Old Lenses Live On
May 19, 2020 11:43:38 #
I am very happy to have resurrected my Kodak Ektra rangefinder lenses for use on my Sony A7R digital mirrorless camera body. These lenses, American-made, represented the highest optical achievements of Eastman Kodak in 1940 for use on their very sophisticated 35mm Ektra Camera. It cost the price of an new automobile then to acquire the camera with lens. My lenses were heavy paperweights until the advent of mirrorless digital cameras. Using a custom-made English lens adapter on my Sony has proven to be a really pleasant activity to once again take good pictures with Ektar lenses made 80 years ago! 
May 19, 2020 12:01:49 #
Biogon44 wrote:
I am very happy to have resurrected my Kodak Ektra... (show quote)
Sounds great@ How about a photo to refresh our memory of the lens? Stan
May 19, 2020 12:08:10 #
Adding IBIS and a 10x zoom in the EVF makes every manual focus lens a viable tool on a mirrorless body. Added bonus is the camera meters the light hitting the sensor. No step-down nonsense. No crop factor when using the glassless 'donut' adapters.
May 19, 2020 12:12:10 #
That was exactly the reason I purchased my Sony a6000 several years ago. To be able to use my old 50s-60s vintage Zeiss lenses. :)
May 19, 2020 12:33:41 #
That's wonderful! Do you still have the Ektra body? I've played with a few of them at shows and stores, but never owned one. What a fantastic achievement they were!
Andy
Andy
May 20, 2020 08:45:31 #
I have 50 year old Pentax lenses on my K-1 DSLR and they are sharp and they are less expensive, a win-win.
May 20, 2020 09:11:40 #
Retina
Loc: Near Charleston,SC
As an occasional hobbyist not requiring competitive speed and performance, the ability to use older lenses matters when I choose a camera. The D3000 series, and now the D7500 take the oldest F-mount lenses. I really look forward to using my old SMC Takumars and ROKKORs with a mirrorless someday.
May 20, 2020 09:11:47 #
olemikey
Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida
I put all sorts of old lenses on my Sony A37 and A58 (a number of glassless adapters and a couple with)....As said, with IBIS for stabilization, Focus Peaking, Clear Image Zoom and modern ISO capabilities it is win-win, fun, sharp photos and some just look cool paired up with a modern DSLR. Have seen the Ektra gear, but never shot with it.....yes, post a shot if you've the time.
Amazing how well some of the old "paperweights" work matched to modern electronic platforms, especially when you find they are still fun to use!.
Amazing how well some of the old "paperweights" work matched to modern electronic platforms, especially when you find they are still fun to use!.
May 20, 2020 09:15:05 #
I have two Kodak Ektra camera bodies, both with spotty shutter action. I am more pleased to own 35mm, 50mm, 90mm, and 135mm Ektra Ektar lenses. All function flawlessly on my Sony A7R body. I am further happy with my British SRB Griturn made lens adapter for the vintage lenses. This company was able to produce a superb complicated adapter following my custom specifications and utilizing my contribution for cannibalization of a Canon-Sony NEX adapter. I also have an adapter available on EBay for this lens, but it is a much inferior product, both in design and execution.
May 20, 2020 09:41:30 #
BobT
Loc: southern Minnesota
I have a GX85 Panasonic camera. Are there any adapters made for it that would allow me to shoot with any vintage lenses? Maybe it may have to be an adapter for a Olympis M34rds; since the Olympus lenses can be used on the Panasonic bodies?
May 20, 2020 10:57:35 #
Biogon44 wrote:
I am very happy to have resurrected my Kodak Ektra... (show quote)
I purchased a year ago a Nikon 7200 for the same reason. I can use all my manual focus lenses from the 70s and have active metering.. Plus it has two card slots and the updated nikon fast focus system. Adjusting the old lenses on the 7200 was difficult but after adjustment they are laser sharp.
May 20, 2020 11:09:23 #
A10 wrote:
I have 50 year old Pentax lenses on my K-1 DSLR and they are sharp and they are less expensive, a win-win.
I am using similar old lenses on my Pentax K-3 and it is loads of fun. And for some macro work, I purchased both a Pentax and Nikon set of very inexpensive manual extension tubes (about $10 each). The tubes are the same size and I can use the male end for my Pentax and the female end for the 135mm f2.8 Nikkor-Q and it work perfectly. Got the Nikon lens for $5 and I have double length tubes as needed.
May 20, 2020 21:17:12 #
BobT wrote:
I have a GX85 Panasonic camera. Are there any adapters made for it that would allow me to shoot with any vintage lenses? Maybe it may have to be an adapter for a Olympis M34rds; since the Olympus lenses can be used on the Panasonic bodies?
There are all kinds of adapters available (cheap and expensive) for Panasonic MFT. Keep looking.
May 21, 2020 01:23:06 #
May 21, 2020 10:01:39 #
Not necessarily. Other than the top six or seven brands of lenses. Other vintage cheap lenses are no good by todays standard.
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