SLR lens-digital camera

[nelsh]

I am an older guy on a rather limited income. Before the digital age really took off, I owned a Ricoh SLR with several lenses. I have played with graphic image manipulation programs, which are exciting, but, above all else, I long to wed that capability with a through the lens photo taking experience.

Last night, I took my long lens into the local Walmart, and tried to fit it to the Nikon 3000 body on display. Of course, I was disappointed. But, then looking on the internet, I am encourage. Your group leads me to suspect that there are digital cameras out there that will mount a lens: “K” type bayonet with 65° rotating angle.*(Ricoh KR-5 Super manual)

Its it true that a digital camera, such as the K-x, will work with these old lenses?
By the way, the K-x is a little beyond what I wanted to spend, but from the few reviews I've glanced at, if I stretch myself a little, I'll probably be glad that I did. Providing I can use my old lenses.

[Transit]

Hi ,
Ricoh lenses will mount on the Pentax but may not come off !
see here. A pin gets stuck. This guy talks about related to the pentax K-x. The K-x is a wonderful camera at a bargain price. It will mount all those wonderful lenses Pentax has made for decades.

Pete

[snoid]

I use an old Sears KR mount my K7. Used on my K200 as well.
I did get it stuck on the K200. I had to use the thinnest shim stock I could buy to get it off.
You do need to remove the tiny pin from the back of the Ricoh type K mount.
It's an easy job to do. Google for the instructions.
You could even save the pin should you still want to use it in your KR-5.

[nelsh]

So it is possible, if the pin is removed? What would be disabled on my Ricoh, if I used the lense on that body, sans pin?
I assume there is a through the lens meter on the Sx that would still function with the Ricoh lens, enabling easy aperture and shutter speed setting?

By the way, Transit, the tutorial about cutting the pin off, which you directed me to, pictures the exact 60-300 mm Zoom that I own.

Are there capabilities of the camera I would be negating by using this lens?
How about getting into digital SLR with this confiruration, the Sx body and three Ricoh lenses that I have, 60-300, 50mm, and 28mm, with an eye towards possibly adding Pentax lenses at some future date?

[Transit]

No idea Mate,
http://www.theatreofnoise.com/2008/0...ras-ricoh.html
might have more clues. I just keep googling stuff like this.

This forum here is pretty quiet. You will find more traffic Here and Here and Here

Good luck.
Pete

[Transit]

Its it true that a digital camera, such as the K-x, will work with these old lenses?
By the way, the K-x is a little beyond what I wanted to spend, but from the few reviews I've glanced at, if I stretch myself a little, I'll probably be glad that I did. Providing I can use my old lenses.

Just a note on the K-x...

I bought my daughter one for Christmas and it is certainly measuring up to its top reviews.
So small, fast and sharp ! Having shake reduction in the body is a biggie as all your old glass will be stabilised. The high iso performance is amazing making low light work with fast lenses very achievable.
I see you were keen on digital editing, the K-x has some very useful onboard editing settings that are very configurable and accessible.
I have a lot of fun working out the best way to use old lenses.
Was great to use the very same Super Takumar 50mm f1.4 I learnt with in 1974.
Pete

[dave23]

Get a K-x and the very inexpensive-but-good DA18-55mm kit lens, and you're good to go.

[Krsto]

Get a K-x and the very inexpensive-but-good DA18-55mm kit lens, and you're good to go.

That's good to know something is out there but does anyone know of a lesser expensive body than the K-x? I have Pentax lense on a P30 I would like to put on a digital body. Is there a cross-reference for which digital bodies fit the old K Mount lenses?

[Photo-John]

That's good to know something is out there but does anyone know of a lesser expensive body than the K-x? I have Pentax lense on a P30 I would like to put on a digital body. Is there a cross-reference for which digital bodies fit the old K Mount lenses?

One of the great things about Pentax digital SLRs is they are all backwards-compatible with K-mount lenses. So any lenses you have for your P30 will work on any Pentax digital SLR.

[mattb]

Other options besides K-x for K mount bodies are: K20, K10, istD, K200, and K2000; I think that is all but like others have said any Pentax SLR body will fit.
As for the Ricoh pin, it's easy to remove. I have done the surgery myself on a Sears 135mm Macro and it took maybe 10 minutes. Not sure what that does to the original functionality on a Ricoh body though. It wouldn't be hard to put the pin back in either, but it's not something you'd want to do in the field.
I have had a K-x for a couple of years and like everyone says it's a great camera with really good high iso performance.