Pentax DSLR's: I have been told that Pentax DSLR cameras can use the lenses from their older SLR cameras. I have several lens for my old ME and LX camera bodies. Has anyone had any...

pipesgt Loc: Central Florida

I have been told that Pentax DSLR cameras can use the lenses from their older SLR cameras. I have several lens for my old ME and LX camera bodies. Has anyone had any experience using their old lenses?

cgchief Loc: Jarrettsville

pipesgt wrote:

I have been told that Pentax DSLR cameras can use the lenses from their older SLR cameras. I have several lens for my old ME and LX camera bodies. Has anyone had any experience using their old lenses?

I use two Pentax digitals; an istDL with a screw mount adapter, which takes all my m42's from my old Spotmatic.
And a K10D that takes the K mount lens from my ME Super. They don't have any of the auto features of the newer lens; but I am old and don't like automatic stuff.
I am conceited enough to think I am smarter than a computer. Don't like television either.

Jack Disbrow Loc: Northern New Jersey

I am a long time user of Pentax cameras. When the time came to go digital, I checked on lens adaptability and found that virtually all A series lenses will work on a Pentax digital body. One of the keys was the Pentax decision to build their shake compensation system into the camera body rather than into the lenses. Even the older screw mount lenses, used with an adapter, work on the latest Pentax DSLR bodies.

By the way ... you might like to look at the new Pentax K-r. It has been getting very favorable reviews. No video capability, but otherwise excellent features. Street price is about $850 with a 18-55 mm zoom lens.

Pentax was recently purchased by Ricoh so what the future may hold is a bit unclear, but no negatives thus far.

dtcracer

Jack Disbrow wrote:

I am a long time user of Pentax cameras. When the... (show quote)

I am a proud owner of a Pentax K-r. FYI, it does have video capability, and shoots excellent HD video. You can purchase one through Dell for under $900 that comes with both an 18-55 and a 50-200 lense.

Jack Disbrow Loc: Northern New Jersey

Thanks for that clarification. I was quoting from a current review, which did not list video as one of the camera's features. I have used Pentax equipment for many years, and accumulated a number of good lenses. All work fine on my current digital body (the camera's, that is.) Unfortunately I am working with a Pentax K-2000, no longer manufactured. It has all the necessary features but one. It does NOT show anything on the rear screen until you take or preview the picture. You cannot use the rear screen to compose, adjust, etc. It does offer a preview feature, but that is of minor help.

I need a new Pentax, for sure.

dtcracer

Jack Disbrow wrote:

Thanks for that clarification. I was quoting from... (show quote)

I agree... the only thing I do not like about my K-r is that one cannot use the view screen to compose, adjust the the view without using the preview mode. Otherwise, as a rookie photographer I am totally satisfied with it. Well...at least for now!

Jack Disbrow Loc: Northern New Jersey

Well, I'm glad we shared opinions. I assumed that the new model would have eliminated that problem, but apparently not. Shucks!

However, my older model still works fine, other than the back screen. Here's a photo I took with it this morning at 6:30 as I went out to get the paper. Nothing really exceptional, but a nice way to greet the day.

Thanks for your comments ... and enjoy your Pentax!

Early Morning Sunrise

Sensei

My older lens work fine with the K5. All of them mount, but unless you want to use manual you need one of the newer automatic lens.

Jack Disbrow Loc: Northern New Jersey

Just to clarify for my own understanding ... the older lenses will set the aperture automatically in "manual" as long as the lens has an "A" setting, and it is in use. Switch out of that and you have to select the aperture manually. Of course the auto focus ability of new lenses is not available on the older ones - and in some cases that's a good thing.

jokescache1 Loc: SW Utah

an old pentax user...started with spotmatic [1960] now am limited to x-70..just because my daughter got interested in
photography,I lost my spotmatic[gave it to her when she "graduated" from her class].. now the traitrous brat[52]
has gone and got a [yuk]canon,with all the fancy stuff[digital] on/in it... should just take my camera back!!!!!lol...---joe

Sensei

Kids have no respect, for family traditions, jokesrachel

richnash46 Loc: Texas

Great shot....love those colors!

JC56 Loc: Lake St.Louis mo.

pipesgt wrote:

I have been told that Pentax DSLR cameras can use the lenses from their older SLR cameras. I have several lens for my old ME and LX camera bodies. Has anyone had any experience using their old lenses?

Just got back from the camera store (Creve Couer in St.Louis)......I love birding.....bought a new Pentax Kr with a 55 mm kit lens it's a great camera with tons of built in features..then I bought a very rare used Pentax 400 mm lens....it's a great piece of glass. Total bill was under a grand........Cool thing is the 400 mm is manual focus but the kr beeps when you have it in focus....This combo is awesome I can photo a gnats ass from 400 yards......wife isn't happy............ but who cares.

hangman45 Loc: Hueytown Alabama

K-r does have live view and yes you can use any lens that was made for Pentax you can also set the green button instead of manually setting everything I used a K-x up until last week when I got the K-5 I have a few old m lenes that I use regularly and they do great.

JC56 Loc: Lake St.Louis mo.

hangman45 wrote:

K-r does have live view and yes you can use any lens that was made for Pentax you can also set the green button instead of manually setting everything I used a K-x up until last week when I got the K-5 I have a few old m lenes that I use regularly and they do great.

Pentax isn't very popular..........but you get a lot of bang for your buck........FYI Pentax and Richo (sp) lenses are interchangeable........and the green button is a cool little secret.