Actually the title of this thread is a little misleading; let me explain.....

I've used Nikon film cameras for years, in fact since before many (most?) of the members on here were born. I bought my F3 in 1981 and the FE in about 1976, most of the lenses I bought between points 1 and 2. In addition to the bodies I have a 28mm, a 50mm, a 135 and 200, all Nikkors and a 600mm Sigma Cat lens so it goes without saying that I'm a fan of the make and as all my lenses will fit any Nikon DSLR that's the way I'm thinking.

I phoned Nikon to ask about compatibility only to be told that the D5100 and D90 I'd been thinking of had meters that wouldn't work with those lenses and that the lowest priced body that would is the D7000 which takes the bill up to around the £1,000 mark.

I realise this model is quite new, but I was wondering if anyone has experience of it.

Ah s*d it, I've bought one anyway.

I realise I'm a little late with this, but rest assured that the D7000 has got rave reviews on the photography forum I use, as it has on various other sites.

Have a look at DP review too (give it a google).

8 months in and I'm well pleased. I've got nowhere near using all the facilities on it.

I do have a query however, if anyone can help, namely the 1:1.5 ratio. I'm not entirely sure how this applies. The camera came with a 18-105mm zoom kit lens. If I use my old 135 manual focus lens on the D7000, is this only slightly longer than the 105 zoom or does it come out at 167.5mm? Or, if you like, if I set the zoom to 50mm is the picture the same as my old 50mm?

Conversely, is a 200mm AF modern lens the same magnification as the old 200mm manual focus lens from my old F3? Hopes this makes sense.

The Beard said:

8 months in and I'm well pleased. I've got nowhere near using all the facilities on it.

I do have a query however, if anyone can help, namely the 1:1.5 ratio. I'm not entirely sure how this applies. The camera came with a 18-105mm zoom kit lens. If I use my old 135 manual focus lens on the D7000, is this only slightly longer than the 105 zoom or does it come out at 167.5mm? Or, if you like, if I set the zoom to 50mm is the picture the same as my old 50mm?

Conversely, is a 200mm AF modern lens the same magnification as the old 200mm manual focus lens from my old F3? Hopes this makes sense.

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The 1:1.5 ratio basically means that whatever is stamped on the lens needs to be multiplied by 1.5 to get the true, 35mm, magnification.

So your 18-105mm lens is actually giving you a 27-157.5mm magnification (35mm equivelant). If your old film lens is say, 120mm, it will actually operate at a 180mm magnification (35mm equivelant).

As for modern lenses, they quote the true magnification of the lens, not the 35mm equivelant as this would be different between cameras. For example, my Olympus DSLR is a 1:2 ratio so my 14-45mm lens (as marked on the lens) is actually a 28-90mm 35mm equivelant, but say this lens could fit your D7000, it would operate as a 21-67.5mm lens.

As for comparing a 200mm modern lens to a 200mm film lens. They will be the same, just when fit to your d7000, it will actually give you the equivelant to a 300mm film lens as your sensor is smaller than a 35mm film frame.

A 200mm lens is a 200mm lens. It is the camera that determines what magnification it operates at. If you stuck a modern 200mm lens on a 35mm film camera, it would operate at 200mm. If you put an old 200mm lens on a full frame DSLR, it would operate as a 200mm lens. Its when sensors get smaller (aps-c, 4:3 etc) that things start to change.

Hope this makes sense

Er, yes.....I think I get it. You seem to be saying (I hope) that the focal length of the lens, in this case, is not a variable but the size of the sensor is. So an 18-105 lens on, for instance, a Nikon D3 full frame camera is still an 18-105 lens whereas when fitted to a D7000 it becomes a 27-157.5mm.

As do my old AI manual lenses. OK, if I've got that right then I don't actually NEED to buy any longer lenses. That'll save me a fortune then. Having said that I'm sure I'll develop an insatiable need for a 10-20 wide angle sooner or later.

Thanks for that explanation by the way, that is if I've understood you correctly.

Yep, spot on.

You might find that a lot of your older lenses won't operate fully on the modern body though. They will physically fit and the camera will be able to take a photo through it but you will most likely have to adjust everything manually.

I mentioned this in post #1. I phoned Nikon as I fancied a D5100 because of the swivelling/tilting viewing screen but I asked the question as to compatibility of my existing lenses and was told that the first (cheapest) body they did that would work (pretty) completely with them was the D7000.

The only thing I'm lacking is the auto-focus facility, obviously. To use the AI I just set the body to Manual focus and Bob's your Uncle. The metering is fully functional.

The D5100 is a nice unit. I've purchased one now

Most Easterly Pandas said:

The D5100 is a nice unit. I've purchased one now

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Welcome to the Nikon family. I've been using them since 1974, mind you, it was the stream powered model.

I've been really impressed with mine. I really need to spend some time having a decent play with the different settings

I decided to get all techy and have a Nikon GP-1 geotagger for it

I'm looking forward to spa italia and the ring next month and getting some good shots.

Had fun a few weeks ago with some night shots.

One thing Nikon meters have been peerless at is poor or tricky light calculations. Took dozens of photos in Venice last year. We'd been a few times before but never at night and this time all the way from an hour or so before dusk right up until about 11 pm the exposure was bang on straight out of the box. In other words just leaving it in Auto and letting it do its thang.

Silhouettes, flood lighting, street lighting it did it all.

Giving it a different kind of holiday this year, a week in Northumbria near Berwick on Tweed. See how it deals with lowering clouds. Must buy a few ND filters.

Filters are something I need to look at investing in tbh. I've only a cheap ebay special UV filter for my two lenses ATM, mainly just as protectors more than anything.

Do you think you could post up some pictures with the nikon? Im thinking of upgrading my olympus E410 (because its rubbish!) and at the moment im set of a canon EOS 550D but I am still open for suggestions

A few night shots


And a few from being out and about




(sorry about the hijack The Beard )

JustAndy said:

Do you think you could post up some pictures with the nikon? Im thinking of upgrading my olympus E410 (because its rubbish!) and at the moment im set of a canon EOS 550D but I am still open for suggestions

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Just out of interest, what don't you like about the E410?

Your pic of the muck spreader had me laughing MEP. I have an image of the driver sneezing and that nozzle swinging round through 180 degrees as he catches the lever. And then some poor bu**er on a motor bike riding through it.

Ahem.

Actually, thinking about it, it's likely to be me riding through it.

I have two DSLR quality cameras an old Olympus E410 which is a great little camera, small compact and goes well with my 25mm pancake lens for grab and runs type situations when you want the quality but not the size and weight.

I also have a mirrorless Olympus E-PL1 which produces fantastic results with some added cool effects as well as cinema quality HD video recording, at some point I plan to move on to a canon as the up port for Olympus stuff is pretty poor and they lose value quickly, I would however still consider one of their tough cameras for snow boarding, skiing, etc.

That said I have had photos published from my E410 and done two calendar shoots with my E-PL1 so it goes to show its the camera that takes the picture but the user that makes it, I've seen many high end camera produce some pretty terrible results because of the owner

I know where at least one of MEP's pics are taken lol

AndyRKett said:

old Olympus E410 which is a great little camera,

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I have the same camera and it drives me nuts, horrible at taking pictures when its slightly dark, cant focus properly and it wont take a decent macro photo at all.
Ive tried loads of different settings to try and get a decent picture and each one just does not work well at all for me. The only time it is good is when its sunny and its a still picture not sure if its just me or not but i personally cant wait to upgrade to a canon 550D

JustAndy said:

I have the same camera and it drives me nuts, horrible at taking pictures when its slightly dark, cant focus properly and it wont take a decent macro photo at all.
Ive tried loads of different settings to try and get a decent picture and each one just does not work well at all for me. The only time it is good is when its sunny and its a still picture not sure if its just me or not but i personally cant wait to upgrade to a canon 550D

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Quick example as I've let my Flickr pro expire these are taken from FB but these are all off my E410


No problems focusing at distance and in poor lighting conditions


Excuse the dodgy photoshopped name doofer shows the macro


Playing with the air ambulance at work