So, I'm looking for another lens-

[attack_donut]

I have an N4004, with a 35-70 f/2.8 Nikkor AF lens attached. I *love* this lens, it's razor sharp (to my eye anyway) and given the limited reach, forces me to re-think how to get the shot...

...but lately I'm finding myself wanting some more lens, new stuff, the G lens for example, won't work, as it doesn't have an aperture ring, and DX lenses are out as well, for the same reason.

Okay, so is the VR lenses (? I'm not certain but I was told VR lenses won't work either) and so on...

...which pretty much leaves me with eBay, which is fine as virtually all of my camera gear has been from there anyway.

Right, so, what I'd like is perhaps a macro lens, and then something in the 100mm+ range (say, 100-300 maybe?) that is constant f/stop throughout, if such a thing can be had.

As I've mentioned earlier, my weapon of choice is a Pentax, but more and more I'm liking...no, loving this Nikon so I want to get more from it.

Suggestions, comments, etc.

Cheers!
A_D

[TimF]

From memory, whether such things as AF-S and VR will work on older Nikon bodies depends in part on the battery power available. A Silent Wave lens worked fine for me with an F4, but, without prior proof, I'd also be doubtful whether it (or VR) would go on the camera you have.

Moving onto the lens, try looking at Nikon's 80-200mm f/2.8. There are several versions of this, the earliest of which is a one-touch zoom (ie the same ring controls both zoom position and focusing), this was later replaced by a two-touch version. Which of these you'd prefer is a personal thing (my choice would be the 2 ring type), but you do need to know that the first versions of the lens had no tripod mount. The one I'd look for would be the version immediately before the AF-S version.

[Mark_Norton]

If you're looking for a micro lens, the original 60mm f2.8 AF-D is a very fine lens and has an aperture ring.

[GeoffR]

I have an N4004, with a 35-70 f/2.8 Nikkor AF lens attached. I *love* this lens, it's razor sharp (to my eye anyway) and given the limited reach, forces me to re-think how to get the shot...

...but lately I'm finding myself wanting some more lens, new stuff, the G lens for example, won't work, as it doesn't have an aperture ring, and DX lenses are out as well, for the same reason.

Okay, so is the VR lenses (? I'm not certain but I was told VR lenses won't work either) and so on...

I think you are wrong here the N4004 was sold in the rest of the world as the F401 which does NOT have an aperture ring coupling, just a minimum aperture switch. The aperture can be controlled by a dial on the top of the camera so I think you may be OK with G series lenses, DX lenses are out because they will give serious vignetting. AF-S and AF-I lenses will not focus but will work otherwise. This should increase the range of lenses for you to consider.

[Learning]

Is the F401 really worth preserving? For film the superb F100 is available at stupidly low prices second hand. Even the obese F6 professional camera is within reach of amateurs second hand. If you might be happy with manual focus then the FMn2 might suit. Even in its day the F401 was not a brilliant camera. There are much better Nikons available for film and due to the craze for digital those slightly older cameras are remarkable value. Normally I suggest spending money on lenses rather than cameras but for a user of an F401 I definitely suggest a better engineered camera.

[GeoffR]

... Even the obese F6 professional camera ...

I think that is unfair, compared to some DSLRs the F6 is a positive light weight! However, I do agree that if the F401 is limiting choice of lenses then a newer body is the order of the day. The F100 is a good choice but F90 bodies aren't expensive and are very capable, likewise the F801 or the F80. Mifsuds have F5s at under £400 and F4 bodies are cheap too. The F4 is actually better suited to MF but that is another story.

[Learning]

compared to some DSLRs the F6 is a positive light weight!

True but in terms of most 35mm film cameras it is heavy. The F6 aside, we seem to agree that a better engineered SLR might be a good idea for an F401 user who is sticking to film. I did not necessarily say newer,and indeed one of the cameras that I mentioned was older, but you are right in that respect if the user wants to use G lenses.

[attack_donut]

Hi gang-

Thanks for the tips. As far as what lenses attach and do not attach, I was going by what I had read, and being new to Nikon, easily confused. Hence the reason I am asking here.

All the same, I love my N4004, and until I feel I have outgrown its capabilities, then I will stick with it. Also, a divorce has eaten up all my dough, so 400 pounds for a camera, no matter how nice a camera it is, is *way* *way* *way* out of my price range right now (I'm generally working with the 0-40 pounds range. Lawyers....expensive and I sometimes wonder if they are worth it, but I digress)

Was given another free lens today, a 70-240 f/4.5-5.6, which leads me to this question:

With the other lens being a constant f/stop throughout the range...how will the camera handle a variable f/stop lens?

In other words, I set it to f/4.5, but then zoom to 240mm, do I have to remember to re-set my f/stop to 5.6, or will the camera do/say something to me automatically?

Cheers!
A_D

[GeoffR]

No, the meter will compensate for the 1/3 stop difference quite happily.

[attack_donut]

Cool, thanks