non-AI, AI, or AIS?

S

Stephanie Brim

Mental Experimental.
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One of my biggest problems is that I've always stuck to one thing. I bought my first Nikon FE almost four years ago and I've stuck to the same lens on it since day one: a Nikkor 50/1.4 AI. I love the lens and it has given me quite a few great photos...but I think I need to start rounding out my kit if it's going to be a camera I use in a lot of situations. With the baby coming I'd like a wide and a telephoto. I'm thinking 24mm and 85mm, respectively.

The question here is this: is there any reason not to go with the non-AI version lenses with my FE? I don't think I really get the concept of stop-down metering. Can someone explain that to me and why it could be a pain in the butt? Would I be better off sticking with AI version lenses or perhaps AI'd lenses?
 
AI lenses are so-called because they can tell the camera body what aperture the lens is set at (Aperture Indexing). This allows the lens to stay wide open for composure while simultaneously allowing the camera meter to know how much light will hit the film relative to the current, open, aperature.

Non-AI lenses do not tell the body what the lens' working aperture is, and thus require stop-down metering. To stop-down meter, it is necessary to manually stop-down the lens aperture so that the camera can know exactly how much light will hit the film during exposure (when composing the aperture is normally left wide open for ease of use). This process can be cumbersome (as you need to maintain the lens stopped-down while metering, and then re-compose) and time-consuming.

Stick with AI lenses and save yourself time and effort.
 
Well, AI lenses are cheaper than the AIS equivalent, but the non-AI lenses can be even cheaper. If I had to go ahead and convert them to AI, though, the cost difference probably wouldn't be enough to warrant going with a non-AI over an AI. Perhaps I should just stick with AI lenses.

The reason I asked is that I have my eye on a certain Ebay auction as we speak that has a really nice looking 35/1.4 non-AI and it's not going that high. ;)
 
I have been an underground dealer for 30 years of these Nikon lenses. At this point stick with AI(S). BTW, there is no need to have AIS over AI, so whichever is cheaper all else being the same.
 
"has a really nice looking 35/1.4 non-AI and it's not going that high."

I understand you! And a few month ago I would have down the same.....and I remember to have lived quite happily using an old Hekios 44 f2/58 mm on my FM.
Let me say it was a very quiet and slow way of taking pictures. A decent 35mm f2 and an 85mm f 2 can be found for reasonable prices.....I had to be patient.
I call the 35 & 85 the lazy lenses as I realized that instead of standing up and going two steps forward or two steps backwards with a normal lens you just change to a35 or an 85....
 
Stephanie, it's much less hassle to stay with ai or ais lenses for your next acquisitions. However, if you find a great deal on a non-ai lens, by all means buy it and have it ai-converted for a nominal cost (there are several folks around the country who do a very professional job). If you want to use the lens right away, you can simply mount it and meter with it as described in the previous posts. If you then find that it's too much of a hassle to do stop down metering, go ahead and seek out one of the professional ai-conversion people to get the lens converted.

--Warren
(Nikon slr system user for 30+ years)
 
AI or AI-S does not matter that much but a non-AI lens requires a much more cumbersome way of working.... given that used AI lenses are relatively cheap today I would go with AI or AI-S.

/jon
 
I don't think that stop down metering is going to bother me any. I'm actually curious as to how the lenses perform next to their AI or AIS counterparts.
 
Stephanie,
Look for a 105mm f2.5 as they are plentifull. Super lens for portraiture.
There are shops that grind the Non-AI mount and convert the lenses to AI

Of course,if you find the factory AI kit....

Kiu
 
NIKON KIU said:
Look for a 105mm f2.5 as they are plentifull. Super lens for portraiture.
There are shops that grind the Non-AI mount and convert the lenses to AI
Click to expand...

Ironically that is my only non-AI lens! Its a pity I very seldom use it, since its such a beautiful lens, and takes wonderful sharp pics. But since my regular shooters are FM2, FA and N90S, none of them can mount that lens.

So in a roundabout way, I'm casting a vote to stick with the AI or AIS versions. Besides, your next camera might turn out to be a must-have bargain priced FE2 or some such that won't even physically mount the non-AI lens, and then the AI conversion would become a must...
 
Here is an example of 3rd party AI'd:
Ebay listing: http://cgi.ebay.com/105mm-f-2-5-Nik...4QQihZ019QQcategoryZ48556QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

5db3_1.JPG


Not a bad price either!

Kiu
 
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I can't mix scotch with anything at the moment. :p

I figure that it's the perfect companion to my FE...when I can afford one. I want the lenses first, though.

I'm thinking harder about going with a 28 AI now instead of a 24. Decisions, decisions.
 
If you're considering the FM2 in particular, I believe it doesn't have the retractable meter coupling lever that the original FM and FE have. What I'm not sure of is if that means you can't mount non-AI glass, or just it doesn't meter, but I'm sure somebody else can set me straight.
 
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