Nikon D5100 and 50mm f1.8 AF

[Ninj]

Hi guys,

Apologies for my first post being a question but here goes

Having a bit of a play with a 50mm Nikkor AF-D lens on my D5100 and although I always knew it would be MF only on my body, I'm struggling a bit with overexposure.

Unless the lens is set to f22, you get the error code. Obviously, it's possible to "wedge" the lens open, currently f1.8 but that means I need to be in AP and select f1.8 for the exposure to be correct and I'm obviously greatly limited then to using f1.8 only.

Am I right in thinking that as I have artificially set the lens wide open, the camera is struggling to meter corectly when it's set to a differend f stop?
Is there another work around? Love the lens and more than happy with AF but I would like to retain a bit more "functionality" in the camera.


Probably a long way around asking a very simple question

Thanks in advance

[OsmosisStudios]

You should have the lens set to f/22 and then adjust the aperture on the body. It shouldnt be overexposing.

[Ninj]

How do you adjust the aperture on a non 'G' lens?

[ccting]

Originally Posted by Ninj

How do you adjust the aperture on a non 'G' lens?

Using the aperture ring? D series using body i believe.

If you are using AFD 50mm f/1.8, if you are using manual mode, hold the +- button, and turn the wheel to address the aperture.

I wander why you buy this cheap AFD len. Manual focus is less suitable for noob like us.. You should get D90 or D7000 for AFD len.The new AFS len is just less than USD 100 more expensive and save u a lot of trouble.

To get the exposure correct, I believe you could look at & adjust the shutter speed /aperture based on the exposure indicator. AFD does not autofocus but it talks with the body. I believe it works only with matrix..

Lets say if the len is not CPU len, then you need to guess the EV of surrounding based on the Exposure table, then you calculate the shutter speed based on the set aperture. You can get the formulas from wikipedia. Never use experience as we are non-experience camera players.

The easiest way to solve problem, i believe is using iTTL flash. It will solve your exposure on your subject. Then adjust the ISO to get intended brightness of your background. Then you can . Then you could focus on your focus.

One last thing is, photography is about composition and lighting. If you concentrate on focus, i think it will be extremely hard for you as we are not photographers or experst. I suggest that you trade-in for AFS len

[graciousness]

Originally Posted by ccting

Using the aperture ring? D series using body i believe.


One last thing is, photography is about composition and lighting. If you concentrate on focus, i think it will be extremely hard for you as we are not photographers or experst. I suggest that you trade-in for AFS len

Ok. That's it. That is just the most idiotic thing I have ever read.

Without sharpness, your photo is NOTHING. Sure compose it properly and expose, but if it's not focused, the shot is completely lost.

And if you think that manual focusing is only for beginners, think again.

[ccting]

Originally Posted by graciousness

Ok. That's it. That is just the most idiotic thing I have ever read.

Without sharpness, your photo is NOTHING. Sure compose it properly and expose, but if it's not focused, the shot is completely lost.

And if you think that manual focusing is only for beginners, think again.

Hmm, ,what i mean is
a) Focus and sharpness is very important, but lets the camera and lenses do the job automatically, not for us to worry how to focus manually.

b) We should focus on composition and lighting that the camera and lenses cannot do for us.

"Without sharpness, your photo is NOTHING" - This contradictory to KenRockWell's statement "Photographers worry less about sharpness".

graciousness, are you using autofocus or manual focus? Why? Which do you think a noob like me should concentrate ? Technical manual focusing? or composition and lighting? Gracious, I know you learn photography long time ago when there were no autofocus len, and you do a lot of manual focusing. But now, the era is different and the technology is advancing. Most of the latest lenses come with autofocus that makes photography easier and we can concentrate on output rather than the process (think of IPO). Even your clients do not care how you take the photo, they just want the best output. If we could get the better output using simpler but yet less distractive approach, why not? The technology is available for him and he just should get it. The saving of less than USD100 will not worth the extra time spent on him to learn photography.


And, if I am focusing on how to focus manually (technicall)y, do you think I am able to focus on composition and lighting? You just need to think on my side (as a noob) and not you yourself (as a professional photographer). Professional photographers can manual focus because they know composition and lighting extremely well. Unlike beginners, we almost know nothing about composition and lighting. So, there is no reason for beginners to manual focus that distract attention to photography learning, particulary composition and lighitng. Why do we need to expert in manual focus if we can't expert in composition and lighting? Please go to Kenrockwell's website, he recommends entry level nikon body (wothout motor) to have AFS rather than AFD lenses. I believe my D5100 CPU is more capable than my noob's eyes (via small digital LCD) to determine the best focus.

For my opinion, I revise your statement : "learning composition and lighitng are more important than learning manual focus". Taking photos is timely process. Spending time on focusing manually will cause most of the images unsharp and miss a lot of critical moments, for beginners. If you don't believe me, crop your image to 100% and compare (with your current beginner's skillset). You should use manual focus only when http://www.digital-photography-schoo...your-autofocus

AFS 50mm f/1.8 has very fast autofocus, much faster than the slow 18-55mm kit len, 50mm f/1.4, 35mm f/1.8, sigma f/1.4 etc. 50mm f/1.8 has manual override..

Lets assume photograph is a simple INPUT - PROCESS - OUTPUT.
Manual focus does not contribute much to output compared to lighting and composition. It only make the process more complex and might reduce your output quality when you put most of your attention on focusing and exposure (the problems that you are facing now) and ignoring others. Eliminating the focusing and exposure problems will give your more attention on the rest is better choice for me as noob. Have you seen more books on manual focus, or composition and lighting?

again, I am a noob and gracious is a professonal. But I see things based on noob's view of points.

"Focus on output, lets CPU handles the technical issue"

[graciousness]

Originally Posted by ccting

Hmm, ,what i mean is
a) Focus and sharpness is very important, but lets the camera and lenses do the job automatically, not for us to worry how to focus manually.

b) We should focus on composition and lighting that the camera and lenses cannot do for us.

"Without sharpness, your photo is NOTHING" - This contradictory to KenRockWell's statement "Photographers worry less about sharpness".

graciousness, are you using autofocus or manual focus? Why? Which do you think a noob like me should concentrate ? Technical manual focusing? or composition and lighting?

And, if I am focusing on how to focus technically, do you think I am able to focus on composition and lighting? You just need to think on my side (as a noob) and not you yourself (as a professional photographer)

For my opinion, I revise your statement : "learning composition and lighitng are more important than learning manual focus".

Don't you revise anything I say.

You do realise that I'm also a beginner, right? I only seriously started to really learn photography at the beginning of the year. Before then, I only snap, snap, snap.

Ken Rockwell is an idiot. You really need to go somewhere else and find another source to read up.

In photography, SHARPNESS IS CRITICAL. You can't rely on autofocus to do this for you all the time. Depending on your lens, if you have a prime lens such as the 50mm that really has poor autofocus, you have to rely on manual focus. And you know what, you'll find that it's actually easier and quicker to use manual than autofocus if only you'd practice it. Is it really that hard to use your eyes and turn a knob on your lens to focus by yourself?

As a beginner, you need to learn proper focusing, composition and lighting. Well, guess which on is the most important - sharpness. Professional photographers don't just magically learn how to shoot sharp photos because they turn professional. This is a fundamental element of photography that you learn first and keep learning as you go.

If you think that learning to use manual focus is too much for a beginner, then you're just being lazy.

Just keep turning that dial on the lens until you get the proper sharpness. Use your eyes to focus.

Wow, hard, huh.

[ccting]

Originally Posted by graciousness

You do realise that I'm also a beginner, right?

Are u? I can't believe ....

Originally Posted by graciousness

Ken Rockwell is an idiot

@ @
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I am one of his followers...

Originally Posted by graciousness

50mm that really has poor autofocus

Eeeiii, really? You mean nikon 50mm f/1.8 afs? Or sigma? or 1.4?

Originally Posted by graciousness

If you think that learning to use manual focus is too much for a beginner, then you're just being lazy.Wow, hard, huh.

yes, very extremely highly hard lazy loh.. LOL... Hmm the thing is, I am exactly 1 mind with X86 CPU that processes thing very slow.. My mind can't handle Multitasking activities (i.e. focus, composition, lighting, timing)... that may cause my head spin...Also, I have bad cluster of buffer... unless i update my Mind CPU to extreme 3 ;D

"To align my laziness with the technology advancement".

[Ninj]

Meanwhile............getting back on topic anyone?

[homank76]

First off, I need to know if you have an AFD, AI or AIs lens. You never stated above what you have for a model. After I get to know that for sure I'll be able to help to the best of my ability.