Nikon SLR Camera and Lens Compatibility

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Nikon SLR Camera and Lens Compatibility

J. Ramon Palacios
San Pedro Garza García, Mexico
Admin, 32874 posts

(3 Votes)

From time to time you find yourself reading great reviews on some lenses or see a bargain and the temptation of a compulsive purchase is there. NAS (Nikon Acquisition Syndrome) kicks in and hits you hard. But how to tell for sure if that object of your desire will work, and how, on your current Nikon Digital or Film SLR camera body? Below, hopefully an easy to use chart that should provide an answer for most Nikon SLR cameras currently in use.

You may also want to read our very active Nikkor AF lenses forum, check out the various Nikon camera articles and lens reviews. Also make sure you take a look at LetsGoDigital's Nikon review and news section and that you did a search on Nikon SLR at NikoScope.

Assortment of AI, AI-S lenses and manual film bodies

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NIKON SLR CAMERA TO LENS COMPATIBILITY*

	MANUAL FOCUS NIKKOR LENSES			AUTOFOCUS NIKOR LENSES
NIKON FILM SLR	Pre-AI	AI, AI-S, E	AI-P	F3AF	AF	AF-D	AF-I, AF-S	G	VR	DX
N/F50	NO!	MF⁴	MF	NO!	AF	AF	MF³	AF	AF⁵	vg
N/F55	NO!	MF⁴	MF	NO!	AF	AF	AF	AF	AF⁵	vg
N/F60	NO!	MF⁴	MF	NO!	AF	AF	MF³	AF	AF⁵	vg
N/F65	NO!	MF⁴	MF	NO!	AF	AF	AF	AF	VR	vg
N/F70	NO!	MF^1,2	MF	MF^1,2	AF	AF	AF	AF⁶	AF⁵	vg
N/F75	NO!	MF⁴	MF	NO!	AF	AF	AF	AF	VR	vg
N/F80	NO!	MF⁴	MF	NO!	AF	AF	AF	AF	VR	vg
N90s/F90x	NO!	MF^1,2	MF	MF^1,2	AF	AF	AF	AF⁶	AF⁵	vg
F100	NO!	MF^1,2	MF	NO!	AF	AF	AF	AF	VR	vg
FM2n	NO!	MF	MF	MF	MF	MF³	MF	NO	MF⁵	vg
FM3A	NO!	MF	MF	MF	MF	MF³	MF³	NO	MF^3,5	vg
F3	MF⁷	MF¹	MF	MF	MF	MF³	MF³	NO	MF^3,5	vg
N8008s/F801s	NO!	MF^1,2,3	MF	MF^{1, 2}	AF	AF³	AF³	AF⁶	AF^3,5	vg
F4	MF^{1, 2, 7}	MF¹	MF	AF¹	AF	AF³	AF³	AF	AF^3,5	vg
F5	NO!	MF^1,2	MF	MF^1,2	AF³	AF	AF	AF	VR	vg
F6	MF^1,7,8	MF¹	MF	NO!	AF^2,3	AF	AF	AF	VR	vg

	MANUAL FOCUS NIKKOR LENSES			AUTOFOCUS NIKKOR LENSES
NIKON DSLR	Pre-AI	AI, AI-S, E	AI-P	F3AF	AF	AF-D	AF-I, AF-S	G	VR	DX
D1	NO!	MF^1,2	MF	NO	AF³	AF	AF	AF	VR	DX
D1H/D1X	NO!	MF^1,2	MF²	NO	AF³	AF	AF	AF	VR	DX
D2H/D2Hs	NO!	MF¹	MF²	NO	AF^2,3	AF	AF	AF	VR	DX
D2X/D2Xs	NO!	MF¹	MF²	NO	AF^2,3	AF	AF	AF	VR	DX
D3	NO!	MF¹	MF²	NO	AF^2,3	AF²	AF	AF²	VR⁹	DX^vg
D3X	NO!	MF¹	MF²	NO	AF^2,3	AF²	AF	AF²	VR⁹	DX^vg
D3S	NO!	MF¹	MF²	NO	AF^2,3	AF²	AF	AF²	VR⁹	DX^vg
D4	NO!	MF¹	MF²	NO	AF^2,3	AF	AF	AF	VR⁹	DX^vg
D100	NO!	MF⁴	MF	NO	AF³	AF	AF	AF	VR	DX
D200	NO!	MF¹	MF	NO	AF³	AF	AF	AF	VR	DX
D300/D300s	NO!	MF¹	MF²	NO	AF³	AF	AF	AF	VR	DX
D700	NO!	MF¹	MF²	NO	AF^2,3	AF	AF	AF	VR	DX^vg
D600	NO!	MF¹	MF²	NO	AF^2,3	AF	AF	AF	VR	DX^vg
D70/D70s	NO!	MF⁴	MF	NO	AF³	AF	AF	AF	VR	DX
D50	NO!	MF⁴	MF	NO	AF³	AF	AF	AF	VR	DX
D40/D40x	NO!	MF⁴	MF²	NO	MF³	MF	AF	AF¹⁰	VR⁹	DX
D80	NO!	MF⁴	MF²	NO	AF³	AF	AF	AF	VR	DX
D60	NO!	MF⁴	MF²	NO	MF^2,3	MF	AF	MF¹⁰	VR⁹	DX
D90	NO!	MF⁴	MF²	NO	AF^2,3	AF	AF	AF	VR⁹	DX
D5000	NO!	MF⁴	MF²	NO	MF^2,3	MF	AF	MF¹⁰	VR⁹	DX
D5100	NO!	MF⁴	MF²	NO	AF^2,3	MF	AF	MF¹⁰	VR⁹	DX
D5200	NO!	MF⁴	MF²	NO	MF^2,3	MF	AF	MF¹⁰	VR⁹	DX
D3000	NO!	MF⁴	MF²	NO	MF^2,3	MF	AF	MF¹⁰	VR⁹	DX
D3100	NO!	MF⁴	MF²	NO	MF^2,3	MF	AF	MF¹⁰	VR⁹	DX
D3200	NNO!O!	MMF⁴F⁴	MF²	NO	MF^2,3	MF	AF	MF¹⁰	VR⁹	DX
D7000	NO!	MF¹	MF²	NO	AF²	AF	AF	AF	VR⁹	DX
D7100	NO!	MF¹	MF¹	NO	AF²	AF	AF	AF	VR⁹	DX
*Always Consult your Camera Manual

NIKKOR LENS NOMENCLATURE
LENS TYPE	CHARACTERISTICS
Pre-AI	Non-AI Manual Focus Nikon lenses made from 1959 and prior to 1977. Don't have a CPU. All Non-AI lenses have a letter after the word Nikkor, to tell the number of elements in the optical formula. For example, in the Nikkor-P 105mm f/2.5, the P stands for Penta, i.e. five elements. Types: A (chrome filter ring), C (black filter ring) and K (rubber coating)
AI	Manual Focus Nikon lenses, produced from 1977 until mid 80's, introduced Automatic Maximum Aperture Indexing. A mechanism for meter coupling, that is, to inform the meter in the body what is the maximum aperture of the mounted lens. With all black barrel, rubber focusing ring and multicoated elements. Don't have a CPU chip.
AI-S	Manual Focus Nikon lenses, introduced in 1982, with Aperture Indexing Shutter system for meter coupling. Smallest aperture is orange (if not, then the lens is either AI or pre-AI). Most of these lenses have extraordinary optics, like the legendary 105mm f/2.5, available in AI-S version. Don't have a CPU.
E	Manual AI-S Nikon Series E lenses, made for the compact Nikon EM introduced in 1979, starting the use of plastics. The 75-150mm f/3.5 Series E reached mythical stature. Don't have a CPU.
AI-P	Manual AI-S Nikon lenses with a CPU that sends the lens information to the camera body. The latest is the ultracompact Nikkor 45mm f/2.8 P "pancake", made to celebrate the FM3A and proving Nikon's loyalty not only to film enthusiasts but also to manual body users.
F3AF	Auto focus pioneering Nikon lenses introduced in 1983, exclusively for the F3AF.
AF	Auto focus Nikon lenses introduced in 1986. When on Auto bodies, there is no need to use the aperture ring in auto modes. AI-S lenses with a built-in CPU and screw motor for AF operation.
AF-D	Introduced in 1992. AF Nikon lenses with a CPU that also relays distance information to the camera, most useful for ultra-precise TTL flash. Among the first were the 35-70mm f/2.8D AF and 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF Nikkor.
AF-I	Introduced in 1992. Nikon lenses with a coreless Integrated motor for faster AF in high-end telephoto lenses. The first were the 300mm f/2.8 and the 600mm f/4, both D ED IF AF-I.
AF-S	Introduced in 1996, Nikon AF-D lenses with a "Silent Wave" ultrasonic motor of their own, for fastest AF operation. The first were the 300mm f/2.8, 500mm f/4 and 600mm f/4, all D ED IF AF-S Nikkor.
G	Introduced in 2000. Nikon AF-D lenses without aperture ring. Need to be controlled through the body dials of latest cameras. The first was the 70-300mm f/4-5.6G AF.
VR	Introduced in 2000. Nikon lenses with a Vibration Reduction system allowing for crisp images handheld at very slow shutter speeds. The first was the 80-400mm f/4-5.6D ED VR Zoom Nikkor.
DX	Introduced in 2003. Nikon G lenses designed to just fill the frame of the DX format APS-C sensor size used in Nikon D-Series SLR cameras. The first was the AF-S DX 12-24mm f/4G IF-ED Nikkor.

NOTES
NO!	Definitely do not use, for it may damage the camera body. Also, warranty will be void. However, the F5 body can be modified to accept pre-AI lenses.
NO	It may not damage the camera body but will not function.
MF	Manual Focus
AF	Auto Focus
1	Only in A (Aperture Priority) or M (Manual) modes. P (Program) or S (Shutter priority) exposure modes will not function.
2	No 3D Matrix Exposure Metering.
3	No distance information through the lens for TTL flash; Nikon speedlights will use their own sensor.
4	M (Manual) exposure mode only. The meter will not operate. Sunny 16 rule or external meter.
5	The VR system will not function. Will MF or AF depending on whether the body is MF or AF
6	Opposite of 1. Will only work in P and S modes, not on A or M.
7	Care must be exercised to flip up the coupling tab on prior to mounting the lens to prevent damage.
8	Requires factory modification of meter coupling lever.
9	The VR system will only function with G VR and D VR lenses
10	Auto Focus is possible with G lenses only if they are also AF-S; G AF lenses will MF only
VR	The VR system will function and all other available functions.
DX	Will function in DX format without vignetting.
vg	Will seriously vignette on a 35mm film or full frame digital camera with FX format, more so at the shortest focal length when a zoom and wide open; all of the G lenses restrictions apply. Will work in cameras offering High Speed Crop function.

Last modified on Tuesday, 19 March 2013

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10 comments

2013-06-06 22:32:00 posted by Jack Carter (jcsocalphoto)
Thanks for this information - easy to read, easy to understand and most valuable when looking around for older lenses at a bargin! Nice chart.
2013-05-07 00:05:45 posted by Mohamed Elsayyed (MohamedElsayyed)
These charts are very useful. Thanks for sharing them.
2013-03-22 21:08:45 posted by Bennett Fletcher (BWFletcher)
Many pre-AI lenses were retrofitted with AI rings when auto indexing was introduced. I have 3 such (a 105/2.5 Nikkor-P, a 35/2.8, and a 24/2.8), and they work fine with D3, D4, D700, D800. Worth checking if you're looking at old lenses.
2013-03-05 10:57:09 posted by Zita Margit Kemeny (zkemeny)
This chart is for me a good reference.
2013-03-03 21:12:35 posted by J. Ramon Palacios (jrp)
Geoffrey, Please post your question at the Nikon AF lenses forum. Thank you.
2013-03-02 02:39:13 posted by Geoffrey Hawson (geoffrey_hawson)
I am thinking of an upgrade. Have a D80 and have been waiting for the D300s replacement. Considering the D7100, but also wondering about a D609 if I can get my old SLR lenses to fit (or be modified in Australia) the list is below if someone is able to decipher it. I think they are all nom AI. LENS Serial Focal Length Designation Fstop Minimum Stop Nikkor-Q.C 606380 200 Auto 4 32 Zoom-Nokkor 2070782 35~70 3.3 ~4.5 22 Nikkor S.C 1502768 50 Auto 1.4 16 Nikkor-N.C 321016 28 Auto 2 22 Nikkor-P.C 559128 105 Auto 2.5 32
2013-01-23 07:37:32 posted by Rick Jobson (Rickjobson)
Great chart! Tried an old AI 28mm, 70-210mm E, AF-S 17-35,24-120VR, and 105mmVR on my D800 all work perfectly as the chart : ) for D600. Thanks
2013-01-13 06:03:15 posted by Ariel Encarnacion (archer4219)
Thanks for this quick and informative summary.
2013-01-11 04:54:45 posted by Kurt Pedersen (KurtP)
Thanks the information on this site is awesome
2012-12-20 14:21:21 posted by Bo Stahlbrandt (bgs)
JRPs compatibility list is always helpful, thanks!