Old lenses on a Nikon D40X

Nicola.P

Nicola.P

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Nicola
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I know someone posted a link to a site that told me ages ago but i cannot find it now (tried searching on here too) but I noticed that the old Nikon lenses designed for use on the film cameras are alot cheaper than the newer ones made for DSLR's as long as I don't mind using manual focus can these be used on the newer camera bodies??
 
You can also mount pre-AI lenses (a unique D40, D40x, D60 trick) and these are dirt cheap.

You can get pre-AI lenses for pennies, and they generally have the same optics as the later AI or AI-S lenses that followed.
 
Plus the older lenses are usually far far nicer to focus manually with, it actually makes it a pleasure. Nothing wrong with manually focusing imo, once you're good at it its more reliable than AF just not as quick.
 
It makes financial sense too. Some of the old professional lenses are available at bargain prices.

MF is dead easy, and very accurate, and it doesn't take long to get used to. After all, 20 years ago, the worlds finest cameras were all manual focus! You didn't see a lot of unsharp pictures then, indeed those taken by the best photographers, and quite a few amateurs still stand the tightest scrutiny today.
 
Just have a really good look at old lenses as any fungus may spread into the rest of your gear if they're in the same bag
 
I don't have a problem manual focusing as that is all i have done so far (can't work out how to auto focus :bonk: )

I don't really want to lose the metering though.

I know a while ago someone posted a link to a website that listed all the new cameras and then listed all the old lenses and stated whether they would fit and also what options you would lose. i cannot find it now though.

ETA.

A quick google of 'lens compatibility' and it was the first link shown! For anyone interested http://www.nikonians.org/nikon/slr-lens.html
 
Metering isn't such a big deal either... Unless you only get one chance at a shot then the worst that'll happen is you take about 3 or 4 shots. Often you're better off as you'll get a much more preferable exposure by estimating yourself anyway, particularly when it comes to wide angle shots.

Have a go in manual mode, ignore the meter readout and see what results you get. Not such a biggie imo, not if there are bargain lenses to be had anyway :)

EDIT - handy link btw!
 
Had a bad experience not using metering before but that was my own stupid fault.

Only got into photography not long ago taking the odd snap here and there on a compact on auto. Wet out and bought the full DSLR kit not having a clue how to use it and went to try and shoot flying seagulls in full manual using manual focus...you can guess what the results were like :bonk:

Since then I read up and am not so bad on manual now so may well give it ago and hey if they are dirt cheap lenses then why not. Will also help me to understand light abit as well.
 
i have a D40 can someone explain to me which old lenses will work or is it all old nikon lenses?? but they will only be MF
 
Have a look at the link I posted halfway down. It details which types of lenses will fit and also gives details as to whether they will work as auto focus or manual focus and also if the metering will work with them.
 
thanks , im quite new to all this and that is even more confusing now lol
 
I,m not sure but think mine are AI,they have the bunny ears anyway,
and work (in maual of course) on my D300.
I have some shots here http://www.flickr.com/photos/rickuspics/ in the old manual nikon lenses set,suprise...

But my eyesight is a bit suspect,LOL so some of the shots might not be sharp because of this...lol:lol::naughty:
 
Well just briefly for your camera


Pre-AI and AI,AI-S, E lenses (these numbers/letters are normally written on the lens for example the lens you will most likely have with your camera is AF-S, have a look at the box and the lens and you should see what I mean) you will only be able to use manual focus and you will have no metering system so you will have to guess as to what aperture, shutter and ISO to use.

AI-P lenses you will need to manual focus and it gives you no exposure metering (not sure how thats different to the above though??)

F3AF lenses - Do not use, they will damage the camera.

AF and AF-D lenses you will need to manual focus but metering will work

AF-I and AF-S lenses will auto focus and metering works

G lenses these will auto focus if they are also AF-S lenses, G-Af lenses will only manual focus but metering will work.

VR lenses the Vibration Reduction system will only work with G Vr and D Vr lenses (everything else works)

Hope that makes some sense?? :)
 
that makes loads of sense thank you

hopefully ill be able to get some bargin lenses now :)
 
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