What Nikon film lenses can I use?

I have a Nikon D3100 digital SLR. I want to get a film camera, but I want to be able to interchange the lenses. I was wondering what film camera and lens I could get that could do that. I've heard that SLR lenses don't work on film cameras but that film lenses do work on SLRs. Please advise me on what lens to get!

SLR cameras are film cameras
DSLR cameras are digital SLR cameras, like your D3100

pretty much all lenses you get for a film camera, you can use on your D3100. You can't use G lenses on film cameras, however, since you have no aperture control.

if that was a little messy of an explanation…

here is a compatibility chart
http://www.kenrockwell.com/...y-lens.htm" class='ext_link'>http://www.kenrockwell.com/...y-lens.htm

1--SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex. There are SLR film cameras in both 35mm and medium format. When you say "I've heard that SLR lenses don't work on film cameras but that film lenses do work on SLRs." this makes absolutely no sense because you don't seem to understand what format film you're talking about or that SLR is only a type of camera, not a format. I highly recommend reading a basic 35mm photography manual and this website before you continue:

http://www.guidetofilmphotography.com/index.html

2--Just as you didn't specify what film format you're talking about, you aren't being specific about lenses either. Many different brand/type lenses can be made to fit many different brand/type cameras using adapters. So for the sake of keeping things simple, let's stick to Nikon so you don't need an adaptor. All Pre-AI and newer Nikon lenses will mount to your D3100. The only Nikon lenses that will not work on your D3100 are screw mount Nikon lenses for rangefinders and extreme fisheyes.

3--You didn't tell us what lens(es) you have for your D3100 so I can only assume that you are using a kit lens that came with it which would be an AF-S DX lens. This lens can't be used on any 35mm Nikon body because 35mm is full frame and your D3100 is a crop sensor camera. What this means is that the sensor of your D3100 is about half the size of a frame of standard 35mm film. DX lenses are made to cover only that half sized frame. They do not cover the full size frame of 35mm or full frame DSLR's. Your lens also does not have an aperture ring and therefore can't be used on any 35mm SLR's because none were made to take lenses like that. If you purchased a new 50mm 1.8 AF D (which is a good lens to have) this lens will cover both the full and half frame as well as has an aperture ring. So it can be used on a 35mm Nikon SLR and any Nikon DSLR. I highly recommend simply buying a kit of Nikon AI and AIS prime lenses if you want to swap between film and digital. These are all manual lenses but they are relatively cheap, perform very well and will teach you much more about photography and how to use your cameras than modern auto focus lenses, which are much more expensive.

4--Now that you understand the different formats and see a few examples of lens types, bring it all together by reading the link below. Pay close attention to the compatibility charts in order to get an idea of the different lens mount types and cameras.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm

5--I suggest buying a Nikon FM or FM10 as your 35mm film SLR. These are excellent student cameras and do not have distracting, confusing auto features like your D3100. With these cameras, you can actually learn the principles of photography more quickly and then take what you've learned and apply it to your D3100.By working in this hybrid film/digital situation, you'll learn a lot more than if you just practiced one or the other. And for that, I applaud your interest! Now it's time to educate yourself!

Please email me at JohnnyMartyr@Hotmail.com with any questions!

MANUAL AND METAL! FILM FOREVER!

I not say about it.