mirror-less K-01 vs dslr K-5 for older manual lenses: I've been reading about the "advantages" to using old manual lenses on mirror-less cameras. Any truth in this. In other words...

digit-up Loc: Flushing, Michigan

I've been reading about the "advantages" to using old manual lenses on mirror-less cameras. Any truth in this. In other words, should I use my K-01 rather than my K-5 DSLR when using these old time historic lenses??

digit-up Loc: Flushing, Michigan

I was hoping to hear from anyone that might know if there is an advantage to using mirror-less cameras when using "VINTAGE" lenses.. Anybody have input??

mechengvic Loc: SoCalo

digit-up wrote:

I was hoping to hear from anyone that might know if there is an advantage to using mirror-less cameras when using "VINTAGE" lenses.. Anybody have input??

Absolutely! There is one very simple but important advantage to using mirrorless cameras for legacy lenses. The lens mounting flange sits so close to the sensor (because it doesn't need all the extra space for a mirror) that you can use adapters that will allow those manual lenses to still have infinity and minimum focusing distances. Without that shortened distance, older manual lenses and their associated adapters would only be able to focus in a portion of their original range.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

digit-up wrote:

I was hoping to hear from anyone that might know if there is an advantage to using mirror-less cameras when using "VINTAGE" lenses.. Anybody have input??

With all due respect, it is rather unlikely that you will have a response to a question in less than 2½ hours. Please give us time to get home, relax, eat, have a glass of Scotch and turn on our computers. Thank you.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

digit-up wrote:

I've been reading about the "advantages" to using old manual lenses on mirror-less cameras. Any truth in this. In other words, should I use my K-01 rather than my K-5 DSLR when using these old time historic lenses??

that's the beauty of mirrorless...you can mount old lenses!

I have a nice speedbooster adapter (it allows the lens to be mounted to my camera but also has an optical quality lens in it that magnifies the image to "back to full frame" FOV.)

I use old Minolta MD mount lenses and I love them...lots of bang for your buck....old lenses (generally) are TONS cheaper than modern ones and so you can experiment for a low cash outlay and you can also use some great lenses in the process!

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Just one of glorious reasons to switch to mirrorless. Of course having one of the mirrorless models that has focus peaking and image stabilization makes a huge difference too (not sure if the K01 has those features).

digit-up Loc: Flushing, Michigan

The K-01 and the K-5 both have image stablization. Of course the K-5 isn't "mirror-less. I felt I HAD to add that since someone would surly point that out. ugg being what it is...RJM

GC-FineArt Loc: WDC

digit-up wrote:

I've been reading about the "advantages" to using old manual lenses on mirror-less cameras. Any truth in this. In other words, should I use my K-01 rather than my K-5 DSLR when using these old time historic lenses??

Check out the K-01 vs. K-5 review on the PentaxForums site → http://www.pentaxforums.com/reviews/pentax-k-01-review/introduction.html if you haven't done so already.
Might be of some help in this regard.

craggycrossers Loc: Robin Hood Country, UK

digit-up wrote:

I've been reading about the "advantages" to using old manual lenses on mirror-less cameras. Any truth in this. In other words, should I use my K-01 rather than my K-5 DSLR when using these old time historic lenses??

I use Metabones adapter to connect my Fuji X-E1 to a couple of Nikkor manual lenses (100 and 135mm f2.8's), to give me telephoto range with excellent results. Metabones do many different adapters .......

http://www.metabones.com/

Fuji X-E1 + Nikon "E" 100mm f2.8

(Download)

Fuji X-E1 + Nikkor 135mm Ai f2.8

(Download)

overholm Loc: Aarhus, Denmark

I admit I don't know about anything other than Pentax. But: as K5 and K-01 share the same image sensor (and a fine one, too) this makes no difference. The only advantage in K-01 is the focus peaking which is a very useful featue. Another issue is that setting the aperture would be a problem with Pentax-M lenses. Only Pentax-A - (with an "A"-setting on the aperture ring) will work without problems. In my opinion the K-01 is best with shorter lenses, I feel the SLR-finder works better with long lenses than the LCD screen does. But try using K-01 on a tripod with almost any lens. Wow!

digit-up Loc: Flushing, Michigan

Thanks for that Pentax info, I went to the site and perused the whole thing over time. But being retired makes it "doable". RJM

mechengvic Loc: SoCalo

Cdouthitt wrote:

Just one of glorious reasons to switch to mirrorless. Of course having one of the mirrorless models that has focus peaking and image stabilization makes a huge difference too (not sure if the K01 has those features).

And up to 14x magnification...THROUGH THE VIEWFINDER!!!!! :mrgreen:

mechengvic Loc: SoCalo

digit-up wrote:

The K-01 and the K-5 both have image stablization. Of course the K-5 isn't "mirror-less. I felt I HAD to add that since someone would surly point that out. ugg being what it is...RJM

That's not to say that the K-5 isn't a great camera because it is... In fact many said it was the best aps-c DSLR on the market when it was released...Dpreview gave it top ratings.

azted Loc: Las Vegas, NV.

I purchased a used Nex-7 due to the fact that I had legacy Nikon mount (Formula Five) lenses that my Dad used in the late 60's on his Nikorrmat. I bought two cheap fotodiox adapters, and have used both. However, I have to admit that my new Tamron 18-200 e mount lens gives me better photos. There is a problem getting infinity focus on longer lenses with the adapters. For shorter shots, the 24mm f2.8 older lens is phenomenal. So it is a mixed bag. But mirror less is definitely the future, and an enjoyable current!

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

digit-up wrote:

I've been reading about the "advantages" to using old manual lenses on mirror-less cameras. Any truth in this. In other words, should I use my K-01 rather than my K-5 DSLR when using these old time historic lenses??

historic lenses, such a g-clarons and grandagons, cannot be used on either digital imaging devices.

if you are speaking of 35mm manual focus film lenses, you would want to use anything but a mirrorless digital imaging device.