Getting back to a "Nikon" lens discussion, for a D300 body the Nikkor 80-200mm, f/2.8D ED would make a great match. If you can find a good used copy it is easily one of Nikon's finest. KEH.com currently has several from which to choose.
If your question is, "Does the D90 support AF in non-AF-S lenses?", the answer is that "yes" the D90 has the in-camera AF screw to couple with AF lenses that do not have their own AF motor.
I doubt that the AF is as robust as the Nikon "pro" cameras, but I believe the Nikkor 80-200mm, f/2.8D ED should work fine on the D90.
Edit: I inadvertantly used the wrong terminology above and corrected it to AF-S.
Plus all the older lenses that you can get great deals on that work well with the D300
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Which lenses work with the D300 that do not work with the D90?
I like the D300 better, but not that much better. Right now, I think I want to put the extra money in good glass until I can afford the D300 or better as a primary body and then move a D90 to secondary. Haven't purchased either yet, but will end of next week. Also have the Canon 50D in the running, but I like the Nikon bodies better from what I have seen and handled so far.
Seems, however, there are more Canon lenses available on the used market than there are Nikon lenses. OTOH, seems the Nikon bodies are more backwards compatible with older lenses. Hmm.
Well, it's not so much that that Manual Focus (MF) lens, or any f-mount lens for this matter, will not work on the D90... they will mount and work fine... just that the D90 body will NOT meter MF lenses where the D300 will meter MF AI & AIS lenses.
Great info. Thanks. So, the Nikkor 180mm f/2.8 ED AIS would work on both, but the D90 will not meter it and the D300 will meter it. Obviously, it's a manual focus on either. Correct?
Also, both these bodies have about a 1.5x field of view factor because of the sensor size compared to 35mm, correct? Making any older lenses, such as this one, have an apparently larger magnification factor because of the cropping, correct? In other words, this lens would function as a 270mm on either a D90 or a D300, correct? Do you have to go to DX series before this "magnification factor" goes away, or is there an earlier lens designation for coverage smaller than 35mm?
Surprisingly, my initial impression that there were more used Canon lenses than used Nikon lenses seems to have been faulty. There actually may be more used Canon lenses out there, but they seem to be mostly of the small aperture zoom variety. I seem to see more Nikon lenses with large apertures, especially primes, available the more I look.
Well, it's not so much that that Manual Focus (MF) lens, or any f-mount lens for this matter, will not work on the D90... they will mount and work fine... just that the D90 body will NOT meter MF lenses where the D300 will meter MF AI & AIS lenses....
The other aspect is focus speed with f-mount AF/AFD lenses. The more robust focus motor in the D300 can obtain focus quicker than the D90. In some/many cases you may not ever see or need this. But if you only need it once, that shot you wanted may disappear forever. You're just capturing a moment in time... This may also depend on weather you decide to make any money with this hobby/past-time. The D300 would be the way to go if you decide to take this route now or in the future...
And the Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8 ED AF-D would both meter and focus on both the D90 and D300 (but focus faster on this body) and would be the equivalent of a 120-300mm on these bodies when compared to a 35mm body?
Thanks for all of the advice. It has been priceless. My head hurts from all of the knowledge that I have been trying to take in. I have been out of the loop for about ten years, but it is nice to see that the basics are coming back to me quickly. Photography is photography, right? Well at least until I started reading about all the features that the D300 offers. I kind of went from a Studebaker to a Lamborghini. Just a little difference...
I broke down and bought an aftermarket users guide. This is turning out to be an immense help. This along with lurking on D-Grin. I was serious about my head hurting about taking everything in. I bought the camera to coincide with a vacation, so I would actually have the time to sit down and learn how to use it.
So, I've been reading... reading... reading... And snapping a few hundred pictures. Hopefully, I won't wear the thing out. I am happy to report that I am starting to get the hang of the camera. I said starting... I still have a long way to go, but I am having a blast. The pictures that I am taking are not nearly what I would call good, but I recognize that I just need to keep practicing as it will be years before I can push the limits if this camera. It's not the other way around.
Not a problem...Treat it with some love and the camera will last "forever". Granted, my father never shot thousands of frames per event with his old Canon T70, but because he treated it well, it still works 20+ years later when I wanted to use it. Not to mention, the D300 is a beast in general, with all it's weatherproofing and durability built in. I'd like to see you try and break it....wait, never mind. We might have a few members cry if you did that
Another place for first time buyers that I found
Hi, I too took the big step back in November and bought my first DSLR. It was a Nikon D40 kit from Wally-World. I liked that camera alot, but wasn't totally satisfied, so I started doing some searching for prices for a more professional camera, and came across a site that sells camera kits. That site is http://www.digicombos.com I ended up buying a D300 kit from them and totally love this camera. The D40 now sits at the bottom of my camera bag as my backup. The kit that I purchased included a nikon 18-70, 70-300, and a wide angle adapter lens. There was some other stuff that was to be included, but I already had most of that stuff, so I substituted that stuff for a SB600 flash, extra memory cards, and a spare battery. If I remember right, my total bill came out to around $2500.00. If I ever need to buy another camera, I would definately buy from them again!
Gary
GaryB “The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it!” - Ansel Adams
Comments
I took your first advice and got the ED AF 80-200mm 2.8D. http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/AFNikkor/AF-Nikkor80200mm/index3.htm
I love it.
Now... just to get back in to the swing. I am loving being able to try different settings and instantly being able to see the results.
http://mlangton.smugmug.com
Does that lens work on the D90?
Glazener, welcome to the Digital Grin.
If your question is, "Does the D90 support AF in non-AF-S lenses?", the answer is that "yes" the D90 has the in-camera AF screw to couple with AF lenses that do not have their own AF motor.
I doubt that the AF is as robust as the Nikon "pro" cameras, but I believe the Nikkor 80-200mm, f/2.8D ED should work fine on the D90.
Edit: I inadvertantly used the wrong terminology above and corrected it to AF-S.
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
Which lenses work with the D300 that do not work with the D90?
I like the D300 better, but not that much better. Right now, I think I want to put the extra money in good glass until I can afford the D300 or better as a primary body and then move a D90 to secondary. Haven't purchased either yet, but will end of next week. Also have the Canon 50D in the running, but I like the Nikon bodies better from what I have seen and handled so far.
Seems, however, there are more Canon lenses available on the used market than there are Nikon lenses. OTOH, seems the Nikon bodies are more backwards compatible with older lenses. Hmm.
Great info. Thanks. So, the Nikkor 180mm f/2.8 ED AIS would work on both, but the D90 will not meter it and the D300 will meter it. Obviously, it's a manual focus on either. Correct?
Also, both these bodies have about a 1.5x field of view factor because of the sensor size compared to 35mm, correct? Making any older lenses, such as this one, have an apparently larger magnification factor because of the cropping, correct? In other words, this lens would function as a 270mm on either a D90 or a D300, correct? Do you have to go to DX series before this "magnification factor" goes away, or is there an earlier lens designation for coverage smaller than 35mm?
Surprisingly, my initial impression that there were more used Canon lenses than used Nikon lenses seems to have been faulty. There actually may be more used Canon lenses out there, but they seem to be mostly of the small aperture zoom variety. I seem to see more Nikon lenses with large apertures, especially primes, available the more I look.
And the Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8 ED AF-D would both meter and focus on both the D90 and D300 (but focus faster on this body) and would be the equivalent of a 120-300mm on these bodies when compared to a 35mm body?
Thanks for all of the advice. It has been priceless. My head hurts from all of the knowledge that I have been trying to take in. I have been out of the loop for about ten years, but it is nice to see that the basics are coming back to me quickly. Photography is photography, right? Well at least until I started reading about all the features that the D300 offers. I kind of went from a Studebaker to a Lamborghini. Just a little difference...
I broke down and bought an aftermarket users guide. This is turning out to be an immense help. This along with lurking on D-Grin. I was serious about my head hurting about taking everything in. I bought the camera to coincide with a vacation, so I would actually have the time to sit down and learn how to use it.
So, I've been reading... reading... reading... And snapping a few hundred pictures. Hopefully, I won't wear the thing out. I am happy to report that I am starting to get the hang of the camera. I said starting... I still have a long way to go, but I am having a blast. The pictures that I am taking are not nearly what I would call good, but I recognize that I just need to keep practicing as it will be years before I can push the limits if this camera. It's not the other way around.
<--- Back to studying the menu options. Anyone have an aspirin??? <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/thumb.gif" border="0" alt="" >
http://mlangton.smugmug.com
Glad to hear you like your new "Lamborghini"!
Not a problem...Treat it with some love and the camera will last "forever". Granted, my father never shot thousands of frames per event with his old Canon T70, but because he treated it well, it still works 20+ years later when I wanted to use it. Not to mention, the D300 is a beast in general, with all it's weatherproofing and durability built in. I'd like to see you try and break it....wait, never mind. We might have a few members cry if you did that
Best of luck to you and your new toy!
~Nick
Sigma 18-50 f/2.8, 70-200 f/2.8
Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 50mm f/1.8
Hi, I too took the big step back in November and bought my first DSLR. It was a Nikon D40 kit from Wally-World. I liked that camera alot, but wasn't totally satisfied, so I started doing some searching for prices for a more professional camera, and came across a site that sells camera kits. That site is http://www.digicombos.com I ended up buying a D300 kit from them and totally love this camera. The D40 now sits at the bottom of my camera bag as my backup. The kit that I purchased included a nikon 18-70, 70-300, and a wide angle adapter lens. There was some other stuff that was to be included, but I already had most of that stuff, so I substituted that stuff for a SB600 flash, extra memory cards, and a spare battery. If I remember right, my total bill came out to around $2500.00. If I ever need to buy another camera, I would definately buy from them again!
Gary
“The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it!” - Ansel Adams