Nikon DSLR fans: what are my options for this use?

[Ken Ford]

I used to have a D70s and did the unmetered pop-chimp-adjust-pop routine with this and my other AI and AIS glass - it was workable for some things, but for spontaneous shooting it was a pain. In my old age I've decided I don't care to be tied to unmetered bodies, that's one of the main reasons I sold my M3DS but kept my M6.

I may just order one of those Dandelion chips anyway and see first hand, I have plenty of lenses I could use it on if it won't fit this 50/1.2.

 

[Ronald M]

Rethink if you need to meter in camera.

Your 50 1.2 will mount, stop down, and function perfectly. Just no meter. Scads of hand meters out there.

For $200 you can get 35 1.8 and ~$500 a nice 50 1.4 and both will will AF and meter. Both are good lenses.

I believe in camera meters are over rated anyway. I stick any old glass on a D40 and standard sun/shade follow sunny 16 just like film and there is always a histogram to check. For odd situations, put a Weston in your pocket.

 

[L. M. Tu]

The D40, D40x, D60 will mount not just AI and AI-s, but non-AI lenses too, as well as AF lenses, of course. I got a D40 because I wanted more use out of my old manual focus lenses. I also carry a Sekonic 358. It's amazing how much fun one can have with the old 105mm F2.5 Nikkor-P, or 24mm F2.8 Nikkor-N, and a hand meter, walking around shooting the way people used to shoot with the meterless F and F2 cameras.

 

[Pablito]

I don't use the meter much on my dslrs. Just guess and then go by the histogram. My guess is usually within half a stop anyway. No worry about exposure compensation or other issues the light meter can create.

 

[Ken Ford]

If I want to use this lens on digital I'm finding I have very limited options.

A user on DPR measured his Dandelion; at 3mm deep, no dice - this lens has slightly more than 2mm depth available.

So, my options are:

1. Pick up a cheap compact body like a D40 and use the lens with a handheld meter; or

2. Shoot it on film and scan. I lose my favored 75mm equivalent FOV this way.

I'm going with 2. for the moment using my wife's FE. If the project gets traction I'll look at 1.