FE Lens Compatability

Hosta

A
Hosta

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
Water Orchids

A
Water Orchids

  • 0
  • 0
  • 8
Life Ring

A
Life Ring

  • 0
  • 0
  • 12
Fisherman's Rest

A
Fisherman's Rest

  • 5
  • 2
  • 50
R..jpg

A
R..jpg

  • 3
  • 0
  • 68

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
197,897
Messages
2,766,579
Members
99,499
Latest member
theSting
Recent bookmarks
0

ztriola

Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2010
Messages
8
Format
35mm
So I just bought an FE because the F2 would not support the lenses I have. I have what I believe are AI lenses (which should be able to meter without stopping down on the FE). My lens is a 105mm f/2.5. It has rabbit ears. I've tried everything, step by step, via the manual and I still cannot get this thing to meter without stopping down. On the body, there is a metal ring that spins around the lens mount (it has a metal tab that can be set to catch the edge of the rabbit ears). So I flip that tab down, assuming that it will catch the rabbit ears. It does for about halfway of the mounting and then once the lens is fully turned and mounted, the metal tab slips away and turns back to its original position.

This is really frustrating, I've tried multiple bodies and all I want to do is use this 105 without stopping down! If I can't figure out this problem soon I might just modify the ridge of the lens so that the rabbit ears tab extends 1mm more toward the body and thus would catch the metal tab. Please help. Thank you

EDIT: I figured out I have Pre-AI lenses, which I didn't know existed. So, which body do I buy that will have FULL metering compatibility WITHOUT having to stop down. I'm about ready to give up on Nikon's 35mm system, why is it so complicated?
 
Last edited by a moderator:

epatsellis

Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2006
Messages
926
Format
Multi Format
Which F2 do you have? the PreAI lenses were made for the F2, unless you have a F2A (DP11) or an AS (DP12), it should work just fine. If you have either of the AI series finders, you can change the finder to one compatible with the Pre AI lenses, (DP!, 2 or 3)
 

CGW

Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2010
Messages
2,896
Format
Medium Format
So I just bought an FE because the F2 would not support the lenses I have. I have what I believe are AI lenses (which should be able to meter without stopping down on the FE). My lens is a 105mm f/2.5. It has rabbit ears. I've tried everything, step by step, via the manual and I still cannot get this thing to meter without stopping down. On the body, there is a metal ring that spins around the lens mount (it has a metal tab that can be set to catch the edge of the rabbit ears). So I flip that tab down, assuming that it will catch the rabbit ears. It does for about halfway of the mounting and then once the lens is fully turned and mounted, the metal tab slips away and turns back to its original position.

This is really frustrating, I've tried multiple bodies and all I want to do is use this 105 without stopping down! If I can't figure out this problem soon I might just modify the ridge of the lens so that the rabbit ears tab extends 1mm more toward the body and thus would catch the metal tab. Please help. Thank you

EDIT: I figured out I have Pre-AI lenses, which I didn't know existed. So, which body do I buy that will have FULL metering compatibility WITHOUT having to stop down. I'm about ready to give up on Nikon's 35mm system, why is it so complicated?

It's been around since 1959. Millions of satisfied users. Try looking through the info at www.nikonlinks.com. It's not that tough to figure out but you do need to acquaint yourself with what's what.

Your pre-Ai 105 will work just fine in stop-down mode on your FE. Just make sure you flip-up the Ai tab when you mount it--forcing it will bust it. You can either have the lens Ai-converted or get an Ai version.
 

mgb74

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 24, 2005
Messages
4,769
Location
MN and MA US
Format
Multi Format

dehk

Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2010
Messages
881
Location
W Michigan
Format
Multi Format
Dumb Question, Fresh Batteries in the FE right?
 

BrianShaw

Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2005
Messages
16,433
Location
La-la-land
Format
Multi Format
... EDIT: I figured out I have Pre-AI lenses, which I didn't know existed. So, which body do I buy that will have FULL metering compatibility WITHOUT having to stop down. I'm about ready to give up on Nikon's 35mm system, why is it so complicated?

You're caught in the "generation gap"... a F2, which is pre-AI, and FE, which is AI. You don't need a new body, you need a lens that is compatable with your FE. In the future ensure that the Nikon lenses you buy are AI and then they will work on both bodies (or have your current lens "AI'd" as others have suggested).
 

Rol_Lei Nut

Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2006
Messages
1,108
Location
Hamburg
Format
Multi Format
Just a hint: if the rabbit ears are solid, the lens is pre-AI (though it may have since been adapted/converted to be AI compatible). Perforated rabbit ears mean an AI or later lens.
 

Chan Tran

Subscriber
Joined
May 10, 2006
Messages
6,700
Location
Sachse, TX
Format
35mm
You must be quite young Brian.
In the 80's very few people think the F3 isn't better than the FE although today most people who didn't know those cameras back then like the FE or especially FE2 better.
 

CGW

Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2010
Messages
2,896
Format
Medium Format
You must be quite young Brian.
In the 80's very few people think the F3 isn't better than the FE although today most people who didn't know those cameras back then like the FE or especially FE2 better.

The only people who thought the F3 was better were those who could afford it. If you're numerate, check the cost of a new F3HP in current $ compared to an FE or FE2.
 

epatsellis

Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2006
Messages
926
Format
Multi Format
The day that Nikon USA announced they would no longer support F2's was a sad day for me, within a few months I had to replace a fleet of nearly a dozen F2/MD1's that had proven themselves reliable with an unknown (from a quality standpoint) F3/MD4 combo. My suspicions and concerns were unwarranted, as I still own two from the first batch I bought in '85 and still use them frequently.
 

131802

Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2007
Messages
86
Format
35mm
Actually, the most amazing Nikon SLR for across-the-board lens compatibility is the F4.
 

BrianShaw

Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2005
Messages
16,433
Location
La-la-land
Format
Multi Format
You must be quite young Brian.
In the 80's very few people think the F3 isn't better than the FE although today most people who didn't know those cameras back then like the FE or especially FE2 better.

You missed my point. I must have been to subtle. I meant that neither a F3 or FE are easy to use with a non-AI lens. Both would have to be used via stopped-down metering.

BTW, I'm not young (but thanks for the kind thought) and bought my first F3 in 1982. I now use both a F3 and a FE. As a sysstem the F3 has always been better than FE, but as a light-tight box to hang a lens on... both take decent pictures if one is a decent photographer. :smile:
 

Chan Tran

Subscriber
Joined
May 10, 2006
Messages
6,700
Location
Sachse, TX
Format
35mm
The only people who thought the F3 was better were those who could afford it. If you're numerate, check the cost of a new F3HP in current $ compared to an FE or FE2.

actually there was a more significant difference in prices of the F3 and FE/FE2 in the 80's when all of them were available new.
 

John_Nikon_F

Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2008
Messages
1,963
Location
Duvall, WA,
Format
Multi Format
Getting back on topic (F3 vs FE2 one-upmanship notwithstanding), the OP needs to either get his lens AI'd to work on the FE, or pick up an AI'd or AI copy of said lens. Black barrel non-AI (er, pre-AI) 105/2.5's can use aperture rings from the factory AI lenses. The only thing that's an issue is that you lose f/32.

With respect to the rabbit ears, AI'd lenses can have the holey ones, since Nikon usually supplied the AI style rabbit ears with the conversion rings. Personally, I prefer the lenses to look somewhat stock, so I typically revert the rabbit ears to the non-AI style, even with the AI rings.

With respect to the F3/FE comparison, I used to be an F3 fanboy as well, but, the F2AS trumps'em both. :tongue: Especially with the MD-2/MB-1 drive combo.

-J
 

k5hj

Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2007
Messages
3
Format
35mm
So, referring back to the original post, the F2 WILL support the lenses you have!
 
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom