Kim,
Like the previous posters said, you can
mount the lens and use it, but you can't meter with it - not even using stop-down metering.
So, basically (for all practical purposes)*, the
usable lenses on your F80 are only AF (autofocus) lenses.
* You can take photos with AI-S (non-AF) lenses, but only manually and without any metering. You could meter a scene with another, AF lens, and then mount the non-AF (MF) lens to take a photo - but it's not very practical.
If that's a problem, i.e. if you have other manual focus AI lenses (which can be purchased rather cheaply, BTW), your other option is to get another Nikon AF body, which can use both the AF and MF lenses - e.g. F801 (in US nomenclature that's N8008), which can be bought quite cheaply, and is quite a rugged body, or F90(x) (i.e. N90). Those two cameras are, IMHO, "best buy" options in such a situation (where you have both MF and AF lenses, and want to use both kinds on the same body). There are also other "pro-level" bodies which can do the same (F4, F100, F5, etc.), but those are MUCH more expensive.
I am quite well aware of your predicament, since I was in the same situation - I had an F80, but only one AF lens (a cheap zoom). I had several good MF lenses, but those can't be used on the F80.
Finally I found an F90 for a good price (about 80 EUR!), and bought that one.
Since then, my F80 is just sitting on the shelf
F90 is a MUCH better camera - its AF might be a bit slower than on the F80, but for my kind of photography it doesn't matter much.
Besides, I also purchased a TC-16a AF teleconverter, which practically turns my MF lenses into AF lenses when used with F90.... Quite nifty (although not too fast....).
More about that teleconverter and what it does can be found
HERE.
Basically, either you keep your current camera (F80) and switch ONLY to AF lenses, or you get another AF camera which can use both kinds of lenses (F801, F90).
HTH,
Denis
Perhaps I should try and get hold on a F90 as well. hmm... What are the F90 like compared to the F80 ?
