In a recent post I asked about the myriad abbreviations for Nikkor lenses features. zardoz kindly responded with details that unveiled the mystery of the acronyms. However in reference to the G designation, zardoz indicated are these new plastic lenses w/o an aperture ring and a plastic mount. (no offence meant) All of them have a processor so they are "D" as well. I since read a couple of references to this new lens type and one says New G design enables apertures to be selected from select Nikon AF SLR camera bodies. The other described G lenses as having a microchip that communicates focal-distance to the camera. I cant find any reference to plastic lenses anywhere in the specs. Im about to take the plunge on a new Nikon D100 and for some reason virtually all the reviews show this camera with the 24-85 F3.5-4.5 G lens. Most of the sample images I have seen from this camera are also from this lens. The plastic lenses issue sound kind of scary. Can someone kindly elaborate on this lens? Thank for your help. Regards Pinto

Plastic lens BODY....glass optics. they are good lenses, just a lot lighter and less durable then the others. I believe they are a bit cheaper$$$ too. The only one I ever actually used was on an N-70, and I believe it had an aperature ring as well. Just DON'T drop 'em

He He, there was a lot of my "dinosaur-opinion" about how a lens should look and feel in this statement, Sorry. :) I wouldn't buy one because they don't have an aperture ring and so they won't work with mechanical Nikons, like the FM2 or FM3A. (I'm still planing to get me one of them) Futhermore even their mount are made of plastic and I dont like this at all. But that's just me! If the lense performes well, you only want to use them with newer AF cameras and you don't expect them to be build for eternity, why not? As for the microchip, every "G" as well as every "D" lense has this microchip. The only purpose of this chip is to give distance information for the 3D matrix metering and the 3D TTL-flash metering. cheers Thomas Oh, and I found another good Nikon site with a brief description of all these signs: http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech.htm http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/nikortek.htm

You're both absolutely right :) ....let's compare some prices Lens #1 AF 28-80/3.5-5.6 D 91 Euros ($80 or so I assume) Lens #2 AF 24-85/2.8-4.0 IF 712 Euros ($620 or so) Lens #3 AF 28-70/2.8 AFS IF ED 1969 Euros ($1750 or so) Lens #1 is made in China, not in the Nikon factory. It's made of cheaper materials, but the optics are very good. Any camera that comes with a standard lens has something like this. If you drop it it's indeed broken beyond repair....but if it comes down lens first, it'll probably just break and fall into pieces, leaving your body's lens mount undamaged :) Lens #2 is probably the same quality optically speaking. It's much better built, and from the Nikon factory. Although Sigma and Tokina produce much more solid lenses in the same price/quality range, for 25% to 50% less. Lens #3 is probably one of the best lenses ever built :) Not just for Nikon, but just ever (with exception of leica 1.2 lenses perhaps ?). I think they've got some kind of wizard locked up in the dungeons of the Nikon factory, who magically produces these lenses. The quality of your shots will be so much better....I've once had the pleasure of trying one from a friend once, and it's really amazing. Well, if you're not that experienced go for the $80 lens and use it for everything. It'll be very sufficient, even when you'd buy a pro nikon body and when you'd drop it you just buy a new one - something you wouldn't do with a $600 lens :)

Thank you for the clarifications. What a helpful group! Frankly, Ive been tripping a shutter for many years, and have never used anything but Nikkor lenses. But, Ive never bought a auto-focus lens or a digital camera, so its kinda like starting over again. zardoz, Im probably a lot like you in my opinion about the look and feel. Thats why I asked the question. The bayonet mount is made of plastic?! I cant even imagine. How in the world does it hold up? Rork1973, I think the new referenced 24-85 G lens goes for about $300.00, so I hope its not too junky. It at least should help me figure out the D100. Thanks for the help. Pinto

Well, I think in future well see a lot more G-lenses. Not because they are cheaper, but because the new bodies dont need an aperture ring anymore. And there will be even some G-lenses with metal mount (the new AF-S VR 70-200 G for example). Just keep in mind that you cant really use old manual focus lenses on the D100, and with normal AF lenses you set the aperture with the front dial - not with the aperture ring, so go for G-lenses, save some money. By the way, I would suggest buying the 24-85mm 2,8-4 IF ED, not the 24-85 mm G, because the former is macro capable up to a ratio of 1:2.

Thank you for the response hendrikm. Ill look at the IF ED lens. When you also factor in the D100 digital conversion multiplier of 1.5, it throws an interesting twist on things I guess. Why do you say that manual focus lenses are out? The reviews I have read indicate that you can use any F mount lens with the D100. There is a manual focusing mode. Did I miss something? Thanks Pinto

You can use manual lenses in manual mode on the F80/N80 (every other mode will give you an error) but metering will not work, not even in manual mode. Not sure if this is true for the D100 as well. Furthermore focussing is a bit tricky without any support from a focussing indicator or the like. I also doubt that TTL-flash metering will work with a MF-lenses but I never tried this so I'm not sure here. hope that helps Thomas

I have to agree to zardot reply. You can attach MF-lenses to the D100, you can release and everything, but you have no internal lightmetering - you have to use an external lightmeter or guess the exposure. You can manually focus every AF-lens, just throw the switch at the front of the D100 body to M (instead of S or C).

Thank you for the additional clarifications. External metering isnt a problem, but the focusing sure sounds tricky. Gonna be whole new experience.... Thanks Pinto