nikkor lenses AI / AIS

[Dimitriel]

Hi Guys,

I have a redrock micro 35mm adapter and to start shooting I need a good lens. After a little research I found the Nikon Nikkor series. There is a 50mm f1,2 wich is available as ai and ais version. I read about what this even means and it only concerns me when I'm working with an analoge SLR. But the ai/ai-s versions of the nikkor series were reengineered. So my question is:
Is there another difference between the versions except of the obvious (sending the exact aperture data to the old SLR cameras) and could I also use the original series without ai/ai-s (wich is A LOT CHEAPER)?

Hope you can help me, thanks in advance.

Dimitriel

 

[Apefos Adapter]

non-ai or pre ai, ai, ais, af, etc, etc

non-ai or pre ai, ai, ais, af, etc, etc

In my experience the non-ai or pre ai, ai, ais, af, etc, etc are not important when using in the 35mm adapter and you can use all. I think you need to avoid just the G series because they do not have the diafragm ring and avoid the DX series because they projects the image in a small area...

 

[Chris Santucci]

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=139784&highlight=nikon+lenses

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[smithy]

In my experience the non-ai or pre ai, ai, ais, af, etc, etc are not important when using in the 35mm adapter and you can use all. I think you need to avoid just the G series because they do not have the diafragm ring and avoid the DX series because they projects the image in a small area...

AI or AIS is fine on adapters. But DX lenses need an electrical source in order to open the iris, that is why it is best to use the older lenses.

 

[Dimitriel]

Thanks a lot for your answers and sorry for repeating a question that has already been asked.
The answer by Gabriel Berube in the mentioned thread (http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread...t=nikon+lenses) makes me think but I guess I can live with that if the price difference is big enough. But can anyone confirm, that the ai / ai-s series have better image definitions?
Thanks again

 

[Will Clegg]

But can anyone confirm, that the ai / ai-s series have better image definitions?

This will vary from lens to lens. Use kenrockwell.com to look up each lens specifically - the time spent researching will be worth it.

 

[cordvision]

If you are going to buy a 35mm 1.4 lens you might want to consider the AIS version over the AI version because it has 9 aperture blades instead of 7. This will result in slightly "smoother" bokeh...