Are Nikon AF-D lenses the most versatile lens system?
I’ve been doing some research on the Nikon AF-D lens system and compatibility and I think I’ve found something interesting.
AF-D lenses sit in this really unique sweet spot where they have a manual aperture ring but also have autofocus compatibility. This is something I haven’t seen on other systems from the same era.
With manual film SLR cameras like the Nikon F3 or FM, they meter perfectly and you can still stop down the aperture ring just like you normally would. But then you put the lens one something like a autofocus film SLR like the Nikon F5 or N80 and the lens still works great with good autofocus, working aperture, and great metering. Finally you can put it on a full frame DSLR like the Nikon D800 or D700 and it still works fantastic.
The sheer amount of options you have is amazing.
This means that a set of AF-D lenses- like a 50mm, 35mm, and a telephoto zoom- could be the only three lenses you need for all of your different body’s. One set of glass for three completely different eras of camera.
When I got into photography I wish that someone told me this when I first started. I have a canon EF system that works on both autofocus film SLR and DSLR cameras. After finding this I am thing about moving over to AF-D. I think that this is the perfect system if someone wants to do the whole gear minimalism thing.
My questions for people who use this system:
1: Has anyone built a full system with AF-D lenses to use across all these eras of camera?
2: What body’s are you using these lenses on and how does the same lens feel going from film to digital?
3: What are you using across all body’s? (Focal length, f stops, zooms?)
4: What are the limitations of this system and what problems have you had with it?
I want to know if this is a known thing that people are taking advantage of or if this is something that people just find out by accident.