How to get my camera D5100 to detect a lens?
I have a D5100 but am finding it tricky to buy a lens for a reasonable price. So I bought the following:
SIGMA MINI-WIDE11 1:2.8 28MM LENS (with an M42 screw mount)
and
M42 screw mount lens to Nikon F mount adapter.
It all connects together but the camera doesn't detect the lens. Is there a way to get my camera to detect the lens?
That lens will not communicate electronically with your camera. You will need to adjust aperture and focus manually on the lens with your camera set to manual mode. By the way, using cheap lenses on a nice camera will give you poor quality photos.
In a word - no!
M42 lenses are pre 1970's technology. They are 100% mechanical with not a single electornic part inside them.
Reason they are cheap is that nobdy wants them cos they don't work properly with modern cameras…
You can't, or you should buy a better adapter.
Because, adapters sometimes doesn't work that good.
Yes, it connects, but the metal mount itself doesn't really connect to the camera. And, thats the problem.
It is a manual lens with no electrical contacts so your camera will not recognize it.
You can use the lens if you put your camera into M (manual) mode on the top dial.
You don't, the D5100 will only detect lenses which have a CPU (that is, AI-P, AF and AF-I/AF-S). The M42 lenses will only meter on professional grade Nikon SLRs such as the D1/2/3/4/600/700/800/200/300, however due to the long flange foal length of the F-mount, you won't have infinity focus, or if you get an optical adapter you'll lose a huge amount of sharpness.
Overall it pays to buy Nikon fit lenses.
You are supposed to use that fully manual M42 lens in M mode. Good luck with that. Even the lightmeter won't work with that lens.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/...s.htm#dslr
You can liken that M42 lens to a Pre-AI lens.
It is quite possible to survive with that lens if you know exactly what you are doing. The table in the link should explain compatibility issues with your camera. I suggest you stick to buying Nikon AF-S and AF-I lenses only.
If you wanted to use M42 lenses, you should switch to Pentax. There, those old manual film lenses will work up to aperture priority mode and benefit from focus confirmation and Shake Reduction if present in the body. Of course an adapter would also be required.
I do this all the time and I must use manual exposure. It can be a pain but it will work. I use a dandelion chip on my lens (search it) oh if the adapter has a little lens in it you are ok otherwise you will only get macro