film camera lenses: I see a lot of inexpensive Nikon film cameras on ebay with what sound like excellent lenses. will these lenses work on my D5300 using manual focus, or is the...

nauticalmike

I see a lot of inexpensive Nikon film cameras on ebay with what sound like excellent lenses. will these lenses work on my D5300 using manual focus, or is the aperture non functional as well?

BebuLamar

Depending on which lenses but very like they will work but won't auto focus or allow the meter to work. You will have to use the camera totally manual which in my opinion isn't all that bad. For older auto focus lenses they will allow the meter to work and you can use them in M, A, S or P exposure mode but they won't auto focus.

James Wood Loc: Midland, Virginia

I found out on my wife's d5200 that even if the lens fits you can't manual meter with the camera. You can manually focus but no light meter function.

r.grossner Loc: Rockford IL & Sarasota FL

For crop frame Nikons you need a D7100 or D7200. Most FF Nikons can meter in M or A modes with AI lenses or AI modified lenses. I use 5 manual focus AI lenses on my D750 often. You need to put the Minimum aperture and focal length in the NON-CPU Lens list on one of the cameras menus for each lens to be used and then select it when mounting one on the camera. AI lenses have a ridge on the aperture ring which moves a tab on the camera body lens mount which communicates with the metering system.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

r.grossner wrote:

For crop frame Nikons you need a D7100 or D7200. Most FF Nikons can meter in M or A modes with AI lenses or AI modified lenses. I use 5 manual focus AI lenses on my D750 often. You need to put the Minimum aperture and focal length in the NON-CPU Lens list on one of the cameras menus for each lens to be used and then select it when mounting one on the camera. AI lenses have a ridge on the aperture ring which moves a tab on the camera body lens mount which communicates with the metering system.

I don't own any Nikon Vintage manual lenses. But, I've been told the the consumer cameras, such as the D3xxx and D5xxx Series, do not have the Non CPU menu setup. Only the higher end consumer cameras have it. Is that true? And if so, how do you set it up on those cameras? And will an Ai/Ais lenses work on them?

TucsonCoyote Loc: Tucson AZ

nauticalmike wrote:

I see a lot of inexpensive Nikon film cameras on ebay with what sound like excellent lenses. will these lenses work on my D5300 using manual focus, or is the aperture non functional as well?

You can read up on all you want to know and more by doing a search here on UHH,
There are internet links that will answer all your questions also, the D5300 is not
really the camera you want if you want to use "older" Nikon lenses.
Happy reading.....

BebuLamar

mas24 wrote:

I don't own any Nikon Vintage manual lenses. But, I've been told the the consumer cameras, such as the D3xxx and D5xxx Series, do not have the Non CPU menu setup. Only the higher end consumer cameras have it. Is that true? And if so, how do you set it up on those cameras? And will an Ai/Ais lenses work on them?

Just put the lens on the camera. Focus manually with the focusing ring and judge focus looking at the image in the viewfinder. Set the aperture on the aperture ring. Set the shutter speed via the command dial. The camera has to be in M mode. Guess the exposure and if you're good you would be quite close the first shot if not chimp and adjust. You can also use a separate meter. I used manual lenses on the D70s when I still had it often. I have no problem setting everything manually. In fact it makes the shooting more fun. The important thing is that you can get the best quality the lens can give. Yes AI and AI-S lenses can be use on the D5xxx and D3xxx the manual did say that they can be used. The manual didn't say that lenses that are older than AI can be used but I know many have used them without problem.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

BebuLamar wrote:

Just put the lens on the camera. Focus manually wi... (show quote)

Thanks for the info. Not too long ago, a uhh member created a post advertising the Nikon 28-80mm lens, that he claimed he got it for about $50. He posted a photo too. It was sharp. You can get that lens on eBay at various prices under $80, but more than $50, when I last checked the prices. I already have a lens that covers that range. But, I may check for a Nikon older 85mm f1.8 down the road. It will be much more than $50, for certain.

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

mas24 wrote:

Thanks for the info. Not too long ago, a uhh member created a post advertising the Nikon 28-80mm lens, that he claimed he got it for about $50. He posted a photo too. It was sharp. You can get that lens on eBay at various prices under $80, but more than $50, when I last checked the prices. I already have a lens that covers that range. But, I may check for a Nikon older 85mm f1.8 down the road. It will be much more than $50, for certain.

I have a pre AI 85mm f/1.8 that could not be updated, and should not be put on a Nikon digital body, unless an extension ring is used between lens and body, for close-up work. I use other AI plus lenses on both film and digital bodies. All Nikon manual focus, first class lenses.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Pablo8 wrote:

I have a pre AI 85mm f/1.8 that could not be updated, and should not be put on a Nikon digital body, unless an extension ring is used between lens and body, for close-up work. I use other AI plus lenses on both film and digital bodies. All Nikon manual focus, first class lenses.

My unmodified 85 f/1.8 non-Ai Nikkor (serial #431236) is no problem on my Df. Nikon offered Ai kit 37 for conversion to Ai.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

r.grossner wrote:

For crop frame Nikons you need a D7100 or D7200. Most FF Nikons can meter in M or A modes with AI lenses or AI modified lenses. I use 5 manual focus AI lenses on my D750 often. You need to put the Minimum aperture and focal length in the NON-CPU Lens list on one of the cameras menus for each lens to be used and then select it when mounting one on the camera. AI lenses have a ridge on the aperture ring which moves a tab on the camera body lens mount which communicates with the metering system.

For 5xxx and 3xxx cameras no meter or AF. The OP has a 5xxx camera so 7xxx info does not help.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

nauticalmike wrote:

I see a lot of inexpensive Nikon film cameras on ebay with what sound like excellent lenses. will these lenses work on my D5300 using manual focus, or is the aperture non functional as well?

This article explains how older Nikon lenses work on newer cameras.

https://www.dpreview.com/articles/6287665194/understanding-old-nikon-lenses-ai-ai-s-af-and-af-s

The problem I see is that the non-AI and AI lenses without focusing motors will require you to look though a simple ground glass focusing screen, or use Live View magnified, to focus. Older cameras had microprism and/or split screen to aid focusing. Some newer cameras can have their screens replaced with one of these.

https://petapixel.com/2013/01/02/a-demo-of-split-screen-and-microprism-ring-focusing-in-old-slrs/

I suggest there is no reason to purchase a 30 or 40 yr old lens that probably can't be serviced (no more parts). If someone gifts one to you, then enjoy it until it breaks.

ELNikkor

I do it with my D5100 all the time Just set the manual aperture on the lens, then adjust the shutter speed, using the screen on back to check the exposure.

GGerard

I use pre AI Nikkors on my D#3200. I installed a split image screen from ebay/China and use the technique from the youtuber below. You don't have to back the lens very far off the locked position and it is still attached rather well - I haven't lost a lens yet. True, no metering and the lens works at set aperture (stopped down). So you "chimp" and see how well you guessed. No cost for the exposure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ7omhGJjR0

jsmangis Loc: Peoria, IL

[quote=nauticalmike]I see a lot of inexpensive Nikon film cameras on ebay with what sound like excellent lenses. will these lenses work on my D5300 using manual focus, or is the aperture non functional as well?[/quote

I have been able to use all of my Ais Nikkors (film camera lenses) on both my D80 and my D610 in manual mode. I was able to get the metering to work (sort of) but the focus confirmation light did work on both cameras. As for my autofocus film Nikkors, because both of my bodies had focus motors, they would autofocus as well.