What are Nikon-F mount and AE mount? Are they different?

What are Nikon-F mount and AE mount? Are they different?

The Nikon F-mount lenses, for the most part, will still work on modern Nikon digital SLR cameras.

I use an old F-mount (circa 1972) 105 mm f/2.5 lens with an AI conversion (about $25) on my Nikon D300 and D3.

AE mounts are part of the now obsolete Canon system that used FD and FL lenses. They are not compatible with the modern Canon EOS digital SLR cameras. Yes there are adapters for them, but the lens can't be focused on infinity in most cases and you lose a whole stop of light

I still use five of my old F-mount lenses from the 1970's. Yes, I have matching AF-S Nikkor lenses that match three of them, but for personal work. I like the fact that using a manually focusing lens slows down my process and in doing so, I spend more time thinking about how I want that image to look.

Having learned photography using a 4x5 view camera, I know how important it is sometimes to take some time setting up a shot so that it is exactly the way I want it before pressing the shutter release.

Fotoace has given you all the info.

But possibly did not emphasise that F mount and AE mount are totally incompatible. One is Nikon, and the other is Canon. There's no way of using F mount lenses on Canons, nor of using AE mount lenses on Nikons. (Some people may claim to sell "converters" but they work very badly - do not go down that route)