Switching to Digital-Do I need a new lense

cmp111

New member
Hi I'm new here. I've been doing photography many years on and off as a hobby. I have an old Nikon 6006 with a few lenses. I am looking at purchasing a used Nikon D50 body, no lense. Can I use my old lenses on this digital? I called Nikon customer service and they said "yes'. That was it. Didn't feel like a complete answer to me...looking for a second opinion. Thanks so much!
 

Joseph Bautsch

New member
Current model camera bodies always work best with the lens they were designed to work with. What is the description of the lenses you have? This being your first post you should complete your profile with the list of lenses and camera body you are using or planning to use. Some one here may be able to provide you with answers. When using the older Nikon lenses there may be some camera features that are disabled, such as auto focus. Another suggestion would be to take the lenses to a local photo store and see if they can help you with what works or does not. You might also go on the Nikon web site to their Q&A section and post your question with the lenses you have a question about. Usually you can get answers there.

Happy shooting, :)
Joseph
 
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cmp111

New member
I have the original lense that came with the 6006 AF NIKKOR 35-80mm, a AF NIKKOR 75-240mm & a SIGMA Telephoto 400mm. Thanks for the suggestions Joseph! I'll update my profile soon.
 

Joseph Bautsch

New member
I know nothing about these lenses. Maybe there is someone here that can give you the information you need or at least point you to a web site with what you need.
 

torgo

New member
The Nikon AF lenses will mount, auto-focus (one of the benefits of the D50 over more recent lower-end Nikon digital bodies - the auto-focus motor), and meter just fine with a D50. You'll need to use the little aperture lock to lock them down at their smallest aperture in order for the D50 to use them in any of the non-manual exposure modes, but other than that there shouldn't be anything you have to do to them.

I would guess that the Sigma will work similarly, but Sigma's made many 400mm lenses, so finding exact info will require all the naming information on it. It's probably safe to bet that if it's an auto-focus lens, it'll work just fine.
 

nikongoodnight

New member
Thanks Inga, in Alberta, I am in Alberta as well, home of the beautiful skies. Never considered using old lens, although Nikon at one time did promise all new lenses would be compatable with all old cameras. (not)
 

Bob Blaylock

Senior Member
Thanks Inga, in Alberta, I am in Alberta as well, home of the beautiful skies. Never considered using old lens, although Nikon at one time did promise all new lenses would be compatable with all old cameras. (not)

The “G” lens that came with my D3200 has only the faintest hints of compatibility with my F2 built in 1972. I guess it's reasonable to expect that lenses made specifically for DX-format cameras will have vignetting issues on a 35mm film camera, so that can be dismissed as a fully-expected limitation. But without an aperture ring, there's no way to use anything but the minimum aperture.

The “G” lens will mount on my F2, and I have no doubt that I could take pictures therewith, but the limitations are such that it can hardly be truly called “compatible”.

Do modern Nikkor lenses that have aperture rings still have the shoe needed to couple them to the meters on old pre-AI bodies?
 
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