Derrel
Mr. Rain Cloud
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2009
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- USA
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Derrel, should I be too concerned with AI vs AI-S? Research is telling me that there really is not a difference (especially on my camera), but that the AI feels more durable. Any insight?
The Ai series lenses have a somewhat different "feel" to them than the Ai-S series. The Ai lenses have stiffer focusing ring travel, typically slower (more degrees of turn) focusing travel, and in the 105/2.5's case, the AI model has no built-in lens shade. The exterior mechanics (barrel and focusing rings) of the Ai series is subtly different.
The 105/2.5 Ai-S has a shorter focusing throw, different cosmetics externally, a built-in sliding lens hood, an a feather-touch focusing movement; the Ai's focusing action is much stiffer. The AiS lenses all have a second, smaller f/stop scale, useful for cameras that have ADR (aperture direct readout) in their viewfinders.
One difference is the way the lens diaphragms actuate: the Ai-S models have a linear diaphragm action, the Ai ones do not. As far as feeling more durable--the stiffer focusing mechanisms that the Ai series had does make them feel, well, in a way, more "durable" to some people.
BOTH Ai and Ai-S lenses came with the meter coupling prong AKA "Buckhorns".