Nikon AI and AIS lenses and their difference

[@Ron-j5m]

Very best and comprehensive explanation I’ve heard Many thanks!

[@olo5881]

świetny materiał

[@thesushifiend]

Excellent video and explanation! I recently bought an FM2 and an FE2 in Tokyo and one of them included a 50mm F/1.4 Nikkor-SC which I believe is a not-so-good pre-AI lens with the scalloped focusing ring. But it definitely has dual f-stop numbering and the indexing ring on the aperture ring and the AIS-style rabbit ears. So I'm guessing it must have been converted. The image quality isn't as good technically as my 50mm AF lenses (I have both 1.8 and 1.4 lenses) but I really like its characteristics and have no intention of getting rid of it. And it works on all my digital cameras (D200, D300, D850) and my two new old film cameras. I haven't tried on my F90X though.

[@riversky33]

@@thesushifiend I also have this lens and I like it. It is Nikon’s first multi coated lens. The dual f-stop numbers indicate that it’s converted either by Nikon factory or by an individual using an AI kit sold by Nikon in the 70’s.

[@mikaelwerner1]

So to recap on what you said in the beginning; ais-lenses were made for cameras with S- and P-mode, i.e. only FA, F4 and F501. So those who don't have any of these three cameras please do not buy ais-lenses because it only drives up the prices on these lenses for no good reason at all.