lens from old nikon to new

[cheenman]

I have an old Nikon FE2 body with a couple of lens for it. I just purchased a D60 and tried putting one of my old lens' on the D60 and while they lock in okay, I get a message that says "Lens not attached". Am I to assume that these lens' will not work on my new camera?
Thanks

cheenman

[dcclark]

It sounds like your old lenses may be the "non-CPU" type, meaning, they don't have any CPU or electronic contacts to inform the D60 about the lens's abilities. To my knowledge, those lenses won't work with the D60, but others may have more specific knowledge. Sorry!

[inkista]

Actually, it will work, but you won't have metering or autofocus and you'll be restricted to full Manual mode, iirc. But I'm a Canon shooter ... Googled up this, though:

How to Use Non CPU Lens With Nikon D60 | eHow.com

Set the camera to Manual (M) mode. Since there is no CPU in the lens, it has to be used in full manual mode. You will be required to meter the shot yourself--choosing the correct aperture and shutter speed--and you will have to focus the shot yourself.

Compose and focus the shot. A quick tip, in the lower left corner of the viewfinder there is a small green circle that will illuminate when the shot is in focus.

Take the shot, adjust settings if needed. Since you will not have the luxury of the camera metering the shot for you, it may require some tweaking. Check the histogram available in the display--use the up or down directional pad arrow to scroll through the available information. Ideally, the graph will peak in the middle and recompose if needed.

[Aegea]

I imagine the lenses are AI but without autofocus. These lenses are still very workable on the D60, but in completely manual mode - manual focus, no metering - guess the exposure, make corrections, try again. (In fact I was using my Nikon 100 E f2.8 in just this way today.) As far as I know, Nikon could have provided the capability for metering these lenses on the DXX bodies at minimal cost, but annoyingly chose not to so.

[cheenman]

It works - Thanks to you all for your timely help. Now I just have to learn how to do it.

[J. r. Weems]

These older AI lenses CAN be programed in a D 700, one of the MAIN reasons I bought the 700 last year when I needed a second body. Yes, manual focus etc, but they work fine, at least mine do. The Egret below was taken with a 1000MM MR lens at Assateague National Seashore last summer.

[inkista]

Originally Posted by J. r. Weems

These older AI lenses CAN be programed in a D 700...

The D200/D300 can do this trick, too. I wish Canon would let us do that. Then again, I can use a pre-AI lens on my Canon.

[Chip]

I use my old, non-CPU lenses all the time.

Getting the exposure right isn't all that hard. Just takes a bit of practice.

If I have time to shoot, then I love using these old lenses.

Here's a link to a non-metering group on flickr. Lots of knowledgeable folks over there, and a friendly group, too.

[Sportster77]

As far as I know, Nikon could have provided the capability for metering these lenses on the DXX bodies at minimal cost, but annoyingly chose not to so.

Actually the D50 is fully capable of using the older lenses.When Nikon moved the A/F motor from the body to the lens is when you lost the capability to have full function with the older lenses. My 2 favorite lenses are a Sigma 70-200 APO f2.8 and a Sigma 28-300.

[Aegea]

@ Sportster77 - According to Nikon SLR Camera & Lens Compatibility Chart, the AI, AI-S and E series lenses are manual focus (naturally) and have no metering capability on the DXX bodies. That is certainly my experience with AI and E lenses on both the D40 and the D90.