Expert: John Oliverio - 7/3/2009

Question
Hello John
          I two  Nikon  Slrs   One is a f5 the other a D2x  both fine cameras   I also have  8 lens   But I still don't know the difference between a G lens and a D lens   Also   I just bough used  Nikon zoom  24-85  D lens 2,8  with  macro   I  don't understand why I can  only use 2.8 at 24 mm focal length   I jumps to f3 and f4     I noticed all the zooms lens do that that have a 2.8 or larger F stop  seems like when using a high shutter speed  it would use the larger f stop   is there a way around this on the camera?   The cameras are really good cameras
I really like to blur the back grounds   also i adjust the contrast on the software from the Nikon D2x a lot of times    Would it help to change the setting on the camera

Answer
John,

Hello. Thanks for the questions.  I'll try and take them in the order you asked them.

A "G" lens does not have an aperture ring.  You would not be able to use a "G" lens on an older camera that did not allow you to change the aperture on the body.

A "D" lens is a lens that sends distance information to the flash.  A lens can be a "G" and "D" both.

Your 24-85 isn't really an "f/2.8" lens.  It is an "f/2.8-4".  In other words, it is not a "constant aperture" lens.  It changes to a smaller aperture as you zoom out.  This makes the lens less expensive.  If it was a constant f2.8 it would cost three times as much. For example, the Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8 is around $1900 dollars. The 24-85 f/2.8-4 would sell for around $400.

You can set the D2x to shoot with more contrast.  But I feel it is better to shoot with the default and then set it higher in photoshop.

John