Nikon Zoom lenses w/8008s

[rtuttle]

This might seem simple to someone with a great deal of experience with zoom lenses. My son purchases a 8008s and I let him use one of my zoom lenses (35-80 I think). As everyone knows the focal length changes so the number on the aperature ring doesn't match the f/stop listed on the lcd display on most focal lengths. In this case it matches up on 35mm I think. This all makes sense. I however mostly used a fm2 which didn't display anything. My question is if your metering off camera which number is the correct number? do you just adjust the ring and let the lcd read what it wants or do you adjust the ring to make the lcd match the off camera meter? Anybody have any experience with this?? I do mostly large format and medium format so I have never had to play with this. It would seem to me that you should match the lcd to make the adjustment for the focal length. But when I shot with my manual camera I was never aware that the cange was that much (1 whole stop on 80mm F/22). I was however more into fixed focal lengths but I think I would have seen something. I would appreciate greatly onebody experiences.

 

[Nancy]

As I recall with my 8008s (which my son now has), when shooting in manual I would set the aperture on the lens, then use the dial on the camera settings to set the shutter speed. Both the aperture and shutter speed should show up inside the viewfinder and on the lcd on the top of the camera. I didn't think that changing the focal length would change either of the settings.

I'm not quite sure if this is what your looking for. The 8008s is a great camera though.

 

[nolanr66]

Zooms typically fall into two styles. The constant aperture type and the variable aperture type. Your concern is the variable aperture type. You do not list everything about your lens but let's say it is a 35-80mm f4.5-f5.6 zoom lens. When zoomed to the wide 35mm the lens aperture is at f4.5 (aperture ring set at f4.5)and your LCD will say this but if you zoom out to 80mm you now have an aperture of f5.6 (aperture ring still at f4.5) and the LCD will still say f4.5. There is a difference in how much light is being allowed in but you camera will adjust for it unless you are in manual mode. Then you will wind up making an adjustment in aperture or shutter speed. The difference is about 2/3rd's of a stop. The constant aperture zoom is just that. The f-stop is set and remains that regardless of where your zoom is positioned. A lens is made in this manner because it's lighter, and has lower cost. Kit zoom lenses are always of this type on new camera's. The N8008s in good condition is a very nice camera.

 

[rtuttle]

Yes, this indeed does seem to be the issue. So if your calculating exposures with a hand held meter I guess it's safe to assume that you should use the lcd readout because it has allready read a light falloff. I'll have him make two shots and proof them just to make sure but this sounds right to me. This is what I was thinking but wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something.

 

[Glenn Mathison]

When zoomed to the wide 35mm the lens aperture is at f4.5 (aperture ring set at f4.5)and your LCD will say this but if you zoom out to 80mm you now have an aperture of f5.6 (aperture ring still at f4.5) and the LCD will still say f4.5.

Umm, maybe, maybe not. I have just tried this on my F801 (Australian name for 8008) with my Nikkor 35-80 AF F4-5.6 D series lens.

Leaving the aperture ring set to F4, then just zooming the focal length from 35mm out to 80mm, there were a total of seven different apertures shown on the LCD. In order, naturally, 4, 4.2, 4.5, 4.8, 5, 5.3 and 5.6. So, for this particular lens at least, and I'd suspect all D or G series lenses, the CPU and mechanics in the lenses are smart enough to correctly show an approximately correct aperture at any given focal length. This means your hand held meter setting can simply be transferred to the camera, whatever the focal length as the correct aperture should be shown on the camera LCD.

Older manual focus (no cpu) lenses, are, of course, a different story altogether...

hth.

Regards
Glenn.

 

[Glenn Mathison]

maybe this is a simpler answer???

adjust the ring to make the lcd match the off camera meter?

This is the answer, at least for a lens with a CPU in it. (D or G series)



Glenn

 

[mawz]

Actually, that should work with all AF lenses, as they all have CPU's, not just D or G lenses.

It won't work with MF lenses as no MF variable-aperture zooms are equipped with CPU's.

Variable aperture zooms make TTL metering a must, apart from the very ends of the range. This is particularly noticable with flash metering.

 

[nolanr66]

I guess I am wrong. I was thinking in terms of a manual focus zoom lens.

 

[Glenn Mathison]

No probz.

I'm actually reverting. Ditching my AF bodies and zooms with CPU's to go back to manual focus primes on manual focus bodies. Enjoying my photography more as a result.

Just haven't got around to parting with the F801 yet...

Regards
Glenn

 

[nolanr66]

I am just trying to get used to the N8008s with manual focus lenses. I just acquired it recently. I have never used an auto focus lens and want to give it a try. I might pick up something soon but I am not sure..I don't want to start a buying spree..I think the most fun for me is with my Mamiya 645 shooting landscapes and such. I enjoy being outside with the camera and having some time for fun.