are lens interchangeable between film and DSLR

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silverbirch

275 posts

Ultimate Geek

#90892 2-Oct-2011 16:36

I have a Pentax film camera body and a couple of lens to go with it - is it likely they will be useable on a DSLR camera?

Currently I use a Panasonic Lumix FZ35 with a x 18 digital zoom. I'm getting some good shots, and learning to use manual settings and shooting in RAW, so think it's time to buy a DSLR to get the best images I can. I take mainly landscapes, birds, water - basically I photograph whatever is there where I am. Should I stick with the point and shoot?

What brands are recommended? Seems as though Canon and Nikon lead the field?

Many thanks

"Dance among the moonbeams, feel the magic in the air".

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467 posts

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#528289 2-Oct-2011 17:12

Hi - I'm pretty sure that the modern Pentax digital SLR's use the same Pentax 'K' mount as they always have, so your current lenses should be usable on one of the Pentax cameras.
It would totally depend on your lenses & your photographic requirements as to whether it's worth choosing a camera to suit these lenses (remember that the camera will probably have a sensor smaller than the 35mm film size so the lenses become a bit more 'zoomed in'.
The debate on what's the best camera will be a tough one... what' the best phone/computer/car....

Mike
www.mikeclare.com

Cheers,
Mike

Photographer/Videographer clickmedia.nz

Disrespective

1925 posts

Uber Geek

#528291 2-Oct-2011 17:25

Assuming the lenses are Pentax K-mount then they should work with any Pentax DSLR body.

It is highly unlikely that they will work with any other brand without the use of an adapter to go between the lens and the body. These adapters can cause complications or certain features to become unavailable to you though so be careful what you want to do.

Myself and Timmay are Nikon users. He's a pro and I'd consider myself pretty well versed but that is what i'd point you to purely because that's what I know.

That being said there are a lot of people first starting out in DSLR's who are going to Canon and are more than happy. My father included.

You need to set a budget before recommendations can be made but if you're looking at higher end kit then it's Nikon D700 or Canon 5DmkII. in the ~$3000 body only range.

Lower down you get to the Nikon D300s or D7000 and the Canon 600D or 7D in the ~$2000 body only range.

Further still there is the Nikon D90 and the Canon 1100D in the ~$1000 body only range.

My biggest tip is to make a budget and to spend more on good lenses. Everyone reads it online, everyone should say it as well. I burnt far too much money on poor quality lenses. If you even have the slightest inkling that you might end up getting stuck into photography more seriously then buy full frame compatible lenses and upgrade your body at a later date.

All in all don't get too overwhelmed, it's all good fun and whatever you choose will make you happy i'm sure. Just prepare your wallet for the hammering it inevitably will take.

KennyM

221 posts

Master Geek

#528310 2-Oct-2011 19:27

I currently had this same issue. Tho with Canon, I wont hi-jack the tread unless you want to know. (I did work it out)

I found this site a while ago, I like it because of the compare function.

http://www.dpreview.com

Doesnt seem to have Film camera's tho....But you may find it useful, perhaps for using it to compare the camera's suggested above : )
It will however tell you what Len mount a digital camera your looking for has.....Perhaps your lenses say what type they are on them? (my canon ones do)

Anyway, Hope it helps

Disrespective

1925 posts

Uber Geek

#528345 2-Oct-2011 22:48

KennyM: I found this site a while ago, I like it because of the compare function.

http://www.dpreview.com

www.fredmiranda.com is another great resource for information/reviews from the average 'joe'.

Chainsaw

357 posts

Ultimate Geek

#528553 3-Oct-2011 14:52

The beauty of Pentax is that , yes, those lenses will work with a new Pentax DSLR. Just as they work on your film camera (presuming they're not screw-mount). It's the only DSLR maker to have such great backwards compatibility.

Jaxson

8042 posts

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#528567 3-Oct-2011 15:32

Ha I did exactly what you are looking at doing. Purchased a Pentax body, and this allowed my wife and I to share the lenses with the film body. Recently we sold the film camera and now only use the digital one. That was a few years back, so I'm not sure what the current Pentax offerings are, but at the time it worked well for us.

floydbloke

3523 posts

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#528572 3-Oct-2011 15:38

Chainsaw: ...It's the only DSLR maker to have such great backwards compatibility.

All my Minolta AF lenses work on my Sony (who now 'own' that side of the Minolta business) Alpha DSLR. (Yes, I know there's the odd exception but backward compatibility is 99+% for Minolta AF lenses)

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Dynamike

167 posts

Master Geek

#528576 3-Oct-2011 15:42

Pentax screw mount lenses (M42) can be used on Sony DSLR's with a thin glass free adaptor ring, but only in Manual mode.

Sony uses the Minolta A-mount, so all the Minolta AF lenses from 1986 onwards are fully functional on Sony DSLR's. That's pretty good backwards compatibility!

timmmay

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#528577 3-Oct-2011 15:42

I know virtually nothing about Pentax. I suspect the only reason they're still in business is because people are willing to spend $1000+ on a digital body to let them use their old $200 lenses.

cyril7

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#528580 3-Oct-2011 15:51

I have a collection of older Pentax K lenses that I used with my trusty MX for years, now they illuminate my *ist DS and do a great job, if it were not for the collection of lenses I would probably have got a more modern Nikon or Canon DSLR setup, that said the Pentax is just great for my uses.

Cyril

silverbirch

275 posts

Ultimate Geek

#528581 3-Oct-2011 15:51

Thanks for all the input. The lens are not actually pentax but sigma and tamron with adapters, and thinking about it they are 29 years old! So I think once I've made my decision it would make sense to buy new lens. A friend is going to lend me her DSLR to "play" with.

"Dance among the moonbeams, feel the magic in the air".

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Disrespective

1925 posts

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#528607 3-Oct-2011 16:26

Chainsaw: It's the only DSLR maker to have such great backwards compatibility.

I think you'll find that you've not looked at Nikon very hard... I could buy any lens they have pretty much ever made and it will work on my D300. Some features won't work on lower end bodies but they will work. That's one of the big reasons why I went into the Nikon camera camp over the alternatives. I had some older glass in the family that I wanted to use as I was starting out.

Silverbirch, if you post some pics of the lens mounts without the adapters we should be able to figure out what mount they are for. Just because they are 20 years old doesn't mean they won't be as good as a brand new alternative... nor does it mean they'll be better ;)

stevenz

2802 posts

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#528629 3-Oct-2011 17:05

Assuming lenses are ok (no fungus etc), and discounting the lack of ability for the modern cameras to drive the motors in them (if they have any) - is there really much difference in the quality of the optics on average, or is it really a "feel" of a given lens?

(Debating whether it's worth buying the necessary adapter(s) to use my fathers collection of old lenses on my m4/3 body)

@KnightNZ

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#528632 3-Oct-2011 17:16

stevenz: Assuming lenses are ok (no fungus etc), and discounting the lack of ability for the modern cameras to drive the motors in them (if they have any) - is there really much difference in the quality of the optics on average, or is it really a "feel" of a given lens?

(Debating whether it's worth buying the necessary adapter(s) to use my fathers collection of old lenses on my m4/3 body)

Everyone probably has a different opinion, but yes, some older lenses are better than the new lenses.

I think a lot of this come down to the coatings on the glass elements in the lens. Some older lenses use heavy metal based coatings which cannot be reproduced today and some people consider the quality of these better than the newer alternatives.

On the other hand, some newer coatings help to make sub standard (Or just slightly worse) optics perform much better.

It all comes down to the lens and what you want to use it for. I'd never use an old lens for macro or portraits unless it was the top of the line older model. I would, and do, use 30 year old lenses for landscape and architectural shots regularly.

silverbirch

275 posts

Ultimate Geek

#528713 3-Oct-2011 20:35

Gosh - such a lot to try and absorb and understand - makes me realise I am just a "point and shoot" kind've person! But with an interest in learning more I guess.

I've had a very close look at both lenses - the one in the photo doesn't have an adapter at all, but is, as it says Tamron for Pentax KM. The second lens does have an adapter to make it fit the camera - the adapter is Tamron MC Telecomverter 2x for Pentax-K.

Apologies for quality of photo - guess I need to learn about indirect lighting as well some time!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rose_mcgillicuddy/6206970874/in/photostream

Also had difficulty resizing - so used Flickr

Thanks for all the information - really appreciated!

"Dance among the moonbeams, feel the magic in the air".

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