Buy new Digital SLR or re use Pentax K Mount Lens

[33q]

35 years ago I bought a Pentax ME Super and added a few Lenses etc

I've not touched the kit bag for years having used a Compact Digital or my iPhone

I'm totally new to this thread so go a little easy on me.

My question is...

Should I spend £350 to £500 on a new digital SLR to include wide angle and telephoto capability or should I buy a Digital SLR body and use my Pentax lenses?

And then ....what do I buy?

Thanks

[Whoozit]

First question is, what kind of photos do you want to take? Most modern digital cameras (whether DSLR or other) are pretty competent unless you are really pushing the envelope. Compared to film days, almost anything is more capable, even a small sensored compact.

[33q]

It needs to be an all rounder. I only want one camera.

I’d like to be able to take shots of distant landscapes. Eg stand on a hill and take in a detailed point that is not accessible

Cars....inside and outside at shows

Insects and birds etc in the garden

A few portrait shots

I do quite a bit of DIY and it would be good to record the build and share the results etc

A compact camera to put in my pocket would be great....if it takes good sharp photos

[RobDickinson]

You could buy a pentax dslr and reuse your lenses I think ( same mount).

But you would be at a disadvantage as the body would be an aps-c crop (1.5) so your focal lengths would be longer, they would all likely be manual focus (which sucks on dslr typically) and the lenses wont be 'designed for digital' which isnt just a marketing tag.

Any low end starter kit will likely be better.

[Whoozit]

33q said:

A compact camera to put in my pocket would be great....if it takes good sharp photos

Then the usual answer on the forum is a Sony RX100. I have one. It takes great photos although is a bit fiddly.

[33q]

Many thanks

I'm going to Jessops on Thursday....I'd like to handle them

[Whoozit]

33q said:

Many thanks

I'm going to Jessops on Thursday....I'd like to handle them

Good idea. Don't be put off by the tiny form factor. Used with care, they take extremely credible shots. Do a search on RX100 in this forum, there are a few threads discussing them.

[funinhounslow]

If your lenses have the Pentax K mount they will fit on any modern Pentax just fine.

The Pentax K-70 is £599 body only or possibly look at second hand.

This assumes you've built up a collection of Pentax lenses and as noted above don't mind manual focussing. If you're shooting mainly static subjects it shouldn't really be an issue.

[spangle82]

I think if you put a 35-year old lens on a DSLR body it will say 'WTF is this? I cannot talk to this lens, it doesn't have enough contacts'.

Put the old kit on eBay and start again.

[33q]

I've decided to sell my Pentax kit and go for the Sony.

The Sony looks and feels good.

I now have to decide on which model. I keep dithering between the low and high end. I like the extra zoom of the £1150 model but like the price of the £450 one.

[Whoozit]

33q said:

I've decided to sell my Pentax kit and go for the Sony.

The Sony looks and feels good.

I now have to decide on which model. I keep dithering between the low and high end. I like the extra zoom of the £1150 model but like the price of the £450 one.

Can I suggest, buy the £450 one. If you decide it's too limiting, then sell to recoup (nearly) all of the price and buy the £1150 one second hand. You've captured the option value for free!