New lenses on old camera bodies - Nikon FM w/ D series AF lenses: Usually folks want to fit older lenses to newer bodies. I my case, I couldn't resist a mint condition Nikon FM. Before...

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

Usually folks want to fit older lenses to newer bodies. I my case, I couldn't resist a mint condition Nikon FM. Before searching for old lenses can anybody tell me if I can use a Nikon AF Nikkor D lens on an FM body. I don't want to damage any of the electronic contacts and I can't seem to release the shutter until I attach a lens. It's been a lot of years since I last handled on of these. It's so beautiful!

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

DaveyDitzer wrote:

Usually folks want to fit older lenses to newer bodies. I my case, I couldn't resist a mint condition Nikon FM. Before searching for old lenses can anybody tell me if I can use a Nikon AF Nikkor D lens on an FM body. I don't want to damage any of the electronic contacts and I can't seem to release the shutter until I attach a lens. It's been a lot of years since I last handled on of these. It's so beautiful!

Sounds like the camera is defective - it should fire with or without a lens attached. As for “D” lenses, every autofocus Nikkor since 1992 is a D lens.

chuckrem Loc: Katy, Tx

DaveyDitzer wrote:

Usually folks want to fit older lenses to newer bodies. I my case, I couldn't resist a mint condition Nikon FM. Before searching for old lenses can anybody tell me if I can use a Nikon AF Nikkor D lens on an FM body. I don't want to damage any of the electronic contacts and I can't seem to release the shutter until I attach a lens. It's been a lot of years since I last handled on of these. It's so beautiful!

This chart will tell what lenses you can use with your Nikon FM.

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

Bill_de Loc: US

The shutter should release without a lens. You do need to have the film advance lever pulled out away from the body. Pushing it all the way in locks the shutter. Don't let folks tell you defective just out of ignorance.

I just checked on my FM-2 which should be the same.

I also mounted a 28mm AF D lens, no issue.

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DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

Bill_de wrote:

The shutter should release without a lens. You do need to have the film advance lever pulled out away from the body. Pushing it all the way in locks the shutter. I just checked on my FM-2 which should be the same.

I also mounted a 28mm AF D lens, no issue.

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PERFECT !! Thank you, got it running.

BebuLamar

Yup! You can mount almost any Nikon F mount lenses on it without damaging the camera or lens (exception are the ones that protrudes into the mirror box like the old Nikon fisheye). However, the G lenses are the worst for the FM as you can only shoot with minimum aperture and the meter won't work correctly. With the new E type lenses the meter still don't work right and you have no control of the aperture but they are usable if they are one of those long focal length lenses as they only work with maximum aperture. For example if you have the new 500mm f/5.6 it's not too bad if you can only use it at f/5.6.

uhaas2009

Yes you can use d lenses. The older lenses have a screw drive focus and your camera (d7000 or higher body) needs to have it too. Google ken Rockwell for more.

Fotomacher Loc: Toronto

RWR wrote:

Sounds like the camera is defective - it should fire with or without a lens attached. As for “D” lenses, every autofocus Nikkor since 1992 is a D lens.

The “D” designation on a Nikkor lens refers to the ‘new’ electronics that communicates focal distance information to the camera body to relay to a compatible speed light so that the duration of the flash is optimized for the subject. It is more accurate than using the bounce back feature of the speed light. The “D” was added to the maximum aperture line as in f/1.8D. When Nikon removed the aperture ring from their newer lenses and designated them with a “G”, they dropped the “D” in many cases, but it is now understood.

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Ahh, my very first ever camera; a 1980 Nikon FM. So, what film are you going to use with it?

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

chuckrem wrote:

This chart will tell what lenses you can use with your Nikon FM.

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

BebuLamar

David! Now that you have the FM to put by the side of the Df. Don't you wish the Df is the same size as the FM? And yet the Df doesn't weight that much heavier.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

cameraf4 wrote:

Ahh, my very first ever camera; a 1980 Nikon FM. So, what film are you going to use with it?

I'll start with Tri X and shoot some portraits that will last longer than an I-Phone

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

BebuLamar wrote:

David! Now that you have the FM to put by the side of the Df. Don't you wish the Df is the same size as the FM? And yet the Df doesn't weight that much heavier.

thought you'd never ask:
seems electrons are not heavy, but very bulky

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Fotomacher wrote:

The “D” designation on a Nikkor lens refers to the... (show quote)

The actual function of the D chip is well explained on pages 74 and 75 in the “Nikon Compendium,” and it has nothing to do with the type of mount that will work on the FM. Any lens with Ai/AiS metering, auto- or manual-focus, will work just fine.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

When I sold all my film equipment I later was sorry that I didn't keep the FM and two of the primes: 105f2.5 and 180 f2.8. Overwhelmed by GAS a few nights ago. Only difference is this FM has LED exposure dots and not the match needle meter.