Nikon SLR Cameras

Can I use a Nikon 50mm 1.8D lens on a Nikon D3200?

Chelsey Noelle
Chelsey Noelle

Hi, I'm buying either a nikon D3200 or D5100 soon and I wanted to know if i can use a Nikon 50mm 1.8D, 1.8G or 1.4g lens on those cameras? And if so which lens and camera do you recommend? I want to use it for portraits photography.

fhotoace
fhotoace

ANY Nikkor lens that is an AF-S lens will work on your D5200

Here is a list of all the current Nikkor lenses

http://www.nikonusa.com/...index.page

NOTE:

Any of the AF lenses can be used, but you will have to focus the lens using the electronic rangefinder in the viewfinder

thankyoumaskedman
thankyoumaskedman

The 50mm prime lens is one that some love to gush about, and some find it useful enough. Others find it useful rarely. Don't squander your money on it until you have enough experience with your kit lens that you actually know what you will be using it for.
"Portrait lens" is what many chirp, which might make sense if a 75mm lens on a 135 film camera ever had much of a reputation as a portrait lens.
"Bokeh!" chirp others. Okay, let's look at that. Say you want to use that f1.8 50mm combo to get the dramatic eyeball-and-nothing-else-in-focus look. You need that lens to focus accurately on that eyeball. The AF-D lens will not autofocus with the D3200, 5100, 5200, or 5300.
The joy of manual focus! That was when SLR focusing screens had split ring with microprism focusing assist. The DSLR's don't. What do they have to assist you? The same sensor used to autofocus. And a dot that lights up when you're approximately in range.

keerok
keerok

Sure, yes.

But, are you willing to lose autofocus ability? The D3200 and D5100 does not have an autofocus motor (that's why it's cheap). The 50mm 1.8D also does not have an autofocus motor so no autofocus for you. To retain the autofocus feature in both the D3200 and D5100, use only AF-S and AF-I lenses. AF (only) is not enough.

retiredPhil
retiredPhil

The D lenses are AF only, so they won't autofocus on either the D3200 or D5100.

The G lenses are AF-S, so they will autofocus on both cameras.

I suggest getting the AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G. It is much more useful than a 50mm and it only costs about $200.
http://www.nikonusa.com/...F1.8G.html