6 Comments for 'Will lenses from older Nikon SLR cameras fit the newer digital slr cameras?'

1.  
   CGIV76
   November 15, 2008 | 6:57 am
    

   I was told that if the lens is automatic, it will fit, but the focal length will be different. I have my doubts. Check with a camera store, or call Nikon to be on the safe side.
   References :
   M, RPO

2.  
   uhm101
   November 15, 2008 | 7:17 am
    

   As long as the lenses are at least Ai (from 1977 onwards) or have been Ai-converted either by a factory kit or by machining the aperture ring with metalworking gear you will be able to get some functionality with them on modern Nikon DSLRs. Easy way to tell is if the edge of the aperture ring facing the camera body is totally smooth it is not Ai. Ai and later lenses have a raised area on the edge which engages a tab on an Ai-capable camera body.

   pre-Ai (Auto Nikkor, Nikkor-C, etc.) lenses will not mount on modern gear and may damage the camera body if you try and force the issue.
   References :

3.  
   cabbiinc
   November 15, 2008 | 7:42 am
    

   From what I have heard, the older non auto focus lenses work just fine. The drawback is you dont have autofocus. You may not have metering capability.

   All this is talk though. Take your lenses into a good camera shop (yeah that means you wont go to Walmart) and ask to try them on a new body. If the guy doesnt even want to try it he may just want to sell you lenses (some of these guys get paid on commission you know), try another shop. If the lens fits it will work. Nikon wouldnt make a new camera body that accepted an older lens that would give it issues.
   References :

4.  
   anthony h
   November 15, 2008 | 8:05 am
    

   It will depend upon the specific lens and the digital camera in question. If you have the older manual focus Ai lenses, your best bets are the D200, D300, D2xs, or D3. All of those cameras should mount and meter. There will be a 1.5 focal length magnifier, except on the D3. So a 50mm becomes a 50mm x 1.5 = 75mm, in terms of view.

   If you have autofocus lenses, then the newer digital SLRs will work with those, although the D40 and D40x will not autofocus except with AF-S and AF-I lenses or Sigma HSM lenses.
   References :

5.  
   vienna2001
   November 15, 2008 | 8:15 am
    

   Here's The Great Chart.

   Memorize it thoroughly– there will be a quiz later

   http://www.nikonians.org/nikon/slr-lens.html
   References :

6.  
   George Y
   November 15, 2008 | 8:42 am
    

   Inquiring minds want to know….

   So here's a article and chart for you.

   http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility.htm
   http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm

   Bottomline: If you have the older Nikon lenses with the coupling prong, you can mount them and manually focus on most of the new DSLR Nikons. If you have AF lenses, you're good to go.

   With AF lenses, you'll have virtually full compatibilty with D200, D300 and above. You'll have manual metering on D50, D70, D70s, D80, and D100. And the D40 and D40x won't autofocus with some of them, but can work with manual
   focus.

   With AI, AI converted, and AI-s lenses, you'll have full metering only on D200, D300, D1, D2, & D3.

   I hope you find this helpful. Fortunately, Nikon has provided some degree of compatibility with its heritage lenses, unlike the other major camera makers.

   Canon dropped the FD mount for the EF. Minolta/Sony, Olympus, and other also left their older lenses as orphans.
   References :
   Photographer for 45+ years

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