I decided to try the AF-P DX Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 G VR Nikkor on my Nikon D70. The two are not supposed to be compatible as the lens focuses and sets its aperture electronically using signals from recent Nikon cameras, while the Nikon D70 is too old for that arrangement.
First shot was simply the ceiling light. It showed something, and with post-adjustment more was revealed that indicated at the wide position sharp focus was possible. Think a fixed focus lens. (“Even a broken clock is correct twice a day.”).
Stepping outside and banging off a shot the image was really dark. The image data says it was exposed at 800 sec and f/18. The ISO was was relatively low (ISO 200).
The second shot shows all the adjustment to correct the image iPhoto could provide.
Moving the ISO to 1000, the camera was still using 800 sec and f/18. To be fair the camera was on “M”, so either might have been adjusted.
Again you see the straight image and the corrected one.
Swivelling and using the zoom tube to focus on this item three feet away turned out almost perfect!
So being cocky I swivelled again and shot this image in complete shade. I could—knowing what I know now—have adjusted the camera for much better exposure if the lens was responding to the camera (which we haven’t established yet).
Still the adjusted in iPhoto shot looked pretty good.
I tried using the zoom adjustment tube to set focus on the frost. Also the ISO is now set to 1600. This turned out pretty sharp too.
This is a closer, tighter view adjusting the zoom to find a focus area.
You can see the outstanding sharpness as I returned to the second last shot for a backlit view of frost. NOTE: As the zoom changes, so does the aperture so slight corrections towards perfect exposure seem to creep in.
Using the flash and the zoom to find focus this ended up being shot at ISO 1600 500 sec and f/18.
Further testing on manual indicates the camera will set the lens’s aperture and shutter speed!
This image was 160 sec at f/10 and ISO 200.
So testing began again using the “Auto” setting on the Nikon D70’s dial. All shots taken at ISO 200. Note: all focussing was done with a combination of setting various lengths on the zoom tube and walking back and forth until focus was achieved. The lens is not even trying to focus as it doesn’t interface with the Nikon D70. If the VR is working is also unknown.
With the zoom all the way wide (to 18 mm) this exposure is right on, and the focus is sharp too. (320 sec at f/9)
Pointing down from where the last shot was taken gives us this shot, equally sharp. (200 sec at f/7.1)
Swivelling again (160 sec at f/6.3)
This shot has been enhanced in iPhoto as the original was all middle grey (using the +/- camera exposure adjustment when making the shot to correct the exposure would have been a smart thing to do!).
Shot at 22 mm. (200 sec at f/7.1)
Also shot at 22 mm at right angles to the last shot. (160 sec at f/6.3)
In an attempt to see how close one could shoot the zoom was adjusted to 55 mm and at about two feet this is what you get. (125 at f/5.6 NOTE: this is the lens’s maximum aperture at 55 mm)
Flash popped up and at about 1.5 m, with zoom at 25 mm. (60 sec at f/4 — the max aperture at 22 mm focal length)
So to sum up, the lens will work with the camera I have. It is not doing many of the things it should, but in a pinch it can be worked with!
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