Old sigma lens/new Pentax dSLR

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Popty Ping

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Simon
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Hi all

I've mentioned this in other posts, but I'm pretty much brand new to photography - and pretty clueless. I've started a course and I'm loving it though!

I'm considering buying a Pentax k-r camera. At the moment I'm getting a feel for photography using a film Olympus OM-10 camera. It has a Sigma zoom lens on it - I think it's a 70-210 (but I still don't fully understanding focal lengths etc).

A few questions:

- I think I read that Pentax dSLRs can use sigma lenses. Am I right, or did I dream this?

- I presume it doesn't work with Nikon. Should the fact i have this zoom lens be a factor in choosing Pentax over Nikon if it is indeed compatible with the former? Is a 20 year old zoom lens of this type any good anyway?!!!

I'm really in the dark about all this, so any help would be gratefully received!


Si
 
A pentax camera can only use pentax mount lenses.

Sigma do make pentax mount lenses, but the one you have will be OM mount to fit the Oly. Lenses have a specific mount, the beyonet is a different shape for all the brands (bar samsung and pentax (Some samsungs are basically re-badged pentaxes) and fujifilm pro models and nikon (the fuji S3 and S5 are nikon mount)), and the electrical contacts are different, so a lens will only ever work on the mount it was designed for (unless you use an adapter). Sigma make lenses in different mounts, but this doesn't mean all their lenses will work on all mounts, you still have to buy a lens with the specific mount of your camera.
Sigma make more lenses for nikon mount than pentax mount actually.

You might be able to adapt it to work on pentax or nikon or not, I don't know.

Pentax will work with very old K mount lenses though, basically every lens pentax have made for 30 years will fit onto their DSLR's.

I know for a fact you can get OM - Canon EF mount adapters, so maybe you can get them for pentax and nikon, but I don't know. Canon EF is a more adaptable mount because of the large diameter of the bayonet.
 
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Ahhhh ...... OM 10 ..... used to have one myself a long, long time ago.
Old "Pentax Fit" lenses .... sigma, tamron, pentax etc.... are compatable with new pentax digital cameras ( with some limited functions) unfortunately not old "Olympus Fit" lenses will fit whoever manufactures them.

Based on the above you have a complete blank canvas to start with when you decide to spend all your pocket money ..... no ties to any manufacturer.

Have a really good read ... on here and everywhere else .... do some homework, set yourself a budget (the hard bit) and get yourself into a few camera shops to have a play............ then go home and have a really good think about what YOU want out of your camera kit, sleep on it, then make an informed lucid decision to go for Pentax ........ :thumbs: just joking, everone has their own "best" choice, and it really is how it feels to you. The camera and lens you have, will have no bearing on any future purchases.


Have fun ........ and dont spend too much.


ps ....... I am a Pentax user, and the Kr would be an excellent choice .......... if it suits you.



Dave ....
 
Ah, thanks for clearing that up guys - this site is incredibly helpful for a novice like me! Those posts were quick replies - I appreciate the time you put in!

Paul - can I ask one quick question. I am sorely tempted to go the Pentax route - why do you favour them? At the minute I'm favouring it over a nikon d3100 because it takes AA batteries as well as the more usual "thingy" one! (i posted about this in another thread). Handy for the type of trips I do.

Maybe not the most important camera feature to have as a "deal-breaker"
 
Have you handled both?

You'll probably find one handles better to you than the other.
 
Sorry - my last question should have been to Dave, not Paul!!!

I'm using the iPhone app and I can't see previous posts when I type. I was in my local when I typed it and Paul is the barman!

Sq - I am intending to handle both models. Sadly my local shop, which has an excellent reputation, doesn't have that pentax. Really would like to decide this week, but can't see me getting to a shop that does them!
 
Popty Ping said:
Ah, thanks for clearing that up guys - this site is incredibly helpful for a novice like me! Those posts were quick replies - I appreciate the time you put in!

Paul - can I ask one quick question. I am sorely tempted to go the Pentax route - why do you favour them? At the minute I'm favouring it over a nikon d3100 because it takes AA batteries as well as the more usual "thingy" one! (i posted about this in another thread). Handy for the type of trips I do.

Maybe not the most important camera feature to have as a "deal-breaker"
Click to expand...

Popty Ping said:
Sorry - my last question should have been to Dave, not Paul!!!

I'm using the iPhone app and I can't see previous posts when I type. I was in my local when I typed it and Paul is the barman!

Sq - I am intending to handle both models. Sadly my local shop, which has an excellent reputation, doesn't have that pentax. Really would like to decide this week, but can't see me getting to a shop that does them!
Click to expand...



When I first wanted a DSLR I did exactly what I described .... Budget, reviews, camera shop,...... think ..... buy .... (From my local shop, not the tinternet) .... and at that time went for the Samsung GX10 (Pentax fit camera) and I still have it, along with my Pentax K7, and then you learn how to get the best out of it (still doing that) and build up your kit (££££££££) really happy with what I have and would make the same decisions again.



Dave ....
 
Thanks Dave - I am being pretty methodical with all of this!

Hope to get a look at both soon
 
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