A current Nikon for old lenses: I have old film Nikons and as I move to a digital Nikon I'd like to make sure I can use my old lenses. So what do I go for? My lenses are typically for...

Harald

I have old film Nikons and as I move to a digital Nikon I'd like to make sure I can use my old lenses. So what do I go for? My lenses are typically for the F, but some have been modified to also work on the 20/20 - 20mm, 50mm, 135mm, 500mm reflex, tele zooms... The D7200 looks like a good choice...

Harald

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I have a 1971 F. There are some lenses that don't physically fit the digitals without doing mechanical damage to the contacts on the body. That can be modified so the lens does fit and work on the digital. I've not done that, but use quite a few older lenses that will work on the F and also the digitals. It seems that lenses made prior to a particular date, I don't know what that date is, don't work without modification. You might do a search for

Nikon lens compatibility film and digital

I've seen a site that does list all of the lenses / cameras compatibility. I just don't remember the address.
--Bob

Harald wrote:

I have old film Nikons and as I move to a digital Nikon I'd like to make sure I can use my old lenses. So what do I go for? My lenses are typically for the F, but some have been modified to also work on the 20/20 - 20mm, 50mm, 135mm, 500mm reflex, tele zooms... The D7200 looks like a good choice...

Harald

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Harald wrote:

I have old film Nikons and as I move to a digital Nikon I'd like to make sure I can use my old lenses. So what do I go for? My lenses are typically for the F, but some have been modified to also work on the 20/20 - 20mm, 50mm, 135mm, 500mm reflex, tele zooms... The D7200 looks like a good choice...

Harald

Download the D7200 manual from Nikon, check “Compatible Lenses.”

BebuLamar

If the lenses you bought are for the F and before 1977 then they don't work on the D7200 and would cause damage to the D7200. Although not recommended it's possible to use them on the lower end D5xxx and D3xxx as well as the new D7500. They won't meter either.
The only camera that Nikon say would support those lenses is the Df.

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

Try this: https://www.nikonians.org/reviews/nikon-slr-camera-and-lens-compatibility

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

Harald wrote:

I have old film Nikons and as I move to a digital Nikon I'd like to make sure I can use my old lenses. So what do I go for? My lenses are typically for the F, but some have been modified to also work on the 20/20 - 20mm, 50mm, 135mm, 500mm reflex, tele zooms... The D7200 looks like a good choice...

Harald

You may want to look at this site as well.

http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_surv.html

whitewolfowner

Harald wrote:

I have old film Nikons and as I move to a digital Nikon I'd like to make sure I can use my old lenses. So what do I go for? My lenses are typically for the F, but some have been modified to also work on the 20/20 - 20mm, 50mm, 135mm, 500mm reflex, tele zooms... The D7200 looks like a good choice...

Harald

Any older AF lens will work* (more n next paragraph). Any manual lenses that are AI OR AI-S will work. AI-S lenses have the smallest f stop on the lens in orange. If they are from the earliest vintage of Nikon lenses and are not AI, they ned to be modified to be used safely.

In AF lenses, in DX, you either need a D7000 series camera or the D500. They contain the internal motor required to drive the auto focus. The D3000 and D5000 series lenses do not have these internal motors. In FX, any FX body will work the AF lenses in auto focus.

With all that said, to be sure, check with Nikon on every older lens you have; their are always a few exceptions here and there.

Erik_H Loc: Denham Springs, Louisiana

Get yourself a Df and you can use nearly every Nikkor lens made.

RickL Loc: Vail, Az

I have a D7000 and a D810 both use film fx lenses. I only purchase fx film lenses and when set to F22 or higher they work great because of the internal motor in the cameras. If the budget fits go for a full frame D750 or D810 and take full advantage of your lenses.
My Nikon film camera is an af2020 and all lenses work great

Harald

Thanks to all for great replies - I will go to the sites and do some research!

Harald in Erie

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

Harald wrote:

I have old film Nikons and as I move to a digital Nikon I'd like to make sure I can use my old lenses. So what do I go for? My lenses are typically for the F, but some have been modified to also work on the 20/20 - 20mm, 50mm, 135mm, 500mm reflex, tele zooms... The D7200 looks like a good choice...

Harald

This web site will answer ALL your questions plus the owner (John White) can modify your AI lenses for a minimal fee. He did a 135mm for me which I couldn't be happier with.
http://www.aiconversions.com/

JHC-NOLA Loc: New Orleans

The D7000 series and all the full-frame cameras work with all the AI and AI-s lenses and later as long as you enter the lens data in the menu under Non-CPU lenses. Of course they won't autofocus and you have to use aperture or manual settings, but you do get full matrix metering. I use late four different 1970s vintage AI-s lenses on both my D7100 and D810 and they work great. if you learned on old film SLRs like I did, my guess would be that manual focusing will be a natural for you and you won't mind a bit. With these lenses you also get the "in focus" dot in the finder when your subject is in focus.

optic Loc: Southwestern United States

I agree with Rick --I'm wearing out a D810 using some lenses that are >20 years old.

Winslowe

Rich1939 wrote:

... the owner (John White) can modify your AI lenses for a minimal fee.

What's the purpose in having an AI lens modified? And what would you have it modified to?

jbmauser Loc: Roanoke, VA

Having a older lens modified to AIs involves cutting away the skirt on the edge of the lens that will crush the small metal control arm on the camera body. If you do a search online you will see the skirt mod and a groove milled into the lens base.