DSLRs + older lenses

I'd just like to reinforce statements made by John, George, Matt and others re. the quality of older A, F and indeed Tamron adaptall 2 manual lenses on Pentax DSLRs.

I picked up my *istDL body this morning and I'm very impressed indeed, the results (JPEG Best) with the lenses I've tried so far - A 50 f1.4, F 50 f1.7 and Tamron AD2 135 f2.5 are absolutely stunning.
Results from my F35-135 f3.5/4.5 are noticeably a little softer but good nevertheless, however with this lens in particular, the camera seems a little over eager with the auto flash despite the subject being well beyond it's range.
The only lens I have that can deliver a real wide-angle is a Tamron 24 f2.5 and again, the results are superb.

I've a few other lenses to try but I think my findings so far more than support the advice we give to go for second-hand quality optics esp. SMC primes!

Looking forward to having a go with RAW images, once I'm comfortable with the various camera settings etc.

BTW, switched off wide focus area within the first 5mins

It's only yesterday that I was re-running lens tests with my *istDS. The A lenses on test were the 50mm f2, 24-50mm f4 and 35-70mm f4. Also a 24-90mm FA and the 18-55mm DA. All tested at 50mm, open aperture and f8.

At f8 all were excellent, but the (slight) edge was held by the 50mm prime. There really wasn't much in it.

The 50mm (at f2) and the 18-55mm (at f5.6) were soft. The 24-90mm was better than the 35-70mm which was better than the 24-50mm. Apart from the first two though, results were very acceptable.

Results were observed on screen at 100%.

There would need to be much more investigation than this simple test (photographing a map) but it was envouraging that results were as good as they were.

I hope you find the same with the lenses you have, Kimbo!

If I get a 50mm f1.7 or 1.4 for my DS, how recent do I need to go to get most metering / exposure modes? I guess an "A" should be ok or would this fall sort of later models. I would like fulll auto exposure in aperture and shutter priority mode without delvig into the menu for special functions.

I would really like an autofocus 50mm

An "A" lens or later will give you the best functionality, and will certainly do the things you list.

An A lens will give you all the basic metering modes, but an FA will also provide MTF program (on those cameras which are capable of this).

This mode will provide the best exposure, choosing a fast-enough shutter speed, whilst selecting an aperture that provides optimum results, based on the characteristics of that specific lens.

For many people (including your humble servant), an A lens will be more than good enough.

George
YHS

Good point George but for general shots, choosing f8 gets the best out of most lenses.
A and F lenses certainly seem fully compatible, as do the Tamrons with KA mounts (although the camera has no idea whether the lens is a wide angle or a telephoto - watch your shutter speeds!)

Kimbo,

For the reason stated, A lenses aren't "fully" compatible", but for most purposes I would agree that they are close enough.

Another compatibility issue is with zoom flash. A flash gun cannot determine the focal length of an A lens, and therefore cannot adjust the zoom automatically. F lenses are OK.

G

You're absolutely right George, F and FA lenses would be the preferred choice but A series have all the 'essentials' and manual focusing can be a great way to get more 'feel' for your photography.
As good as it is, I don't think the AF on my *istDL is quite as crisp and positive as my Z1-P but perhaps that where the new 'digital' lenses perform better.

Things have moved on somewhat but I think most of us would agree that the majority of M and A series lenses are simply gorgeous!

I have some M lenses, and using them on the *st D is really easy with firmware 1.12. I haven't shown a proof book in two years; clients want digital delivery. I have a fine range of the old M lenses so the *st D was the senasble choice.

I have one A lens, the superb 50mm 1.4 A lens. It is now my portrait lens (replacing the 85 f/2 M lens) and it gives me all functionality except auto-focus. Since the AF system gives you focus confifrmation, even with M lenses, I decided go forgo autofocus to have the benefit of the older M and A lenses, which are the finest lenses ever made IMHO. I have one DFA or whatever lens, the 16-45 lens, for wide angle. If Pentax comes out with a 12mm prime, I might think about it. I'm moving to in-studio work, and the super wides are not that important with product or portrait work.

The benefit of using the Pentax digitals is the superb lenses. As a pro, I find that I can use the *st D to deliver product to the clients that I might have used my Mamaiya RB67 for. Scanning film is tedious and boring. Clients want results, and they don't give a flying flazoozle what you used to get the image.

Now, in the New York commercial scene, the agencies have swallowed their own propaganda and are demanding 22 megapixel MF backs. Silly. Maybe I'll get the Pentax 645 digital, but so far nobody has squalked about the images I get with the *st D.

You can take that for whatever you like.

John, I've just carried out a very simple comparison test between my F35-135 (3.5/4.5) and my FA28-105 (4/5.6) - original power zoom model.
I shot a sunlit flower at 35mm, 50mm and 85mm respectively with both lenses and I'm pleased with all the results (camera on auto).
The F lens is just a little softer, as confirmed by official MTF tests, but there's not a great deal in it.
What was really noticeable however was the ease of use of the FA lens, it really snapped into focus quickly and allowed macro shots at each FL with ease - you have to turn the zoom ring beyond 135mm to enter the macro range on the F lens!
Furthermore, the F lens hunted considerably and I had to alter the camera to subject distance slightly for each focal length.
With both lenses at the same FL without macro, the results were perfectly acceptable with the edge just going to the FA.

I've always been impressed with the FA on my Z1-P and I think it'll probably spend the most time on my *istDL - a terrific combination