How crucial is KM (D) lens??

[dynaxattack]

Hi all,

Can I ask experts here, how crucial is the KM (D) lens which KM claims only functions well with its ADI. Does it mean that if I were to use any other normal or 3rd party lens (eg Sigma and Tamron) the ADI will not calculate the distance for flash photos???

I m only currently having a old Minolta xi 28-105 AF, so far it is doing alright! But I m planning to get a Sigma 12-24.

If its that crucial, then i'll have to get the Minolta's 17-35 F/2.8 ~ 4 D.

Any advise is much appreciated. Thx.

[Drudkh]

TTL will take over instead of ADI.

[captnj]

i hardly use straight flash... always diffused or bouncing... so D doesnt mean much to me in real life.

[dynaxattack]

Originally Posted by Drudkh TTL will take over instead of ADI.

Is TTL as good as ADI or they are just similar in the end result?

[captnj]

ttl is pretty good... unless we are shooting an object that reflects alot of light. (this is in the manual) then ADI becomes useful... but then agian with such easy manual exposure/flash compensation dials/menu... its not a big issue

[dynaxattack]

Originally Posted by captnj ttl is pretty good... unless we are shooting an object that reflects alot of light. (this is in the manual) then ADI becomes useful... but then agian with such easy manual exposure/flash compensation dials/menu... its not a big issue

Strong point. Thx.

Can keep the money for the SP90mm instead.

[captnj]

ya good ... lense more impt

[yeocolin]

ADI is useful, but not critical. For ADI to work, you'll need lens, body and flash to all have ADI function. If any of the 3 are non ADI, you don't expect ADI to come into play. If you are using advanced bodies like D7, you can specify if you want ADI, TTL 4 seg metering or TTL average reading.

[apchoo]

Originally Posted by yeocolin ADI is useful, but not critical. For ADI to work, you'll need lens, body and flash to all have ADI function. If any of the 3 are non ADI, you don't expect ADI to come into play. If you are using advanced bodies like D7, you can specify if you want ADI, TTL 4 seg metering or TTL average reading.

Are there any non-KM lens with (D) capability? If so, how does one tell if it is (D) or not?

[yeocolin]

Originally Posted by apchoo Are there any non-KM lens with (D) capability? If so, how does one tell if it is (D) or not?

Just like if you know a lens is G lens or not (besides that gold ring). It will be labelled as D lens if it is indeed a D lens.

[dynaxattack]

Originally Posted by yeocolin ADI is useful, but not critical. For ADI to work, you'll need lens, body and flash to all have ADI function. If any of the 3 are non ADI, you don't expect ADI to come into play. If you are using advanced bodies like D7, you can specify if you want ADI, TTL 4 seg metering or TTL average reading.

Urmm, doesnt the 5D also have ADI and TTL??

[TME]

Originally Posted by dynaxattack Urmm, doesnt the 5D also have ADI and TTL??

Yes. Works the same way as the 7D.

[TME]

Originally Posted by apchoo Are there any non-KM lens with (D) capability? If so, how does one tell if it is (D) or not?

Non KM lens with ADI? I think only Sigma? Or maybe dun have even...

[grado]

Originally Posted by dynaxattack Hi all, Can I ask experts here, how crucial is the KM (D) lens which KM claims only functions well with its ADI. Does it mean that if I were to use any other normal or 3rd party lens (eg Sigma and Tamron) the ADI will not calculate the distance for flash photos??? I m only currently having a old Minolta xi 28-105 AF, so far it is doing alright! But I m planning to get a Sigma 12-24. If its that crucial, then i'll have to get the Minolta's 17-35 F/2.8 ~ 4 D. Any advise is much appreciated. Thx.

For very wide angle lens, your flash may not be able to do such a wide coverage by itself in direct mode, so may need to diffuse or bouce, rendering ADI quite useless for very wide angle, since ADI only works for direct flash mode... But it is pretty accurate in direct mode.

[Drudkh]

Originally Posted by TME Non KM lens with ADI? I think only Sigma? Or maybe dun have even...

Sigma and Tamron have D lens, Sigma also produce ADI flashes.

[apchoo]

Originally Posted by Drudkh Sigma and Tamron have D lens, Sigma also produce ADI flashes.

How do you tell if a Sigma or Tamron lens is a D lens?

[TME]

Originally Posted by apchoo How do you tell if a Sigma or Tamron lens is a D lens?

It has a the D in the lens name... u know that long string of letters after the focal length.

[Drudkh]

Here're the list of lenses from Sigma and Tamron. You can browse through their catalogues.

Take for example, Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8-4, scroll to the bottom, it says:
Corresponding AF Mounts
SIGMA,
CANON,
NIKON (D),
MINOLTA,
PENTAX
so this lens is has no D.

Another example, Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8-4, scroll to the bottom, it says:
Corresponding AF Mounts
SIGMA,
CANON,
NIKON (D), PENTAX,
MINOLTA (D)
so, this lens has D.

Edit: I forgot that Tamron website do not list if Minolta mount lenses have D. You can download the PDF catalogue here, which is a bit old but they do state those that are suppose to have D.

[apchoo]

Originally Posted by Drudkh Here're the list of lenses from Sigma and Tamron. You can browse through their catalogues. Take for example, Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8-4, scroll to the bottom, it says: Corresponding AF Mounts SIGMA, CANON, NIKON (D), MINOLTA, PENTAX so this lens is has no D. Another example, Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8-4, scroll to the bottom, it says: Corresponding AF Mounts SIGMA, CANON, NIKON (D), PENTAX, MINOLTA (D) so, this lens has D. Edit: I forgot that Tamron website do not list if Minolta mount lenses have D. You can download the PDF catalogue here, which is a bit old but they do state those that is suppose to have D.

I did notice that ... just wanted someone to confirm it. Apart from that, there's no "D" designation in Sigma or Tamron lens name to say it is compatible with KM (D). The "Di", "DG" and "DC" are generic types that apply to all mounts. It's just a bit unusual to have to have to go the website to see if a lens is "D" type rather than having it as part of the lens name. What if the website is not correct---it has happened.

The Tamron site does state "Minolta-D" mounts, e.g., SP 11-18mm F/4.5-5.6 Di II LD Asp IF, 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di II and (whew!) SP 90mm F/2.8 Di Macro 1:1. But some like the reputable SP 28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di LD Asp IF does not have D, which is either a) surprising, or b) website is wrong .

[Drudkh]

Originally Posted by apchoo I did notice that ... just wanted someone to confirm it. Apart from that, there's no "D" designation in Sigma or Tamron lens name to say it is compatible with KM (D). The "Di", "DG" and "DC" are generic types that apply to all mounts. It's just a bit unusual to have to have to go the website to see if a lens is "D" type rather than having it as part of the lens name. What if the website is not correct---it has happened. The Tamron site does state "Minolta-D" mounts, e.g., SP 11-18mm F/4.5-5.6 Di II LD Asp IF, 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di II and (whew!) SP 90mm F/2.8 Di Macro 1:1. But some like the reputable SP 28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di LD Asp IF does not have D, which is either a) surprising, or b) website is wrong .

D lenses only applies for Nikon and Minolta, so they don't include in the generic names. How is it unusual to check information from their website?

Lenses refurbished/redesigned/changed for DSLRs of equivalence
Sigma = DC
Tamron = Di
Minolta = DT

Edit: After reading from Sigma's website, here's the quote about their DG lenses.

Quote: The DG designation applied to certain newer Sigma lenses (mostly wideangle and wide zoom type lenses) indicates that the lens is especially suited for use with digital SLR cameras. The DG lenses feature improved (more even) light distribution from image center to edge, especially at maximum aperture, compared to conventional fast wideangle lenses. This is important in digital photography, but is also useful in 35mm photography, especially when slide film is used. Also, the shorter focal lengths are desirable, because most digital SLR cameras have image sensors whose dimensions are considerably smaller than a 35mm negative (usually by a factor of 1.3X to 1.7X), making the lens’ angle of view equivalent to that of a longer lens on a 35mm cameras.

so, DC = for DSLRs only, DG for D/SLR. if that's what Sigma is trying to tell.