Can all nikon lenses fit on to a nikon d5100?
Thanks
what what nikon do you recommend instead of d5100, around that price.
More or less, all Nikon lenses will fit a D5100.
However, realize that Nikon has made over 70 million lenses over the years, and as technology progressed, some additional features were added.
The really old lenses were not intelligent, and you had to manually focus them, and even manually set the aperture. There are millions of these lenses on the used market, but Nikon does still make a couple of them. The ones currently made are called AI lenses. You have to use your camera in manual exposure mode with these lenses.
The first generation of autofocus lenses were called AF lenses. They also had electrical contacts so that the aperture setting and other information could be read and controlled by the camera. The lenses did require though that the camera have an in-camera focus motor.
Your D5100 does not have such a motor, so these lenses would have to be manually focused on your camera. However, your camera could be used in manual, PSAM, or auto exposure mode. There are millions of these lenses on the used market, and Nikon still makes about 20 models today.
The most modern lenses - and the second generation of lenses, are called AF-S lenses. Most of the lenses Nikon makes these days are this type, and there are millions of these lenses on the used market also. These lenses have a focus motor built into them, and they are fully functional on your camera - both autofocus and exposure.
Cameras you may be interested in that is in your price range besides the D5100 are the D3200, D7000, and D5200. The D3200 is the low-end entry-level DSLR, the D5100 is the upper-end entry-level DSLR, and the D7000 is an advanced amateur DSLR. The main differences are that the D5100 offers a couple improvements in functionality over the D3200, but the D7000 is a significant upgrade functionally over the D5100. One such function is an in-camera focus motor. Therefore, this camera can autofocus AF lenses. This gives you access to a wider range of new and used lenses.
The D5100 and D7000 are on discount at this point. The D5100 is being replaced by the D5200 (and is shipping already in Europe and Asia, and will ship in Jan 2013 in the US). The D7000 replacement is not yet announced, but since it is on discount, there's a 90% chance it will soon be replaced.
Apart from pre-AI lenses, pretty much, but MF lenses don't meter and AF lenses don't autofocus (you need the motorised AF-S lenses for that).
A good alternative is the Pentax K-r which meters with every Pentax lens made since 1975 and gives autofocus with any lens in Pentax AF fit (it also has image stabilisation built into the body - so it's available whichever lens you use).
Canon MF lenses don't fit their DSLRs.
Yes, all nikon lens [ pre-ai too ] can fit on it
Most CPU lenses will work on the D5100. However old manual lenses will not function on the D5100. Some can actually damage the body or mount.
Old cpu lenses from the 80's, 90's, early 2000's and current lenses that don't have built in AF motors will work but they won't be able to auto focus on the D5100 since that body doesn't have a built in AF motor. However everything will work you'll just have to manually focus on you subjects.
If your on a tight budget I'd actually recommend looking at older Nikon Bodies like the D50, D70/D70s and D80. They are all very affordable now and its not hard to find one in like new condition.
They all have built in AF motors and work just fine with current and older lenses, speed lights and accessories. I own a D50 and D70. Both are great cameras even today. Both will also work with older CPU lenses. Just note that older bodies don't have live view or movie modes. I own a D5100 only for its improved ISO performance and movie mode. But to be honest the D50 and D70 take wonderful photo's even when compared to the D5100. The amount of Mega Pixels don't matter with DSLR's because of their huge image sensors. Mega Pixels only matter with point and shoot cameras with very small sensors.
All of them except very early lenses, which are known as Pre-AI. Pre-AI lenses can be modified to the AI-standard and will then fit all modern Nikon SLR cameras.
The D5100 has a further problem, because it's an entry level camera, it doesn't have an AF motor or AI coupling ridge or the capability of manually inputting lens information for AI metering. Therefore, you will have limited compatibility as follows:
AI/AI-S lenses - No AF (well they're manual lenses anyway), No meter (manual mode, guess exposure).
AI-P and AF - No AF, meter works as normal.
AF-I and AF-S - AF and metering (i.e.fully compatible).