specific question "What does this button do?" or better yet, "How do I...?" everyone here will be happy to help.

Thanks so much. My son came over and I took quick notes. I know the book will help when I figure out I can't figure out my notes! Now I know where to look.

 

Your notes will help me immensely. I also appreciate the suggestion of asking questions when I am trying to figure out what I need to figure out. Go figure.

 

Grannie's cookies to you.

 

magpie