Film/digital SLR question

[Quo Fan]

The GF has some old SLR lenses that she paid quite a bit for, and is thinking about a digital SLR. Can she use the old lenses with the digital SLR?

[BadDNA]

Generally yes as long as you stick with the same mfg for the digital body as the film.

[narlus]

Generally yes as long as you stick with the same mfg for the digital body as the film.

i don't know, but sometimes the lenses won't autofocus, and if the mount changed (like Canon going from FD to EF), you are hosed w/o an adapter.

[Quo Fan]

I was wondering about the focusing thing. Film cameras are usually manual focus and digital are auto focus. Her lenses are "old", so they are manual focus. She knows that she will have to buy a body that will accept her lenses, or have to buy new lenses.

[binary visions]

Film cameras aren't "usually" manual focus... most of the cameras built in the last 15 years have had auto focus :p

If you check out www.dpreview.com and look at the reviews or spec sheets of the digital bodies, there is usually a full list of what lens types are compatible and what will work on them. For instance, the semi-pro and pro cameras will usually meter with any lens, but the cheaper cameras won't meter without a lens with a CPU chip.

[splat]

What Model Of canon film Camara ? MY wife had an Canon AE-1 when we bought the Digital Rebel , those lenes would not work on it.

[Quo Fan]

She has an older, like 15 or so years old, that is full manual, no auto anything. I forget the make, but Cannon lenses won't fit. She thinks that a Nikon body will work with her lenses.

I'm asking the questions because she hasn't decided on a Monkey handle yet.

[Quo Fan]

I found her camera. It is a Ricoh XR-M Multi program body and she has Tamron lenses. I hope this helps.

[narlus]

She has an older, like 15 or so years old, that is full manual, no auto anything. I forget the make, but Cannon lenses won't fit. She thinks that a Nikon body will work with her lenses.


well this would be the place to ask:

http://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/index.php

[binary visions]

I found this page:

http://www.camerareview.com/templates/camera_details.cfm?camera_id=338

Lens Description 'Ricoh modified' K-R mount lenses needed for auto-metering features. Standard Pentax K, KA lenses work in aperture priority and manual only.

Sounds like it's a Pentax mount.

[Quo Fan]

Thanks, I knew you monkeys wouldn't let me down.

[binary visions]

dpreview sez:

Lens mount:
Pentax KAF2 bayonet mount
Pentax KAF2, KAF or KA mount lenses

It says it also supports lenses with an aperture ring... so just make sure your lens is KAF2, KAF or KA mount, it should say right on the lens.

[maxyedor]

Just throwing this out there, but Tamron lenses are usually good, but not so good that I would base my decision on what DSLR to buy on what older Tanron gear I own.