Nikon F100 doesn't work with some modern lenses

[Aleks7]

Hi, is it normal that Nikon F100:

Doesn't open the aperture of Nikkor 300mm f4 PF, can't lock AF

Doesn't open the aperture of Tamron 35-150mm f2.8-4VC, can't lock AF

Doesn't close the aperture of Nikkor 105mm f1.4

???

 

[Michael Benveniste]

That’s correct. The F100 can only use lenses with an electronic aperture (E lenses) wide open and can’t use AF-P lenses at all.

 

[Aleks7]

That’s correct. The F100 can only use lenses with an electronic aperture (E lenses) wide open and can’t use AF-P lenses at all.

Thanks,

But then why are the apertures of the first 2 lenses closed?

Is there any list of the compatible lenses? I only found Ken Rockwell's camera/lens compatibility list that basically say that everything works except for the AF-P (which I don't care about)

 

[Blufftonian]

https://www.nikonians.org/reviews/nikon-slr-camera-and-lens-compatibility

You do realize that the F100 was discontinued 20 years ago?

 

[MoreorLess]

That’s correct. The F100 can only use lenses with an electronic aperture (E lenses) wide open and can’t use AF-P lenses at all.

Thanks,

But then why are the apertures of the first 2 lenses closed?

Is there any list of the compatible lenses? I only found Ken Rockwell's camera/lens compatibility list that basically say that everything works except for the AF-P (which I don't care about)

The very last generation of F-mount lenses with the E rather than G designation started to use electronic aperture control for higher FPS shooting rather than the classic lever design.

Third party lenses often don't have a switch in designation to show they've switched design so you need to do a bit of research although if your buying in person you can just look at the back of the lens and see whether it has the lever or not.

 

[MJ_Photo38]

That’s correct. The F100 can only use lenses with an electronic aperture (E lenses) wide open and can’t use AF-P lenses at all.

Thanks,

But then why are the apertures of the first 2 lenses closed?

Is there any list of the compatible lenses? I only found Ken Rockwell's camera/lens compatibility list that basically say that everything works except for the AF-P (which I don't care about)

anything that isn't AF-P or isn't an E lens will work.

so AF / AF(D) / AF(G) / AF-I(D) /AF-S(D) /AF-S(G) lenses will work, as well as the AI / AI-S / AI-P manual lenses, but anything else will not.

Same goes for the 3rd party lenses, but you'll have to determine which standard they follow (typically I know my Sigma 100-400 has an electronically controlled aperture, so it follows the E standard (instead of G), but it has motors compatible with older cameras, so it's an AF-S(E) and wouldn't be compatible with an F100. My Tokina 12-24 f/4 DX uses screw drive AF, has no aperture ring so it's AF(G) and would be compatible with the F100)

 

[Stan Disbrow]

Hi,

The apertures are left where they were set last. So you need to put the lens on a camera that supports them, open the aperture up, then remove the lens and put it on your F100. The aperture will stay wide open.

That's the same as with my F5. I choose to simply avoid buying E lenses so I don't accidentally try and use such with my digital F5 which I do still use every so often.

Stan

 

[Stan Disbrow]

Hi,

Yep. You do realize that the F100 is a film camera?

As such, it's age becomes immaterial. The only thing newer is the F6.

That leads to a question. Does the F6 operate E lenses? That's the last film body.

Stan

 

[MJ_Photo38]

Hi,

Yep. You do realize that the F100 is a film camera?

As such, it's age becomes immaterial. The only thing newer is the F6.

That leads to a question. Does the F6 operate E lenses? That's the last film body.

Stan

Pretty sure the F6 can't operate E lenses.

My D2X is newer than the F6, and it can't. I think the first cameras that were able to do that were the D3 and D300 in 2007

The F6 is from 2004 and as such, can't control the aperture of E lenses, and can't shoot AF-P lenses at all.

 

[Blufftonian]

Hi,

Yep. You do realize that the F100 is a film camera?

As such, it's age becomes immaterial. The only thing newer is the F6.

That leads to a question. Does the F6 operate E lenses? That's the last film body.

Stan

Yes. I have one sitting on a shelf in my library. It was a great camera but I haven't used it in many years.

 

[fpapp]

Hi,

Yep. You do realize that the F100 is a film camera?

As such, it's age becomes immaterial. The only thing newer is the F6.

That leads to a question. Does the F6 operate E lenses? That's the last film body.

Stan

Pretty sure the F6 can't operate E lenses.

My D2X is newer than the F6, and it can't. I think the first cameras that were able to do that were the D3 and D300 in 2007

The F6 is from 2004 and as such, can't control the aperture of E lenses, and can't shoot AF-P lenses at all.

This is correct unfortunately. :-(

 

[Aleks7]

Hi,

The apertures are left where they were set last. So you need to put the lens on a camera that supports them, open the aperture up, then remove the lens and put it on your F100. The aperture will stay wide open.

That's the same as with my F5. I choose to simply avoid buying E lenses so I don't accidentally try and use such with my digital F5 which I do still use every so often.

Stan

oh, thank you!

I didn't realize you can open the aperture this way and I just tested it - the (modern) camera has to be ON for this, otherwise it closes the aperture of an E lens when you turn it OFF and then you end up with something that won't even lock focus on F100.

But it's great to know I can now use my 105 f1.4 on F100 wide open!

Thanks for the constructive feedback from everyone! Most of my lenses are normal so they work fine with F100 and now I also know how to use my E lenses wide open - amazing! - and I'm happy I didn't buy a faulty camera

 

[fpapp]

Hi,

The apertures are left where they were set last. So you need to put the lens on a camera that supports them, open the aperture up, then remove the lens and put it on your F100. The aperture will stay wide open.

That's the same as with my F5. I choose to simply avoid buying E lenses so I don't accidentally try and use such with my digital F5 which I do still use every so often.

Stan

oh, thank you!

I didn't realize you can open the aperture this way and I just tested it - the (modern) camera has to be ON for this, otherwise it closes the aperture of an E lens when you turn it OFF and then you end up with something that won't even lock focus on F100.

But it's great to know I can now use my 105 f1.4 on F100 wide open!

Thanks for the constructive feedback from everyone! Most of my lenses are normal so they work fine with F100 and now I also know how to use my E lenses wide open - amazing! - and I'm happy I didn't buy a faulty camera

Here's another trick with E lenses on older cameras.

If you wanted to use your 105mm at f/4 for example, attach the lens to your dslr, set the aperture to f/4 and press the depth of field preview button. While holding the button, remove the lens and it will stay at f/4. You can then attach it to the F100 and shoot at that aperture!