camera? which one

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bigglesjnr

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Hi All
I have a problem, I am a family photogragher your Mr average I have and enjoy using my family air-loom Pentex 35mm screw on 42mm lens about 30yrs old I would like to get with the times and go digital if possible, I have a Sony 4.1 Cybershot but the square screen on the back is a bit small and it is very limited, my questions are can I use the lens I have on my Pentex and buy a block to use with the lens , what blocks can I use, do I need adaptors budget of about £350.
I have been to a photo shop and he showed me a pentex £800 thats what you need he said :help:
 
M42 screw adaptors to fit various makes of digital SLRs can be picked up on ebay for between £2 and £20 depending on the quality, features, and digital camera fitting.
You can pick up a decent second-user Canon/Nikon dSLR for as little as £90 from places like MPB, or there's other outlets that offer Pentax (and other makes) if you wanted another brand.
It might be a good idea to pop back to the camera shop and see how you like the control layouts of the different brands of camera, then you can pop back here to discuss what's out there in that brand that's within your budget.
If you're used to manual focussing, there's usually a good selection of good value M42 lenses available on ebay, that would be cheaper than their modern autofocus equivalents. :)
 
You can get a second hand Pentax k7 for around the £350 mark. Awesome camera for the money, and you would just need an m42 to k mount adapter to use your old heirloom lens :)

To use an m42 lens on a Nikon body you need an adapter with a lens element in it that can degrade the image and not offer infinity focus either
 
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I'd second Paul's view about a K7.

In addition to m42 lenses fitting with an adapter any Pentax K mount lens made from about 1975 onwards will fit without any adapter.

You'll lose some, or all, of the auto functions, but that is not always important.

Pentax is one of the manufacturers that have the image stabilisation in the body of their cameras so every lens, no matter how old, is a stabilised lens, and like the m42 lenses, old K mount lenses can be picked up fairly cheaply.

Dave
 
As above, you'd need an adapter to use your old lenses

My FIL uses some of his old Pentax and Minolta lenses with his Minolta + Sony DSLR's. He has a 50mm lens and it's built like a tank, great fun shotting "old school" as well ...
 
A reality check before you go ahead.

There are plenty of people happy to use old MF lenses with modern cameras. All you'll need is an adaptor and a relatively decent SH digital Canon or Pentax. But it depends on your patience and the type of photography you want to get into.

However, there are some important facts to consider:
  • the old M42 lenses are likely to not compare well optically to modern equivalents (will vary from lens to lens)
  • The field of view will be affected by the crop factor, so a 28mm wide angle will no longer be wide at all
  • Modern DSLR's don't have the big bright focus screens we got on MF cameras, they're smaller and dark, designed to give light to the AF system.
  • Manual focussing will be slow and unreliable compared to the fast and accurate AF motors in modern lenses
  • Stop down metering and shooting is a right PITA, compared to the auto stop down available to you with modern lenses.

I'd suggest a SH Canon with std zoom and an adaptor, then as frustration overtakes you can build up a modern lens collection. Then stick some film in the old camera and use the old lenses as they were intended.
 
Wise words, Phil.

Standard kit lenses are pretty darn good when you're starting out (IMHO). If you buy a good second hand body (of whatever brand), you can also pick up kit lenses really cheap as people upgrade.

I've got a D5000 with the two kit lenses, but also picked up a second hand D50 as a backup and extra. Bought the body first, then a Nikon 28-80 (which is terrific for a cheapie), a Nikon 50mm f1.8 (ditto; I also use it in manual focus on my D5000, but what Phil says about small, dark viewfinders is true) and a Tamron 70-300 (which has a focus motor in it, so autofocuses on both bodies). All bought separately from a certain well-known auction site for a total of $340 Australian dollars (plus a little postage). I think that is about 200 British pounds.

I also have a little collection of older lenses bought with the "woo hoo, cheap old lenses" thought, which I don't use much - for the exact reasons Phil said. The D50, on the other hand, gets a lot of use.
 
Thanks for the replies, have had a good think and have brought a bridge camera Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150, dont beat me. Just try this out for a few years maybe see how it goes as Phil V pointed out about the lenses I can always put some 35mm film in the old faithful, then if wish to get really involved then go digital but thanks help.
 
Hope you have fun with your new camera :)

Was on the local park my kids this afternoon with a 40 year old Helios 58mm M42 lens attached to my Pentax, just to show you can get good results with the right body and older lenses....

616146_3991611421260_669131779_o.jpg
 
antihero said:
You can get a second hand Pentax k7 for around the £350 mark. Awesome camera for the money, and you would just need an m42 to k mount adapter to use your old heirloom lens :)

To use an m42 lens on a Nikon body you need an adapter with a lens element in it that can degrade the image and not offer infinity focus either
Click to expand...

This makes sense to me. Im a canon shooter but each time i look at the pentax i have been impressed. Just seen you have bought a bridge camera. Have fun
 
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MJWC1 said:
a Tamron 70-300 .
Click to expand...
is that the Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD?
I'm just looking at that as an alternative to the Nikon? For £302, seems pretty good value!


Just noticed the price you paid for that bundle, so am guessing it's not :D
 
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