F4 and AI-modified lenses

chip j · Jan 20, 2015

These lenses won't give you Matrix metering w/the F4, whereas regular AI lenses will (according to a F4 brochure I just got). Why would this be so? Thanks for any info, Chip.

Xmas · Jan 20, 2015

AI lenses have a maximum aperture sender that AIed lenses lack. Only the EM and FG20 of the early cameras use this sender to my knowledge. You could alter an AIed lens to include the sender but I dont think any one does.

Ricardo Miranda · Jan 20, 2015

Confirmed.
The F4 needs the max aperture post to provide Matrix metering. The FA is the other camera that makes use of it for the Matrix meter.
As above, the EM and FG20 use the max aperture post for flash functions.

chip j · Jan 20, 2015

Thanks, boys. And I've got an Beautiful AI'd 105 2.5!

Ricardo Miranda · Jan 21, 2015

Nice! You can always use it on a F3, FM/FE series and have full compatibility. Or just live with centre-weight and spot metering on the F4, which is already a very good thing.

BTW, as a curiosity, the evolution of the Nikon mount in the last 30 years has been one of reducing the mechanical linkages between lens and body.
The rabbit ears went away definitely with the first AF series.
The AI aperture ring went away with the AF-G series.
Next it will be the diaphragm lever that already is missing in one lens and is not necessary in some of the newer bodies.
As ever for the last 35 odd years, it is the bottom models that get first the "new features".

Steve Smith · Jan 21, 2015

Ricardo Miranda said:
As ever for the last 35 odd years, it is the bottom models that get first the "new features".

Same with the bodies. The FG is considered to be quite low in the range yet it has a programme mode and TTL flash ability - both of which were quite advanced features at the time.

Steve.

Xmas · Jan 21, 2015

chip j said:
Thanks, boys. And I've got an Beautiful AI'd 105 2.5!

If you are attached to lens a good repair person may be willing to make up the max aperture knob most lenses have a pressed steel rear and easy to add 'lump' or upgrade to AI lens.

Edit

Oops looked at my 2.5 AI it would be difficult needs real engineering shop job, sell and buy if you need to enter the matrix...

Ricardo Miranda · Jan 21, 2015

Steve Smith said:
Same with the bodies. The FG is considered to be quite low in the range yet it has a programme mode and TTL flash ability - both of which were quite advanced features at the time.

Steve.

Yeap. I should clarify I was talking about the body when referring to models.
The lens I know which doesn't have the normal diaphragm coupling is actually 2 now: the AF-S 300 F/4E and the AF-S 800mm F/5.6E. Note the E after the aperture.

ronnies · Jan 21, 2015

Ricardo Miranda said:
Yeap. I should clarify I was talking about the body when referring to models.
The lens I know which doesn't have the normal diaphragm coupling is actually 2 now: the AF-S 300 F/4E and the AF-S 800mm F/5.6E. Note the E after the aperture.

And also the tilt shift 24, 45 and 85 'E' lenses.

Annoyingly my 28/3.5 which has been AI'd can't be used on the F4. It's in the incompatible lens list and I think it's due to it fouling the max aperture lever in the body.

Ronnie

chip j · Jan 21, 2015

Thank God I have a 28mm AI 3.5! (I also have a nice 55mm AI'd Micro).

mawz · Jan 27, 2015

To be clear, aside from Matrix metering, you don't lose any functionality on the FA or F4. You still get centre-weighted metering (and spot on the F4) and all modes supported by the body with non-CPU lenses (A & M on F4, PASM on FA).

Some non-AI lenses do foul the max aperture indexing lever in the body on the F4, FA EM and FG20.

There are 6 new E lenses with electronic-only coupling, the 800/5.6E, the 400/2.8E, the 300/4E, the 24, 45 and 85 PC-E's. Only the 24 & 45 PC-E's don't have an older version with real coupling. The PC-E's have been that way for 8 years now (they were introduced with the D3 and D300, the first bodies to support E coupling)

F4 and AI-modified lenses

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