How to use Nikon 50 mm lens?

Question

Hi guys,

I am very green at photography and I just got my first Nikon D80 with a bunch of lenses and one of them I can not figure out it is a 50 mm, every time a plug it in to camera everything gets blurry. Please if anybody knows the answer help me to start using it? Thank you for your answers. :-)))

Answer 1

I don't know which 50 mm lens you have but it may be an older manual focus one not an AF one. If this is the case use the ring on the lens and turn it until it is in focus

If you can tell me which series lens it is I can tell you more

Thanks

Answer 2

First look at the writing on the lens.  If it doesn't say "AF" or "AF Nikkor" anywhere...its not autofocus, its manual.  My manual focus 50mm says on the front "Nikon NIKKOR 50mm 1:1.4 and then the serial number" wheras an autofocus one usually will say "Nikon AF NIKKOR 50mm 1:1.4" or something similar.  

With a D80 and a manual lens, the camera will have NO metering whatsoever.  You will have to 'guess and check' by putting the camera into "M" (manual) mode and adjust shutter speed conventionally, while adjusting aperture with the aperture ring at the rear of the lens.  Take a photo, if its too bright, turn up the shutter speed and/or stop down the lens (turn the aperture ring towards a bigger number), if its too dim, open the aperture (lower number) and/or go for a longer shutter speed.

Relax, this isn't as hard as it sounds, its how all photographers used  to do things before in-camera meters if they didn't have a hand held (external) meter.  At least with digital you can see the result immediately, not five days later in the dark room!

Luckily, the camera will still alert you when it is in focus with a green dot at the bottom left of the viewfinder.  You will soon get a 'feel' for finding when things are in focus even without the green dot.  

Manual lenses are great for beginning photographers, because they make you slow down, and learn the fundamentals.  Modes like "Auto" and "Program" are easily abused by new photographers, who end up never learning how to control a camera properly to create an image.  Find books on general photography that will teach you to control exposure.  

Note: on some of the more advanced Nikon cameras, ie D200, D300, D700, D2, D3, etc you *do* get metering with manual lenses, though of course they are still manual focus.  If you end up really liking manual lenses (and there are many reasons to) then you may consider upgrading sometime in the future to the D300, or whatever its equivalent is when you upgrade.  Be glad you have a Nikon!  Other camera brands don't retain compatibility with manual focus lenses on newer cameras!

Good Luck!