Nikon F3 and AF-D Lenses: Compatible?

[JWMster]

I've an F4 with the AF-D lenses. Thinking of picking up a F3 for fun. I've assumed the AF-D lenses would work - in manual, but that might not be the case. Anyone know for sure?

 

[Paul Howell]

According to Ken Rockwell the F3 will indeed with D screw driven lens as D lens have apertures rings.

 

[JWMster]

Paul: Yeah.... I guess there's no reason to doubt the Ken-ster. "What me worry?" Worst case... I have to sell and rebuy.

 

[AnselMortensen]

Yes, they'll work.
The focus ring on AF-D lenses can be really narrow, and very 'loose' feeling when used on MF cameras, not at all like the dampened MF versions.
Just avoid G-series lenses, they have no aperture ring and the aperture is menu-controlled.

 

[Milpool]

I've an F4 with the AF-D lenses. Thinking of picking up a F3 for fun. I've assumed the AF-D lenses would work - in manual, but that might not be the case. Anyone know for sure?

Yup they work perfectly. All the lenses I’ve always used on my F3 are AF-D. The only ones I need my F4 for are my two PC-E lenses.

 

[ic-racer]

AF-D even work fine (wide open metering) on F2 with the A and AS prisms.

I have F2A and F2AS in front of me now. One has the AI-S 28/2 and the other AF-D 28/2.8. The focus throw on each is nearly identical. The 'drag' on the focus ring is also very similar.

So I agree, as mentioned above, AF-D can work great on manual focus bodies.

Also, I believe all AF-D are also AI-S so they work great on auto cameras like 'poor-persons F3' N2000 (F301) that prefer the AI-S to AI.

 

[Paul Howell]

A guy here in Phoenix had a few D lens which added the rabbit ears to shoot with his Fs. I have 2 fs but do have metered heads so a D would fine for me. The Ds will have modern (60 years newer is modern) coating, and the zooms will be so much better than zooms from the 60 and 70s.

 

[ic-racer]

Yes, like Paul indicates, some AF-D have little dimples to mark where to drill for the rabbit ear screw holes for the F and F2 Photomic (though without the ears STOP DOWN metering works great too). Also, unlike many other STOP DOWN camers, the meter needle does not dim on the Photomic when stopping down!

I found it difficult to know that works with what just by reading the literature. For example where would it be documented if a 24/1.4 AF-S lens works on a N2000 (F301)?? Neither the lens or camera body manual mentions the other.

But...indeed they DO work together in Program mode just fine!

 

[reddesert]

Read the Ken Rockwell lens compatibility page when you have questions. https://kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm
That is pretty comprehensive. The only place it gets a little obscure is for occasional items that the page doesn't mention. For example, it doesn't mention the N2000, only the N2020. But the N2000 is like an N2020 minus an AF motor. So since the N2020 works with an AF-S G lens as "no AF, P only," one should expect an N2000 also to work that way.

It is possible to understand most (not all) of these issues by thinking about the mechanical connections. For example to the OP's question, the F3 senses the aperture from the rear tab on the aperture ring. So it will work with an AF lens that has an aperture ring with a rear tab. The important part isn't "AF-D", it's the ring and tab. There are even some AF-S lenses that have the aperture ring. But if it says "G," which means no aperture ring, then it won't meter correctly and you won't be able to control the aperture.

 

[ic-racer]

The chart at KR's site is nice but incomplete and is misleadeing. For example, the N2000 is not listed and also, for example, the N90S is Not compatible with AF-S in the modes listed (P,M,A,S). It only works correctly in S and P. Since there is no other way to manipulate the aperture than to have the camera figure it out on its own in S or P on almost all AF-S lenses.

The N2020 is shown to work in M, P and A with AF-S, however the N2000 only works in P and Phi with AF-S.

 

[reddesert]

The chart at KR's site is nice but incomplete and is misleadeing. For example, the N2000 is not listed and also, for example, the N90S is Not compatible with AF-S in the modes listed (P,M,A,S). It only works correctly in S and P. Since there is no other way to manipulate the aperture than to have the camera figure it out on its own in S or P on almost all AF-S lenses.

The N2020 is shown to work in M, P and A with AF-S, however the N2000 only works in P and Phi with AF-S.

One sometimes has to read more than one column on KR's chart. For example, most AF-S lenses are also G lenses (no aperture ring). But not all! If you have one of the (expensive tele or zoom) AF-S lenses with an aperture ring (not G), then you should be able to use it with an N90s in P,A,S,M mode, just like any other AF lens with an aperture ring. If the lens has no aperture ring, it will say "G" on it and you have to read the G column as well, to see the more restrictive set - works only in P and S with an N90s.

This is why I said that it isn't enough to just read the letters, one has to go by what mechanical feature the letters indicate. The difference between AF and AF-S is whether the focus motor is in the body, or the lens. The difference between regular and G is whether there is an aperture ring or not. So AF vs AF-S mostly affects what bodies focus with what lenses; while G vs not-G mostly affects what exposure modes will work, if any. It is a maze, but the maze is the price of maintaining mount semi-compatibility across 50 years.