[Recovered Thread: 97727]

[AJ50]

I would like to use my Pentax SMC manual lenses ona yet to be purchased DSLR,

but have been informed that the metering system will not workproperly and

I would have to use exposure compensation to getcorrect exposures.

Is this true, and if so why?Thanks.

[mtngal]

If you are getting a Pentax digital camera (like the *ist DS or DL), you won't have any problems or need to do any exposure compensation. I'm using K-mount lenses purchased with a ME film camera 25 years ago. All I do is put the camera on M mode, set the aperture on the lens, half-push the shutter, then push a button for the camera to meter (that temporarily stops down the lens so the camera can meter) and take the picture. No other adjustments for exposure required. I often wonder where this apparent myth comes from because it isn't true with the Pentax dSLRs.

[eric s]

It's probably mental transfer from Nikon.
On many of the older Nikon lenses you will loose metering if you put them on a modern DSLR.

Eric

[nlp239]

I have a 2x TC and the Flash will not shoot unless it is set to M - why do you thinks - Thanks

[DBB]

eric s wrote:

It's probably mental transfer from Nikon.
On many of the older Nikon lenses you will loose metering if you put them on a modern DSLR.

Eric

Not on the D2x, which allows manualy entering the specs of the lens...

Dave

[nlp239]

Not on the D2x, which allows manualy entering the specs of the lens..

Is that in reply to my problem? I don't understand the answer.

[Norm in Fujino]

AJ50 wrote:

I would like to use my Pentax SMC manual lenses ona yet to be purchased DSLR,

but have been informed that the metering system will not workproperly and

I would have to use exposure compensation to getcorrect exposures.

Is this true, and if so why?Thanks.

I don't know about Pentax SMC lenses, but I know adapters are available for Pentax K and M42 mount lenses for use on "four-thirds mount" cameras (Olympus/Panasonic/Leica 4/3 system). Exposure and focus are manual, but I don't recall hearing of any particular EC issues with any of the lenses used. Adapters are available for quite a wide range of legacy lenses out there. For more on the adapters, see for example Cameraquest. The adapters here aren't cheap, by the way ($175), but I've heard of cheaper ones out there as well.

[mtngal]

The nice thing about the Pentax dSLR cameras is that you don't need an adaptor for the K-mount lenses - my budget was used up just buying the camera kit, and having the ability to use a variety of zooms and prime lenses from my ME days was wonderful!

You would need an adaptor for the earlier screw mount lenses. I understand that (at least for Pentax cameras) you have to be careful with some of the third party adaptors - you could lose focus at infinity (the adaptor would work like an extension tube). I only have K-mount lenses, so haven't fully investigated using the earlier lenses.

[eric s]

DDB, while technically correct you didn't actually refute my statment at all. Rereading my statement I'll restate it to be more precise:

On Nikon DSLR cameras, when used with some of their older lenses, you will loose the more advanced metering modes (like 3D Matrix metering.)

{That is what I meant... but isn't really what I typed.}

No matter what you do to an older Nikon lens you can't make 3D Matrix Metering work on the D2x. (Well, ok. I've read that someone out there can rechip some lenses to make it work... but that is the exception, not the rule.)

The original question was about the "metering system" and not setting the aperture.

npl239,
What camera are you using? What flash? We can't answer without that info. You might just want to make your question a separate topic and add the extra detail there.

Eric