Can I use old lenses on a new SLR camera?
My mom had a film camera with a lot of cool lenses, I want to buy a new digital nikon D7000 can I use the old lenses on the new camera?
The motor is in the body, so it'll work with every Nikon AF lens made since the mid 80's.
It will also meter with all AI and newer (from 1977 and forward) manual-focus lenses.
They will work just like new on the d7000!
Just know that they proabably won't be very good and buying a cheaper body and investing on new lenses will get you MUCH better results
You need to be more specific than "old lenses" or "cool lenses."
Nikon F mount lenses will fit your D7000. If they are non-AI you shouldn't mount them at all without having them converted. If they are AI, they will work but will of course need to be used in full manual mode and will not have metering. If they are autofocus lenses the auto features and metering will also work.
Read the link below and study the charts within it to educate yourself on Nikon lens mounts and their compatibility.
It depends on the mount of those old film lenses. Canon, Nikon and Sony (from the old Minolta) bodies will accept compatible mount film lenses especially those with AF. Canon non-AF lenses had a different mount so you'll need an adapter to use them on their dSLR's. The same is true for Sony cameras and old Minolta lenses (Sony acquired its SLR technology by buying Konica-Minolta). Nikon didn't change their mount but the older the lens is, the more compatibility issues there are. Some lenses may mount but scratch the camera's reflex mirror. Other camera bodies may work only if full manual mode. With others, the lightmeter will not function at all hence you are left to your own faculties.
This is where Pentax excels. All lenses made by and for the Pentax SLR will work in all Pentax dSLR bodies. There are almost no limits (with less than a handful of models with exceptions). Even M42 screwmount and medium format lenses will work with the appropriate adapter. Best of all, any old lens, even when used with an adapter, will benefit from a working lightmeter at aperture-priority and manual modes, Shake Reduction, and focus confirmation if the camera has it.
If you intend to use your mom's old lenses, at least make sure you are buying from the same brand of camera. If your mom's camera was a Nikon, you can get the D7000. If your mom's lenses are not compatible, you can always hunt down for an appropriate adapter that may work for the Nikon dSLR.