Nikon AIS manual focusing lens (1 Viewer)

[eastwood]

I have a bunch of these old manual focusing Nikon Lens and would be grateful if anyone can tell me whethter the New Nikon DSLR (in the mid and low end) mount can take these lens. I really like to try out the 300 f4.5 and 500 f8 reflex lens on DSLRs.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Nax]

all nikon slr and dslr will mount with those lenses
but you will have no exposure meter with D3100 D5100 D90 D40 etc... but otherwise it works, you just have to use an external meter or guess the exposure on manual mode and look at the LCD and correct, it works, but is nearly impossible for action shots like birds
on the D200 D300 D7000, D2 and FX dslr (D700, D3 etc) you will have metering and everything works perfectly

 

[pyenester]

Hi I should think so Check out Ken Rockwell.com as he on his site has a table of which lens fits what body
Regards pyenester

 

[eastwood]

Thank you very much, Nax and pyenester.

 

[flanken]

For the lower-end DSLRs that don't have meter coupling, it's actually possible to have the lens CPU-modified, turning it into an AI-P lens with fully functional metering on all Nikon DSLRs. Take a look at this company: http://legacy2digital.com/nikon/. Probably a bit pricey to do, but it might be worth it.

 

[eastwood]

Thank you again, flanken. A very interesting and useful piece of information.
But I have a moderate array of AIS manual focusing lenses (20 f3.5, 24 f2.8, 35 f2, 50 f1.4, 100f2.8 macro, 135 f2.8, 300 f4.5 500 f8 reflex, plus zoom 35-70, and 80-200 f4. and a couple of series E lenses.) although I am aiming mainly at the long lenses, I may use the short focal length ones some time later, so it may be cheaper to get a higher model like D7000 than to have all the lenses modified.
Thanks anyway.

 

[flanken]

Thank you again, flanken. A very interesting and useful piece of information.
But I have a moderate array of AIS manual focusing lenses (20 f3.5, 24 f2.8, 35 f2, 50 f1.4, 100f2.8 macro, 135 f2.8, 300 f4.5 500 f8 reflex, plus zoom 35-70, and 80-200 f4. and a couple of series E lenses.) although I am aiming mainly at the long lenses, I may use the short focal length ones some time later, so it may be cheaper to get a higher model like D7000 than to have all the lenses modified.
Thanks anyway.

Given the lenses you have, it definitely makes sense to swap out the body rather than have lenses modified. The D7000 is a very nice upgrade in many respects, not only for the AIS lens support; I was a little leery of upgrading from a relatively new D90, but never looked back.

Another fun device to consider, if your camera has an AF motor, is a modified TC-16a AF teleconverter; see the thread here for my explanation and use of this device: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=2353868#post2353868

 

[eastwood]

Interesting. I have not heard of this TC since I have never used AF Nikon set up. I jumped from Manual focusing Nikons to Canon Digital Rebel XTi.

 

[Wildmoreway]

For the lower-end DSLRs that don't have meter coupling, it's actually possible to have the lens CPU-modified, turning it into an AI-P lens with fully functional metering on all Nikon DSLRs. Take a look at this company: http://legacy2digital.com/nikon/. Probably a bit pricey to do, but it might be worth it.

Interesting service, if you have the funds there could still be an argument for having the lenses CPU fitted if you upgrade to a pro-level camera.

 

[asiostygius]

Interesting. I have not heard of this TC since I have never used AF Nikon set up. I jumped from Manual focusing Nikons to Canon Digital Rebel XTi.

This TC has surprisingly good IQ at the centre, not so at borders, which is no problem for DX cameras.
some samples:
1st one: Great Kiskadee - 1280mm lens+beanbag
Nikkor 800mm f/5.6 ais + TC16A + Beanbag + 3 burst shots. The bird was at ~ 18m.Though support was not ideal for a 1280mm telephoto, a burst of 3 shots/second produced at least one sharp image.

2nd one: Relaxed group of Ruddy Ground-Dove - 1280mm lens.
Nikkor 800mm f/5.6 ais + TC16A + Tripod. The doves were at ~ 20m.

 

[Aegea]

For the lower-end DSLRs that don't have meter coupling, it's actually possible to have the lens CPU-modified, turning it into an AI-P lens with fully functional metering on all Nikon DSLRs. Take a look at this company: http://legacy2digital.com/nikon/. Probably a bit pricey to do, but it might be worth it.

If you are moderately handy, you can also buy the Dandelion chips separately for about $35 and modify the lenses yourself. I've done this for a few lenses, it's not hard but you have to be accurate in placing the chip.

See http://ongabonga.wordpress.com/tag/dandelion-chip/

 

[eastwood]

Found a good way of using those lens - I recently got hold of a AIS to M4/3 adaptor, and all the lens can be used in my Lumix G1, manual focus though.

 

[eastwood]

Went for the adaptor because cannot find the TC mentioned,(and not too ready to buy a Nikon body yet.
Both shots were taken with G1, and Nikkor 500 f8 mirror lens, first one hand held and the second one on a tripod. For birds flying around too often, handheld and manual focusing is close to nightmare, but for stationary birds and with a tripod, the result came out not too bad. I actually like the doughnut effect too.

 

[Hor Kee]

This TC has surprisingly good IQ at the centre, not so at borders, which is no problem for DX cameras.
some samples:
1st one: Great Kiskadee - 1280mm lens+beanbag
Nikkor 800mm f/5.6 ais + TC16A + Beanbag + 3 burst shots. The bird was at ~ 18m.Though support was not ideal for a 1280mm telephoto, a burst of 3 shots/second produced at least one sharp image.

2nd one: Relaxed group of Ruddy Ground-Dove - 1280mm lens.
Nikkor 800mm f/5.6 ais + TC16A + Tripod. The doves were at ~ 20m.

Splendid shots! Just out of curiosity, I remeber the manual of this teleconverter specifies that the 1.6x TC can only provide AF-assist on lenses with an aperture of at least f/2.8. Your setup will result in an aperture of something closer to f/9.5. Does its AF function work at that small aperture?

 

[asiostygius]

Splendid shots! Just out of curiosity, I remeber the manual of this teleconverter specifies that the 1.6x TC can only provide AF-assist on lenses with an aperture of at least f/2.8. Your setup will result in an aperture of something closer to f/9.5. Does its AF function work at that small aperture?

Thanks.
These shots in particular were manual focused, since my TC16A is unmodified and I used a D7000, but with a D2x this is compatible and yes, I have had AF functioning on a 600mm f/5.6 AIS EDIF = 960mm f/9.

samples here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/labecoaves/6432161809/in/photostream/
and here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/labecoaves/3481163047/in/photostream/

the problem is that for maintain AF you need the lens wide open.

 

[Neil]

This TC has surprisingly good IQ at the centre, not so at borders, which is no problem for DX cameras.
some samples:
1st one: Great Kiskadee - 1280mm lens+beanbag
Nikkor 800mm f/5.6 ais + TC16A + Beanbag + 3 burst shots. The bird was at ~ 18m.Though support was not ideal for a 1280mm telephoto, a burst of 3 shots/second produced at least one sharp image.

2nd one: Relaxed group of Ruddy Ground-Dove - 1280mm lens.
Nikkor 800mm f/5.6 ais + TC16A + Tripod. The doves were at ~ 20m.

Excellent results. I've got this 1.6x somewhere. I 'll have to dig it out and give it a go.
Neil.

 

[asiostygius]

Excellent results. I've got this 1.6x somewhere. I 'll have to dig it out and give it a go.
Neil.

Thanks.
Just as an additional source of information, I think all you will be interested in what this guy tell us about a mod TC16A with a MF 500mm f/4:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1030&thread=40213024