 Ann Marie Carter |
Digital Lens on a Film Camera? I shoot 35mm film with a Nikon N65. I just received a Tokina 19-35mm lens for Christmas. However, it's a lens for a digital camera. Will it still work on my film camera? I heard that using digital lenses on film cameras causes some vignetting. Is this true?
|
|
|
|
||
|
Dr. Evil |
thats me too, hehe
|
|
|
|
||
|
robert G. Fately |
Ann Marie, there are generally two differences between the digital lenses and their film brethren: 1) Because the chips in most digital SLR cameras are smaller than the 24x36mm frame size of the 35mm film format, lens makers can design their digital lenses with a smaller "cone of light". That is, some digital type lenses will not fully expose the entire frame of 35mm film - rather, you will see vignetting (sometimes rather extreme) towards the edges of the shot. Of course, if you enlarge just the central portion of the film, this doesn't make a difference. 2) Because CCD and CMOS chips are more reflective than film, lens makers have started to multicoat the rear elements of their digital lenses (to reduce unwanted reflections in the shutter box). There is no downside to this enhancement as far as film goes. The instruction guide that came with the lens ought to say if it's suitable for use on film cameras or not. Mechanically, there should be no difference - autofocus and exposure, etc., should work just like a Nikkor lens. If you don't want to open the box so you can return it just in case, you should call and ask the store.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Ann Marie Carter |
Thanks for the info and quick response, Bob.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Erica Butler |
It should work, but you will see some vignetting around the edges. Mechanically, you should have no problems. I'd just take it back, and exchange it for something you can use (another lens, or a flash, or just store credit).
|
|
|
|
||
|
Christopher A. Vedros |
Ann Marie, Is this the Tokina AF193 lens? If so, I don't think this is a digital-only lens. It's offered in the Nikon-D mount, but I don't think that makes it a digital-only lens. I'm not a Nikon user, so someone correct me if I'm wrong here. Nikon makes a DX series of lenses which are digital-only (and would cause vignetting on your N65), but I don't think this lens is like that. I think this lens should work fine on your N65. Good luck!
|
|
|
|
||
|
Peter K. Burian |
Anne Marie: Yes, that is a lens designed for film cameras but it will work with your digital SLR. See my article: Digitally Optimized Zoom Lenses; Do They Really Make A Difference? www.shutterbug.net/features/0305digitally/index.html Regards, Peter Burian, Instructor,
|
|
|
|
||
|
Joseph Dlhopolsky |
There's another potential difference. Some DSLRs (Canon 20D and Rebels) have smaller mirrors, which allows a lens designed for them to get closer to the sensor. If you put a lens of this type on a full-frame SLR, the mirror will strike the lens.
|
|
|
|
||
|
This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here
Report this Thread |
||