Nikon G lens on Nikon F5

[Andy3002]

Hi all
I have recently purchased an F5 and cannot wait to receive. However I would like to have a nice prime lens to go along with this camera, the lens in question is a Nikon 50mm 1.8 G. The one thing I am concerned about is whether or not it will auto-focus on the camera or not. I have read the F5 manual and it says I am able to use a G lens, but since the F5 is a screw drive auto-focus camera, I am unsure how the lens would focus and was unaware if the G lenses are screw drive lenses.
Thanks for the help.

 

[LiamG]

A G lens like the 50 1.8 G will autofocus and meter fine on an F5, you have nothing to worry about it that regard. The F5 does have a screw drive autofocus motor, indeed one of, if not the best- but it can operate lenses with internal motors just fine as well. The only consequential difference between a G lens and an AF-S lens from the F5's era is that the G lens lacks an aperture ring, which isn't something you'd miss with the F5 anyway, it works better controlling aperture through the dials. Some very recent Nikon lenses have switched to an electronic aperture, which will not work on the F5, so barring a few very recent exceptions, you should be fine with nearly any G lens.

 

[Lucid]

Hi Andy,

As Liam has pointed out you should be fine. I use an 35 1.4 G on my F5 and have always been pleased with it. I have a feeling D series lenses autofocus a fraction quicker but that may just be me. Ken Rockwell's site is a great resource for Nikon lens compatibility.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Behold!

https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm

Scroll down to the table, "Professional 35mm SLRs".

Even the F4 can use G lenses, albeit in either one of the program modes or shutter priority mode. I've used a 60/2.8 AF G Micro-Nikkor on mine - that lens focuses faster on my F4s than on my D700!

 

[Andy3002]

Thank you to everyone who responded, now I know that I can properly use any G lens (with a mechanical aperture) on my F5. I must say that this had me a bit concerned for a bit, thinking I would have to manual focus!

 

[Chan Tran]

I think the F5 only has problem with AF-P lens (I am not sure) for AF and it has problem with the E type lenses with electronic diaphragm. It can't set the aperture on these lenses. Can't really blame it as the F6 or Nikon D2 can't either.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

I use MF lenses on my F5 all the time. But it is satisfying to use the AF on the F5. No doesn't have a thousand focus points and they don't light up but it fast and accurate.