Can I use my DA lenses with a Pentax film SLR?

[Ole]

Yes and no.
Yes: The lenses can be used in Tv and P mode on cameras with these modes (e.g. ZX-5N). The lenses can be used in all available exposure modes on cameras which do not require the lens to have an aperture ring (such as the *ist).
No: The lens does not cover the full 24 x 36 frame. Only approximately 24 x 24 mm will be exposed correctly. Some sources say that the DA 16-45 mm will cover all of the 24 x 36 mm frame from the 24 mm zoom setting up to 45mm.

[clm]

According to users on dpreview forum. Some speculate that it is the same optical design as the old M 40 pancake lens.

[Adam]

Heh, I've tested that myself on a film camera.

The DA 40mm Limited pancake works on both film and digital- with and without the lens hood

The optics are identical to the M version- I happen to have both. However, I don't think this applies to any other DA lens.

[bobbyfuego]

Some of them are anonced "Not suitable for 35mm film SLR cameras", maybe becouse their rear lens group is going more further into the body and may crash with the larger film body mirror!

this is about the DA-21 3.2 Limited and DA 10-17 3.5-4.5 fish-eye zoom

the rest lenses will do fine (my guess)

[PentaxFan]

Will be interesting to see the results of my Pentax MZ-7 SLR with my SMC Pentax-DA 18-55mm lens. Operationally, the two are working together, and I wonder what results I get when I process the film?

Fingers Crossed ;-)

[hinman]

Originally Posted by Ole

Yes and no.
Yes: The lenses can be used in Tv and P mode on cameras with these modes (e.g. ZX-5N). The lenses can be used in all available exposure modes on cameras which do not require the lens to have an aperture ring (such as the *ist).
No: The lens does not cover the full 24 x 36 frame. Only approximately 24 x 24 mm will be exposed correctly. Some sources say that the DA 16-45 mm will cover all of the 24 x 36 mm frame from the 24 mm zoom setting up to 45mm.

I have not tried to put my DA 50-200 on my film bodies wiht pz-1, p3n and p5. Can anyone clue me in what will happen as to the pictures, does it mean that I get some areas not metered/focusing correctly. I am new to the idea of using DA lens on film bodies which is not advertised.

Thanks,
Hin

[hinman]

Originally Posted by PentaxFan

Will be interesting to see the results of my Pentax MZ-7 SLR with my SMC Pentax-DA 18-55mm lens. Operationally, the two are working together, and I wonder what results I get when I process the film?

Fingers Crossed ;-)

I have that same very question. If my DA 18-55 really works on the 18mm on my pz-1, p3n and p5 film bodies, it is a great keeper without the crop factor on the film bodies. Anyone who have tried DA 18-55 on a film bodies, please clue me in before I try my 1st roll of film.

Thanks,
Hin

[pentkon52]

I have not tried any of my Pentax DA lenses, but two years ago i put my SIgma 10-20 on my Nikon F90X and shot a roll of B&W .

Lovely black oval ring around each shot, short of like a built in matte.

Dave

[AndrewG NY]

The MZ-7 can control the aperture fully as unlike MZ-5 it doesn't require an aperture ring.

Depending on the focal length you'll get varying degrees of mechanical vignetting (black corners) that you'll even be able to see in the viewfinder. The 18-55 should be somewhat usable > mid 20's (?). The 50-200 will likely vignette a little at the longest and shortest portions of the zoom range. The vignetting will likely be even worse than it appears as the viewfinder offers imcomplete coverage (~92%?).

My understanding is that the DA40 and DA70 are more-or-less fully compatible with film bodies that don't require aperture rings. Maybe they should have been called "FA-J Limited"!

[hinman]

Originally Posted by hinman

I have that same very question. If my DA 18-55 really works on the 18mm on my pz-1, p3n and p5 film bodies, it is a great keeper without the crop factor on the film bodies. Anyone who have tried DA 18-55 on a film bodies, please clue me in before I try my 1st roll of film.

Thanks,
Hin

I just tried to put my DA 18-55 in my Pentax pz-1. The autofocus and auto meter seems to work but at 18mm to about 23mm, the viewfinder shows a cirular pattern with corners not being projected onto the image, I think. But from 24mm to 55mm, the thing seem to show no sign of problems in focusing. I have yet to confirm on the metering and the final test on a roll of film picture. The lens in 24mm is wonderful on the pz-1 body or any K mount bodies that support FA-J kind of lens. I am new and I may be misleading others, please correct my mistakes if you have experience in using film camera with DA 18-55 or other DA lens without the aperture ring.

Thanks,
Hin

[Busiko]

Originally Posted by hinman

I have that same very question. If my DA 18-55 really works on the 18mm on my pz-1, p3n and p5 film bodies, it is a great keeper without the crop factor on the film bodies. Anyone who have tried DA 18-55 on a film bodies, please clue me in before I try my 1st roll of film.

Thanks,
Hin

The DA 18-55 will cause vignetting, but the FA-J 18-35 will not. It was designed for 35mm.

[Gruoso]

Originally Posted by hinman

I just tried to put my DA 18-55 in my Pentax pz-1. The autofocus and auto meter seems to work but at 18mm to about 23mm, the viewfinder shows a cirular pattern with corners not being projected onto the image, I think. But from 24mm to 55mm, the thing seem to show no sign of problems in focusing. I have yet to confirm on the metering and the final test on a roll of film picture. The lens in 24mm is wonderful on the pz-1 body or any K mount bodies that support FA-J kind of lens. I am new and I may be misleading others, please correct my mistakes if you have experience in using film camera with DA 18-55 or other DA lens without the aperture ring.

Thanks,
Hin

What you described here is pretty much what I read elsewhere about the kit lens and the 16-45 so I dont think you are misleading anyone.

[Nesster]

I can confirm that the DA 70 works fine with a film body, no vignetting and seems sharp enough into the corners.

I also use the 16-45 with a film body. Vignetting starts around 22mm but IMHO is a plus. Using the shade causes vignetting earlier.

There is no problem with focus, and metering works beautifully, even at 16mm. I use a zx-10, and had the lens months before I had a dSLR.

[ricardobeat]

Originally Posted by hinman

I have that same very question. If my DA 18-55 really works on the 18mm on my pz-1, p3n and p5 film bodies, it is a great keeper without the crop factor on the film bodies. Anyone who have tried DA 18-55 on a film bodies, please clue me in before I try my 1st roll of film.

Thanks,
Hin

I've tried both the 18-55, 50-200 and sigma 10-20. They all vignette severly, and from I what I noted you end up having the same FOV they give you on the crop sensor. Just as the field begins to widen (compared to the 1.5x crop), the corners turn black. So what you really get is the same size image from the digital sensor printed on film, with empty black space around it.

[zysgtc]

As mentioned, DA 40 and DA70 work well with full-frame film bodies.