A Question for Nikon Manual Focus Lens Users

[Rob Skeoch]

If you are using a camera such as the F3 or FM2, which focus style do you prefer and why.
AI-S full manual or manual focus with the early AF lens series like the "D" lineup when the lenses still have the aperture ring?

I'm asking because although I'm happy to focus manually now, as my eye site get's older I might want to switch to an AF camera like the F5 and use the AF less.

 

[John Bragg]

I prefer Manual lenses, either Nikkor or 3rd party with manual cameras. My Nikon F5 and F100 are used with AF Nikkors. The 28mm f2.8 Ais is used with both as it is superior to the AF equivalent.

 

[Sirius Glass]

If you are using a camera such as the F3 or FM2, which focus style do you prefer and why.
AI-S full manual or manual focus with the early AF lens series like the "D" lineup when the lenses still have the aperture ring?

I'm asking because although I'm happy to focus manually now, as my eye site get's older I might want to switch to an AF camera like the F5 and use the AF less.

AF is more accurate than manual focus as long as the AF system assumes the correct subject and not the leaf or branch in the close foreground. AF is nice if you are sightseeing and want or need to keep moving rather than stay for while in a place. I use AF for 35mm and manual focus for medium format. [MF for MF, there is some natural symmetry in that]

 

[BrianShaw]

I’m not too sure I really understand the question and looking forward to whatever others offer. My eyes are getting older also. I use F3 and FE with AI-S manual focus lenses. No problem with focusing (yet) but unaware of any other “focus style” possible with these cameras.

 

[John Bragg]

I’m not too sure I really understand the question and looking forward to whatever others offer. My eyes are getting older also. I use F3 and FE with AI-S manual focus lenses. No problem with focusing (yet) but unaware of any other “focus style” possible with these cameras.

I think the OP is referring to manual focussing with D series AF lenses or Ais manual lenses.

 

[benveniste]

Whenever I focus manually, be it on an AF camera or not, I've yet to use an AF lens which gives me as nice a tactile feedback as my "full manual" lenses. A couple of my Pentax 645 AF lenses come close, but nothing in Nikon mount.

That said, I do use a few AF lenses on my Nikon FA, including a 17-35mm f/2.8 and a 300mm f/4.

 

[Huss]

The pure manual focus lenses like AI-S ones have much nicer focus rings and aperture rings than the ones on the AF lenses that also have the aperture ring. Also the AF lenses tend to have much faster focus gearing which makes manual focus a little trickier and touchier. A longer focus throw allows for more precise manual focus, a shorter focus throw allows for the lens to AF much quicker.
The aperture rings are just nicer to use and more solid on AI-s lenses than the AF equivalent. Those tend to be much more plasticky feeling and have more stiction.

Personally I wouldn't ruin your manual focus experience now for an AF experience in the future. In the future, if you need AF, then trade your manual focus equipment for the AF versions.

 

[Paul Howell]

Although I don't use Nikon own and use Minolta A AF, I use both, most of the time I use AF, need to admit that Minolta AF is different than Nikon, at times I will use MF if I want to make sure I'm focusing at a critical point, takes less time than changing the local focus area.

 

[George Mann]

I use manual Ai lenses on my F90x with both a J type focussing screen, as well as using its electronic rangefinder for focus confirmation.

I have to wear my glasses to focus my older mechanical bodies, but not with my F90x.

 

[Joseph Bell]

I use an FE and I have experience with several AI/AI-S lenses as well as AF-D lenses. In my opinion, the purely manual lenses are infinitely more pleasant to focus manually. These older lenses are delightfully sturdy as well.

 

[reddesert]

They all work (if they have an aperture ring). The AF lenses have a looser feel and usually less focus ring travel so they aren't as nice in the hand, but it's generally manageable.

If you want to try it out, you can get an AF film camera like a N8008 or N90 that still costs peanuts, is fully compatible with manual focus AI lenses, and try using the focus assist.

Personally I find the biggest difference is the max aperture rather than the mechanics. When I mess around using modest zooms like f/3.5-5.6 that are common on AF cameras and DSLRs, and then go back to using a prime lens like a 50/1.8, 35/2, or even an f/2.8, I'm pleasantly surprised by the viewfinder brightness and ease of focusing.

 

[Huss]

Personally I find the biggest difference is the max aperture rather than the mechanics. When I mess around using modest zooms like f/3.5-5.6 that are common on AF cameras and DSLRs, and then go back to using a prime lens like a 50/1.8, 35/2, or even an f/2.8, I'm pleasantly surprised by the viewfinder brightness and ease of focusing.

I also have those lenses (50 1.4, 35 f2 etc) in the AF versions, so the VF brightness is just the same. I bought them for my F4s. On my F3 etc the manual focus versions are so much nicer to use - the mechanical feel and the longer focus throw, as well as the feel of the aperture ring.

 

[narsuitus]

At one time, I only had manual focus Nikon lenses because all of my Nikon bodies were manual focus (F, F2, F3, EM).

It was not until I was given an auto focus Nikon body (N70) and an auto focus Nikon lens (18-55mm f/2.8 to 5.6 G lens) that I decided to try other auto focus lenses. Over a long period of time, I bought several auto focus bodies (F4 and D200). I also bought three auto focus prime lenses (50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.4, and 14mm f/2.8 and four auto focus zoom lenses (14-35mm f/2.8G, 20-35mm f/2.8D, 28-70mm f/2.8D, and 80-200mm f/2.8D). I thought that when the auto focus motor eventually broke in the lenses, I could continue using the lenses in manual mode. However, when the auto focus motor broke in the first lens, the manual focus feature also broke. The broken lens is now totally useless.

I am now dissatisfied with my decision to buy auto focus lenses and wish I had purchased only lenses with no auto focus motors to break.

 

[BobD]

I don't like to manually focus AF lenses.

 

[T_Grisier]

If you are using a camera such as the F3 or FM2, which focus style do you prefer and why.
AI-S full manual or manual focus with the early AF lens series like the "D" lineup when the lenses still have the aperture ring?

I'm asking because although I'm happy to focus manually now, as my eye site get's older I might want to switch to an AF camera like the F5 and use the AF less.

I prefer full manual with split image and microprism in the finder.

 

[summicron1]

I had cataract surgery and it's like my cameras all have brand new viewing systems in them, super upgraded.

Might have a chat with your eye doctor.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

If you are using a camera such as the F3 or FM2, which focus style do you prefer and why.
AI-S full manual or manual focus with the early AF lens series like the "D" lineup when the lenses still have the aperture ring?

I'm asking because although I'm happy to focus manually now, as my eye site get's older I might want to switch to an AF camera like the F5 and use the AF less.

Auto focus was invented to make life easier.

 

[Chan Tran]

If you fare going to focus manually because your camera only supports manual focus then the manual focus lenses like AI/AI-S lenses give much better feel. The AF lenses are designed to be turned by the motor and thus it don't have the same feel.

 

[gone]

The MF lenses are nearly always a different optical formula than the AF lenses too, and many of us like the way the early lenses image. If I were going to an AF camera due my eyesight, I'd just get AF lenses for an AF camera. The AF lenses don't feel right when you manually focus them.

I have a N70 and an N8008s that I only use with MF lenses, and the focus confirmation lights in the viewfinder can be handy (though it's rarely needed w/ the N8008s), so that's another option. These cameras have the best light meters of any I've owned.

If you wear glasses like I do, the N8008s has a high point viewfinder that will allow you to see the whole frame, which is a pretty big deal.

 

[reddesert]

It was not until I was given an auto focus Nikon body (N70) and an auto focus Nikon lens (18-55mm f/2.8 to 5.6 G lens) that I decided to try other auto focus lenses. Over a long period of time, I bought several auto focus bodies (F4 and D200). I also bought three auto focus prime lenses (50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.4, and 14mm f/2.8 and four auto focus zoom lenses (14-35mm f/2.8G, 20-35mm f/2.8D, 28-70mm f/2.8D, and 80-200mm f/2.8D). I thought that when the auto focus motor eventually broke in the lenses, I could continue using the lenses in manual mode. However, when the auto focus motor broke in the first lens, the manual focus feature also broke. The broken lens is now totally useless.

I am now dissatisfied with my decision to buy auto focus lenses and wish I had purchased only lenses with no auto focus motors to break.

You probably already know this, but for those who have not mastered the Nikon alphabet soup, only the more recent AF lenses (marked something like AF-S, AF-P, or AF-I) have an AF motor in the lens and a "focus-by-wire" electronic focus ring. The earlier generation of lenses are driven by a focus motor in the body, and the lens focus ring is mechanically connected to the helical. This means you have to flip a switch on the body to switch from AF to MF, but it also means that there is no motor in the lens to break; the lens is usable without motor or electronic connection.

I'm not sure which of your lenses is which, because some exist in more than one version. Typically, the AF-S etc electronic-dependent lenses also lack an aperture ring and are pretty useless on an MF body (like an F3 or whatever), but there may be exceptions. The AF or AF-D lenses with an aperture ring are usable in MF mode and on MF bodies, they just don't have the buttery mechanical feel of a nice MF lens.

 

[ic-racer]

I got into the Nikon system about 7 years ago just because of the AF. Not regretting it one bit!

 

[Rob Skeoch]

Thanks guys, great tips.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

If you are using a camera such as the F3 or FM2, which focus style do you prefer and why.
AI-S full manual or manual focus with the early AF lens series like the "D" lineup when the lenses still have the aperture ring?

I'm asking because although I'm happy to focus manually now, as my eye site get's older I might want to switch to an AF camera like the F5 and use the AF less.

with fading eyesight at 67, I prefer AF and Nikon AF seems to be always right on the money! I could never beat it manually.