Non-ai lense

LENS · 9th January 2008

Hi guys,

any of you still using non-ai lense?

I read that it can't be used on FM2?

will those non-ai lense can be used on DSLR?

I usually identify the by the groove on focus ring and..'Q-Auto' words on the lens..

it seems much cheaper, so i wonder is it good to keep few.

hacknet · 9th January 2008

yeah, you cant use the non ai because its missing that slot for the aperture prong to read the aperture. if you try to mount it, you will break the prong.

it can be mounted on a d70 thou...

LENS · 9th January 2008

prong is refer to the 'ear' right? what if i remove it? can it be used?

lsisaxon · 9th January 2008

Originally Posted by LENS

Hi guys,

any of you still using non-ai lense?

I read that it can't be used on FM2?

will those non-ai lense can be used on DSLR?

I usually identify the by the groove on focus ring and..'Q-Auto' words on the lens..

it seems much cheaper, so i wonder is it good to keep few.

They need to be modified to work on DSLR (they probably can be mounted on D40/X, D70/S and D80 though, I'm not sure). The aperture ring will knock against and jam the aperture coupling lever on D200, D300, D2 series and D3 series.

lsisaxon · 9th January 2008

Originally Posted by LENS

prong is refer to the 'ear' right? what if i remove it? can it be used?

No, not the 'ear' on the lens but the little tab that sticks out of the aperture encoder on the mount of D200, D300, D2-series and D3 bodies.

Picture taken from http://a.img-dpreview.com/previews/N...ensmount01.jpg

LENS · 9th January 2008

ha, i am surprised it can't be used on FM2..any other method other than convert it to AI?

hacknet · 9th January 2008

yes, you can get the ai conversion kit or you could manually file a slot, there are quite a number of tutorials on how to do that online...

serial_lain · 9th January 2008

please dont file off the prong.. yur camera will be useless then.. the best way is to send to fatigue for modification.. or any other camera shop that does this modification.. using a file is also possible if you are adventurous.. if you have a spare lens lying around.. you can butcher the aperture and use it on your non-ai lens.. providing max aperture is the same. what i do is i use an fm or fe.. you can lift up the prong.. the nikkormat el is also an alternative. it can give auto exposure for all NAI, AI, AIS lens.. making it very versatile indeed.

if you mount without modification, and the prong is not out of the way.. metering will be inaccurate if at all.

hacknet · 9th January 2008

i was thinking of the reverse, file a slot in the lens.

lsisaxon · 10th January 2008

Originally Posted by LENS

ha, i am surprised it can't be used on FM2..any other method other than convert it to AI?

FM2 also has the fixed tab. FM, FE, F3 and F4 has a tab which can be flipped up to accomodate the NAI lenses.

LENS · 11th January 2008

I was looking at FM2 yesterday.. the prong is actually a movable plastic-alike ring that will rotate along the mounting area. it is used for camera to know the maximum aperture of the mounted lense right?

quite disappointed that NAI lens can't be used ha..file off the lense is the last resort?

lsisaxon · 11th January 2008

Originally Posted by LENS

I was looking at FM2 yesterday.. the prong is actually a movable plastic-alike ring that will rotate along the mounting area. it is used for camera to know the maximum aperture of the mounted lense right?

quite disappointed that NAI lens can't be used ha..file off the lense is the last resort?

I think the lens can be converted by changing to the newer type of aperture ring. However, I don't know who is able to do this modification.

Amaury · 13th January 2008

Pre-AI lenses work just fine on D40s (using a 50mm f/1.4 from '69 here)

jcryan55 · 13th January 2008

To be very frank, the Manual Nikon Lens are more well built than their equivalent counterpart in AF.
That's one reason why I have been keeping the manual lens.
I used to use my 50mm f1.4 Non Ai lens on my FM body. But after I went digital and sold off my FM body, it has been sitting in the dry cabinet. Wouldn't mind letting go to anyone who maybe interested in keeping it though. I kept the 55mm f1.2 lens which serves my needs better.

Based on what I know, NSC can covert it from NAI to Ai by adding the existing aperture ring on the Nai lens. However, sadly, NSC no longer has this aperture ring part in stock. I have asked them before becos I was really reluctant to let go of my near mint 50mm f1.4 Nai lens.

Amaury · 13th January 2008

http://www.aiconversions.com/PricesAndShipping.htm

This guy does conversions and is recommended by Ken Rockwell as reliable.

lsisaxon · 14th January 2008

Originally Posted by Amaury

Pre-AI lenses work just fine on D40s (using a 50mm f/1.4 from '69 here)

If they work fine on D40, then they should be able to work on D50/D70/D80 also because they do not have the aperture coupling ring and tab.

Amaury · 14th January 2008

Actually, the D[5|7|8]0 series have the AF screw while the D40[x] doesn't, so the mounts are not exactly similar. And from this page : http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm it seems to have an impact on the possibility to mount preAI lenses.

For the D80, D70, D70s, D50, D100, the matrix says "NO, won't mount". So...

I am positive that preAI lenses (well at least the 50mmf/1.4 and the 200mmf/4 that I own) mount fine on the D40 and do not damage anything. I am not sure about the D80 etc, and there seems to be at least one quite knowledgeable source saying the contrary. It might be best to triple check.

[Edit] This source http://www.aiconversions.com/compatibilitytable.htm says pretty much the same thing :
Do not attempt to mount the lens. See Red Note 1 below.

lsisaxon · 14th January 2008

Originally Posted by Amaury

Actually, the D[5|7|8]0 series have the AF screw while the D40[x] doesn't, so the mounts are not exactly similar. And from this page : http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm it seems to have an impact on the possibility to mount preAI lenses.

For the D80, D70, D70s, D50, D100, the matrix says "NO, won't mount". So...

I am positive that preAI lenses (well at least the 50mmf/1.4 and the 200mmf/4 that I own) mount fine on the D40 and do not damage anything. I am not sure about the D80 etc, and there seems to be at least one quite knowledgeable source saying the contrary. It might be best to triple check.

Hmmm... Interesting.. I didn't look at the table though..

Anyway, my oldest lenses are AiS, so they can mount.

Amaury · 14th January 2008

http://www.bythom.com/lensacronyms.htm Again in the matrix at the D80/preAI intersection :

DO NOT USE

(And I guess neither of the last two sources can be suspected of being linked to Ken Rockwell

so... be careful if you try to mount preAI stuff on D50/70/80)

LENS · 24th March 2008

hi guys, i tried to mount a non-ai "nikkor-auto H' to FM2...does it able to mount at all? i will break the aperture coupling tab? it seems able to fit in..and i try to rotate..but there was a resistance so i didn't force..but i tried to observe..it seems able to fit..

9th January 2008	#1
LENS Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 758	Non-ai lense Hi guys, any of you still using non-ai lense? I read that it can't be used on FM2? will those non-ai lense can be used on DSLR? I usually identify the by the groove on focus ring and..'Q-Auto' words on the lens.. it seems much cheaper, so i wonder is it good to keep few.

9th January 2008	#2
hacknet Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,090	Re: Non-ai lense yeah, you cant use the non ai because its missing that slot for the aperture prong to read the aperture. if you try to mount it, you will break the prong. it can be mounted on a d70 thou...

9th January 2008	#3
LENS Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 758	Re: Non-ai lense prong is refer to the 'ear' right? what if i remove it? can it be used?

9th January 2008	#6
LENS Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 758	Re: Non-ai lense ha, i am surprised it can't be used on FM2..any other method other than convert it to AI?

9th January 2008	#7
hacknet Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,090	Re: Non-ai lense yes, you can get the ai conversion kit or you could manually file a slot, there are quite a number of tutorials on how to do that online...

9th January 2008	#8
serial_lain Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: north-east Posts: 714	Re: Non-ai lense please dont file off the prong.. yur camera will be useless then.. the best way is to send to fatigue for modification.. or any other camera shop that does this modification.. using a file is also possible if you are adventurous.. if you have a spare lens lying around.. you can butcher the aperture and use it on your non-ai lens.. providing max aperture is the same. what i do is i use an fm or fe.. you can lift up the prong.. the nikkormat el is also an alternative. it can give auto exposure for all NAI, AI, AIS lens.. making it very versatile indeed. if you mount without modification, and the prong is not out of the way.. metering will be inaccurate if at all. __________________ Billy Goat Photography

9th January 2008	#9
hacknet Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,090	Re: Non-ai lense i was thinking of the reverse, file a slot in the lens.

11th January 2008	#11
LENS Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 758	Re: Non-ai lense I was looking at FM2 yesterday.. the prong is actually a movable plastic-alike ring that will rotate along the mounting area. it is used for camera to know the maximum aperture of the mounted lense right? quite disappointed that NAI lens can't be used ha..file off the lense is the last resort?

13th January 2008	#13
Amaury Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 58	Re: Non-ai lense Pre-AI lenses work just fine on D40s (using a 50mm f/1.4 from '69 here)

13th January 2008	#14
jcryan55 Deregistered Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 2,112	Re: Non-ai lense To be very frank, the Manual Nikon Lens are more well built than their equivalent counterpart in AF. That's one reason why I have been keeping the manual lens. I used to use my 50mm f1.4 Non Ai lens on my FM body. But after I went digital and sold off my FM body, it has been sitting in the dry cabinet. Wouldn't mind letting go to anyone who maybe interested in keeping it though. I kept the 55mm f1.2 lens which serves my needs better. Based on what I know, NSC can covert it from NAI to Ai by adding the existing aperture ring on the Nai lens. However, sadly, NSC no longer has this aperture ring part in stock. I have asked them before becos I was really reluctant to let go of my near mint 50mm f1.4 Nai lens.

13th January 2008	#15
Amaury Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 58	Re: Non-ai lense http://www.aiconversions.com/PricesAndShipping.htm This guy does conversions and is recommended by Ken Rockwell as reliable.

14th January 2008	#17
Amaury Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 58	Re: Non-ai lense Actually, the D[5\|7\|8]0 series have the AF screw while the D40[x] doesn't, so the mounts are not exactly similar. And from this page : http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm it seems to have an impact on the possibility to mount preAI lenses. For the D80, D70, D70s, D50, D100, the matrix says "NO, won't mount". So... I am positive that preAI lenses (well at least the 50mmf/1.4 and the 200mmf/4 that I own) mount fine on the D40 and do not damage anything. I am not sure about the D80 etc, and there seems to be at least one quite knowledgeable source saying the contrary. It might be best to triple check. [Edit] This source http://www.aiconversions.com/compatibilitytable.htm says pretty much the same thing : Do not attempt to mount the lens. See Red Note 1 below. Last edited by Amaury; 14th January 2008 at 12:13 AM.

14th January 2008	#19
Amaury Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 58	Re: Non-ai lense http://www.bythom.com/lensacronyms.htm Again in the matrix at the D80/preAI intersection : DO NOT USE (And I guess neither of the last two sources can be suspected of being linked to Ken Rockwell so... be careful if you try to mount preAI stuff on D50/70/80)

24th March 2008	#20
LENS Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 758	Re: Non-ai lense hi guys, i tried to mount a non-ai "nikkor-auto H' to FM2...does it able to mount at all? i will break the aperture coupling tab? it seems able to fit in..and i try to rotate..but there was a resistance so i didn't force..but i tried to observe..it seems able to fit..