Can I use these older Nikon lenses with a newer body? (D40 edition)

April 23, 2022 3:28 PM

I have a Nikon D40 with the following lenses from the 2007 era: Tamron AF 18-250 mm Di-II lens, and AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G. If I upgrade to a newer Nikon DSLR body, can I continue to use those lenses? I've been out of the photography world for a couple of years so I don't know what the state of compatibility is like. Thank you!
posted by Transmissions From Vrillon to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (3 answers total)

The D40 doesn't have a in body focusing motor so any lense that worked with it should work with pretty much any of the newer DX/APC (IE: Not Full frame) Nikon F bodies. You'd need an adapter to use them with the Z mirrorless bodies.
posted by Mitheral at 3:46 PM on April 23, 2022 [3 favorites]

Best answer: Yes, anything that works with a D40 should work with a newer Nikon. The only issue I can think of is if you buy a newer D3x00 low-end body and try to use an older non-G AF-S lens (one with an aperture ring); a D40 will meter and autofocus it as long as it is AF-S or AF-I, but a D3x00 will get confused by the presence of an aperture ring for some reason. It doesn't look like this applies to either of your lenses, fortunately - the 35mm is G and the Tamron doesn't have an aperture ring.

Source 1
Source 2

(And going the other way, many newer Nikon lenses won't work on pre-2013 bodies, but that's a topic for a different day.)
posted by Seeking Direction at 4:07 PM on April 23, 2022 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Thank you both! I appreciate the explanations.
posted by Transmissions From Vrillon at 7:15 PM on April 23, 2022 [1 favorite]