Nikon Live View with non-electronic lenses?

[Brad Amos]

I am a research scientist. I have a Nikon D 90 and am very impressed with the Live View, which allows me to stream a high-resolution live video signal to a HDMI monitor.
I want to use my camera on a microscope. Here the Live View is very valuable, since it makes it easy to focus (using the large monitor) and to play the HD video to groups of students. I can purchase an adaptor to use the camera body with a microscope, but, before buying this rather expensive item, I wish to check whether Live View will work when the camera is fixed to an ordinary old-style F mount rather than to one of the new electronic lenses. I tried connecting an old Nikon Macro Nikkor lens, and the Live Video could not be switched on at all.
Does anyone know how to get around this?
Brad Amos

[Brad Amos]

Apologies! I should have read the instruction book more carefully... it is simply a matter of switching the camera to Manual, and then the Live View works fine with non electronic equipments such as old-style lenses and presumably extension tubes, camera adaptors etc.
Brad

[chris-p]

Out of interest Brad, what are you photographing?