Sony DSLR-A330L, Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS, Nikon D3000

[jwcosta]

Thanks TCav. I understand....so no AE or AF...strictly manual....but conceivably I could use them?

[JimC]

Congrats. The T1i is a notch up from the entry level models you were looking at to begin with.

Here's an article on using Manual Focus lenses on a Canon EOS system body:

http://www.bobatkins.com/photography...focus_EOS.html

You'll need an adapter (look for FD to EOS body adapters) with optics in order to focus to infinity with your lenses (and the optics in the adapters will degrade image quality some). You'll usually see them with around 1.2x magnification (the adapter acts as a teleconverter). Most of the time, you can tell by the specs, and if not, make sure the photo of the adapter shows optical elements (as some are just adapters without any optics, and you will not get infinity focus with those).

These are relatively common, and some are better than others. Frankly, unless your lenses are *very* good, I'd suggest buying newer AF lenses instead, as you'll have better lens coatings for flare resistance, without the optical degradation and light loss you'll get using them via an adapter with optics in it to allow focus to infinity.

If you decide to get one anyway, you may want to consider one with AF confirmation ability. Basically, these types of adapters fool the camera into thinking you're using an AF lens in Manual Focus mode so you can get a focus confirmation when your subject is in focus when turning the focus ring.

Keep in mind that you don't have a split prism type focus screen in a dSLR. So, using manual focus can be difficult (since it can be very hard to tell if your subject is in focus via the viewfinder). Here's one example from a reputable Hong Kong based vendor.

http://www.gadgetinfinity.com/produc...2&cat=0&page=1

If you search for adapters at major vendors, you'll find plenty of them around. Here's an example of one without the focus confirmation feature. It's got optics to allow focus to infinity (in this case, acting as a 1.25x Teleconverter from what I can see of it's features page, which also means you'll have some light loss using it). Make sure any adapter you buy has optics and allows focus to infinity (unless you plan on sticking with closer subjects).

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...dapter_FD.html

[jwcosta]

Thanks Jim....VERY helpful. I will check it out. (By the way....love Savannah.....will be in Hilton Head next month)

[JimC]

I don't get there very often (Hilton Head), even though it's close by.

BTW, if you dig around on Ebay, you can find some more advanced AF Confirm adapters now, that let you program in the focal length and aperture info being reported to the camera. Here's one example I see, but I don't know anything about the vendor:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=370404689024

Search for FD to EOS AF Confirm, and you'll find more (and some are going to be more sophisticated than others, and some are not going to have optics in them, so check listings closely):

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=fd+...ter+af+confirm

But, unless they're *really* good lenses, I wouldn't bother, since you'll have some degradation using them with an adapter that allows focus to infinity, and most older lenses are very flare prone on digital cameras (because the coatings on their optics wasn't as good -- especially when the rear elements are not coated and reflect light from the camera's sensor, causing loss of contrast in harsher lighting).

[jwcosta]

Thanks so much, Jim....again very helpful.

[jwcosta]

to follow up on this thread from several months ago, I finally got my Sigma 70-200mm (Mark II) lens. can't wait to start using it for some sports shots!