Can I used my old manual lens on a Digital SLR?

Question

I am considering buying a Canon SLR towards the end of the yr...will any of my old manual SLR lens' be compatible with the digital SLRs that are made today?

If they don't fit on directly, can I buy an attachment? Seems like a waste to never use the macro, telephoto, wide angle ever again.

Answer 1

I assume that you have FD generation manual focus lenses. If you want to use them, you will need a FD to EOS adapter.

For Canon digital, you will find that the 35mm equivalent focal length is about 1.5 times the physical focal length. A 50mm normal lens will behave like a 75mm lens on a 35mm film camera. This is because the digital sensor is smaller than the 35mm film image size.

If you already have the lens, buying an adapter might be a good option if you are prepared to accept the limitations. It will certainly give you access to some good quality kit while you work out what new lenses you might want to acquire.

Answer 2

Any Canon lens made after 1986 will work. The older Canon lenses tend to be of much higher quality that the newer ones. The only time I would ever consider getting an adapter though is if you just happen to have an old 50mm F0.95. I believe that all the lenses after 86 are autofocus. Canon changed it's mount in 86 and really annoyed a lot of its customers that owned thousands of dollars worth of glass.

Answer 3

I just asked Pentax support the same question by email yesterday. Here is the reply:

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for contacting Pentax.

All Pentax 35mm lenses will work with the Pentax DSLRs.
Bayonet mount lenses work naturally, and without the purchase of any
adapters.
Older screw mount lenses will require the purchase of a Mount Adapter B
(Part#30120, approx. $30).

In the Menu under Custom Settings, set “Using Aperture Ring” to
“Permitted” for lenses that have aperture rings, when the aperture
ring is not in the “A” position.


If you are in need of further assistance, please respond to this email
or call our technical support center at 800-877-0155.

Sincerely,
Randy S.
Pentax Imaging Technical Support
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You might email Canon and ask. I am like you, I have a lot of lenses that will otherwise go to waste if I don't get a compatible DSLR. Good luck. I hope this helps.

Answer 4

Not likely they are two different technologies and it is probably time to give up th eold 35mm and move up in the world. It may be a little bit costly in the beginning for new equipment but it will be well worth it and more convenient. You'll see!!!

Answer 5

Even if you could get an adapter to use your 35mm lenses on your digital, using them would be difficult. The image forming surface in your digital camera is significantly smaller than the 35mm image, so your moderate or even normal 35mm lenses would be telephotos on your digital, and I mean huge telephotos. Use digital lenses with digital cameras.

Answer 6

No, you're old Canon lenses will not fit on a new Canon body, digital or film. When Canon introduced its new EOS camera bodies, the changed their mount.