best camera lenses nikon image
Bridget
I need to find a digital camera that can use older SLR camera lenses. What kind of mounting system would it need to have?
Answer
Just get the same brand (or mount) of camera the lens is made for. So if the lens is for Pentax, get a Pentax dSLR. If the lens has a Nikon mount, get a Nikon dSLR. The same is true for Canon. For Konica-Minolta lenses, you can get a new Sony dSLR. Most other manufacturers have dropped their old mounts in favor of the 4/3 mount but you may still use them with an appropriate adapter.
Going back to Pentax lenses, as long as it is a K-mount, you can use it on the new dSLR immediately in aperture priority and manual modes. Pentax has changed its mount only once and the older screw (M42) mount will only need a cheap adapter to work on the new dSLRs (also at aperture priority and manual modes). If you happen to have medium format Pentax lenses, you can still use them on your new dSLR, again with the correct adapter.
As for Nikon and Canon, you have to be very careful on what you mount where. Although some will mount without problems, they may not function properly. Some Nikon AF lenses won't autofocus on the newer dSLRs. With some lenses, metering won't work so your only choice would be full manual. Search the internet for lens compatibility charts to be clear on this further.
At any rate, there are many adapters that enable cross-brand mounting. Finally, there are very cheap adapters to mount universal screw mount (M42) lenses on almost any brand of dSLR on the market today. Of course you will lose most if not all automatic functions.
Just get the same brand (or mount) of camera the lens is made for. So if the lens is for Pentax, get a Pentax dSLR. If the lens has a Nikon mount, get a Nikon dSLR. The same is true for Canon. For Konica-Minolta lenses, you can get a new Sony dSLR. Most other manufacturers have dropped their old mounts in favor of the 4/3 mount but you may still use them with an appropriate adapter.
Going back to Pentax lenses, as long as it is a K-mount, you can use it on the new dSLR immediately in aperture priority and manual modes. Pentax has changed its mount only once and the older screw (M42) mount will only need a cheap adapter to work on the new dSLRs (also at aperture priority and manual modes). If you happen to have medium format Pentax lenses, you can still use them on your new dSLR, again with the correct adapter.
As for Nikon and Canon, you have to be very careful on what you mount where. Although some will mount without problems, they may not function properly. Some Nikon AF lenses won't autofocus on the newer dSLRs. With some lenses, metering won't work so your only choice would be full manual. Search the internet for lens compatibility charts to be clear on this further.
At any rate, there are many adapters that enable cross-brand mounting. Finally, there are very cheap adapters to mount universal screw mount (M42) lenses on almost any brand of dSLR on the market today. Of course you will lose most if not all automatic functions.
Do camera lenses only work with certain cameras?
Luis
I keep on seeing camera's say that they are compatible with "this line of lenses" or things like that. But i have an old 35mm non-digital camera and I have tons of different brands of lenses! So i was wondering if the camera's now only work with the same brand lens, for instance Canon with Canon lenses or Nikon with Nikon lenses, etc.
Answer
No, there are still third party lens makers out there. SIgma, Tamron, and Tokina all make lenses for multiple mounts.
Even the lenses you have were not necessarily made by the company named on the lens... Sears is an example of a company that didn't actually make lenses, they paid companies like Cosina to make them and put the Sears name on them. That still goes on as well.
Depending on the lens mount of your gear, it may be possible to use it directly on a modern DSLR, or it may require an adapter to do so. If you can use it directly (Pentax K or Nikon F) then all you need is a camera. If your lenses use any other mount, like Canon FD or any maker that no longer exists (Konika for instance) then you are better off just getting new stuff. Sucks to buy all new gear when you have perfectly good old gear, but that's the breaks.
No, there are still third party lens makers out there. SIgma, Tamron, and Tokina all make lenses for multiple mounts.
Even the lenses you have were not necessarily made by the company named on the lens... Sears is an example of a company that didn't actually make lenses, they paid companies like Cosina to make them and put the Sears name on them. That still goes on as well.
Depending on the lens mount of your gear, it may be possible to use it directly on a modern DSLR, or it may require an adapter to do so. If you can use it directly (Pentax K or Nikon F) then all you need is a camera. If your lenses use any other mount, like Canon FD or any maker that no longer exists (Konika for instance) then you are better off just getting new stuff. Sucks to buy all new gear when you have perfectly good old gear, but that's the breaks.
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