I have recently switched from canon to Nikon. And had zero clue how to buy lenses for Nikon, being a canon person for the last 16 years. THANK YOU so very much for such a detailed overview! This is exactly what I need!
I am in shock with how helpful this video is! Definitely subscribed. Very clear, detailed, and still to the point! And all the resources provided… thank you for your time in creating this content!
I am so glad that you found it helpful. Check out my website, if you haven't already www.focusedcamera.net under the Beginners tab scroll down to the extras/freebies for lessons and cheatsheets and when the pop-up deploys sign up for my mailing list. I send out newsletters a few times a year with tips and new material.
Absolutely helps "demystify" the codes on Nikon i.e Nikkor f mount lenses... simple to understand with helpful example photos to highlight your points. GREAT VIDEO. Thank you.
Yes, it does! The FTZ adapter will adapt the F mount lenses to the new Z mount mirrorless camera bodies. When choosing a Z mount lens most of the lens descriptors for focal length, maximum aperture values, and glass upgrades as outlined in the video are still the same. Thanks for watching my video! :)
Good to know! I should have recognized it was the same symbol from all the frats/sororities that were around during my college days. Thanks for watching my video 😃
You're not correct. The Phi symbol is usually slightly oblong vertically and the slash is vertical. ⏀ is phi. The symbol used on lenses is a circle with the slash at an angle and is used in engineering to indicate diameter. ⍉ is the symbol used on lenses. A lens that has a (⌀62) would be a lens that has a 62mm filter size.
It's annoying when you go from telescopes to camera lenses because the telescopes always list objective aperture in mm and then the focal ratio but camera lenses like to list focal length and focal ratio which makes it really annoying to find lenses with a respectable aperture size.
Hi! Most of the letter abbreviations have remained the same even for the Z mount. You need a Z Nikkor lens but then the DX or FX designations for APS-C/Crop lens and Full Frame lens are going to remain the same. The focal length numbers are still going to be in mm such as 12-28mm is a zoom and a single number like 20mm is a prime lens. The maximum aperture numbers such as f/2.8 are still read the same way as well. There may be a few additional letter codes that Nikon has added to identify upgrades on a lens that are not in this video, but the basic ones like VR for Vibration Reduction are still the same. Here is a list of the Nikkor Z line lenses offered - if you are looking at a lens on this list I'd be happy to tell you more about the markings on that lens if you let me know which one you are considering: www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/camera-lenses/mirrorless-lenses/index.page
Nikon F mount lens can be used interchangeably, meaning it will mount to the camera and not damage the camera. Depending on the lens/camera body you may have crop factor or the crop lens setting in the camera may engage, and in some cases some functions of the lens may not work. Here is a Nikon article about this: www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/a/products-and-innovation/the-dx-and-fx-formats.html and the links below the video I made will take you to some of their compatibility charts. They also have great customer support. If in doubt call Nikon directly.
No one seems to be able to tell me what Nikon camera can I use the AF - VR NIKKOR 80-400 1:4.5 - 5.6D on. I paid 2200.00 on the lense 15 yrs ago. I still want to use this on a newer Nikon body. Have no idea which body will work with it.
Nikon has some complicated lens compatibility charts. I am going to include a few links, starting with their support page. I would recommend emailing or calling them directly and asking for a list of compatible camera bodies. www.nikonproductsupport.com/s/?language=en_US This is my "go-to" list for lens compatibility, but you have to know a camera body first, then go look at the list of lenses: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1aRsoBGEwXJ5H2Dy7nZDzD2RlIrIRysQaDKP3YeLXe-4/edit?usp=share_link That list also hasn't been updated in 2-3 years so newer models are not included. A few other resources from Nikon: www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/a/tips-and-techniques/which-nikkor-lens-type-is-right-for-your-dslr.html www.nikonusa.com/Images/Learn-Explore/Photography-Techniques/2011/Which-Nikkor-is-Right-for-You/Media/NIKKOR-lens-compatibility-chart.pdf www.nikonimgsupport.com/eu/BV_article?articleNo=000035705&configured=1&lang=en_GB Again, tho' I think the easiest way to get your answer is to call them directly. Good luck, and thanks for watching my video! :)
In the past the gold ring and/or letter N in gold emblem have been considered the pro line of lenses which would be their equivalent to Canon L or Sony GM. For the new mirrorless they are using the letter S. Of course there can be exceptional lenses that are not considered pro so I always research and compare before buying using sites like DXO Mark, Camera Decision, or the in-depth reviews posted by Ken Rockwell.
Hi! I just recently purchased a 50 mm Nikkor focal 1.4 lens. I’m very new to this lens. I’m struggling trying to focus it. Could you tell me where I should set it on the focusing ring?
What camera are you using? And do you have your lens and camera set to autofocus or are you trying to manually focus? The only time you should need the focusing ring on the lens is if you are trying to manual focus instead of letting the camera do it or if you are trying to override autofocus to tweak focus after the camera does its job (and depending on lens and camera there may be settings or switches to use override without damaging the lens). If you go to my website and get our contact info then you can call, text, or email us for more detailed help. www.focusedcamera.net
@@victoriaj2899 Oh, okay. Sorry that I was confused by what you meant, but glad you got it figured out. If you bookmark our website you can always call or email if you get stuck and need help in the future! Thanks for watching my video :)
Sorry about that. The Medium.com website changed their creator terms so blog posts are only on my website now at www.focusedcamera.net in the resources section.
What is the better budget lens for a beginner on the D3200 it currently has a 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6GII. I am wanting to try taking wildlife photos from a distance I don't want to be lugging around a big telephoto lens that you see professionals using. Thanks
Thanks for watching my video. Yes, you are right, I use the American pronunciation (or at least more commonly used in the US). Since Nikon is a made up word there does seem to be multiple ways to say it. I have even heard Nee-koh, where the N at the end is soft/silent. It is interesting how different parts of the world use different pronunciations or even altogether different words (boot vs trunk for instance) for the same thing. 😃
The ratio aspect gets complicated, and isn't really important for understanding what the notations mean, but I will try to explain a bit more. If you see a ratio on the lens like 1:2.8 you only need to look at the part after the 1: so just the 2.8 which means the lens has a maximum aperture of f/2.8. If you see a ratio with two numbers such as 1:3.5 - 5.6, again just ignore the 1: part and look at what follows the 1: which is 3.5 - 5.6. This means the lens has a variable aperture (it is a zoom lens). When not zoomed in, the maximum aperture is 3.5 and when fully zoomed the maximum aperture is 5.6. Now, let's go back to why it is written as a ratio at all? The ratio tells us the relationship between the focal length and the diameter of the aperture. The aperture opening is a fraction of the focal length of the lens. So, if I have a 100mm lens set to f/4, then the aperture opening is 1/4th of 100mm. Therefore at f/4 (1:4) the aperture opening is 100/4 or 25mm. This complicated numbering system allows for us to know that our exposure should be the same even if we have two different lenses if we set them to the same aperture (all other things being equal). It is a universal method for creating equal image brightness using different optics. Here is an article that goes into much more detail with more examples if you are interested: www.scientificlib.com/en/Physics/Optics/FNumber.html But, as far as understanding the notations on your lens when making a purchase, you don't need to know the math or do any division or work with fractions. I hope this helps explain. Thanks for watching my video!
