** Simon Ransome simon@nosher.net [2007-08-14 16:56]:
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Paul Tansom wrote:
Is any of your old Nikon kit compatible with the D40? Manual only focus lenses can be hard work.
** end quote [Tim Green] The answer to that is possibly, and I've not actually investigated further than that yet. Apparantly the issue is how far the lens protrudes into the camera body when focusing and zooming. The mount, as ever is compatible, although some features may not work. My understanding is that the main difference, apart from the physical side already mentioned, is that the focal length of the lens required for the equivalent magnification is different due to the differing size of the sensor compared to the 35mm film area.
In the case of Pentax cameras, the K mount has been fundamentally unchanged since it first appeared in the 1970s (obviously, subject to the backwards-compatible addition of auto-focus coupler and auto-aperture and ID electrical connections). In fact, on my fairly new K10D (and the *ist D that preceeded it) I still regularly use a 22-year-old f1.7 50mm and an f2.8 135mm - both completely manual lenses, and which the Pentax can still accurately expose for (admittedly this requires a pre-shot "stop-down" and is centre-spot only, but they're just fantastic lenses so it's worth the slight extra work). They're great for gig photography as they're so fast, and in that sort of environment, auto-focus is next to useless anyway :-)
It is my understanding that Pentax are the only dSLRs that can /truly/ use any lens in their /entire/ back-catalog, right back to screw-fit jobs, but that Canon and Nikon can use some intermediate age lenses - I think that their mounts have evolved somewhat, breaking true backwards compatibility.
OK, I'll have to go back and check, but I believe that the Nikon mount itself (as in the bayonet connection) hasn't changed since 1959, although in 1979 the AI lenses improved the metering information and control significantly. With a few exceptions pretty much all current Nikons will take AI and newer lenses with varying degrees of functionality for the metering (as you would expect with the advances in the technology). Some will also take pre-AI lenses (the D40 and D40x amongst others). As with all things there are no doubt exceptions to the rule, particularly if you take into account third party manufacturers. Mine are all post AI lenses and in most case AF-D, so should have no problems with the DSLR range unless there are clearance problems that I've heard mention of.
My old Zenith used to use the Pentax screw thread which was the pre K mount format, although I've no idea when they changed. My Dad has a Pentax autofocus SLR of some sort which he got when his Nikon FG20 was stolen. That's the only Nikon I've actually sold as it happens, although not the same one.
On the issue of focal lengths, the "standard" for dSLRs is the APS-C sensor (although there are some with 4/3rds and full-frame sensors). This is smaller than film and ends up giving a crop factor of about 1.5, which means that a 50mm lens on a dSLR becomes about the same as a 75mm lens on a 35mm film camera. However, this is *cropping*, and it does not actually alter the effective magnification of the lens. If you still like to use film cameras and swap lenses around, be aware that many lenses are now made specifically for dSLR cameras and produce a smaller image area (which matches the sensor). you cannot then use these lenses on a film camera, as they vignette around the corners.
Yup, I have a feeling my lazy wording was a mistake there, but it didn't seem worth the hassle of a full technical description when the effect on the print (pre optical or digital trickery) was what I was meaning :)
same time it felt so plasticy it seemed like a toy camera and I felt that if I dropped it it would shatter into tiny pieces. The Pentax and Canon cameras of the time felt pretty similar.
I certainly agree wrt. the Canons I've tried - the insanely popular 300D and 350Ds /still/ feel like plastic toys compare to my Pentaxes.
Yes, I seem to remember waivering on a Pentax when I added my F601 to my F301, but the ability to stick with the same lenses, all be it manual not autofocus, won the argument for the F601. The F70 was only added because my Sigma zoom broke just out of warranty and there was a far too tempting package offer on the F70 with the lens I needed at he time - I was also somewhat better funded than I am now!
wish it was lighter (although the bulk of carrying extra lenses is often the most annoying), I just like to feel something solid in my hands when I take a photo. Much as I like my little 5200 digital camera, I recently took my SLR out and enjoyed taking photos with them far more than the convenient, compact and perfectly good little digital - even though I only carried an equivalently ranged zoom on my bulky old SLR!
Too true. I've bought a couple of compacts with that "I'll take them with me all the time and use the dSLR for special occasions" mentality, but the difference between the two types is just too great, so I really do take my Lowepro Mini-Trekker AW, complete with 10-20mm, 15-30mm, 28-75mm, 135mm, 50mm, 300mm, mini tripod and Vivitar 285HV flash with me /everywhere/. It weighs a ton, but I wouldn't be without it.
I know the feeling, although I can't quote the Lowpro model of my camera back. I've taken recently to travelling light and just taking the camera and standard zoom in a Zing camera case - almost as convenient as a compact and more fun for me :)
Meanwhile, to add to the earlier part of this thread, I use Bibble Pro for photo manipulation (www.bibblelabs.com). Even though it's not free (at around $130 for the Pro version) and it's aimed at RAW processing (which I don't do much of), I still like it as it has a good workflow, some great tools and the licence allows you to run it on Linux, Mac and Windows (and even to be multiply installed, as long as you only run it one at a time). It's can also properly use dual core CPUs, which is nice as the Linux box I mostly use it on and the MacBook pro I use on the road are both such beasts. Sweet.
Hmm, may have to take a look, although I'm saving my pennies for the camera at the moment :)
Anyway, heading a bit off topic now I guess! ** end quote [Simon Ransome]