Best new digital body for old Nikon lenses?

I was going through the garage today and discovered a whole box of beautiful old Nikon prime lenses. What body should I get to go with them... Is there anything notable in the $500-$1000 range?

I am animator, and usual shooting setup is m4/3. But I feel the need to get a body for these lenses. However, I know nothing about Nikon aside from my wife's d60, which is not very impressive IMHO. Anything in a compact format? That shoots 60p?

Sony a6000 works well with legacy lenses. I've used mine with a cheap adapter and older Nikon primes.

A6000 would be the camera id pick

Ok. But I'd need an adapter for that. If I'm going rouse an adapter I might as well get an adapter for my
Panasonics then, right?

el camino said:

Ok. But I'd need an adapter for that. If I'm going rouse an adapter I might as well get an adapter for my
Panasonics then, right?

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2x crop factor for 4/3 is too much cropping for ff lenses most of the time. Youll lose out on wide angle ability.

Also a6000 sensor is one of the top performers in apsc

Are they auto focus lenses? Are they the older lenses for film?

The best camera for non-AF lenses is either a GX-7 or one of the OMDs with stabilization. They will allow you to take sharp pictures with a 50mm lens even at a shutter speed of 1/15th of a second. With other cameras you would need 1/50th to 1/75th (A6000). The one caveat is if you prefer wide angle lenses, then a Sony A7 or Nikon D600 would be a better choice.

If they are are AF lenses and you can afford it, find a use D600. Nikon will fix any sensor spotting issues for life and may even replace the shutter for free. If you want to spend less look for a used E-M5 or new E-M10.

el camino said:

I was going through the garage today and discovered a whole box of beautiful old Nikon prime lenses. What body should I get to go with them... Is there anything notable in the $500-$1000 range?

I am animator, and usual shooting setup is m4/3. But I feel the need to get a body for these lenses. However, I know nothing about Nikon aside from my wife's d60, which is not very impressive IMHO. Anything in a compact format? That shoots 60p?

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If you should decide to get a Nikon body, the D300, D300s, D200, D7000, and D7100 will be able to meter the AIs lenses and are in your price range. The D300s and D7100 also have video. Check KEH.com for good prices.

Frank

Lab D said:

Are they auto focus lenses? Are they the older lenses for film?

The best camera for non-AF lenses is either a GX-7 or one of the OMDs with stabilization. They will allow you to take sharp pictures with a 50mm lens even at a shutter speed of 1/15th of a second. With other cameras you would need 1/50th to 1/75th (A6000). The one caveat is if you prefer wide angle lenses, then a Sony A7 or Nikon D600 would be a better choice.

If they are are AF lenses and you can afford it, find a use D600. Nikon will fix any sensor spotting issues for life and may even replace the shutter for free. If you want to spend less look for a used E-M5 or new E-M10.

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I forgot to add that the GX7 does shoot video at 60p (and Panasonic is known for the best video).

el camino said:

I was going through the garage today and discovered a whole box of beautiful old Nikon prime lenses. What body should I get to go with them... Is there anything notable in the $500-$1000 range?

I am animator, and usual shooting setup is m4/3. But I feel the need to get a body for these lenses. However, I know nothing about Nikon aside from my wife's d60, which is not very impressive IMHO. Anything in a compact format? That shoots 60p?

Click to expand...

Would be better to know what they are.

I have a few old Nikon lenses (both manual focus and AF) I use on both a FF A7 and a GX7...did just sell off a couple as well.

Many old Nikon AF lenses can be used exactly the same as manual focus ones on mirrorless cameras.

I have an old Nikon 50 1.8 af lens that is very nice on mirrorless (remember that m4/3 gives a 2x increase on original angle of view).

A6000 would be a good choice but the lenses would not be stabilized. Video would be nice at 60p though.

GX7 would be able to use the lenses stabilized for stills (but not video).

Oly E-M10 ETC would stabilize the lenses for both stills and video (though video may not be quite as good....still ok though).

With either m4/3 or E mount you can also get a focal reducer and have fun with that for both stills and video.

Since you have a m4/3 camera, get a cheap adapter and see if you like them on your current camera.......if not, then maybe look at an APSC camera .....Sony or Fuji would be good.

A6000 MIGHT be overkill since its claim to fame is AF and those lenses will not AF on it......on the other hand if video is the main thing, then it would be maybe the best choice for HD 60p.

The lenses would likely be best on a camera with an EVF, focus peaking and stabilization ....which means GX7 or EM-10 probably for stills ......video and you have trade offs with any of the choices.

Nothing stopping you getting a cheap adapter for your current camera and a cheap NEX camera with 60p with another cheap adapter and use them on both.

I love good legacy lenses in part BECAUSE you can use them on different formats for a different angle of view.

It can be fun trying old lenses you never know what you are getting really.......just had a ancient 70-350 constant f4.5 turn up a few minutes ago.......less than $100 posted, is in great condition with caps, user book, even an m42 screwmount adaptall (with caps)all in a nice lockable case with key!......this was a VERY expensive lens in its day and still might be ok both on FF and stabilized on the GX7 with a 140-700mm angle of view....can also use it on my Pentax DSLR for a 105-525mm angle of view and again stabilized.

I found about 4 lenses, the two that stand out are two Nikkors, a 24mm f2.8 and 50mm f1.4.

I'm tempted by the A6000, but already invested in the m4/3 system (GX1 and GX7). That would seem like heresy.

So, why isn't anyone suggesting Nikon bodies? I was hoping that Nikon made a sturdy simple gx7 equivalent that could run these lenses... It seems like someone should, there must be a million old lenses floating around. Are there any other manufacturers that would take an old Nikon lens without an adapter?

I mean, I'm about to drop 2k on m4/3 glass... which would be almost obviated if I had a nice body for just the two Nikkor lenses mentioned above.

el camino said:

I found about 4 lenses, the two that stand out are two Nikkors, a 24mm f2.8 and 50mm f1.4.

I'm tempted by the A6000, but already invested in the m4/3 system (GX1 and GX7). That would seem like heresy.

So, why isn't anyone suggesting Nikon bodies? I was hoping that Nikon made a sturdy simple gx7 equivalent that could run these lenses... It seems like someone should, there must be a million old lenses floating around. Are there any other manufacturers that would take an old Nikon lens without an adapter?

I mean, I'm about to drop 2k on m4/3 glass... which would be almost obviated if I had a nice body for just the two Nikkor lenses mentioned above.

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There are various kinds of old Nikkors and it makes a difference which they are. The 24mm f/2.8 can be an AI lens or an AF lens. The AI lens won't meter on the lower-end Nikon bodies. The 50mm f/1.4 can be very old (pre-AI) or relatively new. Pre-AI lenses can damage higher-end Nikon bodies.

Besides that, neither lens is all that good.

Good to know!!! I guess that's why i'm an animator and not a photographer. They sure looked and felt nice - compared to modern lenses with their plastic rings and cheap text inscriptions. In that case, maybe I will cross this task off my list and let them become window ornaments.

el camino said:

Good to know!!! I guess that's why i'm an animator and not a photographer. They sure looked and felt nice - compared to modern lenses with their plastic rings and cheap text inscriptions. In that case, maybe I will cross this task off my list and let them become window ornaments.

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Get a cheap adapter and use the 50 on your m4/3 cameras......it should be ok and you might like it.



The 24 is a wide angle that is a bit wasted on m4/3 and APSC also. Sell it to someone who would use it on a FF camera like an A7. Not the best lens in the world but not the worst and old 24mm and shorter lenses are worth more than 28mm and longer simply because there are far fewer of them.

Most of these legacy lenses are none too sharp by modern standards, but the 50/1.4 could make a decent portrait lens on your m43 cameras. The adapters are insanely cheap, so get one and give it a try.

I sometimes use an old Minolta 50/1.4 on my E-M1 and, while it's no match for the sharpness of my Olympus 75mm, it's fun to shoot with this old gal.

Canon 700D will take old Nikons with a cheap adapter, meters the old manual focus lenses, and in Live View you can zoom in to assist manual focus. Once you get used to it, manual focus takes a second or two. I have 7-8 old Pentax and Nikon lenses, and they work quite well. Canon doesn't have focus peaking or in-body stabilisation, but bodies can be had quite cheaply. This was taken with a Pentax 300mm f4 manual focus.

EthanP99 said:

A6000 would be the camera id pick

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Or an A7, which will give the whole image from the lenses without cropping.

neil holmes said:

el camino said:

I was going through the garage today and discovered a whole box of beautiful old Nikon prime lenses. What body should I get to go with them... Is there anything notable in the $500-$1000 range?

I am animator, and usual shooting setup is m4/3. But I feel the need to get a body for these lenses. However, I know nothing about Nikon aside from my wife's d60, which is not very impressive IMHO. Anything in a compact format? That shoots 60p?

Click to expand...

Would be better to know what they are.

I have a few old Nikon lenses (both manual focus and AF) I use on both a FF A7 and a GX7...did just sell off a couple as well.

Many old Nikon AF lenses can be used exactly the same as manual focus ones on mirrorless cameras.

I have an old Nikon 50 1.8 af lens that is very nice on mirrorless (remember that m4/3 gives a 2x increase on original angle of view).

Click to expand...

Decrease.

Member said:

A6000 would be a good choice but the lenses would not be stabilized. Video would be nice at 60p though.

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I use old Nikon lenses regularly on a NEX and never find the lack of stabilisation a problem.

Member said:

A6000 MIGHT be overkill since its claim to fame is AF and those lenses will not AF on it......on the other hand if video is the main thing, then it would be maybe the best choice for HD 60p.

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Not only fast focus, but also a very good sensor and a decent EVF.

Stephan K said:

Canon 700D will take old Nikons with a cheap adapter, meters the old manual focus lenses, and in Live View you can zoom in to assist manual focus. Once you get used to it, manual focus takes a second or two.

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Zooming in is useful, but focus peaking is essential, in my experience.

Any mirrorless camera will meter with any legacy lens, including odd lenses that were never intended to be used on cameras. Some will even meter with pinholes.

Stephan K said:

I have 7-8 old Pentax and Nikon lenses, and they work quite well. Canon doesn't have focus peaking or in-body stabilisation, but bodies can be had quite cheaply. This was taken with a Pentax 300mm f4 manual focus.

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OK, any suggestions for a cheap nikon to M4/3 adapter? There are quite a few out there.

el camino said:

OK, any suggestions for a cheap nikon to M4/3 adapter? There are quite a few out there.

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MFT has a 2x crop factor. Nikon bodies Aps-c has a 1.5 crop factor. In my opinion, why dont you get a D70 or D70s used body for about $ 100 or a D200 for around $ 250 to play with those Nikkor Lenses. That is a way better solution than getting an adaptor, fwiw.

I did not see the word "New" Body !!!! Cheapest Nikon DSLR body would be D3xxx.