Differences between Nikon D and G lenses

J

juanchiao

New member
I have a question: What are the major differences between a Nikon D lens and a Nikon G lens. Of course, I know the obvious one – the price.

If this question has been answered recently, my apologies and please show me the link.

Your response and explanation are much appreciated.

Juanchiao
 
K

kluisi

Senior Member
juanchiao said:
I have a question: What are the major differences between a Nikon D lens and a Nikon G lens. Of course, I know the obvious one – the price.

If this question has been answered recently, my apologies and please show me the link.

Your response and explanation are much appreciated.

Juanchiao
Click to expand...

In general, D lenses have an aperture ring while G lenses do not. G lenses are also newer and may (or may not in some cases) be optically better. Also, check whether there is an auto focus motor in a D lens and if not, and you count on auto-focus, make sure your body has a focus motor (for recent Nikons, the D3X00 and D5X00 do not, but D7X00, and all full frame models do).
 
W

WayneF

Senior Member
The G lenses (and new AF-S lenses) are D lenses too. All Nikon lenses in the last 20 years are D lens (they have the chip in them that can report distance to the camera).

G lenses have the D feature too, and G lenses remove the aperture ring on the lens. Aperture can only be set by the camera (automatically, or via the dial for the user).

AF-S lenses have the D feature too, and mostly likely also the G feature.

So as new things are developed, new letters are used, but they all are D lenses (since 1992), whether said or not.
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Nikon website says this:

D-Type NIKKOR Lenses
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A D-type lens relays subject-to-camera-distance information to Nikon D-SLRs that feature 3D Color Matrix Metering (all versions), 3D Matrix Metering, 3D Multi-Sensor Balanced Fill-Flash and i-TTL Balanced Fill-Flash. Many D-Type lenses have an aperture control ring and can be used on older Nikon SLR cameras that allow for manual control of the aperture, as well as on D-SLRs—especially useful for adjusting aperture while recording D-Movies on higher end models. When used on a D-SLR, the aperture control ring needs to be locked at the smallest possible aperture (generally designated in orange), and the aperture control is maintained through the camera's command dial.


G-Type NIKKOR Lenses
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A G-type lens does not have an aperture control ring and are intended for use on Nikon D-SLRs that allow the lens aperture to be adjusted via the camera's command dial. Because G-type lenses relay subject-to-camera-distance information to the camera, where it is used to help determine ambient and flash exposure, they are also considered to be D-type lenses. The lack of an aperture control ring is perhaps the easiest way that you can tell if a lens is a G-Type NIKKOR or not.
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M

Mike D90

Senior Member
On a DSLR camera the "D" lens must have its aperture ring locked to its smallest f-stop or you will get a error message. A slide switch, that Nikon thoughtfully installed on an older D lens, is what locks the ring in place.

Also, the older "D" lenses are not "cropped", reduced viewing area, like the DX "G" lenses are.

I personally love the older "D" lenses.
 
A

aroy

Senior Member
The simplest difference is that the "D" lenses have no inbuilt motor, hence cannot AF on the lower end bodies. That apart some D lense with AF-S prefix have motor. G lenses have no aperture ring.

The reason for the D lenses being cheaper is two fold. One they are older design and hence (supposedly) cheaper to manufacture. Two they have no motor, which obviously reduces cost. Normally when a D lense is upgraded to G lense all the modern features are added - motor, VR, ED glass and nano coating to name a few. All these increase the cost.
 
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