Nikon made several lenses that should not be used on your
Nikon D200. Carefully read the charts on pages 174 and 175
of your D200 manual; especially the one on page 175. Some
of the old 6mm fisheye lenses extend too far back into the
mirror box to be safely used on a Nikon D200. Perspective
Control (PC) lenses before a certain serial number should
not be used, later PC lenses are fine.
Also,
some of the older Reflex Nikkors (mirror lenses) have
some problems. Certain older serial numbers are listed
for these also. There are even a couple of old zooms
listed there. Most of the lenses listed as "not
usable" are okay after a certain serial number
is reached. Check your serial numbers.
The
lens types that will most likely endanger your camera
are the Non-AI lenses, also referred
to as Pre-AI, easily identified by their solid "ears".
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Below
is a picture of a newer AI-S lens, which has the all important
AI-lever notch.
Your
Nikon D200 has an AI lever (AI = Auto-Index) like on the older
Nikon FE shown above. Look at the lens mount area on your
D200, and you’ll find it. Since non-AI lenses do not have
a notch matching this lever there is nowhere for it to go
on your D200. You could snap it off if you force mount a non-AI
lens. Don’t!
Carefully
read the manual on pages 174 and 175. When you mount an older
lens, do it slowly and carefully the first time. It should
not feel any different from mounting a new AF lens. If you
feel any binding or excessive stiffness…STOP!
Take
comfort in knowing 95% of all old Nikkors ever made should
work fine on the Nikon D200. Just take some precautions with
old specialty lenses and don’t use non-AI types.
Conclusion
Many
of the old Nikkors are extremely fine lenses, and the
cost on them was quite high. It's a shame to simply
abandon the use of lenses like a Nikkor AI-S 600mm,
or a 55mm AI-S Micro Nikkor or the legendary 105mm f/2.5,
available used in AI and even new in AI-S versions.
The Nikon D200 has returned a measure of functionality
to us that many have missed. |
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With
perfectly good lenses now going for a greatly discounted cost
on auction services like eBay, one can acquire marvelous bargains
in glass. Most advanced amateurs like to shoot in A mode,
Aperture Priority. Many prefer to use M mode and manual focus
with long telephotos or macro lenses. So, if that is your
preference, why pay for the extra AF features? You now have
a choice!
The
Nikon D200 is a very flexible and truly professional camera.
One of the proofs of this assertion is the fact that it will
meter with almost any Nikkor lens one mounts on the camera.
Extra camera controls are provided to allow one to use AF
or MF on a whim, or by plan.
By
pro consumer demand…the old AI and AI-S Nikkors are back!
Keep on capturing time...
