How to use manual AI-S lenses on autofocus Nikon F5

Jeffrey A. Steinberg · Feb 16, 2007

I only have manual focus AI-S lens (yeah!) and a friend lent me his F5. I can mount the lens but can't get it to meter in manual.

I Looked at the manual at the MIR site and I can't figure out how to remove the F stop that is blank in the viewfinder.

I can get the focus indicator lit but the meter never shows up. All I see is the shutter speed. When turning the aperature on the lens, I don't see any bar-graph meter (-2 to 0 to 2) as the manual shows.

What am I doing wrong?

--Jeffrey

HerrBremerhaven · Feb 16, 2007

On the F5 an AIS or AI lens without chip should only meter in centre weighted metering mode. Often it is common to leave an F5 in Matrix mode, so you might want to switch that. Best I can recall, I think spot metering might work too, so something else you can try out. Hopefully this solves your problem.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat
Dead Link Removed

PhotoJim · Feb 16, 2007

Spot metering works. Centre-weighted works. Matrix will cause a flashing meter indicator and metering will be centre-weighted.

For exposure modes, use A (aperture priority) or M (manual).

Set the aperture on the lens ring, as normal. Set the shutter speed using the rear command dial by your right thumb.

nyoung · Feb 17, 2007

S for shutter priority works as well. You must set the lens aperture ring to the smallest possible - f22 or f32 - then shoot away. That's the reason by-the-way 22 and or 32 are printed in orange.

PhotoJim · Feb 17, 2007

nyoung said:
S for shutter priority works as well. You must set the lens aperture ring to the smallest possible - f22 or f32 - then shoot away. That's the reason by-the-way 22 and or 32 are printed in orange.

Are you sure? I certainly can't do that on my F100. Only CPU lenses work in P or S mode.

nyoung · Feb 18, 2007

Mea culpa - you're right. S doesn't work with the AIS lenses. Misremembering of the top of my old head with out checking. Sorry.

Daniel_OB · Feb 19, 2007

I never used F5 but have F6. On Nikon F6 when fit Ai-S you have to say to camera which lens is that. There is a menu (incorporated in camera) with listing of all Nikkor manual lenses and you choose. Any difference with F5 ????
www.Leica-R.com

Chan Tran · Feb 19, 2007

The F6 and newer+ higher end DSLR (D200,D2) would work with AI/AI-S lenses in matrix mode. You will need to enter the max and min aperture of the lens. On the F5 it will only work with CW and spot and the apeture readout is only available in the ADR. The LCD on the F5 can not display the aperture set on the lens.

How to use manual AI-S lenses on autofocus Nikon F5

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