Nikon D90 AF adapter

Capt. Kicks · 01-15-2018, 02:07 PM

Hey there everyone. I am new here, and only recently got into photography. I was fortunate enough to pick a Nikon D90, an 18-105 mm, and a 35 mm in October. Since then I have been on a legs hunt.
Today I found a vivitar 28-210 mm macro. Naturally I was excited and tried it out on the body. It fit and works nicely. But it doesn't have the golden ball receptors that commute with the camera.
I am curious if there is an adapter out there that will solve this little issue? If not, whatever. But I am hopeful that there is.
All the best
Z

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bigdavephoto · 01-15-2018, 02:25 PM

Well first, welcome to the forum.

No, there is no adapter that will allow the lens to talk to the camera. What you have is a fully manual lens that has a mount for Nikon cameras. The lens will not auto focus nor will you be able to set the F-stop with the wheels on the camera body. Focusing and setting an F-stop will need to be done by you. Now here is the catch. I don't know if a full manual lens can be used on a Nikon body.

My father had a D90 but I never messed around with it enough to know if a manual lens could be used on it. If you didn't get an owners manual, go to Nikon and download one or get a book about the camera and how to use. Both the owners manual and the book should tell how to use a manual lens or if it is possible to use a manual lens.

**newmikey** · 01-15-2018, 02:28 PM

Not be be nasty and congrats on your new equipment but you did get that this is a Pentax forum, right?

Capt. Kicks · 01-15-2018, 02:49 PM - **1 Like**

Aight, thanks bigdave. It's always nice to get a easy answer real quick.
Nothing nasty at all, Mikey. I noticed it was a Pentax place, but had a feeling that someone here would have a quick response for me.

stevebrot · 01-15-2018, 03:27 PM

Originally posted by bigdavephoto

Now here is the catch. I don't know if a full manual lens can be used on a Nikon body.

It depends on the body. There is a compatibility matrix in the user guide, downloadable from:

Nikon | Download center | D90

The quick take is that the D90 has broad support for all AF and CPU Nikkor lenses and more limited support for non-CPU AI/AI-converted glass. Non-AI lenses are not supported. AI non-CPU lenses are limited to M mode with manual focus. I did not spend enough time with the user guide to determine if stop-down metering is an option, though focus confirmation (e.g. electronic rangefinder) is supported.

Sounds like a great camera

Originally posted by Capt. Kicks

I noticed it was a Pentax place, but had a feeling that someone here would have a quick response for me.

Welcome to the Pentax Forums! Were we quick enough?

Steve

**newmikey** · 01-15-2018, 03:30 PM

Originally posted by Capt. Kicks

...but had a feeling that someone here would have a quick response for me.

And you were absolutely right! Welcome anyway and we may still turn you to the dark side yet!

**PJ1** · 01-15-2018, 03:31 PM

Welcome to the Forum. You are right - you can get a quick response on just about anything here. But you could always get some old Takumar manual lenses to use on that body. Then you would be truly Pentax.

stevebrot · 01-15-2018, 03:35 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

AI/AI-converted glass

...and here is the link to the Nikon guide to lens types...

https://www.nikonimgsupport.com/ni/NI_article?articleNo=000001497&configured=1&lang=en_US

From the photo you supplied, I believe your lens is AI (AIs to be precise) and should mount and work nicely, though with limitations.

Steve

stevebrot · 01-15-2018, 03:38 PM

Originally posted by PJ1

But you could always get some old Takumar manual lenses to use on that body. Then you would be truly Pentax.

Nah...won't work very well

The flange focal distances between Nikon and Pentax M42 is are too similar to support a glassless adapter.

Steve

TonyW · 01-16-2018, 07:24 AM

You have come across the limitations with this lens and body combination. IMHO it is highly unlikely that you will find any workaround to gain full CPU capability. I think the D90 brother the D300 offered better compatibility with non CPU lenses

You may find that a guesstimate of exposure coupled with the histogram is enough to be workable.

D90 lens compatibility:

Ontarian50 · 01-16-2018, 09:09 AM

While no-one expects anything but manual focus with an old manual lens on any Nikon, the problem with the D90 and similar models (D80, D70, D100 etc.) is that the camera has no Ai lug so the camera knows where the aperture ring is set.

This, of course, is the exact same thing Pentax did with the majority of their digital bodies, ie: the "crippled" KAF mount. Pentax's solution is the Green button, that quickly gives a stop down meter reading when pressed so the meter can figure out whether the lens is wide open or how far stopped down.

Nikon has no Green button, and old manual lenses on such bodies offer no metering whatsoever. You can figure out exposure with an external light meter, or just take your best guess, take a photo, and figure out how much to adjust the shutter, aperture, or ISO - your choice.

If you plan on doing a lot of shooting with old manual lenses on a Nikon, better spend a bit more and get a body with an Ai lug. Oddly enough, the D90's successor, the D7000 gained the Ai lug. The later D7100 and D7200 had it too. But the newest in the line, the D7500, has seen the lug disappear again.

01-15-2018, 03:35 PM	#8
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by stevebrot AI/AI-converted glass ...and here is the link to the Nikon guide to lens types... https://www.nikonimgsupport.com/ni/NI_article?articleNo=000001497&configured=1&lang=en_US From the photo you supplied, I believe your lens is AI (AIs to be precise) and should mount and work nicely, though with limitations. Steve Last edited by stevebrot; 01-15-2018 at 03:44 PM.

01-16-2018, 07:24 AM	#10
TonyW Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 706	You have come across the limitations with this lens and body combination. IMHO it is highly unlikely that you will find any workaround to gain full CPU capability. I think the D90 brother the D300 offered better compatibility with non CPU lenses You may find that a guesstimate of exposure coupled with the histogram is enough to be workable. D90 lens compatibility: Attached Images

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01-15-2018, 02:25 PM	#2
bigdavephoto Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: East central Indiana Photos: Gallery Posts: 893	Well first, welcome to the forum. No, there is no adapter that will allow the lens to talk to the camera. What you have is a fully manual lens that has a mount for Nikon cameras. The lens will not auto focus nor will you be able to set the F-stop with the wheels on the camera body. Focusing and setting an F-stop will need to be done by you. Now here is the catch. I don't know if a full manual lens can be used on a Nikon body. My father had a D90 but I never messed around with it enough to know if a manual lens could be used on it. If you didn't get an owners manual, go to Nikon and download one or get a book about the camera and how to use. Both the owners manual and the book should tell how to use a manual lens or if it is possible to use a manual lens.

01-15-2018, 02:28 PM	#3
newmikey Site Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,289	Not be be nasty and congrats on your new equipment but you did get that this is a Pentax forum, right?

01-15-2018, 02:49 PM - 1 Like	#4
Capt. Kicks New Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 2 Original Poster	Aight, thanks bigdave. It's always nice to get a easy answer real quick. Nothing nasty at all, Mikey. I noticed it was a Pentax place, but had a feeling that someone here would have a quick response for me.

01-15-2018, 03:27 PM	#5
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by bigdavephoto Now here is the catch. I don't know if a full manual lens can be used on a Nikon body. It depends on the body. There is a compatibility matrix in the user guide, downloadable from: Nikon \| Download center \| D90 The quick take is that the D90 has broad support for all AF and CPU Nikkor lenses and more limited support for non-CPU AI/AI-converted glass. Non-AI lenses are not supported. AI non-CPU lenses are limited to M mode with manual focus. I did not spend enough time with the user guide to determine if stop-down metering is an option, though focus confirmation (e.g. electronic rangefinder) is supported. Sounds like a great camera Originally posted by Capt. Kicks I noticed it was a Pentax place, but had a feeling that someone here would have a quick response for me. Welcome to the Pentax Forums! Were we quick enough? Steve

01-15-2018, 03:30 PM	#6
newmikey Site Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,289	Originally posted by Capt. Kicks ...but had a feeling that someone here would have a quick response for me. And you were absolutely right! Welcome anyway and we may still turn you to the dark side yet!

01-15-2018, 03:31 PM	#7
PJ1 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Toowoomba, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,486	Welcome to the Forum. You are right - you can get a quick response on just about anything here. But you could always get some old Takumar manual lenses to use on that body. Then you would be truly Pentax.

01-15-2018, 03:38 PM	#9
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by PJ1 But you could always get some old Takumar manual lenses to use on that body. Then you would be truly Pentax. Nah...won't work very well The flange focal distances between Nikon and Pentax M42 is are too similar to support a glassless adapter. Steve

01-16-2018, 09:09 AM	#11
Ontarian50 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 530	While no-one expects anything but manual focus with an old manual lens on any Nikon, the problem with the D90 and similar models (D80, D70, D100 etc.) is that the camera has no Ai lug so the camera knows where the aperture ring is set. This, of course, is the exact same thing Pentax did with the majority of their digital bodies, ie: the "crippled" KAF mount. Pentax's solution is the Green button, that quickly gives a stop down meter reading when pressed so the meter can figure out whether the lens is wide open or how far stopped down. Nikon has no Green button, and old manual lenses on such bodies offer no metering whatsoever. You can figure out exposure with an external light meter, or just take your best guess, take a photo, and figure out how much to adjust the shutter, aperture, or ISO - your choice. If you plan on doing a lot of shooting with old manual lenses on a Nikon, better spend a bit more and get a body with an Ai lug. Oddly enough, the D90's successor, the D7000 gained the Ai lug. The later D7100 and D7200 had it too. But the newest in the line, the D7500, has seen the lug disappear again.