Nikon F2AS and AF-D lenses

anta40 · Oct 30, 2017

I just bought a Nikon F2AS. My only Nikon lens is 50/1.8D.
The lens works great on my F4. Not really sure on F2AS, though.

Initially, the F2AS's indexing tab "couples" with the 50's tab

As the apperture is being changed, eventually the camera's indexing tab and the lens tab cannot meet.
The only solution I found so far is to put the indexing tab back into further right, and of course re-attach the lens.

I imagine the prism cannot detect the lens apperture this way, and thus metering cannot be done properly.
Maybe I should get a AI/AIS lens instead. Any thoughts?

chriscrawfordphoto · Oct 30, 2017

The F2AS needs repair. Its should track the lens's aperture ring all the way through the full range if it is functioning right. I'd return the camera and buy another; the repair will probably not be cheap.

anta40 · Oct 30, 2017

chriscrawfordphoto said:
The F2AS needs repair. Its should track the lens's aperture ring all the way through the full range if it is functioning right. I'd return the camera and buy another; the repair will probably not be cheap.

Hmm... I thought this is because the AF-D lenses don't have "rabbit ears" like those AI/AIS lenses?

ronnies · Oct 30, 2017

That's not the lens indexing tab in the second photo. I bet the metering tab on the head is still up against the real indexing tab.

Ronnie

jimjm · Oct 30, 2017

Your F2AS (and the F2A) will function with any AF lens that has an aperture ring, as well as all AI/AIS lenses. The rabbit ears which Nikon continued on all MF lenses only engages the metering pin on Pre-AI bodies like the F2 Photomic, F2S, F2SB, and others like the Nikon F and Nikkormats FT2 and earlier.

In your second photo, the bottom tab which you have circled in red is not the lens's metering tab. See this photo here where the tab begins between f16-f11: http://www.aiconversions.com/images/VGA242.8AIsTop.jpg
This is where the lens engages your camera's meter. On a Nikkor 50mm lens this notch will begin around f11.

anta40 · Oct 30, 2017

jimjm said:
Your F2AS (and the F2A) will function with any AF lens that has an aperture ring, as well as all AI/AIS lenses. The rabbit ears which Nikon continued on all MF lenses only engages the metering pin on Pre-AI bodies like the F2 Photomic, F2S, F2SB, and others like the Nikon F and Nikkormats FT2 and earlier.

Ah I see. So metering shouldn't be an issue, assuming the circuitry of the metering is still functional, yes?
Mine won't turn on. I'll try to put new batteries

E. von Hoegh · Oct 30, 2017

I'd bet you

ronnies said:
That's not the lens indexing tab in the second photo. I bet the metering tab on the head is still up against the real indexing tab.

Ronnie

I bet you're right, but I cannot see any aperture numbers save for "22" on the OP's lens.

ronnies · Oct 30, 2017

E. von Hoegh said:
I'd bet you

I bet you're right, but I cannot see any aperture numbers save for "22" on the OP's lens.

You're right. I thought there was something odd about it. Aperture numbers worn off probably.

Ronnie

BrianVS · Oct 30, 2017

The small tab shown on the lens is for the DS-12 Servo Unit, The longer ridge is for the meter coupling. Make sure the Ai tab is fully extended- you should see a red dot on it when it is in the ready to use position.

anta40 · Oct 31, 2017

ronnies said:
Aperture numbers worn off probably.
Ronnie

Yes indeed.

BrianVS · Oct 31, 2017

Some repairshops make a little strip of printed aperture numbers for the ADR mechanism (Aperture Direct Readout), ie what the Kodak Retina-IV Reflex did 10+ years before Nikon.

Someone must have cleaned the lens with a solvent.

anta40 · Oct 31, 2017

Another question. Since the prism cannot "couple" with the lens, I guess I have to use stop-down metering?

E. von Hoegh · Oct 31, 2017

anta40 said:
Yes indeed.

They look painted over, or perhaps taped. I can see "Nikkor 50mm" as sort of a raised shadow above the aperture ring.

E. von Hoegh · Oct 31, 2017

anta40 said:
Another question. Since the prism cannot "couple" with the lens, I guess I have to use stop-down metering?

As has been pointed out above, the prism couples with the lens. Put the lens on the camera, move from maximum to minimum aperture while watching the coupling tab on the prism.

anta40 · Oct 31, 2017

E. von Hoegh said:
As has been pointed out above, the prism couples with the lens. Put the lens on the camera, move from maximum to minimum aperture while watching the coupling tab on the prism.

Hmm... OK I repeat the process again.

First, the indexing tab is fully retracted (on the very right of the prism)

Then put the lens (previously set at it's widest apperture: f/1.8)

The lens at f/22

Me gradually reducing the lens apperture to its minimum. And reset to maximum again. Repeat.

Yes, they couples till f/22. And once I reset the lens back to f/1.8, the indexing tab looses the track. Hmm or maybe I misunderstand something here?

E. von Hoegh · Oct 31, 2017

anta40 said:
Hmm... OK I repeat the process again.

First, the indexing tab is fully retracted (on the very right of the prism)

Then put the lens (previously set at it's widest apperture: f/1.8)

The lens at f/22

Me gradually reducing the lens apperture to its minimum. And reset to maximum again. Repeat.

Yes, they couples till f/22. And once I reset the lens back to f/1.8, the indexing tab looses the track. Hmm or maybe I misunderstand something here?

What I see on the video is, when you close the lens to f:22 and return it to f:1.8 the aperture tab on the finder/prism stays at the f:22 position, is that correct? If so, your finder/prism needs servicing.

anta40 · Oct 31, 2017

E. von Hoegh said:
What I see on the video is, when you close the lens to f:22 and return it to f:1.8 the aperture tab on the finder/prism stays at the f:22 position, is that correct?

Yes you are correct.

BrianVS · Nov 1, 2017

The F-Stop follower is jamming up, I had this happen on a DP-11. It either needs to be lubed, or the mechanism is bent. The latter is what happened to my DP-11, it was ever-so-slightly bent and the spring would not bring it back into position.

anta40 · Nov 1, 2017

Hmm I see. I'll get it serviced, then. In the meantime, seems there's no problem with stop-down metering.
Just a bit uncomfortable, though.

E. von Hoegh · Nov 1, 2017

BrianVS said:
The F-Stop follower is jamming up, I had this happen on a DP-11. It either needs to be lubed, or the mechanism is bent. The latter is what happened to my DP-11, it was ever-so-slightly bent and the spring would not bring it back into position.

It could have something to do with that dent in the finder front plate, just below the "k" in Nikon.

BrianVS · Nov 1, 2017

Good Catch! On my DP-11, picked up used and cheap, I ended up widening the channel that the follower moves in. It had been dented, in about that stop.

E. von Hoegh · Nov 1, 2017

That front cover on the op's finder is brass, I have a DP II original to a late 79 F2 with a plastic cover. Do you know, were they all plastic on the DP ll?

BrianVS · Nov 1, 2017

The front on my DP-11 is plastic. Odd- it seems to be the only one, just looked at my early DP-1, it is metal. The DP-2, DP-3, and DP-12 are all metal.

BMbikerider · Jan 4, 2018

anta40 said:
Hmm... I thought this is because the AF-D lenses don't have "rabbit ears" like those AI/AIS lenses?

The F2AS does not need a lens with 'rabbit ears'. Together with the F2a they were designed to use AI lenses and when AIS lenses came along they could be used as well.

Chan Tran · Jan 4, 2018

Yup! You have a sticky AI coupling on your DP-12 finder. You may be able to work it loose by excercising it.

Nikon F2AS and AF-D lenses

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