If you have an old slr camera that takes film, can you use the lenses on a digital slr?
Posted on Feb 28, 2010 under Digital news and reports |i have an old camera and would like to update to digital but would like to keep it as cost effective as possible. i have lenses and would love not to have to buy new ones
i have an old camera and would like to update to digital but would like to keep it as cost effective as possible. i have lenses and would love not to have to buy new ones. it is older than 25 years, its a cannon a1. its from the late 1970’s i believe
February 28th, 2010 at 10:18 am
Yes
However, you forgot to tell us what 35 mm system you have.
Unless your camera is less than 25 years old and is one of the currently produced camera systems
* Nikon
* Canon
* Pentax
* Olympus
* Sony (Minolta)
February 28th, 2010 at 10:18 am
The easiest way to find out is to take the old camera to a real independent camera shop (s) in your area and let them see if they sell digital bodies that would fit the lens you have. I know what you are going through. I have a digital nikon, and new lens are outta sight, even on ebay.
February 28th, 2010 at 10:18 am
The is yes but there are some conditions.
You may find depending on the generation of a lens and what DSLR camera that the lens will mount but that your meter does not work.
The first link I provided below is to photo.net which a large online photo community where you can find users of your brands and get more details. There are discussion forum where you can post messages and communicate.
I also added some place to check out for deals and some even have used or refurbished deals on DSLR cameras which can save you some money.
Hope this helps.
Mark
February 28th, 2010 at 10:18 am
You didn’t mention your brand or mount that would have made things easier.
SLR lenses are generally made to mount a specific camera body only. You normally have to stay within the brand to be safe unless you use third-party lenses which are specifically equipped with the mount your camera has. Add to that the modifications that camera manufacturers have done to improve their camera systems and you are no longer sure which can mount what even within the same brand.
Canon and Nikon has modified their mounts a few times so even if the lens physically fits, certain functions, auto or manual, may not work. Check very well before you proceed. There are many sites in the internet about this.
Olympus has abandoned their film SLR mount completely and so has a few other brands that went with the new four-thirds mount. They do have made adapters that would enable the use of older lenses on their new mount but to be sure, again, check the availability of such.
Minolta was acquired by Sony so if you have a box of Konica-Minolta lenses, Sony would be your route.
This is where Pentax excels. They have practically only changed their mount once from screw to bayonet and a simple and cheap adaptor will allow the Pentax screw mount lens to mount the Pentax (K) bayonet body. All functions of the old lens will work on the new digital body. Of course manual lenses will not autofocus but will gain focus confirmation. Old lenses can be metered so it can be used with aperture priority aside from full manual. Best of all shake reduction will also work even if the lens is forty years old.
There are adapters to allow some lenses to mount other systems. A good place to check is eBay. If it’s there, it exists!
February 28th, 2010 at 10:18 am
If you’d told us the make and model of your old camera this would be easier to answer.
Minolta.
When they introduced the world’s first full-featured auto focus 35mm SLR in 1985, the Minolta Maxxum 7000, they abandoned the "SR" lens mount for the "A" lens mount. Lenses for the older SRT and X series of cameras are not compatible with any current DSLR. The Maxxum "A" mount lenses can be used on the current Sony DSLR cameras. If you can find it there is an adapter to allow use of the "SR" mount lenses on an "A" mount DSLR.
Canon.
When they introduced their auto focus EOS Rebel in 1989 they abandoned the "FD" lens mount for the "EF" lens mount. Lenses for the older "FD" mount are not compatible with any current DSLR. Lenses from the Rebel series forward can be used on the current Canon DSLR cameras. Canon offered an adapter to allow use of "FD" mount lenses on the "EF" mount fiilm and digital cameras.
Olympus.
When they went digital Olympus adopted the 4/3 lens mount. Older "OM" mount lenses are not compatible with any current DSLR. They have since progressed to the Micro 4/3 lens mount. Olympus offered an adapter to allow use of the "OM" mount lenses on the 4/3 lens mount DSLRs and now offers an adapter to allow usage of the 4/3 mount lenses on a Micro 4/3 mount body.
Pentax and Nikon have been effectively discussed by other answers.
******** EDIT *******
Your Canon A1 uses the older "FD" lens mount.
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