Which Nikon Lenses fit which Nikon Cameras?

Hi I'm either going to buy the Nikon d3100 or the canon 1100d, the thing is I know that with canon all the lenses fit all the dslr cameras and I was wondering what the case with the Nikon is? In the future can I buy any Nikon lens and know it will fit?

The Nikon F mount lenses all fit the D3100. However, some Nikon lenses (mainly older designs) lack an autofocus motor in the lens. Some higher grade Nikon bodies (e.g. D7000) have an autofocus motor built into the body, but the D3100 (or D3200 or D5100) lack that. So there are Nikon lenses that won't autofocus with the D3100.It should not be a major deterrant, as most newer Nikon lenses are AF-S and do have their own autofocus motor.
Canon has been routinely putting an autofocus motor (some smoother than others) in the EOS lenses, so the Canon bodies don't need a built in motor.

What you do NOT know is that NO Canon EF-S lenses can be used on ANY of the full frame Canon cameras, 35 mm, 5D or 1D series cameras

A Nikon D3100 (and all entry level cameras) can use ANY Nikkor AF-S lenses.

And if you do not mind using manual focus, you can use any of the legacy Nikkor AF lenses

Without going into much details… Here's the main thing.
You need a motor to do autofocus.
The d3100 does not have an inbuilt motor.
So to autofocus you need a lens which has an inbuilt motor.
All Nikon AF-S lenses have a motor inbuilt.
So what you need to look for when buying Nikon lenses in the future is whether they have AF-S.

Canon 1100D can use all Canon lenses, and the Nikon can as well, those without AF-S just will not be able to auto focus. If a lens has it it says so in its name. Like 50mm f/1.8G AF-S.

Here's a DSLR Buying Guide - http://www.smashingcamera.com/which-dslr-camera-to-buy/

Both cameras are great but personally the D3100 just gives you more for the money.

Yes it will fit. Some very old lenses will do damage. Here is what Nikon has to say about it.
http://support.nikonusa.com/...a_id/14439

This is a fun one… Lens mounts are seem daunting to the novice photographer, and unless you learn it you'll be scrabbling around in the dark for ages.

Nikon lenses come in five generations:

1) Pre AI
1a) Invasive Pre-AI
2) AI/AI-S/AI converted
3) AI-P
4) AF
5) AF-S/AF-I

On D40, D60, D3000, D3100, D3200, D5000, D5100, only type 5 work fully. Type 4 only gives auto exposure, despite being an AF lens, this is due to the need of an AF motor in the camera body. Type 3 is a manual focus lens with CPU autoexposure. Type 2 are mechanical, and the body will simply not recognise a lens present, and therefore you have to guess exposures. Type 1/1a won't fit, as they lack the AI coupling ridge.

On D50, D70, D80, D90, D100, type 4/5 work fully. Type 3 works fully, but these are manual focus lenses. Type 2 no metering. Type 1 don't fit.

On D1-series, D2-series, D3-series, D200, D300, D300S, D700. 4/5 work fully. 3, AE/MF. Type 2 works, but you have stop down metering only. Type 1 don't fit.

On D4-series, D800/D800E, D7000, 4/5 work fully, 2/3 work fully, these cameras have AI coupling ridge! Type 1 don't fit.

Type 1 can be machined to Type 2, by an AI conversion. Type 1a are invasive lenses and only work on the F/F2.

Canon is a different story. In 1987 Canon moved to the all electric EF mount (and derivative EF-S, TS-E and MP-E lenses), these are the only native Canon lenses that fit. However thanks to it's short registry distance Canon cameras can also accommodate Nikon F, Leica R, Olympus OM, Pentax K, M42, Contax/Yashica, T-mounts via adapters (with a few exceptions where invasive lenses are concerned). However Canon's own FD mounts can't be simply adapted, for an APS-C camera such as the 1100D it is possible to remount (i.e.convert) a FD lens to the EF mount, giving you access to old rarities such as the FD 85mm f1.2 L and FD 50mm f1.2L and FD 55mm f1.2 SSC, this is however not possible on Canon's 1D and 5D series cameras.

Anyways, it's a complex jumble, and for a novice photographer you won't experience the fun of manual lens photography, so really there isn't any big difference for you.

If you narrowed searching the best camera lenses I prefer that you choose the Nikon - D3100 14.2-Megapixel Digital SLR Camera the latest incarnation includes the best features to prevent zoom creep. That's my Camera what I used it right now. I highly recommend this and check this out if this will works for you.