newsguygeorge Loc: Victoria, Texas

We have had several folks on UHH talk about using old lenses with modern cameras and I have posted elsewhere on UHH that I have coupled some old lenses from my Minolta SRT-101 days to my Nikon D5300.

I shot these two photos with a Telesor 85mm-210mm zoom lens, with one at 85 and the other at 210. That would be the DX equivalent of about 128-315, if I recall correctly. The lens has a UV filter. I can'™t tell you the full exposure setting because using a manual lens only gave me the ISO (400) and shutter (1/400). It was a clear day with a slight morning haze. I shot these from one of the parapets of the Carrickfergus Castle, Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

Post processing was only straightening the horizon and tweaking the contrast and colors slightly.

I have no way to compare these photos with a modern/equivalent lens, but I can say I am satisfied with how it performs for me. I am not posting these to brag, but to show that, in my humble opinion, I can use this lens with satisfaction. I hope those of you trying to achieve the same thing can do so as well.

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Mike D. Loc: Crowley County, CO.

I see nothing wrong with recycling older glass. It was, quite honestly, one of the biggest reasons that I chose the D7100. Its internal focus motor allows the use of old Nikkor glass. Some of which can be amazingly sharp as well as inexpensive.

Rock on George!

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I use a number of old lenses, on old cameras, as well as my relatively new digitals. Nothing wrong with them at all.
--Bob

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

No issues here either using old lenses with my Nikon bodies.

SonyBug

I have several old lenses too. But the challenges using them today are the same as they were back "in the day". The photos you posted show a ton of softness when fully expanded and therefore show that to use them, one must use the absolute best techniques. Same problem I have. The new lenses really do make it easier to get sharp in focus photos under challenging situations.

newsguygeorge Loc: Victoria, Texas

I agree, nikonbug, but I can't rule out my own skill set on these shots. It takes some getting used to.

SonyBug

In my case, the problems are accentuated by a pretty bad case of essential tremors. Called the "shakes" around my senior community. So, every shot is a challenge. Thank goodness for tripods...

sailorsmom Loc: Souderton, PA

Yep, they certainly are good images, George!