numpty newbie to nikon lens questions

So I understand that the Nikon mount is as old as the hills and with that comes a few compromises but I don't understand all of them.....

Modern lenses have the AF motor in them, I assume the older AF lenses only work on bodies that have the AF drive. I also assume that you can use these lenses on all bodies in manual focus??? I assume my 810 has the drive looking at the mount.

Next bit regarding older lenses, why do they have a metal notch on the side of the body, I see nikon bodies have a metal tag that it will align with.

What will a prime like this (which I assume is quite old) work like on a D810


Sorry for the silly questions, still trying to get my head round the Nikon after decades with Canon

That lens should work fine, provided that is otherwise mechanically sound. We understand your confusion while you go thru the learning curve, but it will be well worth the effort. Welcome to Nikon, welcome to the light.

ditonics said:

So I understand that the Nikon mount is as old as the hills and with that comes a few compromises but I don't understand all of them.....

Modern lenses have the AF motor in them, I assume the older AF lenses only work on bodies that have the AF drive. I also assume that you can use these lenses on all bodies in manual focus??? I assume my 810 has the drive looking at the mount.

Click to expand...

That is a petty big subject, which needs specifics instead of generalities, but start here:

nikon lens mount - Google Search


There are generally two types of Nikon AF lenses.

Older AF, that are driven by a motor in the camera body, called AF.

Newer lenses, called AF-S lenses (and there were a rare few AF-I lenses), with AF motor in the lens (driven electrically by body).

The D810 and other premium bodies work fine with either version AF.

Several economy bodies (D3100, D5200, etc) don't have the body motor, so cannot do AF with non-AF-S lenses

So the answer can be very different depending on camera model.

Next bit regarding older lenses, why do they have a metal notch on the side of the body, I see nikon bodies have a metal tag that it will align with.

What will a prime like this (which I assume is quite old) work like on a D810

Sorry for the silly questions, still trying to get my head round the Nikon after decades with Canon

Click to expand...

Older Nikon lens (F body, around 1960) were before the AI version, not so-marked, but informally called non-AI. The mount is the same but these non-AI are NOT compatible with todays DSLR bodies. It is said that damage can result from trying.

Around 1977, then AI lenses. Older lenses could be modified to be AI compatible.

Then around 1992, lenses started having a semiconductor CPU chip in them to report ID, maximum aperture, and focus distance (called D lenses). Those without this CPU (non-CPU lenses) can be compatible with the D810, but requires a special Non-CPU menu in the camera (D810 manual page 229). All lenses introduced since 1992 have the CPU chip. Special stuff, like telescopes, do not.

Here is one description about identifying AI or non-AI:
What is the difference between an AI lens, an AI-S lens, and Non-AI lens? | Nikon Knowledgebase

One quick ID is the old AI lenses had a double row of aperture markings, the rotary selection dial, and a second row of marking at the back of the lens. The rear row of markings were to be visible in the viewfinders of the day.

See the Compatible Lenses section of D810 manual, Starting on page 419.

Thank you for the explanation (Canon mounts are so much easier)

I am sort of more confused now but I will read the links you have posted and get my hear round it.

Well, Nikon's mount compatibility does go back much further. And there are complications, but compatibility was quite important back in the day when we all already had several older lenses. Canon just abandoned the older lenses, and started over. But all during the 1980s, Nikon would modify any non-AI lens to be AI for about $30. They are still non-CPU lenses, but todays premium bodies handle that fine.

But today, any older lenses are our own fault, we don't have to buy them today. And a budget for a D810 ought to include some proper lenses.

I bought
Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 DI VC USD
amd
Tamron SP 70mm-200 f/2.8 DI VC USD
as a starting point.

My trouble is I have been canon for 20 years and finding a few problems with the swap.
Don't get me wrong I am loving the D810 and the 24-70. Not received the 70-200 yet.

I have a fixed amount of money left (insurance pay out for all my Canon stuff being stolen) and was playing round with ideas on what I could get for it.
I was considering a Sigma ART lens but that would just about finish my budget.
So that lead me to look at used Prime lenses and thus my confusing began with the older lenses. (and according to dxo a lot of the older prime lenses aren't actually that sharp)

I am well aware that Canon came out with a new mount and at the time pissed off a lot of their existing customers, but it has to be said it has left them with a better mount.
Having an AF motor in the body and in the lens is needless duplication and makes for added complexity and added manufacturing costs. But hay ho life isn't perfect.
I am enjoying the higher resolution sensor and I am sure I will enjoy the higher dynamic range.

Now if only I could get my head round Nikons way to focus on one spot, meter on another and then frame.

The way I read this serial number list, from the number shown on the Ebay page picture (assuming same lens), that 50mm Ai lens was made in 1976, 40 years ago.
Nikon Lens Versions and Serial Nos

Which matches the Ai description too. Still compatible, in its way, but it will be non-CPU and non-AF. It seems pretty pricy for that, and if spending your money, you might want an upgrade?

Unless you specifically want f/1.4, the f/1.8 50mm lens is less expensive, and is famously rated better on sharpness too. A brand new f/1.8D lens is only $120 US today, and the f/1.8 AF-S version about $200 US new (don't know how that translates). AF-S is "silent wave" and faster, not a regular rotary motor, but ultrasonic, sort of a pizzo crystal - electrically driven from the body. The D lens is screw drive driven from the body, those bodies with a motor. The Ai lens is not driven at all (no AF).

There is also a f/1.8 G lens. G means it has no aperture dial on the lens, aperture is adjusted only by the camera dial. This is mainly only a problem if like on extension tubes...

I have the older 50mm f/1.8 AF lens (1986), which is of course AF. It's a mighty fine lens, but I normally always use my Nikon 24-70 instead.

Was using that lens as an example of not knowing what fitted what and trying to understand the different evolution of the Nikon mount.

The Nikkor 50mm 1.8 AF I can find for £73.09 which seems silly cheap.
The 1.4 AF is £180
The 1.4 af-s jumps to £246
The 1.2 manual focus is £316
All cheaper than I thought. Can't find the one you mentioned on the main places I buy from.

Are there any other Nikkor prime lenses at the kind of price the 1.8af is that are sharp?

Thanks for your help.

Find the missing 1.8 af-s on Amazon for £134 which if still pretty reasonable.

The 50mm f/1.8 was always about the least expensive prime, and one of the best quality too. It was a normal lens for FX, and mild telephoto for DX.

AF-S does add to the price, but it is modern.