Using manual lens

[msafiedin]

You can consider me as a noob in this DSLR camera

Recently around 1 month plus ago i bought my first dslr = nikon d40
it was working flawlessly and i learn many tricks that i never knew b4
thanks to digital photography school@forum

anyway somebody just bought me a present
nikkor 70-300mm G f4/5.6 and receiving it today
it was my first external lens (exclude the kit lens that came wh d40)

i understand now after reading the manual
i had to buy AF-s or Af-i for the lens to work as autofocus in D40
but i dont think this one will work with the AF

so maybe i had to use the manual F if i use this lens
i dont want to turn away the present because he already bought it
i am worried that i couldnt get manual focus properly on subject im taking
i try learning manual focussin 18-55mm kit lens the one i got
and sometime i get sharp pic sometime i dont

what is the trick on getting a sharp picture using a manual focus lens?
or is there a trick to get the 70-300mm to work with my d40 as AF

(now i feel that my d40 is turning me down)

[NaturesPixel]

Ok after some research you CAN NOT use this lens in AF.. there are no tricks hacks you can do

Here is a list of current lenses you can use AF on your D40

AF-S 17-35mm 2.8D IF-ED
AF-S 24-85mm 3.5-4.5G IF-ED
AF-S 28-70mm 2.8D IF-ED
AF-S 300mm 2.8D IF-ED II
AF-S 300mm 4D IF-ED
AF-S 400mm 2.8D IF-ED II
AF-S 500mm 4D IF-ED II
AF-S 600mm 4D IF-ED II
AF-S DX 12-24mm 4G IF-ED
AF-S DX 17-55mm 2.8G IF-ED
AF-S DX 18-135mm 3.5-5.6G IF-ED
AF-S DX 18-55mm 3.5-5.6G ED
AF-S DX 18-70mm 3.5-4.5G IF-ED
AF-S DX 55-200mm 4.0-5.6G ED
AF-S DX VR 18-200mm 3.5-5.6G IF-ED
AF-S VR 24-120mm 3.5-5.6G IF-ED
AF-S VR 70-200mm 2.8G IF-ED
AF-S VR 70-300mm 4.5-5.6G IF-ED
AF-S VR 105mm 2.8G IF-ED
AF-S VR 200-400mm 4G IF-ED
AF-S VR 200mm 2G IF-ED
AF-S VR 300mm 2.8G IF-ED

notice no 50mm prime lens tho i am sure Nikon will fill in the gaps one day

You can use this lens but in Manual focus only.. try using a tripod with timer or remote that way you don't get camera shake


have you considered upgrading to the D80?? or even for the same $$ as the D40 a D50