Nikon Series E 70-210mm F/4 manual focus lens... work with D80?

[dustin_hatcher]

Hi All,

 

Operating under some potentially false knowledge I bought an excellent condition Nikon Series E 70-210mm F/4 manual focus lens to

mess around with off eBay. I was under the impression any lens from 1959 on would work with a Nikon DSLR, just that AF might not work

(and obviously TTL metering for flashes).

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When I put the lens on it flashed the commong F-- at me so, I tried adjusting the aperture ring (like one usually has to) to F/32 and that

didn't work. I tried all the other aperture settings on the manual ring and still nothing. Is there a special trick to making this lens work or

am I just up a certain creek with no paddle?

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This is a link to some good pics and little info about the lens itself

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http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/emfgfg20/eserieslenses/htmls/70210mm.htm

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Thanks all!

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-Dustin

[NetR]

>I was under the impression any lens from 1959 on would work with a Nikon DSLR, just that AF might not work (and obviously TTL metering for flashes).

 

There's your problem. Nearly all non-AF lenses lack a computer chip, so the camera has no way of knowing what aperture you have set, which is done electronically. Only lenses with a chip (any AF lens and a very small number of others) can meter with your D80 (or any of the later film bodies and DX digital bodies). You would need to guess an exposure, set the camera to M and set the film speed and aperture manually, then inspect the histogram and fine tune as needed, or use a separate lightmeter and transfer the settings to your camera manually. This is how you operate a series 500 Hassleblad or a 4x5 camera.

 

The lens itself may be excellent - there seems to be a bit of variation from one to another. My Series E 70-210 is nearly as sharp as my AF 80-200 f2.8 at all focus lengths - in fact, way better at 70 and 210 ;-). YMMV. A good cheap lens that will work OK is the AF 80-200 f4-5.6, especially around f8-11.

 

Regards, Ross

[Michael R Freeman]

>"I was under the impression any lens from 1959 on would work with a Nikon DSLR, just that AF might not work (and

obviously TTL metering for flashes)."

<P>

Did you read your D80 instruction manual, in particular the section titled "Optional Accessories" which covers

which lenses, flashes, battery packs, etc. will work on your D80? Specifically, page 117?

<P><a

href="http://s170.photobucket.com/albums/u255/mikerfns/photonet%20stuff/?action=view&current=D80-compatible-lenses.jpg"

target="_blank"><img

src="http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u255/mikerfns/photonet%20stuff/D80-compatible-lenses.jpg" border="0"

alt="Photobucket"></a><P>

The Series E 70~210mm f/4 lens will indeed "work" on your D80, but only in manual (M) exposure mode, and you will

have no TTL metering for ambient or flash exposures. It is manual in every sense of the word.<P>

And incidentally, many lenses made from 1959 onward (specifically non-AI lenses, i.e. those made before 1977) not

only will <b>not</b> work on your D80, but they can actually <b>damage</b> the mechanical interfaces on the lens

mount of a D80

unless they are converted to AI specifications.

[douglas_greenberg]

Wow, nicely done, Michael.

[dustin_hatcher]

wow thanks so much guys! I did manage to get it working. I even got to use my sb-600 in manual mode like back from

my film days with a pentax k1000. After a few test shots I have to say this lens is pretty sharp. I got it for $80 shipped,

so should be a lot of fun with a low amount of $ invested. :)

[renato_lenzi]

<p>Ross,<br>

Nikon DSLRS (D200 and higher) will meter and properly expose (auto, manual) with AI and AIS lenses -series E included- provided the lens information is entered in the appropriate camera menu.<br>

The F needs to be set using the lens diaphragm (unless the lens is chipped) and of course there is no AF.</p>

<p>Regrds,<br>

Renato</p>