Aperture priority with Ai lens on unsupported Nikon bodies

George Mann · May 29, 2020

It just so happens that Nikon made a huge blunder in their specifications regarding nearly all of their cameras from the f601/801, to the D2/200, which they incorrectly state that aperture priority will function with Ai lenses.

This is simply not the case! But there must be a modification, most likely involving the mount, that will enable it.

Does anyone have any experience with this issue?

jimjm · May 30, 2020

That's not the case with my N90s and F100 bodies. They both work fine in aperture-priority mode with AI or AIS lenses. The only thing that you may lose is display of the chosen aperture in the VF display, but the camera knows what aperture has been set on the lens.
You can't set aperture with a command dial (if present) and you may have to change to center-weighted metering mode.

George Mann · May 30, 2020

So far, my F90x meters identically in low light with both my 28mm f3.5 Ai, as well as my af zoom.

Neither my D1's or my D200 would however.

I will daylight test the F90x with the 2 lenses tomorrow.

George Mann · May 30, 2020

jimjm said:
That's not the case with my N90s and F100 bodies. They both work fine in aperture-priority mode with AI or AIS lenses. The only thing that you may lose is display of the chosen aperture in the VF display, but the camera knows what aperture has been set on the lens.
You can't set aperture with a command dial (if present) and you may have to change to center-weighted metering mode.

Yes, no display of aperture.

reddesert · May 30, 2020

My D200 meters in A mode with an AI lens. It doesn't display the correct aperture number, unless I enter the lens focal length and maximum aperture under "Non-CPU lens data," because the body doesn't know the absolute aperture, only the number of stops between wide open and stopped-down. But it exposes correctly and the shutter speed changes as I turn the aperture ring. Film AF bodies that have an aperture sensing ring should all work with an AI lens in A mode as well. That's why Nikon put the sensing ring there. Some of the later lower end film AF bodies lack the sensing ring, such as the N65.

George Mann · May 30, 2020

reddesert said:
My D200 meters in A mode with an AI lens. It doesn't display the correct aperture number, unless I enter the lens focal length and maximum aperture under "Non-CPU lens data," because the body doesn't know the absolute aperture, only the number of stops between wide open and stopped-down. But it exposes correctly and the shutter speed changes as I turn the aperture ring. Film AF bodies that have an aperture sensing ring should all work with an AI lens in A mode as well. That's why Nikon put the sensing ring there. Some of the later lower end film AF bodies lack the sensing ring, such as the N65.

I have used several good electronic bodies that didn't correctly meter in aperture priority mode with Ai lenses, including the D1 Series, and the D200 that I used.

All of them had an aperture tab.

George Mann · May 30, 2020

My daylight test does show that my F90x is metering properly with my Ai lens.

ronnies · May 31, 2020

My D200 works perfectly with AI or AIS lensesin both Manual and Aperture priority. Just put the focal length and maximum aperture in and away you go. My D700 and D800 will even remember several different lenses for you and they both work fine. My F100 meters correctly but doesn't tell you the aperture. My F4 also works fine and you can see the aperture set in the periscope window.

So ALL my electronic bodies with an aperture tab both meter and expose correctly in A and M modes.

Ronnie

Aperture priority with Ai lens on unsupported Nikon bodies

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