Using Nikon AF 80-200 2.8D in A focus while having camera in M

[iSerg]

Hi, just got this second hand lens and was trying to figure out how to use it properly on my D610. Downloaded the manual and read this:

Lens'A-M ring in A - > Nikon AF (autofocus) Camera Focus mode C,S or A - Autofocus; mode M - not usable.

Does that mean that if I have the lens in A mode and camera set in M mode I should not use it? Is it meant to be used in M when both lens and camera are in M and in A when camera is in C, S or A?

 

[Wahrsager]

Hi, just got this second hand lens and was trying to figure out how to use it properly on my D610. Downloaded the manual and read this:

Lens'A-M ring in A - > Nikon AF (autofocus) Camera Focus mode C,S or A - Autofocus; mode M - not usable.

Does that mean that if I have the lens in A mode and camera set in M mode I should not use it?

You can use it, it just won't focus.

Is it meant to be used in M when both lens and camera are in M and in A when camera is in C, S or A?

I'm looking at your manual and it's a little confusing.

I have a Micro-Nikkor 200mm (which as the same lens-mounted A-M barrel clutch/switch) here in my hands and I put it on my D7000 which has the same AF system as your D610.

You can manually-focus the lens as long as the lens-mounted switch is on "M" irregardless of the position of the F-mount switch on your D610 which says "AF, M."

As soon as you place the lens-mounted switch in "A" the lens will only focus via the camera body motor. If you put the F-mount based switch on the camera body to "M" while the lens is in "A" the lens won't focus and you won't be able to twist the barrel unless of course you strip the drive pin.

 

[iSerg]

As soon as you place the lens-mounted switch in "A" the lens will only focus via the camera body motor. If you put the F-mount based switch on the camera body to "M" while the lens is in "A" the lens won't focus and you won't be able to twist the barrel unless of course you strip the drive pin.

That's where it get's confusing because when I first put lens on the camera, I put the lens in A mode and camera in M mode and the AF was working just fine. Isn't it the same as for any AF-S lens with A/M switch on the side where AF works regardless of the camera set to M? I use the camera in M because I have more control over exposure but the camera driven AF should be working nonetheless when you half press shutter button to focus on the subject.

 

[Wahrsager]

As soon as you place the lens-mounted switch in "A" the lens will only focus via the camera body motor. If you put the F-mount based switch on the camera body to "M" while the lens is in "A" the lens won't focus and you won't be able to twist the barrel unless of course you strip the drive pin.

That's where it get's confusing because when I first put lens on the camera, I put the lens in A mode and camera in M mode and the AF was working just fine. Isn't it the same as for any AF-S lens with A/M switch on the side where AF works regardless of the camera set to M? I use the camera in M because I have more control over exposure but the camera driven AF should be working nonetheless when you half press shutter button to focus on the subject.

When you say "M" are you talking about Exposure mode or lens focus mode?

 

[iSerg]

As soon as you place the lens-mounted switch in "A" the lens will only focus via the camera body motor. If you put the F-mount based switch on the camera body to "M" while the lens is in "A" the lens won't focus and you won't be able to twist the barrel unless of course you strip the drive pin.

That's where it get's confusing because when I first put lens on the camera, I put the lens in A mode and camera in M mode and the AF was working just fine. Isn't it the same as for any AF-S lens with A/M switch on the side where AF works regardless of the camera set to M? I use the camera in M because I have more control over exposure but the camera driven AF should be working nonetheless when you half press shutter button to focus on the subject.

When you say "M" are you talking about Exposure mode or lens focus mode?

I'm talking about the switch on the camera body where you select from P, S, A or M. Well this one is set on M and I alternate the M/A switch on lenses depending on if I need it to focus automatically or manually.

 

[Wahrsager]

As soon as you place the lens-mounted switch in "A" the lens will only focus via the camera body motor. If you put the F-mount based switch on the camera body to "M" while the lens is in "A" the lens won't focus and you won't be able to twist the barrel unless of course you strip the drive pin.

That's where it get's confusing because when I first put lens on the camera, I put the lens in A mode and camera in M mode and the AF was working just fine. Isn't it the same as for any AF-S lens with A/M switch on the side where AF works regardless of the camera set to M? I use the camera in M because I have more control over exposure but the camera driven AF should be working nonetheless when you half press shutter button to focus on the subject.

When you say "M" are you talking about Exposure mode or lens focus mode?

I'm talking about the switch on the camera body where you select from P, S, A or M. Well this one is set on M and I alternate the M/A switch on lenses depending on if I need it to focus automatically or manually.

Ah. Well P,S,M,A are exposure modes. I've been solely talking about lens drive modes. I'm sorry, I thought that's what you were having difficulty with.

 

[Martin Zimelka]

There are only very few times when the camera needs to be switched from AF to M (manual Focus)... most times, switching the lens into M (manual focus) will be sufficient, as with the case of the 80-200mm f/2.8D. To also switch the camera into manual focus mode is redundant.

It's only with lenses such as the AF-D 50mm f/1.8, AF-D 35mm f/2, etc, (lenses that don't have a AF/M switch) where the camera needs to be switched to manual focus.

 

[iSerg]

Wahrsager wrote:.

Ah. Well P,S,M,A are exposure modes. I've been solely talking about lens drive modes. I'm sorry, I thought that's what you were having difficulty with.

Oh I might have confused exposure with AF-M switch on the LHF side of the camera.

Now I get what the manual is saying:

Lens'A-M ring in A - > Nikon AF (autofocus) Camera Focus mode C,S or A - Autofocus; mode M - not usable.

Manual is saying that if the focus mode is set to AF - Continuous, Single or Auto it will autofocus with lens ring set to A, whether if it is set to M then the autofocus won't work and it will only focus if I switch to M on the lens.

Reading too fast, I thought it was referring to Shutter priority, Aperture priority and C (I couldn't figure that out) exposure modes, that's why I raised concerns about why shouldn't this sense working in Manual exposure mode .....

 

[TheCasualShooter]

Wahrsager wrote:.

Ah. Well P,S,M,A are exposure modes. I've been solely talking about lens drive modes. I'm sorry, I thought that's what you were having difficulty with.

Oh I might have confused exposure with AF-M switch on the LHF side of the camera.

Now I get what the manual is saying:

Lens'A-M ring in A - > Nikon AF (autofocus) Camera Focus mode C,S or A - Autofocus; mode M - not usable.

Manual is saying that if the focus mode is set to AF - Continuous, Single or Auto it will autofocus with lens ring set to A, whether if it is set to M then the autofocus won't work and it will only focus if I switch to M on the lens.

Reading too fast, I thought it was referring to Shutter priority, Aperture priority and C (I couldn't figure that out) exposure modes, that's why I raised concerns about why shouldn't this sense working in Manual exposure mode .....

A mode on lens ring + M on exposure mode should work just fine. Took a few shots of my best friends wedding with the same lens and body. and the same settings (Lens>A; Esposure mode>M) works fine.

cheers!