how much does a nikon d-meter really need the d-chip? color metering doesn't need it, and it's really the color metering that revolutionized the matrix meter, right? distance isn't really all that important, right?
i've been curious about this for a while, and i just can't find anything substantial about it. (links would be good.)
i suppose what i mean is this: does an af lens without the d-chip hinder the camera at all, compared to one that has? what does it really allow the meter to do?
dammit. i hadn't thought of that. i'm getting an sb800 soon. i'll probably need the d-version of my 50mm for it to expose correctly every time, then, huh?
rafadavidc wrote:
dammit. i hadn't thought of that. i'm getting an sb800 soon. i'll probably need the d-version of my 50mm for it to expose correctly every time, then, huh?
--RC
Well, I have a 50mm/1.4, but it's my old manual focus AIS. So I bought the 50mm/1.8 D AF when I got a D70 and an SB-800. It works great and I'm sure the rangefinder data helps with the flash exposures. But to be honest, I have not tested the two lenses with the flash to see the difference.
David R wrote:
I beleive you need a D lens (or G) if you want to get i-TTL. Other flash modes will work fine.
this is not the case. the d70 only supports i-ttl, and the flash will still fire when i'm using my 50mm.
what is weird is that my 50mm f1.4 AF-D lens with my SB800 does not play well with the D2x at all, I just returned from a scout at the church I will be shooting a wedding in tomorrow and the 50 was just not even in the same ballpark as the 28-70 f2.8 AFS lens , I am going to shoot because of that with the 28-70 and do more tests later on , of course I will be using the 50 for the stuff once the ceremony stages from the isles and the walk ins to the main portion with the priest out of respect even tho the Priest is cool with flash at any time as are the B&G
D lenses don't do anything for you unless you need to make flash photos straight into mirrors, in which case the D lenses will give more exposure. That's it, honest.
Another very subtle improvement you may safely ignore.
These lenses supposedly let the camera know the distance at which the lens has focused.
In very rare instances supposedly it helps the matrix meter, especially with flash, determine the exposure more accurately.
KenRockwell.com has tested AF-D vs AF lenses and found no difference, even in difficult flash situations.
The only improvement is if you want to photograph straight into mirrors. Without a D lens you'll get underexposure because the image of the flash in the mirror fools the meter into underexposure. With D lenses you'll get a properly exposed image of a bright flash. I've expended film on this foolishness so you don't have to."...Show more →
I personally don't really care about the D feature. It really is just an extra thing to get you to pay more for essentially the same lens. If I find a good deal on a D lens I want, I'll get it; but I find a good deal for a non-D lens, I wouldn't hesitate to get that either.
I've used my 85mm f/1.8 non-D for several months in several different situations and have never gotten ANY type of flash/exposure problems.
