Ins and Outs of the Nikon Lens Mount.
 

I am starting this thread to deal with the ins and outs of various versions of the Nikon lens mount, and its implications on various models of camera.

Pre Ai, Ai, Ais, D Type, G Type .......... confused? I hope this will help.

Don

Nikon D100, D80, D70, D50 and D40* Lens mount.
 

A little bit of history to start with by way of explanation.
When Nikon upgraded their lens range to AI ( Auto Indexing ) one of the changes to the design was to add an EE Servo Coupling Post. This was added to AI lenses to allow for electronic control, by way of a servo motor, of the lens aperture. This was achievable when using the DS-12 Electronic Aperture Control attatchment on the all mechanical Nikon F2AS.

With the advent of autofocus and advanced electronics in cameras, the option to control lens aperture electronically was taken up. For this electronic control to work, the lens had to be set to minimum aperture, and a means of signalling was required. Nikon took advantage of the EE servo post to solve the problem as it could contact a switch on the lens mount perifery. First used on the F401 it was used on a number of film cameras in particular the F80.

The F80 is relevant as it provided the chassis for the D100 and so it was carried over to that, and subsequently the D70, D50, D80 and in slightly modified form to the D40. As the Fuji S2Pro and S3Pro were based on the D80 chassis it found its way there too.

So what does it all mean.

1) On D type lenses which have a manual aperture control option on the lens this must be set to the minimum for the EE servo post to contact the switch. Unless that contact is made there is no metering and the camera will not function even in manual mode. All changes to the aperture are made electronicaly by way of the mode dial.

2) Although AI lenses have an EE servo post that could be made to contact the switch at minimum aperture, no metering is available as they do not contain a chip to advise the camera of maximum aperture. Hence no metering is available with AI/AIS lenses. For that you have to move to the D1, D2, D3, D200, D300 means of lens communication.

3) Because of the switch proximity to the lens flange, pre AI lenses will not attatch without destroying the switch unless material is removed from the lens aperture setting collar to clear the camera body and the switch.

Images attatched.

1) Explanitory image of the difference between D type and G type A/F lenses.
2) Explanitory image of the difference between Pre AI and AI/AIS lenses.
3) Image of the camera mount to indicate the switch location.
4) Another explanitory of the switch.

Episode 2 covering D1, D2, D3, D200, D300, Fuji S5Pro hopefully tomorrow.

Don

D1, D2, D3, D200, D300, Fuji S5 Pro lens mount.
 

This mount carries over the Aperture Indexing ring from older pro series cameras and does not make use of the EE servo post, so there is no switch on the lens mount perifery.
The AI tab is a solid part of the ring so once again unmodified pre AI lenses cannot be used.

With D type lenses the aperture needs to be set to minimum for metering to work. Aperture is changed by the mode dial. Inclusion of the aperture ring on these lenses is for backwards compatability. They even have an AIS groove that is not used on any of the modern cameras.

The aperture indexing ring comes into its own when using AI/AIS lenses and auto bellows.
With AI/AIS lenses the camera can be used in manual or aperture priority mode with metering. As these lenses do not contain a chip to provide communication of the selected aperture, the AI ring serves that purpose and enables aperture display in the viewfinder.

Don

The Rabbit ears
 

With the introduction of The Nikon F, its first SLR, Nikon introduced the range of lenses to go with it. These collectively known now as Pre AI.
Apart from those lenses that required the mirror to be locked up before mounting, the telephoto's requiring a AU focussing mount, and the big cats, most had a meter coupling shoe ( rabbit ears ). The first meters were clip on selenium units that could be coupled to the shutter speed dial and to the lens by means of the shoe.

Pre AI lenses can be recognised by the solid shoe. When the range was progressivly updated to AI design the shoe was continued in order to ensure backwards compatabilty. AI/AIS lenses had slots in the shoe to let light through to a secondary smaller aperture engraving. This engraving was used to display the set aperture in the viewfinder via a prism.

Mounting of pre AI lenses on the early cameras required that the aperture first be set to f5.6. The lens was then mounted and twisted until it locked. The aperture ring was then turned through its minimum to maximum aperture range to index it with the meter. Oldies will remember that one. ;) With the introduction of AI ( auto indexing ) this was no longer necessary unless an AI lens was used on an old camera with a meter coupling prong.

Of the older manual range, E series lenses do not have a meter coupling shoe but ARE AIS.

The shoe method of coupling a lens to a meter was later taken up by Mamiya with its M645 1000 S in the 1980's. Just as the Nikon F and F2 had seperate metering finders, Mamiya introduced a metering prism finder for its medium format SLR. This was before electronics in the shape of the Bronica ETR, invaded medium format, so a mechanical linkage was needed.

Pics attatched
1) The meter coupling prong.
2) Mounting a pre AI lens
3) Pre AI compatible lens mount

Don

A bit of a bump here specifically aimed at potential e-Bay buyers.

Following Sassans posts of some of the exotica I had a bit of a rummage yesterday while WPF was down. I was really surprised to see some sellers advertising pre AI lenses as compatable with DSLRs. Probable reason for that is a compatability chart I have found in Nikonians that suggests pre AI compatability with D40, D40x and D60. Mind you there is a rider to that chart - ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR CAMERA MANUAL.

Mmmmmmmmmm, puzzled in view of my previous posts in this thread, I downloaded manuals for these cameras, and they are very specific - Pre AI is NOT COMPATABLE.

So my advice is to check that any pre-AI lens has been converted to AI if there is an intention to mount on a DSLR. There are specific exotics from the past that will not fit any DSLR as they cannot be modified - superwides that required permenant mirror lock while attatched, and any telephoto that required an AU focussing unit.

Don

Good thread Don - thanks. Ken Rockwell has a good lens compatability chart that explains a lot

LINKhttp://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/com...lens.htm#cheap

I find it useful and I agree you need to be careful - back to my packing.

As you posted it Andy I thought I would have a look.

A few things not right at all, or properly explained on that listing.
So I fell off my chair laughing at this statement " Nikon Europe also has another table for DSLRs. I have not checked it for accuracy, but it is crammed with detail and may help you, too. " :D :D :D

Don

Its late Sunday night/early Monday morning, so I can't do it now, but Don please remind me to show you a picture that you may find interesting that is in case I forget it in near future...
(You know about my poor memory and absent mindedness that is all to be blamed to this unfriendly Mr. Alzheimer!

I did not realise that Sassan, so you have our sympathy. :(
I will keep plugging away on our other thread on historic stuff to hopefully give you a lift. Window shopping exotics on WPF :) so no damage to the wallet. :D

Don

Commiserations Sassan - my wife suffers from something very similar due to her MS :( - but it has its pluses - When Nikon Aquisition Syndrom attacks you just say you - No that's my old camera and forget you already have the latest Nikon/Canon/Hasselblad.

Carry on Don - this is great as I am currently looking at Perspective Control Nikkors.

fantastic thread. Read through it with facination. It's only when you see them here you realise the potential massive pitfalls of, for example, a new owner of one of nikon latest digi bodies, then searching through secondhand listings for lenses.

Of enormous help, and a great resource here :)

Its taken ages for me to find this to link it in a post so this is a bit of a bump.

Don

Thanks Don. This is a great thread.
Now shooting Digi Nikon, I've tried several film bodies since the switch, was difficult to justify F5 anymore, but tried some inexpensive alternatives, just for curiuosity really (for occasional use).
Two examples, The Russian Kiev19 with the Nikon F mount, and a very early Nikkorex F (the poor mans Nikon F !)......
I've had some good shots with both.

Now settled for the very inexpensive and commonly found F301. suprised I over-looked it really.

Both of those look interesting Joe. Ahh the 301. Stevie had one for years before it dissapeared in a burglary.

Burglers were not into photography as the passed up on Nikkormats, F2S and AS, and my SQ outfit. Insurance money for the bits they did take though, Stevie had me spend on a F3 for her. :rolleyes:

Don

PS : Re poor mans Nikon F. In 1966 I bought a Miranda G. Full system job with interchangeable finders/screens etc. Interesting camera in its day and shed loads cheaper than the F.

I got the Kiev with a box full of other junk too. An interesting camera for the collector I guess, but has the usual Ukranian quality control issues. lots more plasticky than it actually looks.
Miranda had a great name in photography. I remember some older kit in one of the labs when I worked for 3M. Miranda (and Cosina for that matter) pretty much sold their name to anything in more recent times.

RE the F301. I'm off to Holland this weekend to a camera fair, but the journey will be a good excuse to stick a 28mm lens on it and put a few rolls of Delta400 through it. small lightweight and inexpensive if it gets some sea salt spray on the ferry! lol

Many Nikon lenses can be converted to other mounts quite easily...I have converted my Nikon 35mm f1.4 Ai-S and 105mm f2.5 Ai-S to Sigma SA mount. Both are excellent lenses and they work even better with the really sharp Foveon X3 sensor behind them.;)
I have'nt converted my 55mm and 200mm Micro Nikkors because I can gain a macro magnification advantage by using them via Roxsen Nikon-M42 adapter plus an M42-SA adapter.:)

'G' Type and AFD lenses and extension tubes
 

So far in this thread I have only discussed lens to camera body issues. However on my catch up reading of what has been happening here I have found two threads discussing extension tubes and they raised the issue of aperture control specifically with 'G' type lenses. Threads referred to
http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...ead.php?t=5930
http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...ead.php?t=5936

So the whole issue of lens/extension tube compatibility is worth adding to this thread.

The 'G' Type len has only electronic control of aperture. No doubt doing away with the aperture ring simplified design and shaved cost, but is something older Nikon users moan about as it seriously limits the options for adding some form of lens extension, be it tubes or bellows as very few have the necessary electronic links to control aperture. Nikon did however go some way to keeping a lot of people happy with their AFS range of micro lenses as these do go to 1:1 unlike the AI/AIs variants 1:2, that required extension tubes to get to 1:1.

Currently Nikon do not have a tube or bellows that is compatible with 'G' type lenses, and so as far as I am aware users are limited to the newer Kenko DG Auto Extension Tubes, as they are listed as auto focus compatible with Nikon AF lenses including Nikon AF-S (silent Wave) lenses. Earlier versions are said to have problems with AFS.

With a 'G' type lens mounted on a basic tube with no aperture linkage, the aperture will be constantly at minimum. With tubes with an aperture linkage, athough you will get open aperture for manual focusing the aperture will close to minimum when the shutter is depressed. On the net I have seen a couple of hacks but you do need some workshop kit to get involved in that, and even so the aperture setting is more approximate than actual.

AFD lenses are usable on most bellows/tubes as the aperture can be manually set. However it is still important to consult your lens manual to ensure compatibility. I'll example that with Nikon's thinnest tube the earlier PK11. This was modified and released as PK11A with extra clearance milled for the CPU contact block of AFD lenses, but that relief is not large enough to accommodate the larger contact block of AFS lenses. So do not attempt to mount an AFS lens on one.

Note: When using Nikon's PK series of tubes, or any similar mechanical auto tubes, there is NO electrical communication between the body and lens. The lens must be manually focused, and of the digital cameras to date, metering will only be available on D1-D3 series and D200, D300 and D300s. All other cameras will have to be set to manual and exposure arrived at by trial and error.

Pic to show the difference between 'G' Type and AFD attached.

Don

Great posting, as usual, Don. An alert to your post actually prompted me to log on here and catch up. I'm guilty of not having been on here for quite some time!
By coincidence, I was taking to SRB the other day for a customer wanting to bring manual aperture control to his collection of rather nice G-type lens collection. The arrival of a batch of fresh catalogues confirms that these guys can make an adapter containing an aperture ring to bring control for G-lenses whilst 'off' the camera body/ fitted to an earlier non CPU compatable body. It's a bit pricey though, and if the optic installed to enable infinity focus is the same as the ones I've tried from the far east, it's a bit .....erm...nasty (to say the least). However, SRB seem to offer this same technology in extension tubes and lens reversal adapters options. Seems a nice idea to me, though I can't help but think it's probably a more economical option to buy another lens non-G lens ie with an aperture ring.

I see Nikon has announced the D7000, so I thought I ought to update this thread as far as lens compatibility is concerned.

This camera now joins the D series, D200 and D300 in having a meter coupling tab for AI and AI-s manual focus lenses.

From info on DPR it will meter with AI and AI-s lenses in 'Center-weighted' or 'Spot', and available exposure modes are A or M. The camera can be programmed for up to 9 of these lenses.

Don

A tread bump for Jim and maybe even Mark. :)

Check images in posts 2 & 3.

Don

Thanks Don :)

Lenses with built in motor ID
 

Well I have seen one thread and I guess there may be more to come, where members are looking at replacing their D50/D70/D100 cameras with newer versions, thereby begging the question of lens compatability.

Most users probably have older lenses that require screwdrive to autofocus, and that does raise a compatability issue with the lower end modern cameras. As these are built down to a pricepoint the coreless in body motor to drive AF/AFD lenses has been omitted on a few models.

So time to refresh the compatability list. As of Jan 1st 2011 the following cameras will not autofocus screw drive lenses, and so WILL REQUIRE LENSES WITH a built in motor.
D40, D40X, D60, D3000, D3100, D5000

To help anybody identify if their existing lens has a built in motor or not, I have added a graphic comparing an AFS (built in motor) lens with an AFD (screwdrive) lens.
A second graphic shows the location of the screw drive on the camera body for those that can get a hands on test at a camera in a shop.

Don

AI/AIS lens markings explained
 

With the introduction of the D7000 and its ability to meter with AI/AIS lenses the number of digital cameras capable using these lenses will grow. In fact with the introduction of movie ability then add a Follow Focus and you have the perfect setup as a/f is not used in those circumstances. Given that there are lots of these on the second hand market, and they make an attractive purchase in cases where autofocus is not a prime requirement. I thought it worth posting an explanitory.
In terms of image quality, these lenses are in a lot of cases well up there with even the latest a/f offerings, and I use a range of AIS lenses for most of my photo's.

This post is really intended for those who have only had experience of AFS lenses which have no seperate aperture control or depth of field scales, so would be unfamiliar with what they are looking at.

Other than the depth of field scale the most obvious other stand marking is a smaller secondary engraving of the aperture scale. This is of no consequence on DSLR's as once the camera is programmed for a specific lens, the aperture will be displayed electronically. However in cameras made before 2000 the only way of relaying aperture info into the viewfinder was by directly reading this smaller aperture scale though a window at the bottom front of the camera prism. I will do a seperate post covering this feature.

Another obvious physical difference is the 'rabbit ears' screwed to the aperture ring. This is a feature to give compatability with early metering systems on cameras such as the Nikon F, Nikkormat's and and Nikkormat EL's, and was dropped on the introduction of the first autofocus lenses.

Don

ADR ( Aperture Direct Readout )
 

With Jim looking at film 35mm cameras, and as I have one, a few weeks ago I checked out an F2AS for him.

As over the years I progressively graduated from no finder info and no through the lens metering to the current everything included. So it was natural to wonder how Jim would get on with much less than what he gets from his D200 which he is most used to. I thought of this thread then as before the F6 with its display is similar to a digital camera, viewfinder aperture display was by direct viewing of the secondary Aperture Direct Readout (ADR) scale on the lens.

As they say a picture is worth a thousand words, so its easier to explain Aperture Direct Readout (ADR) by posting here with a couple of graphics.

With the exception of the F2 Photomic (DP1 prism), F2S (DP2 prism), F2SB (DP3 prism) where an expensive mechanical coupling was included in the prisms, aperture is not displayed in the viewfinder of any camera using the Pre AI metering system.

In 1977 Nikon introduced Auto Indexing of the lens with the camera's meter, and took advantage of this by adding a window to the prisms of cameras to read and display aperture directly from a secondary engraved scale on the lens. To maintain backwards compatability it was necessary to retain the PreAI meter coupling shoe, but holes were added to it to increase the light reaching the ADR scale. This is fine in good light, but in low light the viewfinde aperture scale can be hard or impossible to see. This is not really a problem as in low light the lens would probably be wide open and even at a couple of stops down its easy to count the clicks as the lens is stopped down. Additional to the AI/AIS range of lenses Nikon introduced the lower cost Series E lenses which were
aimed at users of the new lower cost range of cameras such as the EM and FG.

Viewfinder illumination for low light use, where fitted tended to illuminate the shutter speed only. These were a press and hold the button down to light the bulb type, rather than being on while the shutter button is partially depressed.

Autofocus cameras using cpu chipped lenses changed viewfinder info to what we are used to today. However even the F4 and F5 still use the ADR method with AI/AIS lenses, and this did not change until the F6 and D series which allow for programming an AI/AIS lens so the display is the familiar electronic one.

Autofocus lenses lost the meter coupling shoe so only retained backwards compatability with cameras employing the Auto Indexing system. But as Nikon were still making the most popular AIS lenses until 2005, and the used market had lots of them both camps were and still are well supported.

In the graphic I have used an F3HP as the prism has greater overhang than the F2 so it gives a clearer explanation.

Don