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Doug Ross's picture

Manual Nikon F3 lenses, coupled to Digital bodies.

Wondering if any one uses/has experience of using old Nikon manual focus lenses such as the 85 mm, 135mm, 200mm with modern day Nikon digital bodies. For example with the Nikon D700 and if so any tips or suggestions that you could pass on?

Thanks,

Doug

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4 Comments

I use quite a lot of old manual lenses with modern bodies, started with Nikon but now have Sony A7 and A7rII. Nikon bodies are not the best to adopt lenses from other systems since Nikon has quite a long flange distance, but then again that's not a problem with Nikon F-mount lenses. So if you use only your old F-mount lenses you're fine.

I guess the D700 is as good as any Nikon full frame DSLR, if the live view LCD-panel is bright enough to use in daylight. Focusing can be troublesome with large aperture and shallow depth of field (wide open 135mm F2, and 105mm F1.8 for example). I suggest that for (focus) critical work you use live view with magnification. It's slower but works. If your doing work with normal or wide angle lens at F8 to F22 range then focus confirmation dot/blip most likely gives acceptable results even with quite fast manual focusing. My D750 guides with arrow sings (in the viewfinder) if lens is out of focus too, but that produces too much missed focus shots with shallow DoF portraits.

If you own the lenses and the D700 just put a lens on and try it.

Here's a couple of shots with my Nikon D750 (or D5200) with different manual focus lenses

https://fstoppers.com/photo/141723
https://flic.kr/p/KSGnZZ
https://flic.kr/p/Lyvx5i
https://flic.kr/p/KQ91Ch
https://flic.kr/p/S2dv5t

I have also some manual focus portraits shot with a Sony A7 in my Fstoppers.com profile gallery.

EDIT: Edited too long flickr links that didn't work.

Mikka:

Very many thanks for the suggestions, links to your images and general assistance.

I've now mastered the D700 menu; ditto live view and found the non CPU lens control/setting and getting on like a house on fire.

Best wishes,

Doug R

Hello Doug.
I do use Nikkor 105mm f1.8 Ais and other old manual lenses (Contax Zeiss 135mm f2.8, Pentacon 135mm f2.8) with Nikon D3 and Nikon D7000 ... great results! I shoot everything in manual. It gives me a more control.

Here is a sample, taken by D7000 with Nikkor 105mm f1.8 Ais
https://fstoppers.com/groups/headshot-photography/172224/natural-lightin...

Best,
Aleksandr

My 50mm is the Nikkor f/1.8D, which is an older manual focus (w/ CPU) lens. I have a DX sensor so it works out to 75mm for me and is really handy for close portrait shots. I think Mika hit the nail on the head with the non-CPU lens settings. But adapting other brand lenses to Nikon does require corrective lenses in the adapter which will greatly reduce image quality. I have some the old Leitz m39 and some Contax lenses laying about from shooting film and found them not so useful on my Nikon but they adapt wonderfully to the my friends Canon 5D mkIII. If you stick with Nikon F mounts however you'll be fine. Just practice focusing and take your time at first. It'll get easier as you go. My camera predates live view but you can get a magnifying glass for your Viewfinder ($40) if needed. These images are ones which just happened to be on my phone that I know I had used that particular lens for.