D90 Lenses??

[Heidilyn]

I had a question about lens compatibility.

Are you able to use the Nikon D40 AF-S lenses on the D90 body??

TIA!

[inkista]

Yes. If they work on your D40, they'll work on the D90. It kinda goes the other direction. The AF lenses that won't autofocus on your D40 will autofocus on the D90.

[Chip]

Heidilyn - As a general rule, the only lenses that won't work on a D90 and that do work on a D40 are the pre-AI lenses from say 1970 or so and earlier. These are all the manual focus, non-CPU, non-metering type lenses.

You thinking about a new camera, perhaps?

[RexK_Cozumel]

Originally Posted by Chip

Heidilyn - As a general rule, the only lenses that won't work on a D90 and that do work on a D40 are the pre-AI lenses from say 1970 or so and earlier. These are all the manual focus, non-CPU, non-metering type lenses.

You thinking about a new camera, perhaps?

Now you may not have auto focus or exposure metering or in body aperture control but the lenses will work exactly as it was originally designed.

[inkista]

Originally Posted by RexK_Cozumel

Actually all Nikon F mount lenses will work on all Nikon F mount SLR cameras. In case you were wondering the Nikon F mount has been around for over 50 years.

No, no. Chip's right. Mounting pre-AI lenses will damage all the Nikon digital bodies except for the D40/D60. AI (ca. 1979) and later F-mount lenses are fine, though. Leave the pre-AI lenses for us Canon shooters to snap up.

[OsmosisStudios]

Or have them converted

AF-S is the designation given to lenses with a built-in focusing motor: on the D40/x/60/5000 camera bodies, this is necessary for autofocus. Since the D90 has a screw-drive motor for AF lenses, it can use both AF and AF-S lenses. If you mount an AF-S lens to a D90, it turns off the screw drive, using the in-lens motor.

[RexK_Cozumel]

Originally Posted by inkista

No, no. Chip's right. Mounting pre-AI lenses will damage all the Nikon digital bodies except for the D40/D60. AI (ca. 1979) and later F-mount lenses are fine, though. Leave the pre-AI lenses for us Canon shooters to snap up.

I stand corrected. Never owned a pre AI lens. It is older than I am

**will edit earlier post to correct.

[Heidilyn]

Originally Posted by Chip

You thinking about a new camera, perhaps?

Yes, I was considering just that. I wasn't sure if I should just buy the D90 body (if I was able to use the lenses that I have now for the D40) or if I should go ahead and get the whole D90 kit.

Right now I have the D40 kit lens (18-55mm) and the telephoto (55-200 mm) both are AF-S lenses.

Any thoughts ??

[OsmosisStudios]

No harm in keeping them, though there are better lenses out there, few will beat the bang/buck that those two offer.

[dcclark]

I'd buy the body-only, because none of the other "kit" lenses will be anything special -- your current setup is pretty decent. I'd save the money from the body-only purchase and get an interesting lens -- a fast prime, or an ultrawide, or a macro maybe.