Manual camera, auto lens?

[hedge]

Hi all,

I've got a Nikon FM 10 student camera (fully manual) and i'm curious about the possibility of using it with some of my autofocus lenses. Thing is, none of the lenses (70-200 VR, 12-24 sigma) have aperture rings.

Before I waste any money on running a roll of film through it - does anyone know if this will work? My guess would be that the lenses will work but only at max aperture. Does anyone know?!

cheers,

adam

[Hlop]

G-type lenses will work on max aperture -> you can not control aperure at all, shutter speed only

[Glen]

Adam, I tried the kit on my 601 recently, as you suggested, it was stuck at maximum aperture

[hedge]

Hey, thanks guys, good quick answers - love it

Did you guys take many pics set up this way? Were there any problems with metering or anything?

adam

[gstark]

Adam,

As the others have said, many lenses won't work. That said, many will.

But exclude anything that's a G series - no aperture ring means that you have no way of setting the aperture, and on any FM body - which requires you to manually set the aperture, that is problematic.

But there are a lot of non-G lenses out there - look at the primes, for instance, and lenses like some of the older 80-210 zooms can be picked up relatively inexpensively and will be useful and usable.

[Glen]

Adam, I didn't press the shutter Don't think the kit is at its optimum wide open.

I like your theory of taking a small manual camera and sharing lenses. One lens which is worth looking at and considering just because it is so small is the 45P 2.8. Works on manual cameras, meters on DSLR and is so small you wouldn't know you had it. Leigh, Birddy and myself all have one.

[Alpha_7]

Adam, I didn't press the shutter Don't think the kit is at its optimum wide open.

I like your theory of taking a small manual camera and sharing lenses. One lens which is worth looking at and considering just because it is so small is the 45P 2.8. Works on manual cameras, meters on DSLR and is so small you wouldn't know you had it. Leigh, Birddy and myself all have one.

They look cute too!

[Glen]

Adam, I didn't press the shutter Don't think the kit is at its optimum wide open.

I like your theory of taking a small manual camera and sharing lenses. One lens which is worth looking at and considering just because it is so small is the 45P 2.8. Works on manual cameras, meters on DSLR and is so small you wouldn't know you had it. Leigh, Birddy and myself all have one.

They look cute too!

Craig, I have always said that Leigh, Birddy and myself look cute too! Great minds think alike

[birddog114]

Adam, I didn't press the shutter Don't think the kit is at its optimum wide open.

I like your theory of taking a small manual camera and sharing lenses. One lens which is worth looking at and considering just because it is so small is the 45P 2.8. Works on manual cameras, meters on DSLR and is so small you wouldn't know you had it. Leigh, Birddy and myself all have one.

They look cute too!

Craig, I have always said that Leigh, Birddy and myself look cute too! Great minds think alike

[hedge]

Cheers Gary. What i'm actually thinking is somewhat messy (and possibly foolish). I'm about to head o/s and am taking the D70 but was thinking of taking the FM10 as a lightweight backup body for when the D70 gets flogged or for when i don't want to risk my good camera. In those cases I could get away with the FM10 with the 12-24 locked at max aperture (or a 50mm prime i'll prob take).

I also like to use the FM10 for star trail photos because i can lock it open indefinately, it doesn't use batteries (much) and is light enough for a mini tripod to hold it well. With a 12-24 on it I could get some wild star pics

So, that's the messed up logic behind wanting to use a G lens on a manual camera. I just want to make sure it works before I lob it in my pack.

[hedge]

Cheers Glen - i've got a 50mm 1.4 that i'll leave on the FM10 most of the time but i'm curious about this 45p 2.8 - would it be an ebay job? What sort of damage and are they decently smaller than the 50mm?

[Alpha_7]

Cheers Glen - i've got a 50mm 1.4 that i'll leave on the FM10 most of the time but i'm curious about this 45p 2.8 - would it be an ebay job? What sort of damage and are they decently smaller than the 50mm?

Hedge they are tiny. Here is a pic!

[hedge]

I like it! I suppose they're an ebay or Photo Trader job? Anyone have a rough idea of what they're worth?

[birddog114]

I like it! I suppose they're an ebay or Photo Trader job? Anyone have a rough idea of what they're worth?

Over $450.00 mark, this lens was discontinued last year, lucky if you still can grab them at a bargain price, especially the black version.

[gstark]

Adam,

Cheers Gary. What i'm actually thinking is somewhat messy (and possibly foolish). I'm about to head o/s and am taking the D70 but was thinking of taking the FM10 as a lightweight backup body for when the D70 gets flogged or for when i don't want to risk my good camera. In those cases I could get away with the FM10 with the 12-24 locked at max aperture (or a 50mm prime i'll prob take).

Using at the maximum aperture wuld be very limiting, I think. Your only exposure adjustment is via shutter speed, and you're stuck with shooting wide open, which means that you're not able to use the lens's sweet spot. With some lenses that means that you're shooting soft and stuck with it. May as well borrow my coke bottle.

I'd probably look for an old 35-70, 43-86, or 24-70 or something in that range, then. You should be able to pick up something serviceable within those sorts of ranges, and they will be lightweight but operational on both bodies, yet still quite low cost. Probably worth looking in somewhere like FotoReisel or ECS in Sydney, or Camera Exchange or Camera Lane in Melbourne, for instance.

I also like to use the FM10 for star trail photos because i can lock it open indefinately, it doesn't use batteries (much) and is light enough for a mini tripod to hold it well. With a 12-24 on it I could get some wild star pics

Again, a 24 f/2.8 prime would probably be a good buy for this. SMall and light again, too.

[Glen]

Adam, Gary's idea would be perfect, doubt you would pay over $50 for a 35-70, etc. The 45p is very small, which makes any camera seem smaller and more pocketable, but the price makes it a luxury.


Here it is compared to a lens cap:

[MCWB]

Craig, I have always said that Leigh, Birddy and myself look cute too! Great minds think alike

Add me into the 'has 45P/is cute' list.

[gstark]

Craig, I have always said that Leigh, Birddy and myself look cute too! Great minds think alike

Add me into the 'has 45P/is cute' list.

Trent,

Choose one.

[Glen]

Craig, I have always said that Leigh, Birddy and myself look cute too! Great minds think alike

Add me into the 'has 45P/is cute' list.

Trent,

Choose one.

Gary, it is a hard choice, the youth and good looks of Leigh or the age and experience of Birddy or myself




.

[moggy]

Craig, I have always said that Leigh, Birddy and myself look cute too! Great minds think alike

Add me into the 'has 45P/is cute' list.

And me!

Bob.

.

[birddog114]

Craig, I have always said that Leigh, Birddy and myself look cute too! Great minds think alike

Add me into the 'has 45P/is cute' list.

And me!

Bob.

.

Bob,
I know you're cute

[Glen]

This has 45P/is cute club is bigger than I realsied, apologies to those not originally included.



.

[Ivanerrol]

I don't see many 45P's coming up on Ebay very much, however lots of AF 35 - 70 3.5 - 4.5's for not much dollars.
My tip is, don't buy a manual focus lens. It's a waste of money if you wan't to use it on your D70 later.
Good value is the 35 - 70 2.8D. these go for around $ 250-300. They are excellent value,very sharp and work well on the D70. IMHO this lens is sharper and has better contrast than the kit lens.It also has macro.

As mentioned do not get a 'G 'lens for a manual camera.

If you are going to the tropics and getting in and out of air conditioned cars, I always put my camera in a plastic bag outside the car before getting in. This keeps the camera 'warm 'and the lens is less likely to fog up going from cold air-con to 33 degrees 99% humidity.
Have a good trip.

[Glen]

It's a waste of money if you wan't to use it on your D70 later.

Ivan, not at all concerned by your comments and they are correct for you but thought I should mention that a) manual lenses do work on a D70 b) some people like manual

[MCWB]

Trent,

Choose one.

Just gave my 45P away.

[Alpha_7]

Trent,

Choose one.

Just gave my 45P away.

I'll take it, I definitely not fit the cute crowd

[moggy]

Bob,
I know you're cute

Bob.

.

[MattC]

Adam,

I like Gary's suggestion to have a look at the 24/2.8. I have an FM3a and the first two lenses that I pick up are always the 50/1.4 and 24/2.8. This is a sweet combination.
.
Travelling light I will carry one lens in my pocket, a spare roll of film (or two) in another pocket, and the FM3a around my neck.

Cheers