Pre-Ai Compatibility - One size fits all? D780/NIKKOR-H Auto 28mm f3.5

I've been using a 28mm Pre-AI (not converted), circa 1959/1960 on my D780 (previously on my F2AS).

When I bought the D780 I did my research on lens compatibility and although the user manual and most sites say not to use Pre-AI on modern DSLRs, I have personally had no issues with this specific lens.

I've done quite a bit of research and most sites spew out the same stuff, word for word, about how you will destroy your camera. The only contrarian advice I found was this:

"Important: despite the fact that this is Nikon NON AI (PRE AI) lens, for some reason it is easy to install any modern Nikon cameras."


Ok, ok, I understand easy to install doesn't mean safe. However on inspecting the flange vs my AI and AI-S vintage Nikkors I don't see how this can damage my mount and it certainly won't go anywhere near the mirror.

Anyone have experience with this particular lens on a modern DSLR?

Hi,

The problem with Type A and K lenses are the skirts on the aperture ring. They interfere with the AI tab on the AI ring. The part of the camera that automatically indexes the lens to the body.

Usually, a Pre AI skirt will bend or break the AI tab. And now the body no longer works right with AI and AI-S lenses.

Some Pre AI skirts are a tad thinner than others and you get away with it. Some AI tabs take the abuse better than others. Maybe you just got lucky. Or maybe you did damage the AI ring - I think the 780 sports one - and just don't notice it yet.

Some newer bodies don't have an AI ring and then it doesn't matter. Can't bust what isn't there. But then maybe bust something else. I don't know about bodies minus the AI ring.

I have two bodies with fixed AI tabs, an FA and an F5. Mounting a stock Type A or K will damage those. And I had plenty of other bodies where the same was true. All the D1 models and D2H. And I have three bodies that sport a flip up AI tab. The FE, the F4 and the Df. No problem there as the tab gets out of the way of the skirt.

But back when I bought the FA new to replace an F2, I chose to buy replacement aperture rings for all the F2 era Type A and K lenses I had so this problem went away. These days, you'd have to mill the skirt just so to achieve the same result. Nikon stopped selling those replacement aperture rings long ago.

Stan

--
Amateur Photographer
Professional Electronics Development Engineer
Once you start down the DSLR path, forever will it dominate your destiny! Consume
your bank account, it will! Like mine, it did!

Hi and thanks for answering.

My question wasn't really about pre-ai lenses in general, we all know and understand the potential issues. Rather this is about this specific lens.

I've compared this lens to my AI and AI-S Nikkors and if anything they would be more likely to break something than this lens with it's perfectly flat flange and nothing protruding.

I'm incredibly careful with my cameras and there is absolutely no damage to the mount. It would take considerable force to damage a mount, and that's not my style.

I'm just curious if this particular lens is an exception or not. Nikon does not address this lens specifically, just that pre-ai are not compatible in a blanket statement.

Ofc I've stopped using the lens unless I can get clarification - and I have no intentions of converting it - not worth it.

Just to add one point, this lens is small and incredibly light, it mounts without any force whatsoever. A larger lens, say a telephoto, would definitely have enough torque and require enough mounting force to damage a camera body.

Hi,

They aren't talking about damage to the steel ring when it comes to mounting. The issue is damage to the AI ring which is part of the lens mount.

As far as lens size goes, if the lens is heavier than the body, hold the assembly by the lens. The issue here isn't Pre AI specific as there are plenty of quite heavy AI and AI-S lenses. And an overly heavy telephoto might torque the lens mount out of the body.

Stan

Stan Disbrow said:

Hi,

hold the assembly by the lens.

Stan

Click to expand...

Good advice. Much safer than using the vice grip method or screwdriver and hammer method. But thanks anyway.

If anyone is interested, I contacted the expert on this subject, John White, and he confirmed that this lens will work on modern DSLRs, well at least on the subject of this posting, the D780:

"lens can be mounted on D780 since the aperture ring is small enough that it does not interfere with the meter coupling tab on the body."

It just goes to show that common sense prevails over common myths. If the lens installs properly, smoothly, without any hiccups, then it isn't causing any damage.

Obviously for other pre-ai lenses, do your homework first or test at your own risk.