Posted: 7/21/2008 12:26:07 PM EDT
| I have been looking to buy my wife a new digital, probobly the Nikon D60. She has a 35mm Nikon thats only about 6 years old. Will the newer digital cameras accept the same lens that that one came with? I don't know the exact model because I'm out of town for a while, but I'm working on getting her sister to find that out for me. Also I'm open to other recomendations. I'm not set on the D60. The 40, and 80 look good too. |
| I got the D40 model VERY HAPPY with it. Was looking at the D60 did a product review on it found the D40 was a better buy. The extra pix (10?) on the D60 made it slower to shoot with and the stabilizer was a waste of money. You can buy extra lenses with the money saved. Check the camera shops for sales going on most come with extra lense, tripod and other stuff. Hope that helps some, do a search on line lots of information on them. |
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D40/D40x/D60 will mount and shoot virtually every Nikon mount SLR lens ever made. However it will only focus AF-S lenses. It won't meter unless the lens has a CPU, so with the old preAI, AI and AI-S, you guess the exposure and then check the LCD. The D80 will take AI lenses and later. It will autofocus the AF-S and the older AF lenses. |
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I love my D80, I've taken thousands of pictues with it. I"m looking for another, but due to price and what I want to do with it*, I'll probably get a D40 IR mod, see my related post here: www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=121&t=733176 |
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The D80 is noticibly bigger than the D40/D60. I am a little envious (D40x owner) of it's greater number of autofocus points, but that's about it. I wouldn't really factor your older lenses into the equation. Honestly, if they were worthwhile (i.e. legendary and expensive), you'd probably be looking at a pro grade camera. |
IF the lenses are AF lenses, they will mount fine, but you will not have autofocus. AF-S lenses are fine. If you already have lenses, do yourself a favor and get a D80 for full compatibility's sake. If that is outside your budget, D70s or D50s are FAR cheaper, and older. The D80 is probably almost due for replacement, but is still a great camera that will give your lenses their proper respect. If her old film camera just has the cheap kit lens however, it may not be worth selecting a body just for compatibility. Kit film lenses are not expensive, and are generally the wrong focal length for digital crop cameras. |
Nikon still doesn't (and probably won't) make a 50/1.8 AF-S or 85/1.8 two GREAT fast cheap (especially the 50mm) lenses. GIven the option I advocate getting something that won't limit your lens posibilites. |
I agree. I am just pointing out that the new kit lens is going to be as good if not better than her old kit lens, assuming that is the lens in question. |
I picked up N80 film camera with a Sigma 28-300mmD lens for $20.00 a couple of weeks ago. They thought the camera was broken when the contacts for the IC chip were dirty. And the lens makes a good 'walking around' lens for my D70s. There are some real bargins in older AF lenes as some peolpe don't know they'll work on new cameras. Or they're selling an older film camera with a good lens thinking nobody is using film anymore. |
The only problem with film kit lenses is that they are the wrong focal lengths. New digital kit lenses start at 18mm giving you a better range. Besides, if one is considering the D40/D40x/D60, the kit lens is included anyways for hardly any $$$ penalty, and on those cameras, AF lenses won't autofocus anyway. Maybe the old lens in question is NOT an old film kit lens, but we don't know that. |
| I bought a D40x in April of 07. 2 weeks ago I picked up a D80. The limitations on the lens choice for the D40 is just far to big of an issue. The 50mm 1.8 lens is amazing and is only 109 from B&H. Sadly it will not work on the D40/D40x. My D40x is now sitting on the shelf waiting for me to sell it. |
interesting report. I was looking at the D40 as a backup/2nd to my D80. maybe the D60 will be the one... or just bite the big one and get another D80 |
D40/40x/60 have the same lens options. They'll mount and shoot anything. They'll meter any lens with a CPU chip, but will only autofocus AF-S lenses. |
Exactly, I can mount any of my lenses on the D40x but only the AF-S lenses will AF. That 50mm will not AF and that really annoys me. I would love to keep the 40x as a backup and just leave that lens on it all the time, nice small package for quick shots. No go though sadly. |
This is actually the option I recommend for folks who don't mind buying an older lightly used camera and are on a budget. Last time I looked, there were some pretty decent specimens out there for under $300. For those with Nikon lenses, looking to do an IR conversion, the D50 or D70 would be great options. |
Any idea what the IR conversion would go for? I am looking to upgrade my D70 to a D300 as the prices drop, and I think I would much rather tinker with the D70 than let it gather dust or sell it. |
www.lifepixel.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=4 |