What Nikon DSLR Body is most Appropriate for Old Lenses?

May 15, 2013 11:22 AM

I had a Nikon FE, back in the day. This camera died, perhaps of a broken heart, around the time that film started to fade in popularity. Along the way I acquired a Nikkor 50mm, a Nikkor 28mm, and an off brand zoom.

I am told that these lenses will still work with some Nikon DLSR bodies, albeit without a lot of the functions that modern lenses will have. My question is, which bodies should I be looking at?

posted by Danf to Technology (6 answers total)

The Nikon FE was manual focus and the lenses you mention are also likely manual focus. Buying a new digital body for those lenses doesn't make any sense to me, as they will also have all sorts of diaphragm-related issues as well.

If you want to step back on the hobby on the cheap with a similar setup from Nikon, I would recommend to get a second-hand digital body with an autofocus screw not older than the D-90 or D-300, AND some second-hand AF lenses from the 1980s - the pro zooms are cheap, and the primes are a steal. All of it can be had for the price of a new semi-decent digital body.
posted by magullo at 12:01 PM on May 15, 2013

As long as those lenses are AI/AI-S and have an aperture feeler in the mount rather than an external connection, they will mount and meter. You need anything from the D300/600/700/800 series or higher.

This chart from Ken Rockwell should help.
posted by a halcyon day at 12:03 PM on May 15, 2013 [2 favorites]

magullo, a lot of old Nikkor glass is still great optically, and can be more pleasant to use than the equivalent modern lenses. I use an AI-S 50/1.4, 85/2, and 105/2.5 interchangeably with my AF-D 50/1.8 and AF-S 17–35. Different tools for different things.

Danf, I'd recommend ditching the off brand zoom as many made before the 80s-90s were super slow compared to today's, plus you can get a super light Nikkor AFS with broader range.
posted by a halcyon day at 12:06 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]

a halcyon day, no doubt - I too use this and this on a regular basis.
posted by magullo at 12:17 PM on May 15, 2013

Best answer: You want this.

Figure out what lenses you have, then work your way back to a body. Account for crop factor with the lenses, you'll probably want an older full frame body.
posted by iamabot at 1:00 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I just got a D7000 refurb from Adorama, and being able to use my favorite lens (a 1980s wide-angle of my grandfather's) is like getting my eyes back, photographically. It's worth it!
posted by mimi at 6:43 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]