Nikon d7100 with legacy lenses.
Discussion
Just a real quicky.
I'm about to buy a d7100, I was planning to just buy the 35mm prime lens with it rather than get more range but also compromises with one of the kit zooms.
However I would also like to buy either an fm2 or fa body to retain the ability to shoot film. Meaning I can come up with an excuse to sell on my Pentax MX and Olympus On and rationalise all my camera gear to one lens system matching filters etc.
But what is the lens comparability like with legacy lenses on the d7100? Is there a good prime lens of circa 28-35mm which is fast and also will operate perfectly on the d7100 ideally also using AF as well as working on the manual fm2?
What I'm trying to avoid doing is duplicating lenses in different forms for both cameras. Last thing I want is a wide angle for the film camera and a wide angle (its going on a DX camera so not wide angle in reality) on the digital too. If it came to this I'd likely go with a kit zoom on the digital for day to day then pinch the manual film camera lens for when I needed sharp and fast.
Many thanks
I'm about to buy a d7100, I was planning to just buy the 35mm prime lens with it rather than get more range but also compromises with one of the kit zooms.
However I would also like to buy either an fm2 or fa body to retain the ability to shoot film. Meaning I can come up with an excuse to sell on my Pentax MX and Olympus On and rationalise all my camera gear to one lens system matching filters etc.
But what is the lens comparability like with legacy lenses on the d7100? Is there a good prime lens of circa 28-35mm which is fast and also will operate perfectly on the d7100 ideally also using AF as well as working on the manual fm2?
What I'm trying to avoid doing is duplicating lenses in different forms for both cameras. Last thing I want is a wide angle for the film camera and a wide angle (its going on a DX camera so not wide angle in reality) on the digital too. If it came to this I'd likely go with a kit zoom on the digital for day to day then pinch the manual film camera lens for when I needed sharp and fast.
Many thanks
The D7100 has an in body autofocus motor. So it is compatible with all "AF-D" type F mount Nikon lenses. You will see a small flat bladed type screwdriver head on an AF-D lens. These have a CPU so will meter and autofocus and give EXIF data.
You can also use the rear LCD with AI-S lenses in "manual movie mode" which allows you to judge exposure. You can also use in Camera Metering by entering the lens in Non CPU lenses in manual mode. These are manual focus only.
I would save you money on the Kit zoom. I just did a bunch of test shots of the ISO test pattern on my D3200 with the same sensor. The 24mpix sensor massively outresolves the 18-55 kit lens. You have to stop down the kit lens to f8 to get a sharpish image, and even then it is very soft in the corners. If you want I can post a couple of test shots up. The colour rendition in my experience is also poor, it just doesn't do any justice to that 24mpix sensor at all. I would go so far as to say that you would get better pictures buying a 18mpix d7000 and spending the money saved on a Tamron 2.8 17-50. Then the glass and sensor would match resolution.
The 1.8 35mm AFS-DX lens by comparison is pin sharp by just f2 with fantastic colour rendition. Biggest Nikon bargain out there.
The problem you have is the film camera. The problem have is twofold - the DX lenses won't fill the frame on a 35mm camera. And the Later "G" type Nikon AFS lenses need to have aperture set electronically from the camera so they are useless on the film camera.
So you are restricted to the AF-D lenses.
I would consider getting a 50mm AF-D 1.8 lens ( 80 pounds ) this is full frame and will autofocus with the 7100. There is also a 35mm AF-D f/2 lens, but this is not as good as the later 1.8 AF-S lens.
Hope this helps.
You can also use the rear LCD with AI-S lenses in "manual movie mode" which allows you to judge exposure. You can also use in Camera Metering by entering the lens in Non CPU lenses in manual mode. These are manual focus only.
I would save you money on the Kit zoom. I just did a bunch of test shots of the ISO test pattern on my D3200 with the same sensor. The 24mpix sensor massively outresolves the 18-55 kit lens. You have to stop down the kit lens to f8 to get a sharpish image, and even then it is very soft in the corners. If you want I can post a couple of test shots up. The colour rendition in my experience is also poor, it just doesn't do any justice to that 24mpix sensor at all. I would go so far as to say that you would get better pictures buying a 18mpix d7000 and spending the money saved on a Tamron 2.8 17-50. Then the glass and sensor would match resolution.
The 1.8 35mm AFS-DX lens by comparison is pin sharp by just f2 with fantastic colour rendition. Biggest Nikon bargain out there.
The problem you have is the film camera. The problem have is twofold - the DX lenses won't fill the frame on a 35mm camera. And the Later "G" type Nikon AFS lenses need to have aperture set electronically from the camera so they are useless on the film camera.
So you are restricted to the AF-D lenses.
I would consider getting a 50mm AF-D 1.8 lens ( 80 pounds ) this is full frame and will autofocus with the 7100. There is also a 35mm AF-D f/2 lens, but this is not as good as the later 1.8 AF-S lens.
Hope this helps.
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