nikon 43-86 f3.5 ai lens
 

could anyone tell me if id be able to use this lens a 43-85 ai lens dated around the early 80s on my d300s or d90 , I know id loose auto focus but will the metering work ? or will it be fully manual ? many thanks for any insight .

First, Derek, why not post this in the Nikon Equipment section of the forum, rather than the NPhoto Magazine section? It's not about the magazine after all.

Second, AI lenses will fit and meter on your D300s. You need to enter the lens data for Matrix metering to work. You're limited to A and M modes. See page 342 of your manual. The lens will work on the D90 (manual page 230) but there will be no metering and you're limited to M mode. use the histogram, sunny 16, or whatever to determine exposure. You won't 'lose' autofocus - the lens never had it.

Third, though, is just because you can doesn't mean it's worth doing. The 43-86 has a reputation as one of Nikon's worst ever lenses, although the version that became the AI wasn't as bad as the earlier ones.

Chris

[QUOTE=greenwing;77905]First, Derek, why not post this in the Nikon Equipment section of the forum, rather than the NPhoto Magazine section? It's not about the magazine after all.

Second, AI lenses will fit and meter on your D300s. You need to enter the lens data for Matrix metering to work. You're limited to A and M modes. See page 342 of your manual. The lens will work on the D90 (manual page 230) but there will be no metering and you're limited to M mode. use the histogram, sunny 16, or whatever to determine exposure. You won't 'lose' autofocus - the lens never had it.

Third, though, is just because you can doesn't mean it's worth doing. The 43-86 has a reputation as one of Nikon's worst ever lenses, although the version that became the AI wasn't as bad as the earlier ones.

Chris[/QUOTE]

cheers for the reply chris i did some reading last night and read on a few places that they have a bad rep both the earlier and later models so im not going to bother .