Non AI Nikkor Lens Use/Conversion

[notharrylume]

I have a nice set of 1960's Nikkor lenses. The are "non AI". I know they need to be converted to be used directly on modern digital cameras, but I would like to know if they need to be converted (to AI) to be used on Nikkor to M 3/4 adaptors (like Voightlander) to be used on M 3/4 cameras. Does anybody know? Thanks.

 

[David G. Smith]

Those lenses do not have to be converted to be AI lenses. The AI is an Auto Exposure Indexing system that Nikon introduced in 1977, and has nothing to do with using pre-AI lenses on modern digital cameras. The lenses would only need to be converted to AI if you intended to use them on AI Nikon film cameras and then only if you wanted to use the AI features. The AI modification had nothing to do with the mounting system, which is the F-mount. All you need to use these lenses is a mechanical mount to what ever camera you want. I have a set of these lenses and use them with a Canon T2i with out any issue.

EDIT: BTW, I love the pre-AI Nikons, they look great.

 

[notharrylume]

David,
Thanks for that information.

I own a 24mm F2.8; a 50mm F2.0 and the 105mm F2.5. I'm planning to get two more Nikkors: a 35mm F2.0 and an 85mm F2.0 to round out the set.

But the very wide range isn't covered well by old Nikkor lenses - they're all "fisheyes", slow, and expensive. I'm in a bit of quandry about that. The Tokina 11-16mm F2.8 seems to get good reviews and is relatively economical. Do you have an opinion about constant aperature wide lenses?

Thanks much.

Dennis

 

[dvbrother]

The Tokina 11-16mm F2.8 seems to get good reviews and is relatively economical. Do you have an opinion about constant aperature wide lenses?

From what I've read in other threads, the Tokina is great but hard to find. It's true that the m4/3 format's 2x crop factor makes finding wide-angle primes a challenge. I'm excited by Panasonic's and Olympus' new wide lens releases. I believe Panasonic just announced a 14mm f2.8 prime. Not much faster than the f4 kit lens but it is tiny, and that one stop might make a difference in less light, or if you're trying to shoot at a consistent f-stop and your other lenses are at 2.8.

Personally, I like the old manual Nikons like yours because the manual focus ring is good for filmmaking. And they're made of metal, not plastic. They're heavy and just feel like quality gear.

And you can find them cheap! I bought a Nikon 35mm f2 for $60 and it's fantastic. Plus, it focuses really close...it's almost a macro.

 

[David G. Smith]

David,
Thanks for that information.

I own a 24mm F2.8; a 50mm F2.0 and the 105mm F2.5. I'm planning to get two more Nikkors: a 35mm F2.0 and an 85mm F2.0 to round out the set.

But the very wide range isn't covered well by old Nikkor lenses - they're all "fisheyes", slow, and expensive. I'm in a bit of quandry about that. The Tokina 11-16mm F2.8 seems to get good reviews and is relatively economical. Do you have an opinion about constant aperature wide lenses?

Thanks much.

Dennis

Yeah, finding good inexpensive wide angle lenses, is kind of a chore. I have a 24mm F2.8 pre-AI Nikon that I like a lot, and the field of view is pretty good. I am looking to get a 20mm F2.8 pre-AI Nikon. They are harder to come by and a little more expensive. They are going in the $250.00 to $500.00 range it seems. I really like the manual Nikons, but I have been looking at the Tokina 11-16 also. I am just so reticent to buy a lens that does not cover FF 35mm (still). I think the large sensor video thing is just getting started, and I kind of wanted to kind of hedge my bets by making sure that if I bought glass, it would cover everything up to FF 35mm sensor size (I am also not a big fan of the electronic iris and focus control either). I may break down and get the Tokina though, it seems to be highly regarded.