Third Party Lens and compatibility

F

Fortkentdad

Senior Member
I read on another post that one should avoid third party lenses because Nikon may make changes in future camera bodies and your third party lens may not be compatible with it.

I find this odd - and a little troubling as I've invested in several Tamron lenses and others.

But the other thing I find odd is that some of my third party lenses are rather old - not antique but 10 - 20 years old. They still seem to work just fine on my D610 and my D5100 (howbeit they don't AF on the D5100 as it does not have an internal motor).

Does anyone have experience with a Tamron (or other third party lens) being made obsolete when they upgraded to new body?

I suppose the option would be not to upgrade if that is going to be the case. If and when I ever upgrade I'll have to be sure and test my lenses with that body first.

I noticed that some lenses do have the ability to have their software upgraded - the one I'd be most worried about (Tamron 24-70 2.8) does not have a USB port).
 
Fred Kingston_RIP

Fred Kingston_RIP

Senior Member
You do realize that the Nikon F mount, the same one that's on all their current DSLRs cameras is the same one since 1959, right... :D

If Nikon changes anything, they'll change electronics, and whatever affects the 3rd party makers will also affect Nikon's own legacy...

I'd guess you'll be pretty safe for at least the next 50 years... :cool:
 
J

J-see

Senior Member
My Tamrons aren't that old but they do fine on every cam I got since buying it. No problem on the D7200.

The issue with lenses seems to mainly be Sigma. That Sigma borrowed Nikon's VR technology might be the source of that problem.
 
M

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Just had the use of a sigma 120-400 and 50-500 both a few years old and both have none working VR with my D750,yes with them being sigma and it only being a firmware problem sigma can and will update them,but that doesnt change the fact its a nikon change that has stopped them operating to there full.
Remember its not Nikons duty to ensure other lenses work on there cameras,as j-see said it seams to be a Sigma/Nikon issue but best to be aware of it.
 
Woodyg3

Woodyg3

Senior Member
Contributor
There have been a fair number of issues with Sigma lenses. The only issue I've heard of with Tamron is the 150-600 can stop autofocusing until the camera is shut off and back on. This isn't common, but I know it happens with my 150-600 about once every four hours of use or so.
 
A

analoguey01

Senior Member
FredKingston said:
You do realize that the Nikon F mount, the same one that's on all their current DSLRs cameras is the same one since 1959, right... :D
Click to expand...


Not quite.
Nikon made significant enough change when it moved to the AI/AI-s line in the 70s - even though the mount is the same, non-AI lenses need modification to fit most modern cameras. (except some low-level digitals)

I really like the IQ of the AIS
Series primes on my digitals, the colours pop and skin tones are beautiful.


FredKingston said:
If Nikon changes anything, they'll change electronics, and whatever affects the 3rd party makers will also affect Nikon's own legacy...

I'd guess you'll be pretty safe for at least the next 50 years... :cool:
Click to expand...

Yup. For the most part I'm extremely happy that Nikon lets you hold onto lenses and making them available for your next set of bodies.

One of the many reasons I love Nikon, is that barring that Ai /s change, the mounts unchanged and you have minimum losses of functionally across the lens or camera ranges when mixing and matching. Only the G lenses lose out a bit - but most lenses are compatible forwards n backwards.
 
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