Hi,
I want to get SWMBO a digital SLR camera for Christmas. My question is this, can she use her lenses for the film SLR on a digital camera?

Many Thanks My Motto: If you are going to have one, have a BIG one!

Usually yes - as long as it's the same manufacturer

I would check very carefully - I have a Canon DSLR, which has an EOS lend mount. You cannot use older 'F' mount SLR lenses with the DSLR (or at least not easily, and even then with a significant loss of functionality)

http://forums.usa.canon.com/t5/EOS/Lens-Co...td-p/41797 2007 Zermatt Silver TDV8 Vogue SE - now sold but was a great car!

Nikon stuff will fit from almost the year dot. I use a 1969 lens on the latest D750 although obviously autofocus doesn't work.

Also look out for using old 35mm lenses on DX (not full frame) sensors. The frame will crop compared to what you see through the viewfinder.

A lot of Fuji stuff also uses Nikon F mount stuff as well. Sony, Samsung, Panasonic cameras are all a bit new and proprietary but look out for older 3rd party lenses suck as Sigma, Tamron, Tokina, Leica, Zeiss as these are often made in different mounts.

Canon are similar to Nikon as "old timers" aside from the major change as noted above. But I wouldn't worry about functions. Whilst it takes some understanding it is well worth shooting in manual mode for best results. I rarely ever use Program mode these days unless getting someone else to take a snap fro me.

If buying a new camera I would recommend going full-frame, even if you think you don't need it. This is the way things are going now so DX lenses are going to plummet in value within a year or two and the older 35mm lenses are all full-frame so there's much more choice 2nd hand.

HTH.

You see I have always liked Olympus, so I would probably say something nice about the 4/3 system having nice fairly compact SLRs I also think digital viewfinders are the way forward. However they effectively rendered old lenses of no practical use when they changed to digital.

Google and you'll get lots of other opinions, best to read reviews and then get to the shop to see how they feel in your hands - oh err missis  Geoff

nikon fit almost all cameras but thats not all of the story

some of the camera dont have the autofocus motor in them so wont work properly with certain lenes

canon - if they are EF lenes they will work on digital slr

most of the older lenes (with a few exceptions) are not always that great, and much more prone to lens fungus. make sure they are all in tip top condition before even putting in the bag with new camera