Using non cpu lenses on the D3400?

DONEwiththisplace

New member
I tried using an N/AI-s lens in M mode, it won't allow A mode. Why am I not able to get an image unless I have camera set to highest ISO 25K something, with a +5 exposure compensation? I should not have to set the ISO so high during daylight with a wide open F/2.8 & F/1.4 lens.

I'm beginning to regret purchasing a D3400 because there's no set non cpu lens data. Stupid me thought the D3400 would be better than the 3300. :(

I can't afford the AF-s primes, so tried to save money by trying manual focus older lenses and really wanted it to work. :(


I'm having a hard time trying to figure out which lower cost third party lenses will work on my camera. Only option I see right now is shooting with these high ISO + exposure settings and taking multiple photos of my subject at different F stops and hope one of them is just right
 
The D3??? cameras just are not set up to use these lenses. You need to do some research to see what cameras you will need to use these lenses or just get the proper lenses to start with.
 

LouCioccio

Senior Member
I know d7000 will work not sure about the 5xxx series. I still use the manual lenses AIS on my digital cameras. I would look for a used d7000 as some people have upgraded to a newer model. The d7000 will let you program several AIS lenses. I always forget after the first image then set it. It will have the exif values for the lens when you do it correctly.
not sure what the d7000 goes for but do a search.
lou Cioccio
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Here is Nikon's lens compatibility chart. The 3xxx series bodies require lenses with focus motors for the AF to work. As for manual focus lenses, according to this chart, they should work in manual mode (meaning you have to set your shutter speed and aperture using a hand held light meter). AF-D lenses should focus manually but be able to meter through the camera.

I've never used a D3xxx body but would think all non-Nikon lenses would need to meet the same criteria.

https://www.nikonusa.com/Images/Lea...You/Media/NIKKOR-lens-compatibility-chart.pdf
 

Bob Blaylock

Senior Member
I tried using an N/AI-s lens in M mode, it won't allow A mode. Why am I not able to get an image unless I have camera set to highest ISO 25K something, with a +5 exposure compensation? I should not have to set the ISO so high during daylight with a wide open F/2.8 & F/1.4 lens.

I'm beginning to regret purchasing a D3400 because there's no set non cpu lens data. Stupid me thought the D3400 would be better than the 3300. :(

I can't afford the AF-s primes, so tried to save money by trying manual focus older lenses and really wanted it to work. :(


I'm having a hard time trying to figure out which lower cost third party lenses will work on my camera. Only option I see right now is shooting with these high ISO + exposure settings and taking multiple photos of my subject at different F stops and hope one of them is just right


Unless something relevant has significantly changed from the D3200 to the D3400, you should be able to use non-CPU lenses just fine with it, albeit with some expected limitations. They will, of course, only work in M mode, and you have to operate everything manually. You need to know how to set the ISO, shutter speed, and aperture manually, and how to determine appropriate values for these settings.

Using old, non-CPU lenses on modern DSLRs can work quite well, but you really need to know what you're doing to make it work.


By the way, you manual almost certainly contains the claim that non-AI lenses cannot be used with your camera. These are lenses made before 1978, when Nikon changed the way that lenses communicated their aperture settings to the camera. No camera that depends on the AI coupling is fully compatible with the non-AI lenses, and some can even be damaged by trying to mount non-AI lenses on them. Nikon claims that the DF is the only DSLR model that can be used at all with non-AI lenses. Most of the higher models can be damaged, as I said, by trying to mount non-AI lenses on them, because the non-AI lens conflicts with the AI coupling tab on the camera. This turns out not to be an issue with the D3xx or D5xx models, because they do not have an AI coupling tab. It has been my experience that non-AI lenses work just fine on my D3200, albeit with exactly the same expected limitations that pertain to any non-CPU lenses. I can think of no good reason why the same should not be equally true of your D3400.
 

nickt

Senior Member
I don't know these lenses but I wonder if you are manually opening the aperture with the lens aperture ring? It sounds like you are not doing this and the lens is stopped way down, limiting your light. You should not be needing such a high iso. Exposure compensation should not be a concern either since you cannot meter. Set say 1/60 shutter speed along with a 400 iso (auto iso turned off) and set your lens aperture with the ring to 2.8 (or the lowest you have), manually focus and snap a picture. You should certainly get some sort of image in room light. It won't be perfectly exposed, but it should not be all black.
 

Bob Blaylock

Senior Member
I don't know these lenses but I wonder if you are manually opening the aperture with the lens aperture ring? It sounds like you are not doing this and the lens is stopped way down, limiting your light. You should not be needing such a high iso. Exposure compensation should not be a concern either since you cannot meter. Set say 1/60 shutter speed along with a 400 iso (auto iso turned off) and set your lens aperture with the ring to 2.8 (or the lowest you have), manually focus and snap a picture. You should certainly get some sort of image in room light. It won't be perfectly exposed, but it should not be all black.

I hadn't thought of this, but I'd bet that this is exactly @litakelley's problem—that she's trying to set the aperture on the camera.

With CPU lenses, if there's an aperture ring, the correct process is to set that to the smallest aperture, and let the camera control the aperture. The G series CPU lenses don't even have an aperture ring.

But with non-CPU lenses, the camera doesn't control the aperture—you use the aperture ring on the lens to set the aperture.

If @litakelley is setting the aperture ring to its minimum setting, and expecting the camera to control it, then that would exactly explain her problem.
 

Texas

Senior Member
I had an old Tamron adaptal lens that I never could get to expose properly even within 2 stops no matter what I tried on my D7100. The adaptal thing supposedly made the lens into an AI. I tried every possible setting of lens and camera for non-cpu lenses.
Playing with the aperture ring on the lens, and manual mode on the camera, did allow me to get the 3 stop error but a decently exposed shot. Yes, I did try everything - web research, setting the non-cpu params in the camera, etc.

One day I'll try a Nikon non-cpu lens but the E-series have suddenly become too pricey for what they are.

The question for the OP is are you using a Nikon non-cpu lens, if so which one/s?
 
Last edited:

Bob Blaylock

Senior Member
Step-by-step to use a non-CPU lens on a D3200 (which should be applicable to @litakelley's D3400 as well)…


Mode dial to “M”.
2018-02-11_12.02.24n.jpg

Set the shutter speed on the camera,using the “Command Dial”.
2018-02-11_12.02.52n.jpg

Set the aperture on the lens' aperture ring.
2018-02-11_12.03.20n.jpg

Focus, and shoot.
 

DONEwiththisplace

New member
It's uncomfortable when people assume things and give condescending responses like this. I find it offensive and have to point it out that you're assumptions are incorrect.

I SHOULD be able to use my N/AI-s lenses, but it's not working the way it's supposed to. I'm convinced that this is a model specific problem? Several of the other Nikon DX & FX bodies do not have this problem, which is why I said I regret choosing the D3400. Many of the Nikon DSLR have set non cpu lens data in the menu, the d3400 does not, and Im having this problem with it, that should not be happening according to all the published data out there.

I clearly stated what mode used, and indicated stops used, so your responses Bob are way out of line..maybe not intentionally, but that's how it appears to me.. You're going to post a photo of the dial in M when I told you the dial was in M mode and I even told you the stops I used??? Seriously?


FYI.. I have 28yrs experience. Film, photography and television. so you're way off base with your insinuations and assumptions that you think I was shooting with a stopped down lens.. Ugh
 

hark

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It's uncomfortable when people assume things and give condescending responses like this. I find it offensive and have to point it out that you're assumptions are incorrect.

I SHOULD be able to use my N/AI-s lenses, but it's not working the way it's supposed to. I'm convinced that this is a model specific problem? Several of the other Nikon DX & FX bodies do not have this problem, which is why I said I regret choosing the D3400. Many of the Nikon DSLR have set non cpu lens data in the menu, the d3400 does not, and Im having this problem with it, that should not be happening according to all the published data out there.

I clearly stated what mode used, and indicated stops used, so your responses Bob are way out of line..maybe not intentionally, but that's how it appears to me.. You're going to post a photo of the dial in M when I told you the dial was in M mode and I even told you the stops I used??? Seriously?


FYI.. I have 28yrs experience. Film, photography and television. so you're way off base with your insinuations and assumptions that you think I was shooting with a stopped down lens.. Ugh

From the sounds of it, you didn't look at the compatibility chart I linked above. At the very bottom of the page, it says:

Limited Compatibility‡ Exposure can not be metered TTL. Must use a light meter.

The D3xxx bodies are Nikon's entry level cameras. Other bodies may have that ability, but not this particular series. That means you have to set everything manually.
 

Kevin H

Senior Member
It's uncomfortable when people assume things and give condescending responses like this. I find it offensive and have to point it out that you're assumptions are incorrect.

I SHOULD be able to use my N/AI-s lenses, but it's not working the way it's supposed to. I'm convinced that this is a model specific problem? Several of the other Nikon DX & FX bodies do not have this problem, which is why I said I regret choosing the D3400. Many of the Nikon DSLR have set non cpu lens data in the menu, the d3400 does not, and Im having this problem with it, that should not be happening according to all the published data out there.

I clearly stated what mode used, and indicated stops used, so your responses Bob are way out of line..maybe not intentionally, but that's how it appears to me.. You're going to post a photo of the dial in M when I told you the dial was in M mode and I even told you the stops I used??? Seriously?


FYI.. I have 28yrs experience. Film, photography and television. so you're way off base with your insinuations and assumptions that you think I was shooting with a stopped down lens.. Ugh
Wow you figure it out then tell us how you did it 28 years and all you should know everything :D
 

DONEwiththisplace

New member
What does metering have to do with anything I mentioned or asked? I didn't mention a single thing about metering.. I'm not having an issue with metering.. I don't care about on camera metering, I care about having full manual control of my camera, which is now going back to Nikon for refund. I need a D850 or better.. the hell with this things

If AF-S DX 50mm at f/1.8 produces a clear, sharp, properly exposed image at 100 ISO, 4k shutter in auto mode, then a 50mm N/AI-s at f/1.4 should not need a 25K ISO with +5 exposure compensation in manual mode. Metering is entirely off topic in this scenario,

It's daylight shooting, so high ISO should NOT have to be used at all on a wide open f/1.4 lens. Metering is not the issue, so why are you redirecting this discussion into something other than the real issue?

I'm done here. I contacted Nikon directly since this is NOT supposed to be happening.
 

hark

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What does metering have to do with anything I mentioned or asked? I didn't mention a single thing about metering.. I'm not having an issue with metering..

Oh, I'm sorry! In your first post, you said:

I tried using an N/AI-s lens in M mode, it won't allow A mode.

It won't allow A mode (Aperture Priority) because the body isn't capable of metering. In Aperture Priority, you set the aperture, and based on the available light, the camera has to come up with the shutter speed and possibly the ISO (if Auto-ISO is set). Hence my comment about metering because that series body isn't designed to perform that way.

Clear as mud to you, I'm sure.
 

DONEwiththisplace

New member
Oh, I'm sorry! In your first post, you said:



It won't allow A mode (Aperture Priority) because the body isn't capable of metering. In Aperture Priority, you set the aperture, and based on the available light, the camera has to come up with the shutter speed and possibly the ISO (if Auto-ISO is set). Hence my comment about metering because that series body isn't designed to perform that way.

Clear as mud to you, I'm sure.

Misunderstanding, sure.. I said it does not work in A mode, because some people with 3200, 3300 or other models may not know this, so I pointed it out
 

Bob Blaylock

Senior Member
It's uncomfortable when people assume things and give condescending responses like this. I find it offensive and have to point it out that you're assumptions are incorrect.

I SHOULD be able to use my N/AI-s lenses, but it's not working the way it's supposed to. I'm convinced that this is a model specific problem? Several of the other Nikon DX & FX bodies do not have this problem, which is why I said I regret choosing the D3400. Many of the Nikon DSLR have set non cpu lens data in the menu, the d3400 does not, and Im having this problem with it, that should not be happening according to all the published data out there.

I clearly stated what mode used, and indicated stops used, so your responses Bob are way out of line..maybe not intentionally, but that's how it appears to me.. You're going to post a photo of the dial in M when I told you the dial was in M mode and I even told you the stops I used??? Seriously?


FYI.. I have 28yrs experience. Film, photography and television. so you're way off base with your insinuations and assumptions that you think I was shooting with a stopped down lens.. Ugh

I'm reminded of the cliché that states that no good deed goes unpunished.

If you're going to come here seeking help and advice, and then take offense when you receive it, then may Laurence Tureaud have compassion for you.
 

nickt

Senior Member
I clearly stated what mode used, and indicated stops used, so your responses Bob are way out of line..maybe not intentionally, but that's how it appears to me.. You're going to post a photo of the dial in M when I told you the dial was in M mode and I even told you the stops I used??? Seriously?

Uh, no. Saying you use manual mode does not indicate that you clearly knew to use the aperture ring vs the camera dial. Manual mode could be used with the camera dial or the lens ring, depending on the situation. Bob gave a helpful response and you had a very surprising and unhinged response. And then you are going on about metering. YOU mentioned setting exposure compensation in your first post. That leads us to believe you are expecting some metering but there would be no metering with that type of lens. Exposure comp would do nothing so why mention it unless you don't know what you are talking about? I think you misrepresent yourself saying you have 28 years experience. Maybe you have been taking pictures for 28 years, but not really understanding the technology. And then you change your user name like an angry child? Good riddance.
 

Borrowdale

New member
I have a d3400 and several non Ai lenses which all connect and work fine. Turn off auto iso and set to 100; adjust aperture on the lens to suit light conditions; use command dial for speed and snap away. You'll get one good shot in 20 but it's real photography and more art than science.
 
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