Quality of Nikon AF lenses

[Nettles23]

Wondering if the quality of Nikon AF lenses in the clarity and quality is better the same or worse than the newer Nikon cropped camera lenses? I mainly talking image quality, don't know the feature differences. Considering changing to a Digital SLR.

Nettles23

[patriotic]

I would say the image quality of the lens would be better with the AF lens. I say this because AF lenses are 35mm film camera lenses I believe. The cropped DSLR cameras have sensors smaller than the 35mm film format. Lens elements are curved and image quality falls off as you approach the edges. DX lenses are made to cover the smaller DSLR format while AF lenses are made to cover the larger 35mm format. With that being said the edge quality using an AF lens on a DSLR (cropped) camera would be better. See if this link helps you out.

http://www.nikonians.org/nikon/slr-lens.html

[Nettles23]

Hello patriotic,
Thank you for your response and opinion. I will check out the link. Appreciate the help. Take care.

Nettles23

[TonyW]

Let me restate what patriotic said in a different way: the image quality of all lenses is best in the center, and falls off at the edges. If you are using a full-frame 35 lens, you will have some loss at the edges, more noticeable when the lens is wide -open. A lens is the sharpest closed down 2 or 3 stops from its widest aperture. Now if you use that same lens with a digital camera that uses a smaller than fullframe sensor, you will only be using the center of the lens -- thus the results will be sharper than when using a lens just meant for the smaller frame which must use the full lens area. That said, a lens meant for full frame 35 when using a full frame image should closely match the image using a DX lens on a digital using the small digital sensor - given the same lens design, etc.

However, there is a wide difference in lenses as far as elements, use of specialty glass, aspheric elements (glass is better than plastic and hand-ground is better than molded), etc. Lens quality bears a very good relationship to lens price. The larger lenses meant for 35mm are more expensive than the smaller ones meant for DX digital. The diameter of the lenses used for 35mm, given the same aperture, etc., is much larger and thus more expensive than those for DX. The small-sensor digitals have a cheaper line of lenses made for them - and meant for amateur use.

The other big qualification is that the sensor used in digital cameras varies greatly and this can make more difference than the lens. More pixels are not always better - they can interfere with each other, and some suffer greatly when using higher ISO values.

The pro digital cameras use full-sized sensors and thus use regular 35mm lenses only.

The downside is the hefty price of the camera and much heavier lenses that are also much more expensive.

In summary, a full frame 35mm lens will give better results on a DX digital camera since only the center of the lens is used. But if you cropped a 35mm image to be the same size as the DX sensor, the resolution should be the same. All of the above concerns lines per mm resolution and does not address film versus digital capture.

[Nettles23]

Hello TonyW,
Thank you, you've really explained it clearly and understandably. If you have access to the AF lenses, would a Nikon D80 in your opinion be a good choice for a quality DSLR, that would give better than amateur quality and good controls. Welcome your opinion.

Nettles23

[TonyW]

The D80 was a good camera and is similar to mine, also discontinued, which is a D200. The newer D90 has a larger screen, higher resolution, and auto dust removal from the sensor (sensors have a magnetic charge which attracts dust). The D5000 is one step down from the 90, with a smaller screen than the 90, but larger than the 80, and again has the higher resolution but not as advanced an electronic program. I suspect you would be hard pressed to tell the difference in pictures taken with any of these. The electronic programs in the newer cameras are going to be faster, maybe better exposure estimating in auto modes, and much better at higher ISO speeds. The 300s is the best of the DX models; then you jump to the full-frame ones like the D700.

But it really isn't the camera which makes a good picture but the photographer. I was at a workshop once and the lady with a $200 camera with a fixed lens outshot all the others with their thousands of dollars of equipment!

[Nettles23]

Hello again,
Thank you for the informed review! I also believe your right about it not being the camera. You've been a great source of information. Keep shooting.

Nettles23

[t-bird]

Great info guys, thanks..

[RayC]

I have found some good info on Nikon equipment at the following site.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/

Check it out and see if it is of any help.
I have only non digital camera's. Sorry I can't be of any more help.

RayC

[Nettles23]

Hello RayC,
Learning more than I had expected. I appreciate your time and the site. Will due my research. Used to film cameras myself, expect for my little Point and Shoot Canon.

[John]

When reading Ken Rockwell's site, always be on the look-out. Ken has the ability to say two contradicting things in two different pages. You need to spend a lot of time in his pages, figuring out what he means, eventually.

In general, and while you have received some excellent answers so far, it is nearly impossible to answer your question in a definite manner. I would say that if you use a full-frame lens on a DX camera (Nikon terminology for their DSLRs with half-censors) you would be amazed by the quality of the pictures. Why? Simply because in such a combination, only the center part of the lens projected image is recorded by the censor, which means you are getting the best part of the image that lens can produce. However, note also that a 50mm film lens will act as a 75mm lens on the DX cameras. This can be a bonus (for example, your old, manual focus or AF 300mm lens will be a 450mm lens on a DX camera) but it can also be a curse, since your excellent 16mm full-frame fisheye, will become a not-so-astonishing 24mm very distorted lens.

It was this madness (that was created by introducing smaller than 24x35mm censors) that made me sell all my DX cameras and focus on full-frames. I dumped the D2x and the D80 I had and replaced them with a D700. In that way, I can use all my Nikkor lenses on their nominal focal length, pon both film and digital cameras. In the past, I had to carry two separate lens kits (one for film, one for digital) and my back shows the symptoms of the overload. Now, I just carry three lenses (18-35mm, 24-85mm and 70-300mm) and two bodies, the D700 and an F5 or F2A for film.

[Nettles23]

It was this madness (that was created by introducing smaller than 24x35mm censors) that made me sell all my DX cameras and focus on full-frames. I dumped the D2x and the D80 I had and replaced them with a D700. In that way, I can use all my Nikkor lenses on their nominal focal length, pon both film and digital cameras. In the past, I had to carry two separate lens kits (one for film, one for digital) and my back shows the symptoms of the overload. Now, I just carry three lenses (18-35mm, 24-85mm and 70-300mm) and two bodies, the D700 and an F5 or F2A for film.

That would be the best route and result possible. But unfortunately out of my price range. Thanks for the info on that site. You can still get D80's refurbished and 2 year extended warranty.

Nettles23

[patriotic]

Another good site for information is:

http://www.dpreview.com/

[John]

I am not advocating that everyone should follow my route.

You see, my problem is that I still shoot film and digital. Apart from the above mentioned Nikon AF zooms, I also have a whole battery of older Nikkor primes (16mm, 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 105mm) which I wanted to use on the digital camera as well. That 105mm portrait lens is the best portrait lens I've ever seen. And the 16mm is a treat for the wide-angle lovers. So for me, it made sense to consolidate my lenses collection. That may not be true for everyone else though.

If you read Ken Rockwell, you will see him advocating the D40 as the best DX camera. Why? Ken has some specific requirements and justifications for his writings. I do respect Ken's opinions, but I do not agree with all he writes. I wouldn't like the D40, since it has only one control ring at the rear, the D80 has two, so you can control both shutter speed and aperture easily. The D80 is a lovely camera, I had one for two years and I didn't really want to let it go, but I had to, if I wanted the D700 and the lenses I wanted. You won't be sorry for getting one.

Oh, yes, even though I would never get a D40 for myself, I got a refurbished one for my eldest son, he is not a very passionate photographer, so for him the disadvantages of a basic DSLR are not important.

[Nettles23]

Thanks patriotic. My best bet is to win the lottery and get the D700, disallowing that eventuality I pretty much going to have to go the Refurbished D80 path. Good info here!

Nettles23

[Nettles23]

I understand your point of view and explanation. I tend to agree. Your information and viewpoint is helpful.

Nettles23

[AnthonyRSS]

Another good place for photography stuff is nikoncafe.com . The admin is a local (to me) guy and there are a lot of good people there.

[Nettles23]

Thanks AnthonyRSS,
I will give that place a try. The nikon forum I was on was only free for like 30 days before they want you to ante up. Take care.

Nettles23

[cacoltguy]

Give photo.net a visit. It's the largest online photo community as far as I know and has been up and running since the mid nineties. I've yet to have a photo-related question that I couldn't research the answer to there.

On a side note, I shoot a Nikon D300 and I am able to use all of my older manual focus Nikon film lenses (including that 105mm f/2.5!) Just because you have a DX format camera doesn't mean you have to use DX format lenses. Like you, I am waiting till full-frame digital comes down in price and in the meantime I shoot my DX format digital body with 35mm format lenses for the most part.

[Nettles23]

Hello cacoltguy,
Thanks for the forum and response. I didn't think other than some newer camera specific functions, that the lenses were better quality. The Nikon D300 handles AF lenses as well or only manual focus?

Nettles23

[John]

The D300 will handle AF lenses fine.

[Nettles23]

I just looked up the price. Way out of the ballpark. Thanks for the info.

Nettles23

[cacoltguy]

Nettles, all Digital SLR cameras are designed to use Auto-Focus lenses. It is actually rare that a DSLR that can use older manual focus lenses without some clunky adapter. I happen to have some older Nikon Manual Focus lenses so the D300 makes sense for me, as opposed to buying newer auto focus lenses. Nikon has used the same lens mount on their cameras for 40 years or more and, with very few exceptions, any lens from that time can still be mounted on any camera. Canon, for example, changed mounts in the late 80's and older lenses are not interchangeable without a clunky adapter (which has lots of issues from the reviews I have heard of.)

[cacoltguy]

Nettles, after rereading your original post it seems there may be some confusion of terms. The term AF (auto-focus) is the ability of the camera to focus on its own and is totally unrelated to the format size of a camera's senor. AF is found in 35mm film cameras as well as digital cameras of all sensor sizes and has been in use by most manufacturers since the late 80's/ early 90's. Since the advent of the digital SLR camera, you now have sensors that are cropped from a standard 35 mm film frame area. This is labeled "DX" format in Nikonian terms. There are also digital sensors that resemble the size of an uncropped 35mm film frame area. This is "FX" format in Nikonian terms. Consequently a lens designed for a full frame camera will be cropped when mounted on a camera with a DX sensor. A lens designed for a DX format camera cannot be used on a full frame "FX" camera however. Auto-focus is found in nearly every modern lens made by every manufacturer and has no impact on the inherent sharpness or clarity of the lens but rather the cameras ability to focus in difficult lighting situations or action shots.

[Nettles23]

Howdy again cacoltguy,
Thanks for the in depth explanation. It seems to fit with what I've learned. The lenses I have are "AF" Nikon series lenses. The last DSLR that is supposed to use them to the fullest capability, including Auto Focus is the D80. I didn't think the newer lenses would provide better quality images, and the forum members help, agrees. So that looks like the way to go. Luckily I'm in the US so if I get a refurbished one, I won't have the troubles that have been mentioned with the various warranties. Thanks again.

Nettles23

[John]

I am not sure what you mean by "the latest DSLR to use them to the fullest capability is the D80". The AF lenses can be used with any camera which has the focusing cam on the lens mount. D90 has it, even my D700 has it. The only ones you can't use them on are the D40/D60 series, which rely on the lens having a motor inside it for focusing. No focusing motor in the body and no focusing cam on the lens mount.

[Nettles23]

According to a chart on Nikonian, the AF lenses I have will work and be fully compatible except they will not send distance information to a Nikon Speedlight, which can use it's own. Of course the rated focal length of the lenses will change due to the smaller sensor. But I'll be able to use it pretty much normally, until I can get some lenses that I don't have, but desire. If I've gotten this right the D80 uses the lenses internal drive for autofocus while latter models use the Camera's drive. Or vice versa.

Nettles23


I am not sure what you mean by "the latest DSLR to use them to the fullest capability is the D80". The AF lenses can be used with any camera which has the focusing cam on the lens mount. D90 has it, even my D700 has it. The only ones you can't use them on are the D40/D60 series, which rely on the lens having a motor inside it for focusing. No focusing motor in the body and no focusing cam on the lens mount.

[John]

AF lenses do not have an internal focusing motor. Only the AF-S lenses have that. If I am not mistaken, that is. Nikon is becoming a very complex system lately.

[Nettles23]

I believe you're correct, I can see a drive sprocket/tab on the camera body.

Nettles23

[NARCS_TRP]

I have found some good info on Nikon equipment at the following site.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/



+1 on Ken Rockwell