Nikon Lense Questions

[theblondebee]

DH has decided he wants a DSLR for his bday but he is leaving all the decisions up to me. I think I have decided on the Nikon D80. Last night I remembered that my last 35mm, before the digital revolution hit , was a Nikon. So, my question is, can I use the lenses from that camera with a new digital? They are probabally about 6-8 years old.

Also, if I can use these lenses, I need a recommendation for a good telephoto lens to go with the camera. I prefer wide angle but DH is a telephoto nut. I don't want the most expensive or the least, just something that has good inage quality. Thanks!

 

[fitzperry]

The D80 is a great choice. As I understand it, most of the older auto-focus Nikon lenses are compatible with the dslr's. This chart explains pretty effectively which features will work: http://www.nikonians.org/nikon/slr-lens.html

If you're looking for a telephoto lens, I believe the new 70-300 VR has gotten good reviews and is in the $500 price range (I don't recall the exact msrp). For a broader range, the 18-200 is very popular, but also still somewhat difficult to come by. It is around $750, iirc.

 

[theblondebee]

Thanks, I'll check it out.

 

[cryssi]

we have the D200 and DH's grandfather's old AF lenses work great! Especially the 80-200 f/2.8 AF...

good luck!

 

[ukcatfan]

Even if he is a fan of tele, you might want to consider something on the wide end to go with it. The DSLR introduced something called either a crop factor or lens multiplier(or even other names). Basically what it means is that you lenses will work like the focal length times the factor. The D80 is a 1.5x factor, so if your widest used to be 28mm, it is now 42mm. That is not even as wide as your typical p&s. Most digital designed lenses start at around 18mm b/c of this and end up giving you about 27mm. It is a benefit on the tele side as a 200mm works like a 300mm. With the exception of high end models, Nikons and Pentaxes have 1.5x, Canon has 1.6x, and Olympus has 2.0x.

Kevin

 

[handicap18]

The only Nikkor lenses that wont work are the AI lenses. These are the real old manual focus lenses. AI-S lenses (also manual focus) will work but you will have to to everything (focus, shutter speed and f/stops) manually as the meter is not compatable with these lenses.

The kit lens that comes with the D80 is very good. Its got a great range at 18-135mm and is pretty good optically.

For wide angle lenses think about the Sigma 10-20mm. Its just about as good as the Nikkor 12-24 and is less than 1/2 the price. For telephoto, I have the new 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 ED-IF AF-S VR. It is an excellent lens. Many over at the nikon board have said it has no business being as good as it is for less than $1000. I got mine for $530. I've seen the price as low as $515. It is much sharper optically than I would have thought. The VR works as advertised. It is nice to be able to get no camera shake from hand holding at the 300mm end. I've also gotten acceptable shots handheld with a shutter speed of 1/6th at the 300mm end. At 200mm and f/8 it is only slighty worse than the mighty 70-200 f/2.8 (one of Nikon's top lenses and more than 3 times the price of the 70-300) according to a lot of nikonians and at the 300mm end it compares very well to the Nikkor 300mm f/4 prime.

If he's looking for a longer reach, Simga makes a 50-500mm, Nikon makes an 80-400mm with VR, but doesn't have as good a focusing motor as the new 70-300mm with VR. Plus it runs about $1400.

Good luck.

 

[theblondebee]

Thanks handicap 18. That 70-300 sounds exactly like what I am looking for. I got my old lenses out and one is a Sigma and one is a Tamron. I'm assuming they will work the same as a nikkor?

 

[YEKCIM]

http://robertsimaging.com/cmItemDetail.jsp?pid=9947

Ordered mine last Thursday, delivered today. They don't stay in stock long, however...

~YEKCIM

 

[cryssi]

YEKCIM, were you happy with ordering from them?

 

[fitzperry]

YEKCIM, were you happy with ordering from them?

Roberts is my favorite local camera shop. I've never ordered anything from them on-line, but they are quite reputable and have been around awhile. I bought my camera, bag and a couple of lenses there.

 

[cryssi]

thanks!

 

[YEKCIM]

YEKCIM, were you happy with ordering from them?

You bet! Only downside, and I understand why they have this policy, is that they would not ship to my office address, where there is someone "on duty" to sign for packages all day long. Their policy is to ship to the billing address (in my case, my home address) only. Fortunately, Mrs. YEKCIM was here when the brown truck arrived and signed for it. She has a D200, though, so I may never see the 70-300 VR again! (just kidding, Honey, if you are reading this...)

~YEKCIM