Could someone please explain this to me?

[Bonkers]

I'm new to Nikon, and am thinking of making the switch from Canon. I was looking at the Nikon D2X (yes, I've got money to burn!)

I read this about the metering system:

"3) Spot Metering (3mm dia. circle, approx. 2-percent of entire frame); metering position can be linked to the focus area when using Nikkor lenses with built-in CPU"

Why is that? What is it that the lens' CPU has to do in order to allow spot metering to be linked to a given focus point? I thought that the focusing points were something identified by the camera, and that when you've selected a focus point, the camera determines that the selected focus point is where all of your "settings" will be directed, including the metering, and controls/drives the focus and aperture as appropriate to achieve your goal.

I've never heard of this requirement with Canon....but then again, all the Canon lenses I've been using have a CPU in 'em.

[Speed]

I'm new to Nikon, and am thinking of making the switch from Canon. I was looking at the Nikon D2X (yes, I've got money to burn!)

I read this about the metering system:

"3) Spot Metering (3mm dia. circle, approx. 2-percent of entire frame); metering position can be linked to the focus area when using Nikkor lenses with built-in CPU"

Why is that? What is it that the lens' CPU has to do in order to allow spot metering to be linked to a given focus point? I thought that the focusing points were something identified by the camera, and that when you've selected a focus point, the camera determines that the selected focus point is where all of your "settings" will be directed, including the metering, and controls/drives the focus and aperture as appropriate to achieve your goal.

I've never heard of this requirement with Canon....but then again, all the Canon lenses I've been using have a CPU in 'em.

I'm not even going to try to explain that one. It'll take someone with more knowledge than I've got to answer this one. Is this info on their website?

I've been shooting Nikon's for 3 1/2 years now. I started with a N80, then got a F5, and the spot metering has always been where ever the focus selector was placed - regardless of the lens used. Maybe someone worded that wrong...

[another view]

Having the spot meter set (or not set) to the AF area can be set in the Custom Functions menu. Non-CPU lenses are most manual focus lenses (there are a couple of manual focus lenses with CPU's).

AF points with manual focus lenses are kind of a moot point...

[Lionheart]

If you've got the money to burn, heck, have the best of all worlds, own both systems. I wish I had that kind of discretionary cash to burn

[another view]

Having the spot meter set (or not set) to the AF area can be set in the Custom Functions menu. Non-CPU lenses are most manual focus lenses (there are a couple of manual focus lenses with CPU's).

AF points with manual focus lenses are kind of a moot point...

Here's what I mean:

AF points are autofocus points. Looking thru the viewfinder of an AF SLR camera, you won't find a split-image or any other type of manual focusing aid. You'll just see (in the case of F100, F5) five squares on a groundglass type screen. When the subject is in focus, it will be sharp on the focusing screen - whether it was done manually or automatically. With these two cameras (at least) using a manual focus lens, the AF points act as rangefinders so you can put that AF point on your subject and it will confirm whether or not it's in focus with the LED display at the bottom of the screen.

What I meant by the last line of my previous quote is this - In my opinion, it's a little difficult to use MF lenses on an AF camera. The brighter the viewfinder, the better - and the F100 and F5 are very good here. So - using this camera with a non-CPU lens (which will be manual focus), you'll have only the center spot available for your spot meter. Not a big deal to me. Note that the compatibility will differ from camera to camera...

[Speed]

Here's what I mean:

AF points are autofocus points. Looking thru the viewfinder of an AF SLR camera, you won't find a split-image or any other type of manual focusing aid. You'll just see (in the case of F100, F5) five squares on a groundglass type screen. When the subject is in focus, it will be sharp on the focusing screen - whether it was done manually or automatically. With these two cameras (at least) using a manual focus lens, the AF points act as rangefinders so you can put that AF point on your subject and it will confirm whether or not it's in focus with the LED display at the bottom of the screen.

What I meant by the last line of my previous quote is this - In my opinion, it's a little difficult to use MF lenses on an AF camera. The brighter the viewfinder, the better - and the F100 and F5 are very good here. So - using this camera with a non-CPU lens (which will be manual focus), you'll have only the center spot available for your spot meter. Not a big deal to me. Note that the compatibility will differ from camera to camera...

Compatibility with older lenses. That's probably why they specified the CPU - meaning autofocus lenses.

Gee Steve, you're so smart.

;-)