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Im hoping to purchase a D70. (someone can donate me one if you please)

I have the following older nikon AIS lenses...

nikon nikkor 15mm 1:3.5
nikon nikkor 20mm 1:2.8
nikon zoom-nikkor 28-85mm 1:3.5-4.5
nikon zoom-nikkor 35-200mm 1:3.5-4.5
nikon zoom-nikkor 100-300mm 1:5.6

incidently i was lucky enough to be given the above lenses, including a nikon FA, manfrotto professional tripod, 2x TC, nikon FM-301, 15 different filters, cable releases, interchangeable focusing screens and lots of other stuff. (i hope this doesnt disqualify me from getting a free d70 from some generous soul )

Anyone used AIS lenses with the d70? Im also keen to use the d70 for macro work, anyone used the PB-4 / PB-6 or extension tubes with the d70?

Thanks a bunch!
JD

Yes, I have a large collection of AI-S lenses, actually it's my mum's from when she was a pro photog. I had planned on using them when I first got the D70. However, having experienced the magic of AF-S of the 18-70DX kit lens and auto focus in general, I pretty much became too lazy to bother with manual focus and exposure... I'm seriously looking to replace the older MF lenses with equivalent AF.

There's nothing to stop you from using them on a D70, but it restricts you to manual mode only, and no exposure metering (which the D1 and D2 series have IIRC). Also since aperture doens't register on the body, the field in EXIF is missing - which means you either have to take good notes at the time of shooting or be forever guessing what settings you had set when you took the image.

I thought I would enjoy the academic challenge, however I've become far more lazy than I had anticipated and perceive using manual lenses on the D70 as an extra hassle I can do without. I hope you don't become like me!

I believe using the PB4 extension tubes requires use of a spacer too, to avoid bits coming into contact with protruding parts on the D70 body.

Edit: I forgot to add - I tend to find the old Nikkors which were great on film tend to produce reduced contrast images with digital, which I rightly or wrongly attribute to the combination of shiny sensor and uncoated rear elements contributing to internal flaring. I was disappointed especially with the performance of the 135 f/2.8 prime. Not only has the D70's APS-C sized sensor rendered it too long for use as a portrait lens, but it produces a noticeably softer look and reduced contrast which is not to my liking (compared to what I remember it on film).

I have quite a few Nikon AIS lenses & Tokina ATX 80-200 lens.
I was hoping to use them on my D70, but found out (from my experience) I can not focus properly with D70's focusing screen.
I will get, say 70%, shots in focus,but remaining 30% will be out of focus.
I had a day out with Tokina 80-200 zoom, shot quite a few photos, they looked spot on in the viefinder, but when I checked them on screen they were just not sharp enough.
I also did some tests with camera mounted on the tripod & found out that some lenses (especially Tokina) are much softer on D70 then they were on my F3 (or FM2) & film.
Plus, as Onyx pointed out, you get lazy after using AF lenses.
I also have PB-6 but have not use them as yet.
So I'll be selling all my MF lenses & replacing them with AF ones.
Which is a shame as some of the lenses are very fine glass.
The only lens I will keep is 55mm Micro Nikkor that I use in macro photography.

Hi All,
I had an opportunity to play around with the old Nikon AI-S lenses on both my three cam bodies (D/70/D100/D2h),
1/ they do work on them but I get used with the AF and AFS, so my finger always make mistakes when try to compose and focusing in M mode.
2/ they produced not a bad photos on dslr but slow and have to be careful otherwise the results are not the way you always want, and action shooting is not recommeded due to its nature built. (I tried them on my F5 as well).
3/ they're fine glasses which Nikon made them in that era, but I won't regret if I did not get them.
4/ My conclusion: they're perfect on the film bodies but not on the DSLR and modern bodies.