Tamron lenses with digital bodies

Hello again,

Still on the subject of lenses. I'm being gently pushed towards the idea of buying a digital Pentax body, but I have three Tamron Adaptall 2 lenses that I'm quite happy with and I wonder what the procedure is for using these on the newer digital bodies, or even if it's possible. I'm looking at the K200D as a starter camera and I have to admit that I'm somewhat confused by the sales talk I've been getting on using older lenses with the new bodies generally, and blank looks when I mention the Tamron kit. Mind you, the sales-persons mostly weren't born when I was buying my camera gear.

As far as I can tell, my lenses might work, but then again they might not! I have Pentax 50mm and 135 mm and a Tamron 80-210 Zoom, 350mm Mirror, and 24mm WA and the standard K-Mount adaptor. I know that these lenses are generally considered a bit on the naff side, but I really can't afford to start laying out more cash on lenses at the moment. Once again, any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

TJ

They work exactly the same way on digital SLR's as they would have done on your film camera. If the adaptall mount is the basic K then you have to stop the lenses down manually in M mode. If its the KA adapter then you can also use the lens in the other modes, but always with manual focus.

yup, Phil is right, I use two Adaptall SP lenses (90mm macro and 300 F2. with my K10D and they work very nicely.

one thing to note is that you will need to set the focal length manually if you want to use SR. This is fine with primes as long as you remember to do it, but with zooms it's a pain.

Great - that's good news. I only have the standard K mount adaptor, but I'm sure I can find a KA adaptor somewhere if I decide to make the leap into the digital realm.

Thanks for the prompt replies.

TJ

I also only have the K adaptor, the KA is a bit hard to find and tends to be expensive. One day I will get one.....

Still the K adaptor is quite useable until you can get the KA.

If i am not mistaken our good and generous friend Daniel Bridge has one he is thinking of parting with.

Generous? Definitely good! I'll be putting mine on ebay at some point, but I'm waiting on stock of the DA* 300mm at the mo. In the meantime, I have another K mount somewhere if you'd rather not be swapping the mount between lenses all the time. If I can find it I'll pop a note in the classified section here, although there is (was?) already another one there.

My KA one will be on ebay because I'd rather market forces set the price. I know what I'd be happy with, but I suspect it may make more than that, and I have an expensive lens to pay for! I just don't think I'd have the gall to ask what it might make.

Dan

I know exactly what you mean Dan and no one can blame you for that
Good luck with it.
The price of the DA*300mm in Aust, is horrendously expensive $AU2000
Its listed on E-bay in Canada for $AU1300.
But after my recent purchase's it will be some time before i decide if its for me.

understandable, especially with the prices some of them have been fetching recently. Drop us a heads up when you put it on though

Will do. Will be putting various bits on ebay over next month or so, some nicer than others. I'll let everyone know as and when.

Dan