I've been around AK for some time, first time ever stopping by this forum...

I am looking at digital SLR cameras. I think they have finally come down far enough in cost that they fit my agenda. I like to take "real" photos, but the cost of film is crazy. I guess I always liked the SLR's because I like the lenses. I built telescopes when I was young and would KILLED for a CCD device like that. I want to find old telephoto lenses much like I search for old audio equipment.

I am looking for a great value in a decent unit. Used. So far, I have found:

Fuji Pro S3
D70 Nikon
Pentax K series

I have a decent Sigma / Pentax lens, though it is manual. I would be fine buying a body and finding lenses elsewhere.

Any recommendations?

I HATE the point-and-click cameras with the tiny lens. 12 Mpixels. Come on, above a couple of Mpixles the only thing that matters is the lens. I occasionally see old telephoto lenses around for insane cheap prices. ???. I know some of them are suitable for use on the new digitals. From what I have seen, the Pentax and Nikon cameras fit the old formats. Even if I had to go all manual (that is the way I learned to take pics), so what? I'd even like to hook one up to a telescope and laptop sometime. ???.

Add to that list a Nikon D50...

How difficult to integrate are "older" lenses? Is it worthwhile to use older lenses, or is it just wishful thinking? Can you really find useful discarded lenses? (I know my dad got rid of some lenses against my advice.) How does the auto-focus mechanism work? Is the motor on the lens or in the body?

Is the D50 unique in that it has a drive gear inside the body? Is that a big deal?

Thanks,

jocko

If it was me, I would go for a Pentax. There are literally thousands of Pentax lenses available for very good prices on fleabay, CL and other sources.
I got an adapter so I could use Pentax lenses on my E-300 Olympus DSLR.

ok. Thanks. Our old film camera was a Pentax, circa 1991. With the Sigma lens, it took remarkable photos. I was sold on the performance.

Is there something to the idea that Nikon is well-known and, therefore, going to be high priced? Used Nikon lenses seem to be worth a premium. Ditto any compatible-manufacturer set up for Nikon.

I have seen mucho lenses at the GW's over the past year or so. I never looked not knew enough to even try. That is about to change...

EDIT: The Pentax we have is a P30t. Lens is a Sigma 35-80 zoom. I guess that makes it a "KA" mount with "A" aperture setting. That means this lens can be used with a DSLR body? ???.

I wanted to go for a Pentax for my father but the price on the Sony A100 is hard to beat right now. We were very happy with its performance on vacation and do not have any regrets.

Pentax won it for me. Being able to use their lenses that where made way back when is amazing. Like have a 1200mm lens with a 3.0 f stop :D :D :D

Yea, I'm shopping for a Pentax on that certain auction site. Either the newer K100D or the older *ist series. There is no reason I cannot recycle the lens I already have. I'm a big fan of manual focus. Keep it cheap???

Well see what happens...

Get a D80 if you go Nikon. The CCD and autofocus system are out of the D200 and it has an internal AF motor which will open a larger range of AF lenses to you.

I wanted to go for a Pentax for my father but the price on the Sony A100 is hard to beat right now. We were very happy with its performance on vacation and do not have any regrets.

I've had a Sony A200 for about three weeks now, excellent camera. Accepts Minolta Lenses from the Maxxum series... I'm an old manual Minolta fan, so that was a selling point for me. :)

I bought a Pentax K100D today, on a BIN. Comes with a M42 adapter and a Mir 37mm lens. ???. I already have a Sigma 35-80mm. I should be busy for a while with that.

I bet a sunset shot with that Russian lens ought to be pretty cool...

I bought a Pentax K100D today, on a BIN. Comes with a M42 adapter and a Mir 37mm lens. ???. I already have a Sigma 35-80mm. I should be busy for a while with that.

I bet a sunset shot with that Russian lens ought to be pretty cool...

Good going jocko! I'm sure you will enjoy that camera. Now take some shots and post em here for us to see. :yes:

Do the older, manual focus lenses from an Olympus OM series work on the new Olympus DSLR cameras? I'd love to use my old OM lenses again.

Do the older, manual focus lenses from an Olympus OM series work on the new Olympus DSLR cameras? I'd love to use my old OM lenses again.

The consensus from what I was able to find is no. The most backward-compatible is Pentax. Next is a Nikon F Mount. I think. Wikipedia has a number of good articles on DSLR's, you can look up by brand. Also, there may be Olympus specific pages linked.

I think the DSLR's are going to be huge once people discover them as a reasonable cost. All those lens systems are going to be gold.

Well, I've done a bit of searching and Olympus does make an OM adapter:yes:, which unfortunately costs $99! :tears: Apparently they gave them away free with their first DSLRs, then realized they could make money off 'em. Apparently there are some Eastern European companies making an assortment of cross-brand adapters that bear looking into.

Looks like I'm in for some serious research into a D-body!:scratch2: Maybe I'll luck into a store sample closeout at Target, usually 60% off the clearance price when it's the last one available. The wife is a real bloodhound at finding these.:D

Glad I found this thread... first time I even knew this forum was in AK. Thanks.

Search Ebay for that adapter, you may find it cheaper.

On the other hand, you might be better off with a less-backwards-compatible brand... the old lenses will be much cheaper since they will be less in demand. That may work for you, score one killer lens for cheap you're way ahead of the $99.00 you spent on the adapter.

One thing you need to remember when moving from film SLR's to DSLR's is the difference in the size of the image senser. Nikon and Canon both have bodies that offer full frame image sensers. But these cameras bodys cost thousands of dollars. The remaining DSLR's on the market have smaller sensers than 35mm so there is a conversion factor you need to consider. Most are about 3/4 the size of 35mm, so if you put a 28mm lens on it, it would act like a 50mm. The DX lenses are also smaller and lighter weight. I have 2 main DX lenses for my D200. I use an 18 to 125 and a 100 to 300. I do use an old Nikon prime lens from time to time: an 85mm f1.8 that has a bukah to die for.