Lens compatibility question - again!

Hello
I have just joined the Pentax User forum. I have long been a fan of Pentax slrs. I have a k1000 and a mz30.
I have acquired a few Pentax FA lenses and I am looking to upgrade to a Pentax DSLR, either K-M (K2000) or a K200.

I have read many posts on this, and other, forums and I am getting a little confused.

Other than a x1.5 cropping will I be losing any features by using my old lenses? The k-m has a good cashback deal and so I might get one with a nice wide-angle lens to compensate for the cropping of my present wide-angle.

I have assumed that autofocus will work on all FA lenses!

Thanks for you help and input
regards

Hi and welcome,
When you have a moment would you please fill in your location details found under your profile. Ta!!

Lenses prior to the A series (M42, K, M) have no electronic connection and so the camera can't adjust the aperture from the body - this will restrict you to using them in either Manual or Aperture Priority modes.

Lenses prior to the F series (M42, K, M, A) are manual focus and will still be manual focus on a digital body.

All other lenses (F, FA-J, FA, DA, D-FA) will give all functions with the K-m or K200D.

So yes, AF will still work with your FA series lenses.

Welcome to the forum

Welcome to the forum, as hefty says your FA lenses will work with a digital body.

I have and use regularly, a 28-80 FA lens. It works fine on my K110 and K200

Why don't you take one of your lenses to your local Pentax dealer and ask to try it on a body? If they sense a sale they won't say no!

I have a K110D and want to use an 'old' M lens.

It fits OK but the camera won't switch on properly. All I get is "AV --" flashing!

I've tried M, Av and other modes.

Any ideas?

JK

In the camera's Custom menu you need to change "Using Aperture Ring" from (1) Prohibited to (2) Permitted.

There's no electrical connection between camera and lens so the aperture will always show as "--" on the camera and in the EXIF data.

In Av mode the lens will always be at its maximum aperture.

In Manual mode you can use stop-down metering for the camera to choose an appropriate shutter speed based on the setting you've chosen on the aperture ring.

All other modes are effectively off the table.

Welcome to the forum and good luck with your old lens.

Go to the Custom menu and set Using Aperture Ring to Permitted.

You then can use Av mode with the largest aperture, or M mode with all apertures. Select the desired aperture by turning the ring on the lens.

In M mode, press the Green or AE-L button (depending on camera) to set the shutter speed according to the meter. Some compensation may be needed after that.

You guys are great!

Just the info I needed.

JK