Identify Lens & some questions

[k.wolfe]

While visiting my grandmother for Thanksgiving she told me there was a closet full of old camera equipment which belonged to my grandfather who passed away quite a while ago. What a find for someone just getting into the hobby! I found a Nikon 50mm prime and a lens I cannot identify it has 50 1:2 on the ring of lens and looks to be a zoom or focus as you can move the outer ring. I have tried to look this up on-line with no results. There was also a box for a 70-300 zoom and I got very excited but it was empty! Someone must have gotten to it before me. I also found an old Nikon 35mm and it was like a work out weight... it makes me glad for the days of lighter dslr's, lol

- First let me say I am amateur looking to move up and learn, that's why I'm here!
- I live in a small town and need to find someone to clean them before I use it. They are slightly dusty. There are no designated photography stores nearby, however a two hour drive would be worth it if they can be used. A store such as a Ritz Camera should be able to help me, correct?
- I'm looking to buy a Nikon D90 or similar and I wanted to know if they can be used with that camera. If the lens doesn't have an AF then only a camera that has auto focus on the camera itself can be used, correct? And a camera such as a D40 could not focus on a non-AF lens, correct?

Thank you so much for any info you can give me!

[wulf]

The 50mm 1:2 lens sounds like it might be a macro lens of some kind. Do you have a DSLR at the moment (I am guessing not).

There are some limits on what lenses can be used on DSLRs. I like my D40 because it is so stupid it will let me put pretty much anything on there and not worry about the fact it can't meter the light. I've got a couple of old lenses in my collection and, since I love shooting in full-manual mode, they are perfect for me.

BTW, where is the dust. Inside or just, as far as you can tell, on the outside?

Wulf

[k.wolfe]

I do not have a DSLR currently... and I'm shopping/trying to decide which one I want. Right now its a Canon P&S. I guess my big question is what camera should I get if I wanted to use the lens. I can see your answer to that would be D40. I just thought more expensive = more creativity. But I know I could be wrong. I also am hesitant to do full manual right off the bat because of my lack of experience but I do want to learn.

The dust looks to be on the back/inside where it connects to the camera. There was a lens cap on the front but no cover on the back.

Thanks!

[OsmosisStudios]

Post images of the pieces and we can help identify.

The D40/40x/60/3000/5000 bodies need AF-S lenses to autofocus, but the D90 will only help if youre using an AF lens: Ai or Ai-S lenses do NOT AF at all (they're manual only), regardless of the body theyre on.

[wulf]

Originally Posted by k.wolfe

I do not have a DSLR currently... and I'm shopping/trying to decide which one I want. Right now its a Canon P&S. I guess my big question is what camera should I get if I wanted to use the lens. I can see your answer to that would be D40. I just thought more expensive = more creativity. But I know I could be wrong. I also am hesitant to do full manual right off the bat because of my lack of experience but I do want to learn.

The dust looks to be on the back/inside where it connects to the camera. There was a lens cap on the front but no cover on the back.

My answer wouldn't necessarily be the D40. To be honest, I haven't been paying much attention so couldn't tell you the pros and cons compared to other Nikon cameras (you'll need the brand to use the lenses... Nikons have very long term compatibility). Partly that is because I am very satisfied with my D40. Sometimes more expensive is just more expensive.

As long as the dust is on the outside of the lens, you can clean it off with a soft, lint-free cloth and, if you have one, a hand operated air blower. As OsmosisStudios suggests, post some pictures (taken with your Canon) to show the lenses; if you can do some close-ups to show the dust, that would be an extra bonus.

Wulf

[Aegea]

If it's a Nikon lens, this site should have a description:

Nikon (Nippon Kogaku K.K.) Resources:- index page

[k.wolfe]

Thank you for all the advice and help! The first pic shows some of the dust but I can't get really close with my iPhone.

[k.wolfe]

I have found some pictures that I used to compare on Ken Rockwell's site Nikon Lens Compatibility and I was able to figure out that the 50mm 1.8 is an "Al-s" and would not meter on a D90 (my first choice for a DSLR) but I suppose could still be used with practice. And the 50mm 1:2 is a Pre-Al which won't mount on D90 at all but would mount with no meter on a D5000 (second choice). Probably not the best idea to choose my camera based on this. I'll stick with the D90 Thanks again, they are a nice memento to have even if I can't use them!

[OsmosisStudios]

The one on the left is a 50mm f/1.8 AI-S series E. It's a good little lens, but it's entirely manual even on a dSLR.
The 50 f/2 is a macro or pre-AI and *could* be used on a D40/40x/60/3000/5000 body but is, again, fully manual.

Sad to say that unless you *really* want to keep them and use them, there are better options for the current bodies. They'd both be great on something old like a Nikon FE body.

[wulf]

I've got an f/1.8 E series lens - one of my favourites (small, light, sharp and fast). I do like working in manual mode though, as noted above.

One thing you could do with either of these lenses (the f/1.8 would be best) on any DSLR is open up as wide as possible and use it in reverse in front of another lens. This is a budget way of getting some intense macro magnification.

Wulf