Old lenses on new gear

Hello

Sorry if this topic has been covered before. I did a search through old posts and think I understand the problems.

I have some old SMC K mount and M42 mount lenses 50mm, 28mm and 24mm that I would like to use on a digital camera, from what I've read I understand that the problems are :-

1. mounting these lenses on a DSLR - the K's will be ok but the M42's will require an adapter.
2. the focal length will change on a DSLR ie a 50mm will become an 80mm etc.
3. manual focussing only which is fine but will be more difficult unless I fit a focussing screen.

Autofocus I'm not bothered about, TTL metering would be good but if not I can use a light meter

Have I got this right?

At the moment I have a two film cameras a Spotmatic and ME super also a Nikon D80 (which feels enormous)

What I would really like is a DSLR body the size of the ME super that I can use my old lenses on without changing the focal length - wishful thinking I guess or is it?

There are restrictions with old lenses, but that may not be a problem depending upon what you have in mind.

If you are talking about Pentax lenses that's good as you won't get any compatitbility issues. Other makes should be examined carefully to ensure there are no extra bits (such as the extra pin on Ricoh K mount lenses) that could cause a problem.

1. Use the Pentax Adapter K for your screw mount lenses and then you will still get infinity focusing. You can expose manually or using aperture priority without too much hassle.

2. The focal length does not change (a 50mm lens is always a 50mm lens) but the smaller sensor means only the centre of the field of view is used. So the effect of using a 50mm will be similar to using a 75mm lens on a film camera. The DOF will be as for a 50mm lens.

3. Manual focusing may not be a problem, depending on your eyesight. I find it OK, others need to change the focusing screen. I'd just see how you get on. The essential thing is to adjust the eyepiece dioptre using a blank even toned scene - sdjust till the guide lines in the viewfinder are at their sharpest. When making this adjustment it is best if you do not have a scene that can be focused on (blank sky is good) as the eye adapts very quickly and can distort the result.

4. Wishfull thinking? Of course... But the new K-m is not far off.

Thanks John

That is very helpful, "the new K-m" is this a new pentax DSLR that is on it's way?

Perhaps you could suggest which Pentax DSLR would best fit my needs in that I don't need a zoom lens but would like to use my old lenses, also it doesn't need to have all the latest mod cons an older 2nd hand / discontinued model would be fine, I will be using it for B&W

I noticed in AP (new issue due out Tuesday) there is an advert for the K100D with lens for just £199.00

That could do very nicely if you are looking for a low cost camera.

As for black and white, with digital cameras you shoot in colour. You make the black and white conversion in the imaging soft ware, be it Photoshop or something else.

Hope that helps!

Hi Gromit, I think John's covered all the important points regarding use of older manual lenses (and they work well with modern DSLR's).

As for getting a camera the size of your ME Super that has no "crop" effect on the focal length of your lenses, I'm sorry to say such a thing doesn't exist - from any manufacturer!

The great majority of DSLR's (including all the current and former Pentax designs) use a smaller-than-35mm sensor. The handful of DSLR's using a "full-frame" sensor (currently only made by Canon, Nikon and Sony) are all top of the line models that cost £thousands, are very large / heavy and won't take your old K-mount glass anyway.

The new Pentax K-m to which John referred is a very compact DSLR by most standards and probably the closest you'll find to your ME Super in terms of size and weight. A discontinued model (like the K100D that John also mentioned) would certainly be cheaper and just as capable, but a little larger / heavier than the K-m physically. Having said that, it's not as big and heavy as a Nikon D80.

A quick comparison of relative sizes / weights (W(mm)/H(mm)/D(mm)/weight(g))

Pentax ME Super - 131.5 / 83 / 49.5 / 445g
Nikon D80 - 132 / 103 / 77 / 668g
Pentax K100D - 129 / 91 / 71 / 646g
Pentax K-m - 123 / 92 / 68 / 525g

Of course the digital bodies have heavy battery packs that account for a proportion of the weight gain over the ME, but then there's much more built-in gadgetry to power.

Hope that gives you an idea though.

Thanks very much for the information to you both.

Hefty that comparison list is very helpful - cheers.

Grommit,

See if you can find an istD, its a superb little camera, the only thing against it compared to later models is the diminutive display screen.

Hi Gromit, I agree with John that a K100D would be a good choice, in my experience the ist models cost as much used as the latter models.

Why a K100? I have a K110, which is the same camera without shake reduction, and find using manual lenses easy.
If you leave the body in autofocus mode, hold the shutter button fully down, then slowly focus through your chosen point, the camera will take the shot at the optimum moment.
That's a simple starter trick until you get used to focusing by eye.

Don't know if the ist models do this :

Hi Can john remember which company it was advertising the K100 for £199

www.cameraworld.co.uk 0207 636 5005

K100D Super + 18-55mm £199.99
Add 2GB card, Tamrac holster case and 52mm digital filter kit £239.99

Cameras are ex-display but not previously sold or used.