I am the new owner of a Nikon D700 DSLR
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yossarian123
Sam I Am
Here ya go Raid:
Replacement L Rubber Bottom Cover Terminal Cap For Nikon Nikon D300 D300S D700 Digital Camera Repair Part https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C81HDTF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_GOhdCbCHRKQ8X
Replacement L Rubber Bottom Cover Terminal Cap For Nikon Nikon D300 D300S D700 Digital Camera Repair Part https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C81HDTF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_GOhdCbCHRKQ8X
raid
Dad Photographer
I just placed an order for this part, Sam. Thanks for the link.
kshapero
South Florida Man
They will work fine. Mine do.
raid
Dad Photographer
This is good to know, Akiva. I want to try out the D700 before I would add a new lens.
kshapero
South Florida Man
I use all manual focus except the AF 50mm 1.8 D. Excellent lens. Got it for $90.
raid
Dad Photographer
A 50mm AF lens is what I would look for. I did same for my m 4/3 system. I got a 25mm AF lens, which gives a 50mm view.
creenus
Established
Good luck with your D700! I've found that while DSLRs are loaded with features, I just don't use that many of them.
I'm shooting my D600 in aperture preferred mode with good results. The AF is nice but there are times I focus manually, especially with macro. Good luck with your older Nikkors.
And I just bought Sam's F5!
I have 4 used Nikkor G prime lenses (20mm, 50mm, 85mm, 200mm, all f1.8 - very happy with them) and it'll be nice to shoot slides. I still use my M2s for black-and-white film, but I'll have to try some with the F5. I wanted an F6 someday, but they are pretty pricey.
And thank you, Sam! =)
I'm shooting my D600 in aperture preferred mode with good results. The AF is nice but there are times I focus manually, especially with macro. Good luck with your older Nikkors.
And I just bought Sam's F5!
I have 4 used Nikkor G prime lenses (20mm, 50mm, 85mm, 200mm, all f1.8 - very happy with them) and it'll be nice to shoot slides. I still use my M2s for black-and-white film, but I'll have to try some with the F5. I wanted an F6 someday, but they are pretty pricey.
And thank you, Sam! =)
Range-rover
Veteran
Congrat's Raid They are great cameras, I just got one myself and it's really good.
I've been collecting a few new (used) lenses for it and Nikkors manual or autofocus
are tops.
I've been collecting a few new (used) lenses for it and Nikkors manual or autofocus
are tops.
peterm1
Veteran
Raid congratulations. The D700 is still my main DSLR and I have never felt obligated to upgrade to a newer model. Its pixel count is modest but enough for my purposes (though I would like more to have more detail available for cropping or for landscapes etc where a lot of detail can be found in the images) and its dynamic range is still good by today's standards though it is wise to keep its sensitivity to below 3200 ISO - it does not compete well in the latter respect compared to today's latest crop of cameras. Which is plenty for me. It is a fine camera and well worth owning.
I often shoot with legacy lenses on my D700. I have never really had problems focusing with a D700 though it does not have a focusing screen designed specifically for this purpose. In fact I am not even sure if the focusing screen can be swapped out (as it could be with some Nikon AF film cameras). I have not checked.
Instead I tend to rely to some extent on the magic green dot visible in the viewfinder. This is the dot which works with Nikon AF lenses to signify that the camera has found focus with an AF lens. It works equally well with non chipped manually focused lenses. I have never had a problem with this system and since as it is working off the image that has passed though the lens and is hitting the sensor (and AF module) then it should be accurate. If not for some reason I believe that just as with AF lenses you can use this menu option to adjust the in-focus indication for that manual lens. (You may wish to check this as I have not tried as I have never needed to - its what I have been told). Of course this means you need to also "tell" the camera which lens you are using at any time but this is also easily done in the relevant menu as this allows you to select the focal length and max aperture to record in the metadata recorded for images shot with that lens. I believe the camera then knows to apply any focus confirmation correction to that lens when it knows you are using it. (Check this also). I actually prefer this system to focus peaking which I find invariably still requires enlargement of the image in the finder to check critical focusing as focus peaking often is approximate not highly accurate. Whereas the green dot it either in focus or out of focus and you can tell immediately which applies with no guesswork
Disadvantages - only few. First, it's a fairly big camera especially with a battery grip. Second, it has no image enlargement or focus peaking as with mirrorless cameras due to its optical finder and third, using the rear LCD to shoot is clunky for live view due to the presence of the mirror. I find this best reserved for tripod use.
As to the lenses. They MUST be either AI or AIS (or AI converted from non AI) lenses. Do not mount a non AI lens on the D700 as it has a mechanical aperture follower which can jam and be damaged by a non AI lens if one is mounted. Other than this pretty well any Nikon AU or AIS lens work brilliantly with this near pro camera. BTW it is easy for anyone with basic skills to make the AI conversion of a non AI lens. The instructions are readily found on the internet.
I own and use all of the lenses you mention (sometimes more than one version of specific lenses) except the 21mm lens and they all work perfectly. Some like the 105/2.5 are classics of course.
BTW Always shoot RAW. Though Nikon makes a reasonably good job of processing its JPGs, the D700 as a prosumer camera begs to be shot in RAW mode. It follows that if shooting B/W I process the coloured image on my PC using editing software to convert to mono.
PS Other good lenses to try are the 35mm f2 (early version but converted to AI is the one I prefer due to its lovely rendering, 28mm f2 (ditto), 85mm f1.8 (ditto), 85mm f2 (Under rated and less desirable than the 1.8 version but still better than its critics say), 105mm f1.8 (If you do not mind the expense and the weight it is lovely performer), 135mm f3.5 and f2.8 (Pretty well any version is nice though I like the earlier Sonnar lenses where you have that option, 200mm f4 (The earlier bigger one has nice rendering but technically the redesigned later and smaller one is better nd also renders beautifully). Any number of MF zooms are good too. The ones I have experience of include the 100-300 f5.6 which is universally regarded as excellent though it never really took off in the market, the 28-45 f4.5 which renders nicely though only moderately sharp and the 35-70mm f3.5 which is regarded as the pro precursor to the justly famous 35-70 f2.8 AF lens all come readily to mind.
If you want advice on AF lenses I can help you there too.
I often shoot with legacy lenses on my D700. I have never really had problems focusing with a D700 though it does not have a focusing screen designed specifically for this purpose. In fact I am not even sure if the focusing screen can be swapped out (as it could be with some Nikon AF film cameras). I have not checked.
Instead I tend to rely to some extent on the magic green dot visible in the viewfinder. This is the dot which works with Nikon AF lenses to signify that the camera has found focus with an AF lens. It works equally well with non chipped manually focused lenses. I have never had a problem with this system and since as it is working off the image that has passed though the lens and is hitting the sensor (and AF module) then it should be accurate. If not for some reason I believe that just as with AF lenses you can use this menu option to adjust the in-focus indication for that manual lens. (You may wish to check this as I have not tried as I have never needed to - its what I have been told). Of course this means you need to also "tell" the camera which lens you are using at any time but this is also easily done in the relevant menu as this allows you to select the focal length and max aperture to record in the metadata recorded for images shot with that lens. I believe the camera then knows to apply any focus confirmation correction to that lens when it knows you are using it. (Check this also). I actually prefer this system to focus peaking which I find invariably still requires enlargement of the image in the finder to check critical focusing as focus peaking often is approximate not highly accurate. Whereas the green dot it either in focus or out of focus and you can tell immediately which applies with no guesswork
Disadvantages - only few. First, it's a fairly big camera especially with a battery grip. Second, it has no image enlargement or focus peaking as with mirrorless cameras due to its optical finder and third, using the rear LCD to shoot is clunky for live view due to the presence of the mirror. I find this best reserved for tripod use.
As to the lenses. They MUST be either AI or AIS (or AI converted from non AI) lenses. Do not mount a non AI lens on the D700 as it has a mechanical aperture follower which can jam and be damaged by a non AI lens if one is mounted. Other than this pretty well any Nikon AU or AIS lens work brilliantly with this near pro camera. BTW it is easy for anyone with basic skills to make the AI conversion of a non AI lens. The instructions are readily found on the internet.
I own and use all of the lenses you mention (sometimes more than one version of specific lenses) except the 21mm lens and they all work perfectly. Some like the 105/2.5 are classics of course.
BTW Always shoot RAW. Though Nikon makes a reasonably good job of processing its JPGs, the D700 as a prosumer camera begs to be shot in RAW mode. It follows that if shooting B/W I process the coloured image on my PC using editing software to convert to mono.
PS Other good lenses to try are the 35mm f2 (early version but converted to AI is the one I prefer due to its lovely rendering, 28mm f2 (ditto), 85mm f1.8 (ditto), 85mm f2 (Under rated and less desirable than the 1.8 version but still better than its critics say), 105mm f1.8 (If you do not mind the expense and the weight it is lovely performer), 135mm f3.5 and f2.8 (Pretty well any version is nice though I like the earlier Sonnar lenses where you have that option, 200mm f4 (The earlier bigger one has nice rendering but technically the redesigned later and smaller one is better nd also renders beautifully). Any number of MF zooms are good too. The ones I have experience of include the 100-300 f5.6 which is universally regarded as excellent though it never really took off in the market, the 28-45 f4.5 which renders nicely though only moderately sharp and the 35-70mm f3.5 which is regarded as the pro precursor to the justly famous 35-70 f2.8 AF lens all come readily to mind.
If you want advice on AF lenses I can help you there too.
raid
Dad Photographer
Congratulations on getting the F5. Having 4 lenses with max aperture 1.8 is great.
raid
Dad Photographer
I still have my (plenty) RF lenses and cameras, so I don't want to start a new set of Nikon lenses!
raid
Dad Photographer
Hello Peter. Thank you for pointing out some very useful things. I will have to carefully inspect my old Nikkor lenses to make sure they are Ai or Ai'd. I will shoot in RAW. I need to practice focusing with the green light, as you have suggested.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Raid, since you say your 21mm won't work on the D700, I can recommend the 20mm f/3.5 Voigtlander lens. It is manual focus and chipped with a microprocessor so it will identify itself to the D700. It will also work fine on any film Nikons you have. AF Nikkors I use with my D700 are the 24mm f/2.8; 50mm f/1.4; 85mm f/1.8 D; 28-105 AF Zoom; and 17-35mm f/2.8 zoom. These all work very well, and it is nice to have some AF lenses. You can manually enter the ID of MF lenses into the D700 just like you can with the M9; but it's convenient, for the most-used lenses, to have AF (or at least Chipped) lenses that send this info to the camera automatically.
I've been using Nikons for almost 50 years, so I have accumulated a few lenses. Some manual focus ones I use with the D700 are the 15mm f/3.5; 18mm f/3.5; 35mm f/2 AIs; 135mm f/2.8 AIs; and the 180mm f/2.8. The latter is heavy, but is rock-solid in the hands for hand-held shooting. I also use, converted to Nikon F mount, the Leica 180mm f/3.4 APO-telyt (just one or the other on a given trip, never both). The long lenses snap in and out of focus so easily, I see no point in bothering with AF. But with the extreme wide angle lenses, AF can be helpful: It's pretty hard to see the difference in the finder between in- and out-of-focus. That might be an argument in favor of the 20/2.8 AF-D in place of the Voigtlander. Something I like about using extreme wide lenses on an SLR/DSLR rather than on the rangefinder, is that I can better see the three-dimensional depth perspective on the groundglass.
I haven't found a 35mm lens that I'm entirely happy with on the D700. The 35/2 AF-D wasn't very good. I sold it. The 35/2 Zeiss ZF.2 didn't handle well. I sold it, too. My best so far optically is the 17-35 Zoom Nikkor, but it's so heavy!
Congrats on getting the D700. Good camera. Good camera! I don't feel the need for anything better.
I've been using Nikons for almost 50 years, so I have accumulated a few lenses. Some manual focus ones I use with the D700 are the 15mm f/3.5; 18mm f/3.5; 35mm f/2 AIs; 135mm f/2.8 AIs; and the 180mm f/2.8. The latter is heavy, but is rock-solid in the hands for hand-held shooting. I also use, converted to Nikon F mount, the Leica 180mm f/3.4 APO-telyt (just one or the other on a given trip, never both). The long lenses snap in and out of focus so easily, I see no point in bothering with AF. But with the extreme wide angle lenses, AF can be helpful: It's pretty hard to see the difference in the finder between in- and out-of-focus. That might be an argument in favor of the 20/2.8 AF-D in place of the Voigtlander. Something I like about using extreme wide lenses on an SLR/DSLR rather than on the rangefinder, is that I can better see the three-dimensional depth perspective on the groundglass.
I haven't found a 35mm lens that I'm entirely happy with on the D700. The 35/2 AF-D wasn't very good. I sold it. The 35/2 Zeiss ZF.2 didn't handle well. I sold it, too. My best so far optically is the 17-35 Zoom Nikkor, but it's so heavy!
Congrats on getting the D700. Good camera. Good camera! I don't feel the need for anything better.
besk
Well-known
That little green dot (focus confirmation) is why I purchased my N75. At 75 years old my eyes don't allow me to focus any camera very fast any more. And SLR's are the hardest to get it right.
kshapero
South Florida Man
Love the green light but nothing beats a split image focus screen on a film SLR or M based Rangefinder.
peterm1
Veteran
Raid if you do eventually go down the path of buying an AF lens and ever do opt for a zoom (though I suspect you may be more of a prime lens kind of guy) I would advocate seriously considering the Nikkor 35-70mm f2.8 AF D.
This lens is excellent and until not too long ago was regarded as the general purpose shorter zoom lens for Nikon using pros. I have seen pixel peeping comparisons with the latest 24-70mm f2.8 AF and it is within a tiny whicker of being as sharp as it. As a walk-about lens it is hard to beat. Best of all these days it can be bought for a song. If I take my Nikon D700 on a holiday and I want to reduce weight and size this is the lens I take instead of say a 24-70mm f2.8 AF lens which is much bigger and heavier and not noticeably better in use (though technically better for pixel peepers).
https://www.imaging-resource.com/lenses/nikon/35-70mm-f2.8d-af-nikkor/review/
If you buy the Nikkor 20-35mm f2.8 zoom, the Nikkor 35-70mm f2.8 zoom and the Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8 AF zoom you have a superb set of fast 1990s era lenses for the D700. Maybe at a cost of perhaps one quarter of the cost of newest equivalents. If your spine can handle it - they are heavy.
Other non pro lenses of the same vintage can be had for even less - almost pennies. The Nikkor 28-85mm f3.4 - 4.5 comes to mind. I have long liked this lens which though not quite so good as the above lens has a more useful zoom range. It can flare badly if the sun is position wrongly. That is about its only sin.
This lens is excellent and until not too long ago was regarded as the general purpose shorter zoom lens for Nikon using pros. I have seen pixel peeping comparisons with the latest 24-70mm f2.8 AF and it is within a tiny whicker of being as sharp as it. As a walk-about lens it is hard to beat. Best of all these days it can be bought for a song. If I take my Nikon D700 on a holiday and I want to reduce weight and size this is the lens I take instead of say a 24-70mm f2.8 AF lens which is much bigger and heavier and not noticeably better in use (though technically better for pixel peepers).
https://www.imaging-resource.com/lenses/nikon/35-70mm-f2.8d-af-nikkor/review/
If you buy the Nikkor 20-35mm f2.8 zoom, the Nikkor 35-70mm f2.8 zoom and the Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8 AF zoom you have a superb set of fast 1990s era lenses for the D700. Maybe at a cost of perhaps one quarter of the cost of newest equivalents. If your spine can handle it - they are heavy.
Other non pro lenses of the same vintage can be had for even less - almost pennies. The Nikkor 28-85mm f3.4 - 4.5 comes to mind. I have long liked this lens which though not quite so good as the above lens has a more useful zoom range. It can flare badly if the sun is position wrongly. That is about its only sin.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Good advice from peterm1. I'll just add that the 28-105 f/3.5-4.5 also belongs in the hall of zoom-Nikkor fame, right alongside the 35-70. It's sharp at all focal lengths and is one of the most useful for macro! I've never seen it do anything bad!
robert blu
quiet photographer
In film days I used very much this lens on my F100...
Congrats Raid for your new toys!
robert
raid
Dad Photographer
Hi Rob. Yes, my old 2.1cm Nikkor needs a mirror lock-up body. I use it sometimes on my F2 for a really wonderful experience overall with film. The rock solid feel of an F2 with such a special lens brings out the photographer in me, so to speak. I do street photography then.
I need to read up on the Voigtlaender 20mm lens that you have suggested. Of course, one thought that comes to my mind is to keep it all simple and to just make sure that my 50/1.4 or 50/1.8 Nikkor lenses will work on the D700. I need to refresh my mind on
how to identify the Ai or Ai'd lenses from non-Ai. I don't want to damage my D700. You have several lenses that are very interesting to me. The challenge with a digital SLR is to identify a non-D lens that works very well on the DSLR. A lens may have a great reputation on a film Nikon, but it may be sub-optimal on a DSLR. This applies to using a manual lens. Newer designed lenses for digital Nikon cameras will most likely already be optimized for the DSLR.
I need to read up on the Voigtlaender 20mm lens that you have suggested. Of course, one thought that comes to my mind is to keep it all simple and to just make sure that my 50/1.4 or 50/1.8 Nikkor lenses will work on the D700. I need to refresh my mind on
how to identify the Ai or Ai'd lenses from non-Ai. I don't want to damage my D700. You have several lenses that are very interesting to me. The challenge with a digital SLR is to identify a non-D lens that works very well on the DSLR. A lens may have a great reputation on a film Nikon, but it may be sub-optimal on a DSLR. This applies to using a manual lens. Newer designed lenses for digital Nikon cameras will most likely already be optimized for the DSLR.
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