Re: Has anyone used old Nikon manual lenses on their DSLRs?

On 29 Oct 2005 23:29:29 GMT, Jim Yanik <jyanik@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>Dave Head <rally2xs@xxxxxxx> wrote in
>news:buc7m112mrslr71k5ob1t1pjruem14c7vg@xxxxxxx:
>
>> On Sat, 29 Oct 2005 14:25:20 GMT, 223rem <223rem@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>>>Dave Head wrote:
>>>> On Sat, 29 Oct 2005 02:35:27 GMT, 223rem <223rem@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>One can find very old, very cheap prime manual Nikon lenses on ebay,
>>>>>and they're supposed to be compatible with the Nikon DSLRs.
>>>>>Has anyone tried this combination?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Works on my D1x, but few people are crazy enough to buy this camera
>>>> unless they're in business somehow. Its a "pro" camera.
>>>
>>>Why didnt you choose one of the Canon pro bodies? Just curious.
>>
>> 'Cuz I own this pile of Nikon lenses... It was done entirely on the
>> advantage of brand compatibility.
>>
>>>> I've heard that they do not work with the light meter in some of the
>>>> "Prosumer" cameras like the D70.
>>>
>>>Thanks.
>>>I dont need camera metering, I can do it myself. All I care is that
>>>the lenses fit and the camera works manually with those old lenses.
>>
>> Well, that's kinda like going back to the stone age, but OK - as long
>> as you're happy.
>>
>> My guess is that eventually, and probably not all that far down the
>> road you'll want to take advantage of modern autofocus and maybe even
>> zoom lenses. Things get _so_ much easier when you don't have to spend
>> a lot of time focusing and metering the light. Some pictures are best
>> taken on the spur of the moment, and you don't have time for that if
>> you have to focus and manually set the exposure. Get your dog walking
>> toward you under the trees and out into the light and the modern
>> autofocus and autoexposure features will follow the correct settings
>> nicely. Stuff like that will spoil you if you ever experience it.
>>
>> Dave Head
>>
>
>autofocus is overrated(half the time,the camera focuses on the wrong
>thing),

Yeah, ya gotta be aware of where in the viewfinder the autofocus is keying on.
My camera has 5 distinct areas that the autofocus can be made to use,
switchable by a big round button on the back. Manipulate this right and the
camera won't focus on the wall behind the two people holding the trophies and
doing the handshake...

>and manual exposure is much more reliable,once you learn what you're
>doing.

Once you learn what you're doing, auto exposure is just as accurate and a lot
faster.

>Learn manual exposure,and you learn about depth of field,proper
>shutter speed for the type of action being shot,exposing for
>"backlight",etc.

Having had the manual lenses for 30+ years before getting this latest camera, I
did that a long time ago. Its cool to know it, and when you have the time to
set it up it is really useful. And if you practice like a gunslinger in the
noonday sun, I guess you could do that on the fly as well, but its a whole lot
easier with auto-everything... <G>

>Autofocus and auto exposure are for the "snapshot" folks.

Its for the news photographer holding his camera up above everyone's heads when
taking pictures of the prime minister, etc., too.

>One of the most useful features I've had on a SLR was spot metering with an
>exposure lock;you meter on exactly the part of the pix you select,not that
>crappy "averaging" metering.

Yeah, my camera has a selector switch between spot, center weighted, and
"matrix". Matrix is supposed to be the best thing since sliced bread but
there's good uses for center weighted and spot, too, in different
circumstances.

Dave Head

.

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