Nikon lens compatibility can be complicated. Nikon has kept the same basic F-mount for many years, but there have been several variations, so compatibility depends on the exact lens and camera body.

In the best case, an older lens may work normally. In other cases, it may mount but lose features like autofocus or metering. Some newer entry-level Nikon DSLRs do not have an internal autofocus drive, so older autofocus lenses that rely on the camera’s motor will not autofocus on those bodies.

Manual-focus lenses can also vary. AI/AI-S lenses are generally more usable on newer bodies, while some non-AI lenses can cause problems and may not be safe to mount on certain cameras.

So yes, your old lens may work, but you need to identify the exact lens model and check it against the specific Nikon body you want. Nikon compatibility charts are very helpful here. If full autofocus and metering are important, a newer lens may be the simpler option.