Lens compatibility

[Caddyshack]

As I mentioned in my intro I'm slowly getting back into the field. I recently purchased a D5200. I've been out of the loop for so long that I'm finding it a little difficulty to determine what lens are compatible with this body. I'm looking at a Nikon ED AF Nikkir 80-200 mm 1:2.8 D lens. Will this lens work? And can anyone direct me to a chart or something similar for future reference?

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Woodyg3]

Nikon SLR Camera and Lens Compatibility Chart

This should help.

 

[Bob Blaylock]

Nikon SLR Camera and Lens Compatibility Chart

This should help.

That chart contains some misinformation.

For one thing, it claims that a pre-AI lens risks damaging a D3200. Not true. Apparently, there is some danger of pre-AI lenses damaging those bodies which support the AI-style mechanical aperture ring coupling, but the D3200 does not have this coupling, and is not subject to being damaged in that way. Nikon claims that pre-AI lenses cannot be used on any DSLR except the DF, but does not warn of any possible damage from using one on a D3200. I have three pre-AI lenses, which I have frequently used on my D3200, and they all work just fine, albeit with the same obvious and expected limitations that would apply to using any non-CPU lens. The same is almost certainly true of the OP's D5200, and of any model which doesn't have an AI coupling tab. I think this includes all D3x00 and D5x00 models.

Also, it claims that “All Non-AI lenses have a letter after the word Nikkor, to tell the number of elements in the optical formula. For example, in the Nikkor-P 105mm f/2.5, the P stands for Penta, i.e. five elements.” Again, not true. That nomenclature was discontinued in 1974. AI didn't come out until 1977. My 28mm ƒ/3.5 Nikkor (Pictured below, mounted on my F2), which I believe to be from 1975, does not use this nomenclature.



My 1972-vintage 50mm ƒ/1.4 lens, however, does use this nomenclature. The “-S” after “Nikkor” means that it has seven elements.

 

[Bob Blaylock]

As I mentioned in my intro I'm slowly getting back into the field. I recently purchased a D5200. I've been out of the loop for so long that I'm finding it a little difficulty to determine what lens are compatible with this body. I'm looking at a Nikon ED AF Nikkir 80-200 mm 1:2.8 D lens. Will this lens work? And can anyone direct me to a chart or something similar for future reference?

As far as I know, there's no reason to expect that your camera is any different than my D3200, with respect to lens compatibility.

Here's all you need to know about that…

• Contrary to what Nikon claims, you can use non-AI lenses on that camera. They will work just fine, with exactly the same obvious limitations that apply to non-CPU lenses. No metering, no autofocus, and you can only use your camera in “M” mode with them. There's a risk of damaging the AI tab on cameras that are equipped therewith, by mounting a non-AI lens, but your camera doesn't have an AI tab, so it doesn't have this vulnerability.
• Your manual will list some other lens types that it says cannot be used. I cannot vouch for any of them. I do know that there are some lenses, mostly extreme wide-angle and fisheye lenses, that had elements that protrude far enough into the mirror box that they could only be mounted and used with the mirror locked up. Obviously, you cannot safely use those on any camera that doesn't allow the mirror to be locked up, which, I think, would include your D5200. I believe a similar issue applies to some lenses that were made for use on a short-lived line of APS-format film SLRs.
• Because your D5200 does not have a focusing motor in the body, it will only autofocus with lenses that have built-in focus motors. Nikon designates such lenses as AF-S, AF-I, or AF-P. Otherwise compatible lenses, that do not have one of these three designations, can still be used, but you'll have to focus manually.
• As a general rule, if you can get it to mount, and it doesn't have some mechanical conflict that risks damaging the camera, then you can probably use it in M mode.

As for the specific lens about which you seem to be asking, assuming I've correctly identified it, you can use it on your D5200, but it won't autofocus.

 

[mikew_RIP]

As your camera does not have a focus motor you could be better looking at the Tamron 70-200 2.8,if you bought the latest model it includes VR,this suggestion is to keep the costs down a bit

 

[Caddyshack]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Although I don't mind using manual focus, I was wanting to use aperture priority setting with this lens and it sounds as though this will not be possible.

Mike

 

[Bob Blaylock]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Although I don't mind using manual focus, I was wanting to use aperture priority setting with this lens and it sounds as though this will not be possible.

Mike

I can think of no reason why not. It's a modern enough lens that, aside from the autofocus issue, should be fully compatible with your camera, including the ability to operate in aperture-priority mode. Just know that you need to leave the aperture ring on the lens set to the smallest aperture, and control the actual aperture setting through the camera.