Will my old lenses fit?
Discussion
....and a bit more helpfully: what lenses have you got? I use a couple of manual lenses myself (or AF lenses on an extension tube, or reversed or something). Sometimes it can be frustrating if you haven't got metering, but that can be relatively easily overcome.
There are some lenses or accessories which just won't work, though. Nikon's website has got some compatability information.
There are some lenses or accessories which just won't work, though. Nikon's website has got some compatability information.
s2kredmist said:
I have a Nikon 35mm SLR (FM I think) that has served me well for many years. I would like to move to Digital but wondered if the lenses will fit. Obviously I dont expect any auto functions to work but manual focus and apeture would be fine until I can afford to replace them.
Yes, physically they'll fit and will work.
The D50 and D70 won't support metering so you'll have to use Manual exposure and use the monitor to judge from there. However, for focusing, I was surprised to find that the green arrows and dot in my D70 viewfinder worked so you get this help to focus.
The D200 will support aperture-priorty autoexposure so is a bit more retro-friendly.
Finally, all yor lenses will appear 50% longer than you're used to due to the smaller sensor size. This gives you free extra telephoto but will greatly reduce your wide-angle, necessitating a trip to get an 18-70mm etc.
I see (well in a blurry sort of way!) 
)s2kredmist said:
Cheers for info chaps....
Why does the focal length of the lens change ?
Its not the focal length of the lens. Its the effective focal length. This occurs because the Digital Sensor is *smaller* than a 35mm negative. Imagine a 35mm piece of film. Now crop it on all sides by a third or so.
Make sense. Someone who actually knows something will be along in a minute I'm sure...
Perfectly put Don, it's actually a crop. Hence you will see 'crop factor 1.5x' for Nikon and '1.6x' for Canon (up to and including the 20D). So if you put a 50mm lens on a D50, it looks like a 75mm field of view.
You will come across things called 'digital lenses'. Fear not, they are still glass and still work with light as you know it, but only project an image big enough to cover the smaller sensors. So, you can use 35mm lenses on DSLRs, the surplus image being simply lost off the edges of the sensor. What you can't do is use a 'digital' lens on a 35mm camera as it won't cover all the film.
You will come across things called 'digital lenses'. Fear not, they are still glass and still work with light as you know it, but only project an image big enough to cover the smaller sensors. So, you can use 35mm lenses on DSLRs, the surplus image being simply lost off the edges of the sensor. What you can't do is use a 'digital' lens on a 35mm camera as it won't cover all the film.
Don said:Then again!
Someone who actually knows something will be along in a minute I'm sure...
But no that's quite right!
406tm said:True!
Never stopped you before
Assuming you're not thinking of a Kodak digital in Nikon fitting, but otherwise a Nikon body or even a Fuji S1/S2/S3 will all use a smaller area (field of view) than the 35mm film would. It's a bit like you've automatically got the image size cropped down a bit.
Your lenses will be put to good use (you effectively don't make use of the edge of the image, so quality may be improved, but (as always) you need to watch out for flare (use a lens hood). The latest lenses all boast at being the best in multicoating.
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