Hello and a question

Hello everyone this is my first posting. I hoping someone can give answer to the following. Apologies in advance if this has been asked before.

I've used Pentax or Pentax mount cameras for years and have two 35mm SLR bodies with the K mount dating from about 25 -30 years ago. I also have a range of lenses - 28mm, 50mm, 55mm, 28 - 70mm zoom and 70 - 210mm zoom from about the same time. As the lenses and the camears bodies are so old the linkages between the two are all mechanical.

Can any of these lenses be used with any Pentax DSLR? If so, which ones and would it be worthwhile or would I lose so much because there would be no infomation link between the mechanical lenses and DSLR body that it is not worth the effort?

TIA

You can use them all in manual and aperture priority modes. You'll have to activate a custom menu to permit use of aperture ring and then operate the lenses in stop-down mode.

A bit more trouble, but it will work.

Having said that, lenses with an "A" on the aperture ring will be rather more convenient.

Your lenses will be usable with any Pentax DSLR, but you won't have all the exposure modes available. And you will also have to meter with the "stop down" method.

edit: John types faster than me.

Hi and welcome.

Hi and Welcome. We used say this was a really friendly forum, but since the K-7 debate started we are not so sure

The one problem you may have is focussing as moderm DSLRs expect you to autofocus so do not have a split screen. However you can replace the screen relatively easily.

I just put old SMC K lenses on a K20D and had no problem manual focussing with the existing screen, although I agree the old split screen is more clear cut, and the DSLR does give focus confirmation if you want it

I never used the split image anyway, so I just focus on the general ground glass as I always did.

This is much easier if the dioptre is adjusted correctly. To recap, you point the camera at an evenly lit area (white wall, sky...) and with the lens out of focus adjust until the etched lines in the viewfinder are sharpest. Your eye is now focusing at rest on the ground glass and focusing will be much easier.

Hi and welcome

I used a 25+ yr old 50mm lens with my K200 while waiting for a lens exchange. The camera will tell you when your chosen subject is in focus, even with an older lens (you have to input the focal length). Not sure about 'stopping down' as I'm a bit of a novice! If I knew how to post an image I'd put one in showing that even I was able to do this

Edit - sorry have really duplicated what Bodyheat said, but have also looked up 'stopping down' so am a bit more informed now!