lens compatibilty

<totus_venustas.TakeThisOut@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1194153682.742995.266820@22g2000hsm.googlegroups.com...
> my question is i have a pentax ZX-L. it's an older film camera. it has
> the autofocus and all the fun stuff. i'm wondering if i can use this
> lens on a digital camera. i need to upgrade. nobody uses film anymore,
> that and it's getting rather expensive to get the film developed and
> get the prints and everything. i don't make much money, so i'm hoping
> i can save money by purchasing a digital camera without the lens and
> using the one i have on this camera. can anyone tell me if it will
> work?
>

If it is a Pentax K mount lens it will work fine on the new DSLRs from
Pentax. The only compatability issues are if the lens does not have all the
current devices in it there may be some functions that won't work. For
example you mentioned it is auto focus so you will still have auto focus.
But does it have an "A" position on the aperture ring. If not you will have
to set the f-stop manually for all photos and may have some problems with
the metering. If the camera does not have the chip (and contacts along the
mount) that reports the current focal length of the lens, this number will
not be available for recording in the EXIF data. But the lens will probably
work fine. Check the Pentax site for particulars. I do remember that there
were a few lenses that my Ist-DS would not use due to the lens mount
protruding too far into the body. But even my pure manual everything lenses
from the early 70s worked fine, tho most of the auto functions and many of
the metering processes were crippled.

So check the pentax web site and look at the manual for your particular
choice of camera body to make sure. But the vast majority of old Pentax
lenses will still work on the new cameras.

Randy
 >> Stay informed about: lens compatibilty 

The Pentax KX-L uses a KAF lens mount.
The Pentax dSLRs use the KAF2 mount.

You can look here
http://www.pentaximaging.com/products/cameras/lenses/compatability_chart.jsp
for more information.

But, if you get a pentax dSLR, odds are that your lens will work.
Don't forget about the crop factor. On the Pentax dSLRs it is 1.5. This
means that a 50mm lens will work like a 75mm lens on yor dSLR.

Gadi
<totus_venustas DeleteThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1194153682.742995.266820@22g2000hsm.googlegroups.com...
> my question is i have a pentax ZX-L. it's an older film camera. it has
> the autofocus and all the fun stuff. i'm wondering if i can use this
> lens on a digital camera. i need to upgrade. nobody uses film anymore,
> that and it's getting rather expensive to get the film developed and
> get the prints and everything. i don't make much money, so i'm hoping
> i can save money by purchasing a digital camera without the lens and
> using the one i have on this camera. can anyone tell me if it will
> work?
>
 >> Stay informed about: lens compatibilty 

On Sat, 03 Nov 2007 22:21:22 -0700, totus_venustas wrote:

> my question is i have a pentax ZX-L. it's an older film camera. it has
> the autofocus and all the fun stuff. i'm wondering if i can use this
> lens on a digital camera. i need to upgrade. nobody uses film anymore,
> that and it's getting rather expensive to get the film developed and
> get the prints and everything. i don't make much money, so i'm hoping
> i can save money by purchasing a digital camera without the lens and
> using the one i have on this camera. can anyone tell me if it will
> work?

No offense, but if you're low on finances, you might consider one of the
excellent EVF cameras on the market. You should be able to get a very nice
one for under $300 - and with a 10x or 18x zoom, you won't need additional
lenses. I'd suggest you check the Kodak online store for a refurb P series.
 >> Stay informed about: lens compatibilty