Walt raised this question a few months ago. Here is my post from Jan:
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Yeah, I've been checking that out, as I have quite a few Tamron adaptall
lenses, some old AI compatable lenses and a pre AI 55/3.5 Micro-Nikk*r.
Sound too good to be true -- well it is.
The problem is the N80 (S2, D100) has no way to meter continuous
lighting from a manual focus AI or AIS lens,since those lenses have no
electronic way to relay an f/stop setting value to the metering system.
Let me make this clear: There is NO camera based metering of any kind on
the S2 and D100 with the older lenses, not even stop down. It is
possible to get AI/AIS lenses 'chipped' to meter with these cameras, but
kludges and extra expense kinda spoil the whole almost cheap and elegant
part of the idea.
This quote from an entry in the DPReview Fuji DSLR forum outlines the
issue:
"> I recently bought a used Nikon 180mm f/2.8 ED manual focus lens. It
makes excellent images, and I was aware before I bought it that
it could only be used in pretty much full manual mode, so I'm pretty
happy with it. Does anybody have an idea why they didn't do this?
***Like Tariq said, Nikon wants people to PAY for its "pro-oriented"
bodies and their number one feature,which is simply being capable of
metering with the "old" and the "current system" of metering. The
N90,N8008,F5,D1 series all have the spring-loaded Aperture Coupling Tab
on the body, and that connects to the Aperture Coupling Ridge on the
back of AI,AiS,and AI-converted lenses,making them capable of old or new
lens use.
***In other words, Nikon's "better" bodies have had a DUAL metering
system that checks first for contacts....if no contacts on the lens, the
AI ridge on the lens conveys the metering info. This is one reason the
D1 series is so much more costly. And,no doubt why Nikon licensed only
the N80 body to Fuji and to Kodak for development. at the 'lower end' of
the market.
**Allowing really full compatability between old optics and the newest
lenses has LONG is the province of Nikon's flagship bodies and "serious"
bodies,going back to 1977 with the flip-up tab on the better bodies.
Nowadays,in this new digital era,the licensees are not being allowed to
cut into D1x and h sales by offering a SINGLE model that can leverage
old and new lenses...at least not at the $2400 price point. The Kodak
DCS's 760/720 were much more expensive,and built on F5,so they also
attempted to target the people who want to be able to use any 1977-2002
lens with at least some metering. For a very serious price,and at no
sales harm to the D1 class.
Bummer,
Moose
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So in a studio setup where using a flash meter or other external meter,
it's fine. In other situations, it is far less convenient than using a
converter on an EOS of possibly on the new Pent*x DSLR, although it's
metering is pretty limited with MF lenses.
Moose
Garth Wood wrote:
At 04:50 PM 10/16/2003 -0400, Bill Barber wrote:
The bug has bit lightly and I just sent most of my dough to the IRS so I
can't spring for an E-1 and the 300mm f2.8. One possible way to get
my feet wet
would be to buy a Fuji S2 and use my Tamron lenses with it. Does
anyone have
any experience with this set up. Looks to me like for the price of a
few
adaptall mounts and a body I could get admission to the digital
world. OK, so let
me hear those opinions.
My buddy (a professional commercial photographer) uses precisely this
setup (plus some Nikon lenses), and neither he nor his clients could
be happier. His turnaround times for his clients are now measured in
hours, rather than days, and the resolution of the resulting images
more than suffices for everything he's asked to do, including banners
etc. for trade shows. He'll never go back.
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