Can I use a Nikon 50mm f/1.8 D to my Nikon D40?

Question

I tried getting answers from stores, they said you can use it for D40 but you have to focus manually. Would this be a major flaw in getting this lens or its worth the hassle (I mean the manual focus).

Answer 1

it's true, the D40 doesn't have its own autofocus motor, so you can only use autofocus if the lens itself contains the motor. apparently, the nikkor 50mm f/1.8 doesn't have it's own autofocus motor, so you'll have to stick with manual focus. I, for one, prefer manual focus over autofocus because it gives me more control

Answer 2

they are right, it will work on you Nikon D40, however, the d40 can only focus lenses with an AF-S lens motor, if they have an AF motor, it won't be able to auto focus at all on this camera, you'd have to use the D80 to autofocus this lens, or later models, but not the d40/d40x/d60.

it's not a major flaw, in most instances manual focus isn't much of a flaw at all. Actually, it's much faster, and you can focus on your subject more efficiently, i don't use autofocus on the lenses which can.

Answer 3

It may be a major flaw for some people, but I use manual focus ALL of the time! I find it to be a lot more quicker and accurate to many auto-focus systems on modern DSLRs.

Answer 4

It is certainly not a design flaw.

Rather, that camera of yours has no auto-focus motor built in--to keep the price low. They had to cut corner somewhere.

You have to use a AF-S lens that has a motor inside the lens. Others don't.

It's not difficult to manually focus a lens actually. This was how it was done before all these electronic / auto focus cameras were invented.  I often fine tune focusing of most photos I take, as well. The film camera I have (Nikon FM2)--everything has to be set. It's a completely manual camera--aperture, shutter speed, focusing and even film advancing--all had to be set. This sort of thing makes the photographer think about the next shot and it's a learning camera, as well.

-----------------

Nikon F mount with AF coupling and AF contacts Type G or D AF Nikkor

1) AF-S, AF-I: All functions supported

2) Other Type G or D AF Nikkor: All functions supported

except autofocus

3) PC Micro-Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D: Can only be used in mode M; all other functions supported except autofocus

4) Other AF Nikkor*1/AI-P Nikkor: All functions supported except autofocus and 3D Color Matrix Metering II

5) Non-CPU: Can be used in mode M, but exposure meter does not function; electronic range finder can be used if maximum aperture is f/5.6 or faster

6) IX Nikkor lenses cannot be used