servant Loc: Weatherford, TX

I am a very part time outdoor writer/photographer. I have used an Olympus SP 550UZ since 2007 and like it because it is small enough to carry when I hunt and fish. I have a Nikon FE2 that I bought new in the early 80's, which I used extensively and exclusively for slides. So I have the following lenses that I would like to make use of with a Nikon DSLR body, if that's even possible...
Nikkor 55mm 1:2.8
Nikkor 80-200mm 1:4
Sigma 600mm 1:8
Tokina 400mm 1:5.6

Is there any compatibility? If so what Nikon DSLR body would work with my lenses? Is there a market for old Nikon(and other lens makers) stuff like mine?

Am I kidding myself or is there a pony in here somewhere?

Your counsel on these matters is appreciated.

Chillitiger Loc: Edinburgh

Hi there, been telling my hubby about hedgehog.com as I'm a novice photographer. He recommends that you go to Ken Rockwell .com and there is a fab section that tells you what is compatible with older lenses vrs newer bodies etc. Hope this helps and good luck

SteveR Loc: Michigan

I looked up the FE2. It wasn't one of the Nikon small funky cameras. It was just a regular Nikon manual camera with the bayonet mount. Your lenses should work with current Nikkon DSLR's. However, I'm sure that they're manual lenses and will not have af capability.

servant Loc: Weatherford, TX

Thanks. I'll check out the website.

servant Loc: Weatherford, TX

Thanks for the response.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Your lenses will all work on ANY Nikon DSLR, abeit in Manual Focus mode only, which you should already be used to with the FE2. And the 55mm F2.8 I am guessing is the Macro?

servant Loc: Weatherford, TX

It is the macro. So which body? I have read about the D600, which I think you recently recommended to someone. I like the HD video aspect and the price, but what of the higher end bodies? Are they really worth the difference in price? I bought the FE2 and used it most of the 34 years I lived and worked in southern CO, because a professional freelance friend recommended it for quality and ruggedness. I still like the idea of both. I know it will come down to what I can justify spending, but the pleasure I derive from writing and selling stories to outdoor magazines and the sale of an occasional photo continues to grow. I really want to make a wise choice. Your advice is greatly appreciated.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

I have recommended the D600 for those looking at full frame on a budget. I looked at the D600 myself as a backup to my D800E but decided on a D800 instead because of the interchangeability of controls. Right now several users of the D600 are having issues with dust specs on the sensor and I am unsure as to the status of the issue. I think the D600 would be an ideal body for your lens selection as the D800 might be too high of a MP count to use a couple of them on, the D800 does require high quality glass as that sensor will make a marginal lens look really bad at times. You might also take a good look at the D700, you can find some good buys on low shutter count examples of this fine camera and it might be the best match for your current lens selection. It will give you some awesome results with proper focus. One other body to consider would be the D7000. It is a crop sensor which will cause your lenses to yield a 1.5x image equivalent to your FE2 or the D700, but thats not necessarily a bad thing. (Your 80-200mm F4 would appear similar to a 120-300mm F4 lens would on your FE2, and the 400mm F5.6 would appear to be a 600mm F5.6, etc. This is "appear" as the focal length does not actually change, but the smaller sensor on the crop sensored D7000 will make it look like it is giving the lens the extra reach.)
Is the D800 worth the extra $900 over the D600? In my personal opinion, absolutely! But you will want the best lenses with it to fully utilize that advantage.

servant Loc: Weatherford, TX

Good advice with solid reasoning. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I have more homework to do...

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

Those are manual focus lenses & they won't allow for metering on any of the base or prosumer Nikon DSLR's (D40/50/60/70/80/90/3100/3200/5000/5100, etc) you have to have a more upscale model (D200/300/600/700/800/7000/D3/D4) in order to get in body metering. Even then, it's only in aperture or manual modes. I shoot with a D300 (has metering) as well as my older D70s (no metering) the base & prosumer models will still shoot with the older lenses & unless you want to shoot action shots, they will do a nice job. It's just that you either have to use a handheld meter or else use the old "Sunny 16" rule, the LCD & the Histogram to get a proper exposure. That is why action (or rapidly changing light situations) are better off done with higher model bodies that do meter...Oh, I still have my FE2 also & it started the trend toward smaller bodies...

krispix Loc: London - UK

These pages are not big enough to debate the D600 against the D800. They are two very different cameras. A proper analogy would be that the D800 is the D300s with a Full Frame sensor shoe-horned into it; whilst the D600 is a D7000.
Principal differences: The D800 has a 36.3MP sensor, the D600 has a 24.3MP. The D800 is a Manganese Alloy chassis, the D600 is Managese front and back, the rest is plastic. The D800 has a 52-point A/F system and the D600 has 39-Point. The D600 is capable of 5.5 fps continuous, while the D800 has only 4 fps.
They share the same 3.2" 921k LCD screen, but the D600 has only a 2k RGB meter against the D800's far superior 91k meter.
So much for the physical differences. Is the D800 worth the extra money? Who knows?
For me, absolutely. But, it does depend on so many factors and for many others it won't be. Only you can be the judge of that.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Funny line, MT.

"Hey Bill, I'd like to buy a good camera, but I'm a tight budget. What would you recommend?"

"I'd recommend the new Nikon D600, Joe."

"Great! And how much would that cost?"

"About $2,100." :D:D:D

servant Loc: Weatherford, TX

Thanks. What is the Sunny 16 Rule?

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

That's the guide that was found on the inside of film boxes back in the day when cameras were mechanical. If your camera meter's battery died, you could still take pictures...Here's a wiki on it...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunny_16_rule

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

"The rule states that the proper exposure is determined by the ISO of the film/sensor setting. We will assume ISO 100. For ISO 100, at mid day with sunlit mid-toned object, set the aperture at f16, and the shutter speed at 1/ISO or 1/100th ( if your camera does not have a shutter speed of 1/100th, a setting of 1/125 if good enough for government work.) "

Lots of info here. You can even get a coffee mug with it printed on it.

https://www.google.com/search?q=sunny+16+rule