Trustforce Loc: Chicago, Illinois

I have got a slew of old nikkor lenses (fitted with the adaptor ring to work on my F3 body. Some of these lenses are nice glass, and I wonder if I can use any of them on my digital body. I know there is a way to use the older lenses on a D750 (I saw an article), but how do I use them on the body that I own. I have a 24 mm f2.8, 55 mm f3.5 micro, 80-200 mm zoom, 35-105 mm f3.5-5.6 zoom with macro, and 50 mm f1.4. When I tried with the 55 mm macro, I have to put it on M, and the camera does not register an f-stop, and when I try to take a picture, no image is recorded. It is probable that the d5100 body is incapable of processing the image from the old lenses.

Any thoughts?

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

Here is the Nikon lens support page that tells what lens are compatible with what cameras -

https://www.nikonimgsupport.com/ni/NI_article?articleNo=000002638&configured=1&lang=en_US

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Your list of lenses does have some very nice glass.

You might consider upgrading your camera to a body that has better support for your old lenses. A D7xxx series camera, the D500, or any of the full frame bodies. For example you could find a good Nikon D3 from keh.com for less than $1000...

JPL

You can use them all on your camera, but only fully manual. Meaning manual focus, manual aperture and no assistance from the camera in any way.
If the lenses are autofocus lenses you would be much better off with a D7xxx body or D600, D3, D4, D700, D300 or some other bodies with internal focusing motor.
If the lenses are not autofocus you should not think much about using them on a Nikon camera. You would be much better off by getting a mirrorless camera and a cheap adapter. Then you can use those lenses very effectively and get good results with them.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

As has been said by another poster, you need to set your camera to Manual mode, and set your f stop on the lens. You set your iso and exposure in the camera. For manual focusing, especially on the macro lenses, you can use the live view magnifier to achieve focus. With macro lenses I generally move the camera rather than the focus ring to get a fine focus. All Nikon manual lenses except a couple of fisheyes with backs extending into the sensor will work on your camera without modification. On a camera in the D7000 series, they will not mount without modification to the mounting flange if they are non-ais or pre-ais lenses.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Out of curiosity, can you describe the lenses that need an adapter ring to fit an F3?

BebuLamar

Also I think the D5100 would take a picture even without a lens.

Trustforce Loc: Chicago, Illinois

the old nikkor lenses had a metal prong that grabbed the pin of the meter on the FTN prism. Nikon changed the way the cameras registered F stop with the addition of a metal lip added to the old lenses (all of my older lenses were modified by Nikon).

BebuLamar

In that case the D5100 would work just fine. It should take the picture. You don't have AF nor metering and of course in manual mode only. But that isn't a big set back.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Though you didn’t use the “Quote Reply” button, I assume you are responding to my question. I am aware of the AI modifications, is that what you’re calling the “adapter ring”? Non-AI lenses fit the F3 by locking up the meter coupling lever, no modification necessary. You do have to meter at the working aperture, though. Some of those non-AI Nikkors are very good, even by today’s standards. My favorite is the 85 f/1.8, use it regularly on my F3, F4e and F4s, and it also may be used on my Df.

ELNikkor

I also have a D5100, (and an F3, for that matter!). All of my old lenses work fine on the D5100. Just set it on manual, set your f-stop where you want it on the lens, and check your rear screen after each shot until you have the shutter speed exposure you like. I don't see how you could have "no image recorded" from the 55 macro lens. (You might have had too high of a shutter speed and too small of an aperture.) Try it again, using this method, something has got to register!

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

I use any number of different manual focus lenses on my Nikon D7100 & D300. Your camera is a base model and as such, you can use any Nikon mount ever made except for intrusive fisheye lenses. Makes no difference if the lenses were modified or not. As mentioned, you have to shoot in manual mode & there is no metering either. Older auto focus lenses will meter but not auto focus. What changed when Nikon went from the original F mount lenses (normally called Pre-Ai or Non-Ai) is that the aperture "skirt" was swapped out. The older "skirts" extended down past the mount face of the lens. On the newer Ai spec lenses & modified Pre-Ai lenses, that excess "skirt" was removed except for a portion of it that aligned with the aperture follower so the lens could correctly relay the aperture value to the camera. On Nikon DSLR's that have the focus motor built into the camera, using older unmodified Pre-Ai lenses will foul that aperture follower tab, thus damaging the camera. There are a couple of ways to meter using your D5100. One is to use a hand held meter, the other is to use the old "Sunny 16" rule to get the exposure in the ballpark & from there use the LCD & histogram to determine exposure. Except when using a speedlight with an "auto" function. Be careful with older speedlights though as many have "trigger voltages" that will fry a camera's electronics. What you will find most difficult when using the older lenses with your camera is the ability to nail focus, especially with fast lenses. The focus screens of all the DSLR's are optimised for using AF lenses. I swapped out the focus screen of my old Nikon D70s to a split image screen to help. Eyepiece magnifiers help a bit too. Then you have the electronic rangefinder in the camera to alert to to focus confirmation. I shoot a lot of macro & found the rangefinder didn't work that well for macro shooting.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

And remember there is no meter function with your camera and if the lens you have interest in is not AI it will damage your camera.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Pre-Ai lenses will not damage a Nikon D5100, more so if those lenses have been modified.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

The tab will not raise. so how do they not damage it?
You might enjoy damaging your cameras but even Nikon say NO! in the compatibility chart and that the warranty will be voided for the body.
But if you think it is fine and want to give crappy advice to others then it is your prerogative. But please do not do it here.
Look at the Nikon compatibility chart and tell me excactly where it is just fine to do as you say. Please do so or keep quiet.

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


https://www.gtccc.ca/using-older-nikon-lenses-modern-dslr/