Are SLR and DSLR camera lenses interchangeable?

Sorry if this is a rather obvious question. I really fancy taking photos in film again and am wondering if I buy a SLR if I can use the lenses from my DSLR?

I have the K100, does anyone have any advice on a similar camera that isn't digital?

Laura - provided you use a lens with an identical mount (eg: Pentax K mount), there should be no problems using it. I believe however, that a lens designed for a 35mm slr is magnified by another 1/3 (or thereabouts) if that lens is mounted onto a DIGITAL slr. That is to say, a 300mm lens designed for a 35mm camera becomes a 400mm digital lens.

link

The table contained in this link is in French, but basically, the left-hand column refers to the focal length of the "35mm lens", and the other columns are the approx magnifications.

I hope this helps.

Hi & welcome to the forum.
It's nice to have the question asked this way round

Most of the DA series lenses will not cover a full 35mm negative (giving variable amounts of vignetting) but a few apparently will be OK. The older FA, F, A, M or K series were all designed for film though also work with the DSLRs.

If your lenses are without aperture rings then they will be very limited on the earler film SLRs but anything after the ME super should (I think) be able to control the aperture from the camera body.

I've never used an autofocus film SLR which might be the best models to consider...
If your not bothered with AF & have aperture rings the MX & ME models are my favorites (I could never afford an LX) the ME super & P50 I've used were both nice cameras (giving aperture control) but somehow never had quite the same appeal to me.

In any event you should find a good range of models available very cheaply second hand, shame about the cost of film/processing...

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Mike
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Pentax:K7, K100D, DA18-55, DA10-17, DA55-300, DA50-200, F100-300, F50, DA35 AL, 4* M50, 2* M135, Helicoid extension, Tak 300 f4 (& 6 film bodies)
3rd Party: Bigmos (Sigma 150-500mm OS HSM),2* 28mm, 100mm macro, 28-200 zoom, 35-80 zoom, 80-200 zoom, 80-210 zoom, 300mm M42, 600 mirror, 1000-4000 scope, 50mm M42, enlarger lenses, micro 4/3 camera with tiltable PK mount, Zenit E...
Far to many tele-converters, adapters, project parts & extension tubes etc.

.[size=11:].Flickr• WPF• Panoramio

Thank you guys, both really useful replies.........eBay here I come!

Simple (does meercat impression). As above, any PK mount lens will fit any PK mount, and work without too much trouble. As for cameras:

Almost any of the MZ series. The base models MZ-30 and MZ-50 are cheap, and will give you autofocus and autowind. The digital 18-55 kit lens will vignette until you have it at around 24mm. Dead light, and easy to carry around as a second body.

If you want something that feels more like an old Pentax, grab a P-50. I see that some asking prices for these on Ebay are now around £40. I guess that agood one is maybe worth that, but I paid a lot less for mine. The same comment about vignetting applies.

You could also look at the MEII Super and the MX as possibles - I found them both a bit fiddly with my geriatric hands, but others really do like them. if you want an MEII body cheap, I have one that I will never use again.

Other members will almost certainly have other ideas, based on what suits them. I have an MZ-50 that is permanently loaded, and a P-50 that has an MEII autowinder, and a 17mm Tamron Adaptall-2 permanently on.

If you look at the Butkus site for on-line manuals, you should get an idea of which models have things that you dont want.

Geoff

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Sleep is an inferior substitute for good coffee.

Bodies: K20D, MZ50, P50, ME Super,
Lenses Digital: 18-55 & 50-200, KAF: 35-70, 28-80.
Lenses KA & K: SMC-KA f2.0, SMC-K f1.4, SMC-K f1.7 Tokina KA 28-70 , Takumar A 28-80 ,SMC Pentax 70-210 F4, Sigma KA 75-300 , Hanimex 500mm Mirror, and the Tamron Adaptall-2 stuff.
and then there's all the M42 kit, and the accessories ...

Choosing a film body? BAM! http://www.mosphotos.com/PentaxLensCompatibility.html

My choice would be any which confirms compatibility with DA lenses in M, Av, Tv and P modes, and preferably also M lenses in M and Av modes. In short, that means the PZ-1p, PZ-1, PZ-20, Z-50p, PZ-70, MZ-6, MZ-L, or MZ-7. These cameras will operate just like a DSLR, with the bonus of not having to do green button stop-down metering with M or K lenses. They are so DSLR-like you will be wondering where the rear LCD is and looking for it when you take a picture...

If you are happy to let the camera select the aperture automatically on your DA lenses, any camera with P mode will work, and that expands the shortlist greatly.

I've used my DA 40 on my MZ6 with no problems, it seems to be a straight port from the old M40. This was taken with that combo and is uncropped




The standard 18-55, as mentioned willalso work on the older 'auto' bodies, I've used mine on my P30. The thing is you can see the dark corners so...

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Cheers, HG

K110+DA40, K200+DA35, K5+Tammy 18-250, a bag of lenses, bodies and other bits.

Mustn't forget the Zenits, or folders, or...

I've some gallerieshere CLICKY LINK! and my PPG entries.

This isn't quite true - some may give you Tv mode which allows indirect aperture control, but many only offer P mode control (i.e. full auto). I would scrutinise the list above before selecting a camera, if using DA lenses matters to you.

Just to add, only a few of the DA lenses will work without vignetting. Some of the DA zooms are OK past certain zoom settings, the DA35 f2.4 is definitely OK, the 40mm and 70mm Ltds are borderline (extreme corners may be soft)... the DA*200 and DA*300mm are definitely fine... the rest are probably going to vignette unacceptably.

And don't forget, if you do end up buying a film body which comes with a lens (often no more expensive than just a body), that lens will also fit your DSLR (but with some limitations).

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PPG Flickr

Another area to look at is M42 screw mount lenses. Get yourself an M42-K mount adapter, and voila! you can even use old wonderful Takumar lenses on your DSLR too. Plus M42 lenses are cheap as chips, and a popular lens to get is the 55mm F1.8. Also, Praktica did M42 lenses so did Zenit, Zeiss Jena, Cosina, Hanimex, etc etc. The list is endless, and you may find some interesting lens for the price of a drink at the local.
You will have to stop down meter and manually focus, but that is part of the fun!

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Digital - K-5, K20D, K10D, *istDS. Film - MZ-5n, MZ-50, Spotmatic F, SV.
Many lenses both K-mount and M42. Many Bags, Interfit strobes and constant. LR3 and CS6.

I would suggest finding a SFX/SFXn with a SMC-F lens (50f1.7, 35-70, 35-105)....

DA or DA* lenses wider than 24 mm will give you dark corners I think....longer lenses are no problem...No problems with FA-J, FA, D-FA or earlier.....

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AKA Welshwizard/PWynneJ
Assorted Pentax/Nikon/Mamiya stuff

I happily use my MZ5n with all my Digital lenses! I do get vignetting on most ov my lenses, but I sometimes work that into the image as with most SLRs the viewfinder covers most of the scene so you can see how much vignetting you are getting. The DA 18-55mm lens is fun to use on 18!

One thing I did notice using my DA*50-135 lens was that the contrast was quite high and the colours perhaps a little on the yellow side.

Note that the Pentax ASP-C sensor crop is 1.5x so if you are used to seeing the world through a 300mm lens on your DSLR, then you will need a 450mm lens to get the same view on a 35mm SLR.

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Bodies: K5IIs, K7, MZ5n, LX, MV
Lenses: DA*16-50, DA18-55WR, DA18-135, DAL35, M50 F2, A50 f1.4, FA50 f1.4, DA*50-135, DA55-300, Tamron 70-300, DFA 100 WR Macro, M135 f3.5, Sigma 120-400 APO DG HSM, Tokina 500 f8.0
Flash: Metz 58, Metz 48
Accessories: BG4, Pentax right angle finder, Pentax mirror adaptor lens, O-ME53 Viewfinder Loupe
Auto 110 System: Auto 110, Winder, 18mm, 24mm, 50mm, 70mm, 20-40mm, AF100P, 1.7x telecon