Pentax DSLR Lenses on Mirrorless Camera

[pistonheadforum]

Hello,

I'm getting back into photography having been out the game for a while.

I have a really old Pentax ist DS camera with a few prime and zoom lenses (maybe 4 in total). These use the K mount.

If I get a mirrorless camera (let's say a Fuji or an Olympus) can I just get a relativly cheap adapter to continue to use the old Pentax lenses?

Is it that simple or will there be complications?

I'm probably going to get a second hand camera as budget is a bit tight so would be buying something a good few years old from a reputable dealer. Any recomendations?

Thanks in advance.

Edited by pistonheadforum on Tuesday 16th July 10:32

[Tony1963]

I’d keep life simple:

Sell all the Pentax stuff, and buy a used body with a used lens or two.

If you tell us your budget, people might be able to provide help.

[pistonheadforum]

I guess the secondary question is - how much more of an upgrade is going from the Pentax ist DS to the 4 or 5 year old mirrorless camera? I feel as though 6M (the current Pentax) is nothing but do I really need more than that if just doing some hobby photography? I'm not sure I do.

The cheapest camera is the one you already have is what my budget brain is telling me.

Thanks in advance.

[Tony1963]

Again, what is your budget?

[Tony1963]

Ok, I’ll bite.

An almost 20 year old dSLR will probably be outclassed in every single department for image quality. Maybe if you’re only needing photos to show people on smartphones etc you’ll get away with it, but low-light performance has moved on enormously since that camera was launched, for example. I’ll put money on your photos shot at ISO 1,000 being very noisy and almost unusable.

[silentbrown]

Buying secondhand...

WEX, Gray of Westminster and MPB have all been good for me.

Selling: MPB is very straightforward, but you'll typically do a lot better on eBay.

I recently sold an old Nikon and a Panasomic Lumix. MPB offers were £190 and £90, eBay 'buy it now' sales went for £300 and £240. (fees and postage on those, but still a big improvement.)

Lens adapters:
Unless it's a really specialist lens I wouldn't bother. They'll add weight and bulk, and often give compromised or limited autofocus. At least buy a kit lens designed for your camera.

[pistonheadforum]

Tony1963 said:

Again, what is your budget?

Thanks - I don't really want to spend much - maybe £350 or so on a second hand - would rather save the money and get a Fuji X-T30 II which come in at around £899 with a lens kit.

Was trying to re-use as much as possible don't plan to sell the Pentax as it's not really worth it (it's pretty worthles) and can use it for a spare.

[pistonheadforum]

Thanks - looks like the Pentax and lenses are done and that I should just use them whilst saving up for something a bit more modern and it's own lenses.

[silentbrown]

pistonheadforum said:

I guess the secondary question is - how much more of an upgrade is going from the Pentax ist DS to the 4 or 5 year old mirrorless camera?

Serious question - why mirrorless? why not just a newer Pentax DSLR like a K70?

I've recently "sidegraded" from a D7100 to a D5600. Less 'pro', less weatherproof, but more compact, tiltable touchscreen, wireless controllable, etc. Works with my existing lenses.

[pistonheadforum]

silentbrown said:

Serious question - why mirrorless? why not just a newer Pentax DSLR like a K70?

I've recently "sidegraded" from a D7100 to a D5600. Less 'pro', less weatherproof, but more compact, tiltable touchscreen, wireless controllable, etc. Works with my existing lenses.

A good question! I was under the impression that the future was mirorless? Maybe not. I like the DSLR but would like something a bit lighter to carry around more.

[pistonheadforum]

I think Pentax are now the only folk making new DSLRs? I didn't want to get another Pentax just to use 4 lenses when the future has moved onto mirrorless.

I'd like a camera that's a bit more portable whilst still having a retro style about it. Having no experience of using a EVF I think I would prefer an optical viewfinder but I believe the EVF is more practical and better for low light usage? I'm a bit concerned about the increase in battery life as the great thing about my current camera is that it can take AAs in a pinch.

Thanks for all your assisance - genuinly unsure what to look at getting.

[Tony1963]

You’re in for a shock. I resisted mirrorless til last summer, and then took the plunge. Ok, it was latest gear etc, but there’s absolutely no way I’d want to use any dSLR now, the world has moved on, and in a massive way.

Take a look at used Pentax dSLRs from ten years or so ago on MPB etc. you’ll be surprised at what you can get, and you won’t lose much come resale time.

[droopsnoot]

I stuck with Pentax for my DSLR (a K-x) mainly so I could re-use all the lenses from my Pentax film cameras, though I must say I've probably replaced all of them with auto-focus and/or just better lenses. It's nice to be able to pick up a PK or M42 lens and have it just work, though. I've considered upgrading my Kx as it's getting on a bit, but I just consider how little of it's features I've actually used, and how I mainly post stuff on the net after resizing it down to 1024 or 1480 wide. I can't quite convince myself to spend a lot, though a used one from a few generations newer might be a bargain.

[Tony1963]

It’s worth bearing in mind that your past use of a camera is no guide as to what you’ll use a newer one for in the future.
Since last summer I’ve been hooked on bird photography and haven’t bothered with motorsport. Thats a complete turnaround. Ok, it’s not entirely due to the change from clunky mirror to silent electronic shutter and live-view in an awesome viewfinder, but it has helped.

[silentbrown]

Tony1963 said:

It’s worth bearing in mind that your past use of a camera is no guide as to what you’ll use a newer one for in the future.
Since last summer I’ve been hooked on bird photography and haven’t bothered with motorsport. Thats a complete turnaround. Ok, it’s not entirely due to the change from clunky mirror to silent electronic shutter and live-view in an awesome viewfinder, but it has helped.

Interesting. I'm doing a bit of that, but use wifi remote on my D5600. Couldn't have easily done that on the old one.

[droopsnoot]

Tony1963 said:

It’s worth bearing in mind that your past use of a camera is no guide as to what you’ll use a newer one for in the future.

True enough. One of the other reasons I haven't spent money on a better / newer camera is because I'm finding that I use it less and less. If it's something like a classic car show where everything is parked, I take very few photos and the camera phone is plenty good enough.