Simplest Nikon film body for G lenses?

What is the smallest/cheapest/oldest Nikon film body for G lenses with
no aperture ring? I could live without AF/AF-S function. I wouldn't want
to spend a lot, the idea is to play around with my lenses on full
format, maybe find something on ebay or KEH with a 50mm/1.8 for a
reasonable price or just a body. I would want a decent viewfinder, I'm
guessing that's a given compared to crop frame dSLRs. Someone mentioned
how small & straightforward the FE is but that requires an aperture ring
as I understand.

--
Paul Furman
http://www.edgehill.net/1
Bay Natives
http://www.baynatives.com

"Paul Furman" wrote in message
t...
What is the smallest/cheapest/oldest Nikon film body for G lenses with no
aperture ring? I could live without AF/AF-S function. I wouldn't want to
spend a lot, the idea is to play around with my lenses on full format,
maybe find something on ebay or KEH with a 50mm/1.8 for a reasonable price
or just a body. I would want a decent viewfinder, I'm guessing that's a
given compared to crop frame dSLRs. Someone mentioned how small &
straightforward the FE is but that requires an aperture ring as I
understand.

You can pick up N90's for a song....it is an excellent camera full of
features that can use the G lenses. I've seen them for sale from Adorama for
less than $150.

I love my N90.

"Paul Furman" wrote ...
What is the smallest/cheapest/oldest Nikon film body for G lenses with no
aperture ring? I could live without AF/AF-S function. I wouldn't want to
spend a lot, the idea is to play around with my lenses on full format,
maybe find something on ebay or KEH with a 50mm/1.8 for a reasonable price
or just a body. I would want a decent viewfinder, I'm guessing that's a
given compared to crop frame dSLRs. Someone mentioned how small &
straightforward the FE is but that requires an aperture ring as I
understand.

The F80 can do it, if I'm not completely mistaken - they should be available
quite cheap nowadays. I don't know if its size fits your requirement of
"small", but it sure is a fine camera.

Cheers,
ink

Paul Furman wrote:
What is the smallest/cheapest/oldest Nikon film body for G lenses with
no aperture ring? I could live without AF/AF-S function. I wouldn't want
to spend a lot, the idea is to play around with my lenses on full
format, maybe find something on ebay or KEH with a 50mm/1.8 for a
reasonable price or just a body. I would want a decent viewfinder, I'm
guessing that's a given compared to crop frame dSLRs. Someone mentioned
how small & straightforward the FE is but that requires an aperture ring
as I understand.


The answer to your question is 4004, 6006 or 8008. The 8008s was a
nicely robust camera with an excellent viewfinder. I can't vouch for
the other two.

"Paul Furman" wrote:

What is the smallest/cheapest/oldest Nikon film body for G lenses
with no aperture ring?

The smallest and cheapest would probably be a Pronea S, not that
I'd recommend it.

The smallest and cheapest 35mm camera would be an F50. I wouldn't
recommend that one either.

Instead, consider a Nikon N/F75. You can buy refurbished ones
with warranty from reputable dealers for about $120.

--
Michael Benveniste --
Spam and UCE professionally evaluated for $250. Use this email
address only to submit mail for evaluation.

What is the smallest/cheapest/oldest Nikon film body for G lenses with no
aperture ring?

Any of the older bodies that have -shutter priority- or -program-
auto can use the lenses. Cameras like the F3 and FE that only
have aperture priority auto won't work. You won't be able to set the
aperture manually on the older cameras and the lens/camera will only
work on auto. If you want to use the camera controls to set the
aperture you will need one of the F50/60/.../xx bodies with the
LCD and the thumbwheels.

If your aperture-ringless lenses are DX lenses, made for Nikon's
4/3 APS-sized digital sensor, then they won't [necessarily] cover
the whole of a 35mm film frame.
--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio
Darkroom Automation: F-Stop Timers, Enlarging Meters
http://www.nolindan.com/da/index.htm
n o lindan at ix dot netcom dot com

ink wrote:

"Paul Furman" wrote ...
What is the smallest/cheapest/oldest Nikon film body for G lenses with no
aperture ring? I could live without AF/AF-S function. I wouldn't want to
spend a lot, the idea is to play around with my lenses on full format,
maybe find something on ebay or KEH with a 50mm/1.8 for a reasonable price
or just a body. I would want a decent viewfinder, I'm guessing that's a
given compared to crop frame dSLRs. Someone mentioned how small &
straightforward the FE is but that requires an aperture ring as I
understand.

The F80 can do it, if I'm not completely mistaken - they should be available
quite cheap nowadays. I don't know if its size fits your requirement of
"small", but it sure is a fine camera.


FYI -- in the United States, this camera sells as the N80. I believe the N75
will probably work with G lenses as well.

--
Thomas T. Veldhouse
Key Fingerprint: D281 77A5 63EE 82C5 5E68 00E4 7868 0ADC 4EFB 39F0

Nicholas O. Lindan wrote:

What is the smallest/cheapest/oldest Nikon film body for G lenses with no
aperture ring?


Any of the older bodies that have -shutter priority- or -program-
auto can use the lenses. Cameras like the F3 and FE that only
have aperture priority auto won't work. You won't be able to set the
aperture manually on the older cameras and the lens/camera will only
work on auto. If you want to use the camera controls to set the
aperture you will need one of the F50/60/.../xx bodies with the
LCD and the thumbwheels.

OK thanks, as someone else said, those are called N80/60... etc in the
US so the F50 is the cheapest one at $50 on ebay in working order. Or I
see someone else mentioned the N4004/6006/8008, I see a N4004s sold for $35.

The bummer is, they all look like a D70, I wish there was a cooler more
retro looking body but I guess not. Thanks everyone.

If your aperture-ringless lenses are DX lenses, made for Nikon's
4/3 APS-sized digital sensor, then they won't [necessarily] cover
the whole of a 35mm film frame.

All full frame lenses including the Sigma 12-24 and that's the one that
would really be interesting on full frame... er backwards thinking but
it'd be like an 8mm rectilinear on a crop frame dSLR.

--
Paul Furman
http://www.edgehill.net/1
Bay Natives
http://www.baynatives.com

Michael Benveniste wrote:
Paul Furman wrote:

What is the smallest/cheapest/oldest Nikon film body for G lenses
with no aperture ring?

The smallest and cheapest would probably be a Pronea S, not that
I'd recommend it.

That's funky looking. Probably hard to find one without a lens or with a
useful lens. Maybe doesn't even have a remote cable option... Oh, it's
AP-S size film!

The smallest and cheapest 35mm camera would be an F50. I wouldn't
recommend that one either.

Why not, crappy viewfinder?

What about a N4004?

Hmmm, what about also using old AI/AI-S lenses? Is that what pushes me
to a F75?

Instead, consider a Nikon N/F75. You can buy refurbished ones
with warranty from reputable dealers for about $120.

$50 would be a lot easier to swallow for just a little playing around.

--
Paul Furman
http://www.edgehill.net/1
Bay Natives
http://www.baynatives.com

"Paul Furman" wrote:

The smallest and cheapest 35mm camera would be an F50. I wouldn't
recommend that one either.

Why not, crappy viewfinder?

The viewfinder is poor and the controls poorly laid out. It
won't autofocus with AF-S lenses and can't use VR. Autofocus
is not as good as a N75 either.

What about a N4004?

The 4004/F401 is almost twice as heavy, has Nikon's first
generation autofocus, and can only use G lenses in P and
S modes.

Hmmm, what about also using old AI/AI-S lenses? Is that
what pushes me to a F75?

Unfortunately, the N/F75 only offers unmetered manual mode
with the older lenses. The least expensive camera that
allows you to use both G lenses in all modes and AI/AI-S
lenses in manual and aperture priority mode is the F100.
While the F100 is a fine semipro camera, decent used copies
are still selling for $300.

Here's a Nikon compatibility chart. As you can see, it's
chalk full of arcane letters and limitations. And with
the introduction of the D40 yesterday, things just got
worse.

http://snipurl.com/12g4o

Instead, consider a Nikon N/F75. You can buy refurbished
one with warranty from reputable dealers for about $120.
$50 would be a lot easier to swallow for just a little
playing around.

Used copies on eBay go for about $60-65. These plastic
body models aren't designed for much abuse, so while you
might be able to find a beater for $50, I'd steer clear.

--
Michael Benveniste --
Spam and UCE professionally evaluated for $419. Use this email
address only to submit mail for evaluation.