DSLRS will not meter with any other those lenses, AI-S and AI lenses namely. Manual Lenses as well. you can continue to use them but there is no metering.With the D2H, there is limited metering. However, you need to key in the Lenses Data such as the Maximum Aperture as well as the Focal Length before you can use it.

I would like to clarify this Ai and AIS lenses.

In 1977 Nikon introduced a new system for coupling the lens to the cameras exposure system. This new coupling system was called Automatic maximum aperture indexing or Ai for short. This change did not effect the tradintional Nikon bayonet mount, thus allowing Ai (and the latter AF and AIS) lenses to be fitted to fitted to older none Ai cameras.

The Ai lever on a Nikon FM2n

However, while Ai lenses where backwards compatible with non Ai cameras, non Ai lenses where not compatible with all Ai cameras. The Nikon FM, FE, EL2, F3, F4 and Nikkormat FT3 cameras used the Ai metering system but allowed non Ai lenses to be fitted due to the metering coupling lever being able to be disengaged. The F5 can have this mechanism fitted as an optional extra, please contact your local Nikon representive for more details. The F2A and F2AS where Ai cameras but the Ai mechanism was fitted to the removable metering prism.

A Nikkor Ai lens, note the Ai coupling ridge high-lighted by the red ring
A picture of a non Ai Nikkor lens, note the lack of the Ai coupling ridge. However note that at the rear of the lens, the aperture ring protrudes slightly over the bayonet mount and therefore can damage the Ai lever on Ai cameras.



Later cameras (any camera not mentioned above) without this retracting metering lever cannot not be used with non Ai lenses as the rear of the aperture ring may bend the Ai coupling lever on the camera when mounted and caused damage.

Some non Ai lenses can be modified to Ai, contact your local Nikon agent. Please note that the parts required are no longer in production and it may not be possible to modify some lenses. Please contact your local Nikon agent for details on which none Ai lenses can still be modified.