Is anyone using Nikon AIS manual foucus lenses with D70?

[terry_rory]

I am thinking of upgrading from my 'training' camera (the Canon A80)

to a Nikon D70 soon and one thing that has has caught my attention

is the idea of using manual focus Nikon AIS lenses.

 

Two lenses in particular are interesting me...

 

The 28mm f2.8 especially because its equivalent f/length is 42mm on

the D70 and because it has a great optical reputation.

 

The 50mm f1.2 (With the D70s reputedly low levels of digital noise

at 800 - 1600 combined with an f1.2 50mm with the same perspective

as a 75mm and the DOF of a 50mm is attractive to me.)

 

I dont mind having to work out exposure myself and bracketing (using

the histogram) and obviously manual focus doesn't bother me.

 

However are there any pitfalls I have not foreseen? Any mechanical

or electronic no-gos that I dont know about?

 

Thanks.

 

ps I will already have my existing AF-D lenses (18-35mm, 50mm f1.8

and 28-105mm) and will probably invest in the 'kit' which comes with

the 18-70mm 'Digital' lens at a good combined price.)

[mattyb]

Hi Trevor,

 

As a rank amateur (If you read my threads you'll observe this fact) I have a 70-210mm E series lens which I find easy to attach, focus and find suitable shutter speeds for to obtain fine results, particularly with bird macros. The metering systems, exposure systems and D.O.F. preview don't work with the D 70 on manual lenses but when I shoot in generous light conditions with my lens I have no difficulties what so ever. I'm only a beginner though, I'm sure some more experienced and expert contributors can give you a stronger opinion. Good luck with your quest.

[jim_gifford]

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=008dJ0&unified_p=1

[mark_holden1]

The main problem is you'll need to shoot in full manual mode, and you will need to guess or use an external light meter.

 

It would be nice if they included stop down metering or aperture preferred metering.

 

Here are a couple of shots I took with my D70 through a TMB 175 apo telescope:

 

<http://users.adelphia.net/~msholden/Moon52804.jpg> Moon

<http://users.adelphia.net/~msholden/VenusT0513es.jpg> Venus Transit

[aardvarko]

Well, the DoF preview on the D70 doesn't work with non-CPU lenses. This fact is not mentioned in the otherwise comprehensive DPReview of the camera. Drives me up the wall.

[jay_.]

Get an adaptor to use those lenses on a Canon DSLR. The metering works fine in stopdown. That should really embarrass the heck out of Nikon you'd think. But I doubt it, there are so many other things lacking in the Nikon system that should embarrass them but evidently don't.

[steve_chan5]

I've used the 28/2.8E, 35/1.4, 50/1.8, 50/2, 105/1.8, 75-150/3.5, 200/4 and 50-300/4.5 AI/AIS lenses on a D100 and they work fine, except for no metering. If there is a lens you particularly like, you can have it chipped by Roland Elliot and get all metering (I keep thinking about it for the 35/1.4 and the 75-150).

[jim_gifford]

Roland can chip the 75-150 but not the 35/1.4 (nor my 105/2.5, alas.)

[steve_chan5]

That's too bad about the 1.4 - but I would have figured that he could get the CPU strip from the 50/1.4 and do it.

[jim_gifford]

Steve I do not know for sure (and of course Mr. Elliott DOES know for sure) but I believe the problem is finding a place for the microchip and the electrical contacts. Some lenses have plenty of room for those bits, and evidently the 35/1.4 does not have room for them -- some conflict either inside where the chip would like to hide, or at the mount where the contacts need to go.

 

But to reiterate, my comments are guesses and if you want to know the real scoop just ask the guy who knows what the deal is.

 

be well,

[jon_woods1]

how do i contact Roland Elliot?

[jim_gifford]

This is the web site he uses for the "chipping" of Nikkor lenses:

 

http://home.carolina.rr.com/headshots/Nikonhome.htm