Nikon D700 and 1972

john_s said:
The manual for the D700 does say that pre-AI lenses can NOT be used. I don't know what happens if you try. Some info at these sites:

http://www.aiconversions.com/compatibilitytable.htm

http://www.zi.ku.dk/personal/lhhansen/photo/fmount.htm

I use my 28mm PC-Nikkor on my D700 and it's not an AI lens, having a totally manual (pre set) diaphragm. Metering has to be done stop-down, and aperture closed manually prior to exposure, but it does work ok (and is permitted according to the D700 instructions).
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If you refer to the owners manual page 373, you will see that Nikon recommends not using a PC 28/4 with a certain serial number or earlier. I think I am out of luck on that score, wrong serial number range.

Bob
 
Some early Nikon cameras that used AI lenses had a little "flip up" thing on the mount for pre-AI lenses. You'd flip up the coupler and you could safely mount a non-AI lenses. The F3 had this, if I recall correctly.

The problem is that the plastic coupling ridge on the D700 (and other modern Nikons) for aperture determination on AI lenses can be broken or crushed if non-AI lenses are forcibly mounted.

You can be very careful, and try to mount older lenses on the D700. As long as nothing is being smashed or cracked, or protrudes into the mirror box, you can use them for stop-down center-weighted metering.

There's no law that says you can't mount a non-AI lens but you take a large risk of breaking something.

Having said that, I carefully mount dozens of t-mount and SOME non-AI Nikon mount lenses on my D700 with no ill effects. You have to look carefully and see if you have clearance, and that the ridge is not being jammed or stressed.

You do have some risk, and given the level of non-comprehension of technical matters I see here, if you don't know what you're doing you're better off not doing it.

PS: You can read about it to your heart's content with these links:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=coupling+ridge+AI+lens+mount&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=

.
 
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M. Valdemar said:
Some early Nikon cameras that used AI lenses had a little "flip up" thing on the mount for pre-AI lenses. You'd flip up the coupler and you could safely mount a non-AI lenses. The F3 had this, if I recall correctly.

The problem is that the plastic coupling ridge on the D700 (and other modern Nikons) for aperture determination on AI lenses can be broken or crushed if non-AI lenses are forcibly mounted.

You can be very careful, and try to mount older lenses on the D700. As long as nothing is being smashed or cracked, or protrudes into the mirror box, you can use them for stop-down center-weighted metering.

There's no law that says you can't mount a non-AI lens but you take a large risk of breaking something.

Having said that, I carefully mount dozens of t-mount and SOME non-AI Nikon mount lenses on my D700 with no ill effects. You have to look carefully and see if you have clearance, and that the ridge is not being jammed or stressed.

You do have some risk, and given the level of non-comprehension of technical matters I see here, if you don't know what you're doing you're better off not doing it.

PS: You can read about it to your heart's content with these links:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=coupling+ridge+AI+lens+mount&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=

.
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That is a real sane heads up.
 
I longed for something like the D700 ever since I started concert photography. It is everything I ever wanted, full frame, fantastic high-ISO performance, lots of dynamic range, state-of-the-art AF, a great finder... And what's better, I can easily afford it.

But for some reason I am working with my Leica M2 and Nikon FM more and more. Digital holds no thrill for me anymore, however good the results may be. My D200 wonders what the hell has happened...

This is a thrill: A shot taken with a 45 Euro Nikon EM on Fuji Superia 800. Nikon 85mm f1.8 AF wide open. But I digress...

chantal.jpg


Is there anyone left who does cheap Ai conversions? I picked up a nice 135mm f2.8 recently...
 
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dimitris said:
In the meantime I would start building my Ais stable. I would recommend the following:
1. 55mm f3.5 macro (around $60)
2. 105mm f2.5 (around $150)
3. 50mm f1.4 (around $120)
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Good advice. Agree on 55/105.

Add an 28/2.0 or 28/2.8 for wide, drop the 50/1.4.

Get a 50/1.2 - 35/1.4 - 135/2.0 - 180/2.8 later.

Or better, if you can swing it, a ZF21 - ZF 35 - ZF85 - ZF100/2 - CV180/
 
I have owned the Nikon 50mm/f1.4 and f1.2. I found the 1.4 to be superior in just about every way. Wide open looked much better and the f1.4 is a lot smaller and cheaper, but the 1.2 sure had street cred.
 
Frank Petronio said:
Since they are probably about the same build quality as a 5D and a D300 you already know that the Nikon will be more solid, have more logical and ergonomic controls, and probably have a couple less silly features than the Canon. But the Canon will be cheaper.
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Your site is amazing - what a treat to look at these fine portraits!!!
 
>>Is there anyone left who does cheap Ai conversions?

I have had John White, http://www.aiconversions.com/ convert several lenses -- costs $25-$35 per lens and it took a couple of weeks. No risk of breaking the camera and you get full metering, seemed like a bargain to me.

For some lenses the "factory" AI conversion sets show up on ebay or at Pacific Rim Camera from time to time, but typically not for popular lenses like the 50/1.4.
 
kshapero said:
read this month's review of the D700 in Shutterbug, they totally disagree. they are very specific about the usage of a non AIS lens with the D700.
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If you try to mount a non-AI lens on the D700 you will crush the little aperture tab on the lens mount. On the older film cameras you could flip this tab out of the way, but on the D700 it is fixed.

I use several vintage Nikkors on my D700 (2/50 H.C etc) and they work great. The old glass helps remove some of the digital look.
 
i dunno why everyone here seems to diss a canon cameras. In terms of technology, its current line is definitely more than useable and all the d700 has done is replicate what the 5D did about 3yrs ago with a bit more ISO range to boost. I'd hope that 3yrs extra R/D would at least show in some way. Otherwise, i think both lines are equally good. The bright side is that with the appropriate adaptors (which are by no means always cheap) u can use almost any old lens (except the FD line funnily enough) on the canon body and this includes those marvelous AI'd and pre-Ai lenses as well as all our "beloved" zeiss and leicas. That makes the canon at least that little bit more useful in my books. And the current canon EF primes are no slouch either!
 
kshapero said:
I got my first SLR in 1972, a Nikkormat FTN and a Nikkor S 50mm/f1.4. I still have it. I just read that a Nikon D700 can use non AI(S) lenses. Do you mean I can get a D700 and just pop on my 50mm from 1972 and here we go. What did I gain? $3000 less in my checkbook and no trips to the developing lab for about 8 years to catch up.
And yet it still sounds really cool.
BTW my daughter told me this joke she just made up: What do you call some one who has GAS and who is an asshole? A GASHOLE!!
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I also started with a Nikkormat FTN together with a Nikon 50mm lense, then expanded with a Series E 100mm lens and extension tubes plus a Nikon SB 19 flash..... after that I went into the FM2 and more lenses and today I am moving in two directions - Nikon D50/80/90 and Nikon rangefinders!!
Jon
 
JonR said:
I also started with a Nikkormat FTN together with a Nikon 50mm lense, then expanded with a Series E 100mm lens and extension tubes plus a Nikon SB 19 flash..... after that I went into the FM2 and more lenses and today I am moving in two directions - Nikon D50/80/90 and Nikon rangefinders!!
Jon
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great stuff!!
 
Pre-AI lenses will damage the D700 if you try to mount them. I removed the D700 from my wish list for this reason. I have a lot of unconverted pre-AI glass. If you have the lenses AI converted they will mount (except for a few that have a deep collar).
The D40, D40X and D60 can mount just about any Nikkor (except those requiring mirror lockup), but you lose metering (not a problem if you use Sunny 16).
 
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