Film Lenses?

[fpena]

Hello everyone I'm a complete newbie, today I purchased a "AF MICRO NIKKOR 55mm 1:2.8" for my D200 when I Google the lens it came up as a film lens. I can use the lens but not getting the results I'm looking for. Will digital lens work better than film? It sounds kind of obvious that they do but I want to make sure and can someone please let me know if this lens is capable of taking really nice closeups of flowers, bugs, ect. Here is an attached image of the first picture I took earlier today with the lens. Thank you all in advance.

[Richard Britt]

There are some discussions about this on the web. Try Googling "film vs digital lenses". My research has indicated that film lenses tend to angle the light slghtly where digital lenses are design to focus the light in a straight path at the sensor improving the amount of light getting to the diode below the surface of the sensor. Also the sensor is more reflective than film so better anti-glare coating on last back lens of the group are a plus. Apparently these issues have the biggest effect with wide angle lenses.

Your macro has a magnification ratio of 1:2.8 which if I remember correctly work out to a little over 1/2 lifesize so there will be some restriction, 1:1 equates to lifesize and 1:.8 or lower in the second number equates to larger than life and more money than Bill Gate would spend.

How big can it get. Well experiment. A tripod is almost a must in macro photograhy because the closer i.e. larger you get the shorter the depth of field and the more cridical the focus and don't move after focus!

The best way to find out what a lens will do is mount and shot. That is the best part of digital photograhy, developing is FREE.

[jdepould]

Did you input the lens info into the camera? It looks a bit underexposed. What about the lens are you not satisfied with?

[ELAY]

Hi fpena --

You have bought a nice old lens. Depending on what version it is, and whether updating has been done, there are various things it may or may not be able to do with your D200.

The fact that it is a film lens really won't impact performance much, per se. In fact because the sensor in your camera is smaller than a frame of film, more of the light forming the image goes through the centre of the lens (as opposed to the edges) which should make for a sharper image. More modern film lenses -- the 60mm micro AF for example -- work very nicely with DSLRs.

The issue isn't so much film vs. digital, as it is how new the lens is. If it is made before a certain point, and not updated, it may not meter well with your D200 which could explain any underexposure problems.

The 55 is reputed to be a good lens, though, so keep trying. You may have to really play around with settings etc. before you get it working the way you want.

EL

[fpena]

jdepould,

Excuse my ignorance but how do I input my lens info into the camera? I just thought I could get really close images of plants ect and for some reason I can't but I'm pretty new to photography period so I guess I need to experiment a little. Thanks.

[fpena]

ELAY,

I'm not sure if the lens has been updated or not. And I will do some testing before I blame it on the lens. I just wanted some feedback on it to know if my pictures didn't come out the way I expected them was it me or the lens.

[ELAY]

The other thing is that close-up macro shooting can be quite difficult, even if everything is working optimally. Your depth of field (the area that is in focus) can be very narrow, and it can be difficult to keep your camera steady enough to avoid blur.

EL

[fpena]

Thanks ELAY I will play around a little and let you guys know how I turn out. Hopefully I get some nice shots this weekend.

[jdepould]

jdepould,

Excuse my ignorance but how do I input my lens info into the camera? I just thought I could get really close images of plants ect and for some reason I can't but I'm pretty new to photography period so I guess I need to experiment a little. Thanks.

I was thinking it was a different lens, you don't need to input anything, disregard that.

Your problem may be in the way you're lighting the subject, you might want to look into a flash or two (or three).

[ryan s]

One of the only issues I encounter with film lenses is that the light metering (when using Aperture Priority mode) will either be good, way off, or will blink "4000" meaning it will only take a 1/4000 second shot. If this is the case, I'll use the number that's "close" and switch to Manual mode, adjusting the shutter time that way.

I always compose using the aperture ring on the lens first (shallow depth of field, etc) and adjust the shutter from there. Sometimes, the lens must be opened all the way to focus, then can be stopped down to take the picture. This happens in low-light situations with a high numerical f number.

I use film lenses exclusively...it just takes some work and thought. Give it a couple weeks, and you'll get used to it :D

[fpena]

Thank you all for your advice I will give it some time.