Old SLR lens compatability with DSLR body

[Lilbil]

I've been looking for a DSLR for a while, purely for hobbyist use. I whittled it down to the Canon EOS 450D or Nikon D60 (considerably cheaper but great reviews). Now I already have a Nikon F50 (film SLR) with a kit lens and a 70-300mm Sigma lens, would these be compatable with modern DSLR's, I would imagine that they'd be some degree of cropping due to smaller sensors but I can live with this if it saves me £'s.
Thanks in advance

Lilbil

[andyr300]

*should* work with a dSLR nikon, but probably not a canon!

[jomike]

Both your kit lens and the Sigma will work on a Nikon D60, but you will have to manually focus (unless the kit lens is a AFS lens). This is because the D60 and D40 do not have focus motors built into the body, relying on the lens' inbuilt focus motor for AF. If you move up to a D90 or higher, these lenses will AF as these models have in-body focus motors. Nikon lenses will not fit on a Canon unless you use an adapter, and then manual only.

The sensor crop factor is 1.5 X in the case of Nikon DX sensors. This works in your favour at the telephoto end - 300mm becomes the equivalent of 450mm on 35mm - but at the wide end your kit lens might not be wide enough depending on your style. Most DSLR kit lenses start at 18mm at the wide end.

[Lilbil]

Thats very helpful, I may spend a little extra on the D90 with its kit lens and not have to buy a second lens for super zoom.

Thanks

Lilbil

[LiMPiNg]

I don't think you will be unhappy with a D90 at all, as long as you can afford it.