UK: good London camera shops

"Bruce" wrote in message
...
[]
The topic was general lens compatibility, in particular that current
Nikon
cameras can, in general, use lenses from day 1 of the Nikon system.


But that simply isn't true, David. Original F mount Nikkor lenses can
cause damage if mounted on Nikon DSLRs.

Almost all AI and AI-S Nikkors will mount without problems. That
includes all AF Nikkors because any AF Nikkor is also an AI-S Nikkor.
But expert advice should be sought if you want to mount a pre-AI
Nikkor on an Nikon AF SLR or DSLR.

AI lenses were made from 1977. By 1979, all new Nikkors were AI. So
your claim about being able to "use lenses from day 1 of the Nikon
system" which was some time in 1959 is wrong by 20 years.

Is there no end to your giving incorrect advice?

Please read what I wrote: "in general", not "all". It would certainly be
wise to check before trying. Unlike, Canon, Nikon did not abandon their
users by changing lens mount.

In article , Bruce
wrote:

It would be far wiser to say that pre-AI lenses should not be used on
Nikon AF SLRs and DSLRs, which is of course what Nikon advises.

no it wouldn't since that would be incorrect. non-ai lenses work fine
without damage on many nikon dslrs.

Unlike, Canon, Nikon did not abandon their
users by changing lens mount.

It could be said that Nikon abandoned users of original F mount lenses
by withdrawing the offer of conversion to AI after a time.

there weren't enough people to continue the service. it still can be
done, just not through nikon.

It could
also be said that Nikon abandoned users of F, AI and AI-S lenses by
making many AF SLRs and DSLRs that offered no metering with them.

only on low end slrs, and the typical customer of those won't have any
old lenses so why put that capability in? they'd rather have a less
expensive camera than pay for something they'll never use.

There were not quite such severe steps as Canon changing from FD mount
to the completely incompatible EF mount, but they have certainly upset
and alienated many Nikon users.

not really. most don't even notice.

It is still the case in 2012 that buyers of Nikon cameras need to
check whether their existing lenses are compatible. For example, I
ordered a PC-E Nikkor 24mm f/3.5D ED for use with my D800/D800E
bodies, only to find that it will neither tilt nor shift on those
bodies. That is because the controls on the lens foul the housing for
the cameras' built-in flash.

edge case. that's not a common lens.

One way around this would be to buy a Canon body and a Nikon to Canon
EF adapter ...

with the limitations that go along with it.

"nospam" wrote in message
...
In article , Bruce
wrote:
[]
It is still the case in 2012 that buyers of Nikon cameras need to
check whether their existing lenses are compatible. For example, I
ordered a PC-E Nikkor 24mm f/3.5D ED for use with my D800/D800E
bodies, only to find that it will neither tilt nor shift on those
bodies. That is because the controls on the lens foul the housing for
the cameras' built-in flash.

edge case. that's not a common lens.

Very much so, I would have said. I wonder why didn't Bruce follow his own
advice of checking before ordering?

David

"David J Taylor" wrote in message
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"J. Clarke" wrote in message
in.local...
[]
What relevance does the change in the Canon mount have to the assertion
that with the appropriate adapter one can use Nikon lenses on Canons?

The topic was general lens compatibility, in particular that current Nikon
cameras can, in general, use lenses from day 1 of the Nikon system.

Cheers,
David
Hello David.

The lenses will mechanically fit onto the body but, as pointed out earlier
in this thread, may not have full functionality. I believe that some lenses
have to be used with the mirror locked up.

I've bought both Canon and Nikon second-hand lenses. Canon lenses aren't a
problem - it is easy to remember that EF-S lenses only fit APS-C bodies
(though I've read of mods to enable these lenses to fit onto full-frame and
film bodies). With Nikon the customer has to be more careful if they want
the lens to maintain all the shooting and focus modes.

Personally, having used both Canon and Nikon, I find that I can take the
photos I want with either make. My oldest lens is around five years old and
my oldest body is around three years old so compatibility problems are not
an issue for me.

Best wishes, Ian.

"David J Taylor" wrote in message
...
"Bruce" wrote in message
...
[


Please read what I wrote: "in general", not "all". It would certainly be
wise to check before trying. Unlike, Canon, Nikon did not abandon their
users by changing lens mount.
Hello again David.

Thinking back to the announcement of the EF mount, Canon explained that
they'd looked at making the FD mount into an autofocus mount and decided it
was not practical. There were grumbles at the time. A lot of the FD users I
knew were happy to stay with the FD mount and didn't feel it was worth
moving to the autofocus mount.

Personally, I was happy to stay with FD until I acquired a Canon APS SLR and
started the migration to the EF mount.

Regards, Ian.

"Ian" wrote in message
...
[]
Hello David.

The lenses will mechanically fit onto the body but, as pointed out
earlier in this thread, may not have full functionality. I believe that
some lenses have to be used with the mirror locked up.

I've bought both Canon and Nikon second-hand lenses. Canon lenses aren't
a problem - it is easy to remember that EF-S lenses only fit APS-C
bodies (though I've read of mods to enable these lenses to fit onto
full-frame and film bodies). With Nikon the customer has to be more
careful if they want the lens to maintain all the shooting and focus
modes.

Personally, having used both Canon and Nikon, I find that I can take the
photos I want with either make. My oldest lens is around five years old
and my oldest body is around three years old so compatibility problems
are not an issue for me.

Best wishes, Ian.

Thanks, Ian. I did sell all my old lenses when I sold my film SLR gear,
so my lenses are of a similar age to yours. Nikon does not have problems
fitting their DX lenses on full frame bodies, unlike Canon with EF-S
lenses, but you will typically see vignetting from such lenses, e.g. at
the wider focal lengths for zooms.

I would agree that the actual kit is more important than the brand, and
that both manufacturers offer systems covering a wide range of needs.
Arguably, the most important link in the chain is the photographer!

Cheers,
David

"Bruce" wrote in message
...
[]
The whole outfit was ordered via Nikon Professional Services who offer
specialist advice on what equipment to buy. When spending this kind
of money, one would expect that their advice could be relied on.
Specifically, they should have known about any incompatibility, but it
seems they did not.

Oh, dear! I do hope you can get some refund or recompense for the lapse
of the individual concerned.

Nikon has only very recently changed its lens compatibility chart for
the D800/D800E which suggests that the problem was as much of a
surprise to Nikon as to Nikon D800/D800E users.

The lens is currently used on a rented D700 which will be going back
as soon as the D800E body arrives. What to do then? Remove the
pentaprism/flash housing with a saw? I'm not impressed.

Perhaps keep the D700, and get a refund on the D800E? Or get something
with a few more pixels, just not the D800E?

I must confess that, at times, I have little faith in "branch offices".

David

"Bruce" wrote in message
...
"David J Taylor" wrote:
[]
I must confess that, at times, I have little faith in "branch offices".


On one hand, I have nothing but praise for the people at Nikon UK for
the professional way in which they have dealt with a problem that is
not of their making. Please don't dismiss them as a "branch office";
they are worth far more than that.

That's good to know. Better than some other firm's UK offices, then.

On the other hand, I am not at all impressed that the designers of the
D800/D800E neglected to check whether the pentaprism/flash housing
clashed with any Nikkors.

I really cannot understand why a camera body of this calibre should
ever have been fitted with an onboard flash in the first place. There
is no need for one. If you need flash you use a decent flash gun, not
some piddling thing that has no power, is located far too close to the
optical axis and does more harm than good.

Yes, having the flash seems an odd choice in that level.

David

In article , Ian
wrote:

The lenses will mechanically fit onto the body but, as pointed out earlier
in this thread, may not have full functionality. I believe that some lenses
have to be used with the mirror locked up.

only two i can think of and those are very old and rare fisheyes.

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography...oresources/607
0nikkor/fisheyes/75mm56.htm
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography...oresources/607
0nikkor/fisheyes/rjohnson/8mmfish.htm

I've bought both Canon and Nikon second-hand lenses. Canon lenses aren't a
problem - it is easy to remember that EF-S lenses only fit APS-C bodies
(though I've read of mods to enable these lenses to fit onto full-frame and
film bodies). With Nikon the customer has to be more careful if they want
the lens to maintain all the shooting and focus modes.

not really.

the difference is that canon users are limited to autofocus lenses
only.

nikon users can use all autofocus lenses and almost all manual focus
lenses. higher end nikon cameras offer more features with older lenses
than lower end (no surprise there).

Personally, having used both Canon and Nikon, I find that I can take the
photos I want with either make. My oldest lens is around five years old and
my oldest body is around three years old so compatibility problems are not
an issue for me.

most people don't have older lenses so none of this even matters.

In article , Bruce
wrote:

Thinking back to the announcement of the EF mount, Canon explained that
they'd looked at making the FD mount into an autofocus mount and decided it
was not practical.

This is complete nonsense.

no it isn't.

Canon *did* make an autofocus version of the FD mount. The camera
body was the T80 which was based on the design of the T70 and was
introduced in 1985. It was offered with three AF lenses (50mm f/1.8,
35-70mm f/3.5-4.5 and 75-200mm f/4.5) which had integral AF motors.

The T80 could also accept normal FD lenses, obviously without AF, and
the AF lenses could be used on all other Canon bodies with the FD
mount, also obviously without AF.

they tried autofocus on fd and quickly realized that the fd mount had a
lot of issues going forward (and it wasn't that great to begin with
either). they *had* to switch.

thus, the ef mount was born, and it was designed such that they could
make nikon adapters to woo nikon users. very clever.