are lens interchangeable between film and DSLR

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#528719 3-Oct-2011 20:56

Disrespective: 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.

Out of interest do you notice much difference between AF-S lenses versus screw-drive AF in terms of focus speed, accuracy and motor noise?

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Disrespective

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#528720 3-Oct-2011 20:57

silverbirch: 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.

It certainly is a lot, but much of it you can file away into the deep dark recesses of your memory and not need it again for some time ;) Everyone's a point and shoot kind of person, it's just that some are also something a bit more.

The adapter is actually what they call a Telecomverter (TC). Yours makes a lens appear to have double (hence the 2x) its focal length in mm. It also adversely affects the maximum f-stop the lens is capable of but that is another point again. You should be able to remove it and mount the lens directly to the camera with no problems.

Disrespective

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#528721 3-Oct-2011 20:59

alasta:
Disrespective: 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.

Out of interest do you notice much difference between AF-S lenses versus screw-drive AF in terms of focus speed, accuracy and motor noise?

No difference in motor noise as the motor is in my camera, and acts the same for all lenses. It is a little slower but I don't use them for anything that needs fast action. Accuracy is also not adversely affected for me but again, that might be due to the fact that I don't use them in strenuous focus situations. I eyeball focus for landscapes and architecture work anyway.

silverbirch

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#528724 3-Oct-2011 21:07

Yes - you're correct. I removed the Telecomverter and the lens fits the camera. So I have two lens with Pentax KM mount?? So I look for a body that takes that lens mount, and all "should be good". Or again, is it not that simple?

Thanks everyone for helping. I'm not in a main city so not good access to photographic equipment, and also need some unbiased opinion, as opposed to going to a retailer with a vested interest to sell :-)

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

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alasta

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#528729 3-Oct-2011 21:17

Disrespective:
alasta: Out of interest do you notice much difference between AF-S lenses versus screw-drive AF in terms of focus speed, accuracy and motor noise?
No difference in motor noise as the motor is in my camera, and acts the same for all lenses. It is a little slower but I don't use them for anything that needs fast action. Accuracy is also not adversely affected for me but again, that might be due to the fact that I don't use them in strenuous focus situations. I eyeball focus for landscapes and architecture work anyway.

Thanks for the feedback. I tend to use my camera in high pressure situations so it sounds like AF-S would probably have enough speed advantage to be highly desirable, but I might see if I can borrow a screw-drive lens to try out if I ever find myself tempted to buy one.

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#528730 3-Oct-2011 21:19

silverbirch: So I look for a body that takes that lens mount, and all "should be good". Or again, is it not that simple?

In theory, yep but the only DSLR bodies that can take the k mount lenses are Pentax ones. So you're limited to that brand from the outset. Maybe a cheeky look on ebay to see the selling cost of similar lenses will help you decide if sticking it out with a less popular make is financially sensible in the long run. Out of interest what is the model name of the camera you have?

silverbirch

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#528746 3-Oct-2011 21:53

The "old" SLR is Pentax K1000. I haven't used it for quite a while - since I "discovered" digital I guess.

Current camera is Panasonic Lumix FZ35 (point and shoot) with x 18 optical zoom ( have I got the digital/optical bit correct?). Until a few weeks, maybe months ago, I used presets, mainly instant auto, and the scenery settings. As a result of having Photoshop I've become interested again in learning to use the camera manually, and now mainly use manual settings, starting with aperture, and also shooting in RAW. I'm on quite a steep learning curve with Photoshop, Silky Pix, which came with camera (for RAW), and also trying new things with the camera itself Hence the idea it's time to upgrade to DSLR.

Overall from what I've read here and elsewhere, that while it might seem an efficiency of economy to buy a Pentax body, it might be counter productive in the long run.

I'll try my friend's Canon kit with interest :-)

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timmmay

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#528749 3-Oct-2011 22:01

RAW + aperture priority mode is what I use for my casual shooting. I shoot full manual when i'm working, for reliability and so I can easily batch process the images - it's much easier than individual processing.

Nikon seems to have more automated ambient and flash metering than Canon. With Canon you have to ride the exposure compensation, with Nikon I find I need to much less. Not sure why.

I recently sold $12K worth of Canon gear and bought $15K worth of Nikon gear - very happy with that decision. Focusing works much better, they're just more solid and reliable. More expensive though. I'm talking about their high end gear, I have no knowledge of consumer level SLRs - there's too many to keep up with.

silverbirch

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#528753 3-Oct-2011 22:11

I guess I'm very much a lower end user :-) Another friend has a Nikon and her images are always superior to mine - so I'm happy to consider what's best for me in terms of what I do :-), but also don't want to "sell myself short", and be disappointed. I do realise how difficult it is to advise someone like me, in this situation, so i appreciate your time everyone.

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Camden

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#528762 3-Oct-2011 22:42

Hi
I too have an old Pentax 35mm reflex camera ( model SFX-N ) c/w two zoom lens,a 28 to 80mm and a 70 to 230mm,both pentax.

I am currently going through roughly the same delemar as to whether to buy a Pentax DSLR body only so I can use the existing lenses or start again from fresh with a whole new outfit.

I think you have to consider what you what to use the camera for and taylor the equipment to suit. I used to go out with a bag full of gear,tripod,extra lenses,flash units etc but now those days are past and I like my camera to be a bit more compact and portable.At 63,I still hoon round on a mountain bike and my current digital camera,a Sony DSC-H1 get chucked into my back pack and goes everywhere I go.Also if you travel(as on holiday) a small portable camera is a lot more convieneint to carry than lugging round a DSLR.

To strike a balance between the quaility of image that a reflex can give and portablilty I am currently looking at a camera yet to be relessed in NZ, a Sony NEX 7. The reason I am serious on this camera is that it has an eye level viewfinder and a built in flash.The other models in the range,3 & 5 do not.I might be a bit old fashion,but I like a viewfinder to see through. They have a mixture of High quaility Carl Ziess lens and more budget priced Sony branded ones so you can get a body and chose what you put on the front.The body is nice and compact,not nearly as big and heavy as a reflex,but the sensor is a good size,compatible with most DSLR's. Panasonic,Olympus and Samsung have similar cameras,all with interchangeable lens, but without the eyelevel viewfinder

I also have a digital video camera,but std definition, and I would like to upgrade to a HD model.As my days of doing scripted films are gone a well,having the ability of shooting the odd HD clip with the same camera is a bonus in not having to lug both around.

So you can see I think I will put the old Pentax somewhere in the back cupboard so that the kids can find it as an antique later in life and go the hole hog with a new outfit.I would suggest you go around the stores and handle all the display models of various brands.Most name brands will produce good results and it ends up with personal preference.Have fun doing it !

silverbirch

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Ultimate Geek

#528769 3-Oct-2011 23:18

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/NEX7/NEX7A.HTM

I might have this wrong - but maximum aperture 3.5? I take lots of landscape and sunset so like the depth of filed an aperture of 8 provides. But it sounds like a super camera!!

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stevenz

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#528827 4-Oct-2011 09:08

silverbirch: http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/NEX7/NEX7A.HTM

I might have this wrong - but maximum aperture 3.5? I take lots of landscape and sunset so like the depth of filed an aperture of 8 provides. But it sounds like a super camera!!

24mp is pretty extreme, wonder what the quality of the sensor is like. The control system looks "interesting".

3.5 is just as big as the supplied 18-55mm kit lens goes. You could quite happily put your own f/1.4 or whatever lens on it.

@KnightNZ

timmmay

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#528841 4-Oct-2011 09:23

silverbirch: http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/NEX7/NEX7A.HTM

I might have this wrong - but maximum aperture 3.5? I take lots of landscape and sunset so like the depth of filed an aperture of 8 provides. But it sounds like a super camera!!

That's WAY too many pixels in a small APS-C sensor. My D700 sensor is 12MP, full frame, my guess is each photosite (pixel) is 5-10 times the size of those cameras - which means gathering 5-10 times the light. That means MUCH better per pixel high iso performance, and even for a given print size the high iso noise will be better as there's less wasted space, gaps between the photosites.

Chainsaw

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#528861 4-Oct-2011 09:47

floydbloke:
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)

Thanks for confirming what I said!

Chainsaw

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#528862 4-Oct-2011 09:48

Dynamike: 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!

Not bad, but not as good as Pentax.

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