is this lens ok for my camera

Bob Blaylock

Bob Blaylock

Senior Member
fender kev said:
hi all
looking at this lens Nikon Zoom-Nikkor 55-200 mm F/4-5.6 SWM AF-S DX VR ED Lens
will it fit d3100
thanks kev
Click to expand...

Any lens designated as “AF-S” should be fully and completely compatible with your camera.

Nearly any F-mount lens should be usable on your camera, but some will have limitations. “AF-S” indicates the most complete level of compatibility. What it means is that the lens has its own built-in autofocus motor, which means it will autofocus on lower-end autofocus bodies such as yours, that do not have their own focus motors. The higher-end camera bodies have their own focus motors, so the lens doesn't need to have a focus motor.

“AF” without the “-S” or the rarer “-I” indicates an autofocus capable lens without a motor, which will only autofocus on a body that has a focus motor, which yours does not. Such lenses will work on your camera, and be compatible in every way other than that you'll have to focus them manually.

Below that, are non-CPU lenses—lenses that do not contain any electronics. You can use these on your camera, but only with your camera in M mode, and you have to set everything manually.

Nikon claims that the very oldest lenses, the non-AI lenses, cannot be used on your camera at all, that the only DSLR that will work with those lenses in the DF model. My D3200, my three ancient non-AI lenses, and I, disagree with Nikon on this point. In fact, they work just fine, albeit with exactly the same expected and obvious limitations as any non-CPU lenses.
 
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