Old lenses / new cameras - D80 question.

magpieant

magpieant

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Mega quick one this ... think I already know the answer, seeking confirmation ....

Just busy trying a very old lens on my D80.

When I attach the lens, I get a F_ _ error message displayed.

If I put the camera in manual mode, I can manually focus and change aperture using the ring on the lens. In any other mode I can't take a picture.

Is this simply down to electrical contacts / non digital lens issue ?

More than happy to use the lens and camera manually - just a shame I can't check the aperture through the viewfinder.

Any help appreciated.

Cheers.

Anth.
 
magpieant said:
Mega quick one this ... think I already know the answer, seeking confirmation ....

Just busy trying a very old lens on my D80.

When I attach the lens, I get a F_ _ error message displayed.

If I put the camera in manual mode, I can manually focus and change aperture using the ring on the lens. In any other mode I can't take a picture.

Is this simply down to electrical contacts / non digital lens issue ?

More than happy to use the lens and camera manually - just a shame I can't check the aperture through the viewfinder.

Any help appreciated.

Cheers.

Anth.
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I believe you are correct with your summary, I will bow to others greater knowledge but that is what I do with one of my old lenses.

Cheers

Nigel
 
magpieant said:
Is this simply down to electrical contacts / non digital lens issue ?
.
Click to expand...


yes

In the good old days, everything was manual, metering, app settings, focus everything.
Modern dslr's take the photo, make the tea, bring you you're slippers and wipe you're arse, they can only do this by communicating with the lens via the contacts.
The aperture is printed on the side of the lens, its easier to spot than lifting it up to you're face :lol:
Get some black gaffa tape and tape up the pre-view screen while you're at it...:D
 
LOL - something tells me you're old school Joxby !

Cheers folks - I understand manual cameras (used them for a long time) - it was the transition to this new fangled digital body that confused me!

PS - does the D80 have a preview screen ? ;)

Anth
 
You need to be using a D200/300 or above to be able to meter with old Nikon lenses on a digital body. With a D80 you only have SS (suck it and see :lol:) mode.
 
LOL - no probs. Cheers for that.

Quite looking forward to getting into the old metering game again .... amazing how easily you adapt to auto settings etc.

Anth
 
An old Tokina 28mm one. f/2.8

So am I right in thinking it's a 42mm 2.8 on the D80 ?

Already have a nifty fifty - so this should be similar with the added bonus of a few mm and some manual calculations !!!

Anth.
 
Yeah, 42mm equiv., It's actually quite a bit wider than a 50mm, personally I found it (well the 30mm I had with the Sigma f/1.4) a far more useable focal length on a cropped sensor body..
 
Aha - I see.

Will try them both side by side tomorrow to see exactly how much difference!

Technically I don't own the Tokina lens (yet), as it's on a camera my mate is selling - an old film SLR. Hoping to get the lens off him for a few quid though as it seems nice enough and will be useful as a backup.

Anth.
 
It's closer to the "ideal" 50mm portrait length, it'll be interesting to see what quality of images the older optics produce :)
 
magpieant said:
LOL - something tells me you're old school Joxby !


Anth
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Nope, I'm far too young.

David Hockers said something deep and meaningful tonight, but I can't remember what it was :lol:, something about him being frightened by peoples lack of interest and respect for the origins of their art, he was talking about paintings and how they were painted, but it applies just the same to photography.
 
Hell of a good point there actually.

Dare say we will get a counter arguement about there not being a need if the camera does it for you. However, some of the best shots I have ever taken have been from sticking the camera on manual and using my own knowledge of aperture / shutter speed ratios, etc.

Personally, my feelings are once you understand how things work and know what is going on inside the camera / meter, you can then have the confidence to try your own things and add your own style.

Cheers.

Anth.
 
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