Will Nikon Nikkor-ED 500 MM Lens 1:4P mount on a D40?

Matt,

The 500mm f/4 Ai-P will mount onto your D40 without any hitch. As for meter readings, I think the D40 will not have 3D matrix metering when used with the 500mm f/4 Ai-P but don't let that stop you.

I'd forget about the 1000mm reflex Nikkor and get yourself a TC 300 or TC 301 for the 500mm lens - the 500mm Ai-P makes beautiful images.

I purchased my old early serial number 500mm f/4 Ai-P about 6-9 months back for around US $1500 the photo in your link shows a less battered copy than mine but you never know your luck........

The 1000mm is, in my experience, a better lens than the 500 mirror lens, but the 500mm f/4 is by far a sharper and better all around lens than the 1000mm. The downside is that the 1000mm is only f/11, making it difficult to focus. The other objectionable problem with a cat lens is the specular highlights are rendered as doughnut shapes (by the mirror unit)--not very pleasing for many shots.

The 1000mm will be usable on your D40, but your TCs are not very useful with the 1000mm. Of course the lens is always stopped down<g>. If the lenses are comparable in price, I would pick up the 500mm f/4 and TC. The 1000mm is nearly impossible to use without a tripod--and by that I mean a GOOD tripod. Even with my Linhof tripod, I still had to wait for it to "settle down" before making the exposure with a release cord, but good pics can be made with it.

Sorry to reuse this image all the time for discussion of the 1000mm, but it's the only one I have scanned that I know for sure was from that lens. Note: the moon is not sandwiched together with the rest of the image. This is the size of the moon with this lens, plus the DOF is so shallow that I had to choose the statue for the focal point and not the moon.

It's manual focus only, but since it's an AI-P lens (manual focus lens with a CPU), you'll get full matrix metering.

there both extremely well priced but I think I will go with the 500 as it sounds like it will be more useful for me. Thanks for the quick responses, Very nice pic by the way.

lol, everyone in canada has the same buying opportunity and now you also posted the lenses on a photography site! that is great for keeping the bids low! good work!

Keep in mind that you will need an extremely solid tripod to use either of these two lenses as even the wind can cause enough camera shake with a typical tripod to degrade IQ.

I have a Nikkor 500mm f4 P that I use with a D700. As Elliot mentions you will need a very solid tripod and head to get sharp beautiful shots. I don't think it will be easy to focus with the view finder of the D40. You might consider a new focus screen for the D40 or better yet a body with a better view finder.

lol, keep in mind the price is the minimum bid price, and they do not list the winning bid until the auction is over, but sometimes you do get a deal. I just got a visatec 3 head lighting kit for $560 bucks!

The D40 has a very mediocre viewfinder and no live view. Therefore, manual focusing with the 500mm/f4 P will certainly be challenging. With the 1000mm/f11 mirror, I wish you lots of luck.