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SharkyCA · 09-01-2017, 11:17 AM

Hello all. Perhaps this forum may help me out, I have two 1970 ish Pentax SP cameras that have numerous lenses between them, screw mount and bayonet mount, can these antique lenses be used on the new digital format cameras? 42mm thread I believe, they are in storage and do not have access presently.

Thanks to anyone for their input.

photolady95 · 09-01-2017, 11:22 AM - **1 Like**

Every lens made for Pentax or by Pentax can be used on modern Pentax DSLRs. M42 requires a special adapter and the link below will help you understand better how to use M42 lenses.

Using Manual Lenses (M42 Screwmount, M , K) on Pentax DSLRs F-- - PentaxForums.com

SharkyCA · 09-01-2017, 11:27 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by photolady95

Every lens made for Pentax or by Pentax can be used on modern Pentax DSLRs. M42 requires a special adapter and the link below will help you understand better how to use M42 lenses.

Using Manual Lenses (M42 Screwmount, M , K) on Pentax DSLRs F-- - PentaxForums.com

Thanks very much for your quick reply photolady95! You have made my day!

photolady95 · 09-01-2017, 11:30 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by SharkyCA

Thanks very much for your quick reply photolady95! You have made my day!

Happy to help. Now you need to join here so you can talk to others who use M42 lenses.

noblepa · 09-01-2017, 12:53 PM - **1 Like**

I especially like using the 50mm, f/1.4 Super Takumar from my Spotmatic on my K10d.

Having cut my photographic teeth on a Spotmatic, manual focusing and stop-down metering don't bother me in the slightest.

**patrick9** · 09-01-2017, 07:31 PM - **1 Like**

On the bayonet mount lenses( I don't use any M42 mount lenses so not sure about this with them), you need to go into the camera's menu and select allow aperture ring. I am not sure why Pentax does it this way but they do. I use several old/ legacy glass on my DSLR's

**boriscleto** · 09-01-2017, 07:41 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by patrick9

On the bayonet mount lenses( I don't use any M42 mount lenses so not sure about this with them), you need to go into the camera's menu and select allow aperture ring. I am not sure why Pentax does it this way but they do. I use several old/ legacy glass on my DSLR's

When the *ist D was released it didn't allow for any manual lenses except A series lenses. The ability to use the aperture ring with stop down metering was added in a firmware update, and it's been required to change the setting ever since...

timw4mail · 09-02-2017, 07:54 AM

Originally posted by boriscleto

When the *ist D was released it didn't allow for any manual lenses except A series lenses. The ability to use the aperture ring with stop down metering was added in a firmware update, and it's been required to change the setting ever since...

I blame the ZX-50...as it was one of the first crippled mount cameras.

**boriscleto** · 09-02-2017, 08:01 AM

Originally posted by timw4mail

I blame the ZX-50...as it was one of the first crippled mount cameras.

I didn't mention the ZX-30/50/60 or *ist because they couldn't use the aperture ring at all...the *ist D could be updated to use the aperture ring, and was when it was clear there was a demand for it. It doesn't matter that it was dumb to keep the crippled mount on a flagship camera...

rjm007 · 09-03-2017, 09:52 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by SharkyCA

Hello all. Perhaps this forum may help me out, I have two 1970 ish Pentax SP cameras that have numerous lenses between them, screw mount and bayonet mount, can these antique lenses be used on the new digital format cameras? 42mm thread I believe, they are in storage and do not have access presently.

Thanks to anyone for their input.

And they can be used on many digital cameras with an adapter. I have a lot of Pentax lenses all being used on a Sony digital body.

normhead · 09-03-2017, 10:19 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by rjm007

And they can be used on many digital cameras with an adapter. I have a lot of Pentax lenses all being used on a Sony digital body.

With an M42 adapter there is really no advantage to using a pentax body with your M42 glass... except that overall Pentax has many more value options than Sony in legacy glass.. And as soon as you get into A lenses, then Pentax bodies have an advantage in ease of use.

opfor · 09-08-2017, 11:41 PM - **1 Like**

Some of the A lenses give great pics, I tend to pick them up whenever possible.
I started with an ME so I guess that I'm just showing my bias for the color and sharpness you can get with some of the old lenses...:-)

09-01-2017, 11:17 AM	#1
SharkyCA Guest	Old Pentax lens on a new digital format Hello all. Perhaps this forum may help me out, I have two 1970 ish Pentax SP cameras that have numerous lenses between them, screw mount and bayonet mount, can these antique lenses be used on the new digital format cameras? 42mm thread I believe, they are in storage and do not have access presently. Thanks to anyone for their input.

09-03-2017, 10:19 AM - 1 Like	#11
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by rjm007 And they can be used on many digital cameras with an adapter. I have a lot of Pentax lenses all being used on a Sony digital body. With an M42 adapter there is really no advantage to using a pentax body with your M42 glass... except that overall Pentax has many more value options than Sony in legacy glass.. And as soon as you get into A lenses, then Pentax bodies have an advantage in ease of use. Last edited by normhead; 09-03-2017 at 10:34 AM.

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09-01-2017, 11:22 AM - 1 Like	#2
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	Every lens made for Pentax or by Pentax can be used on modern Pentax DSLRs. M42 requires a special adapter and the link below will help you understand better how to use M42 lenses. Using Manual Lenses (M42 Screwmount, M , K) on Pentax DSLRs F-- - PentaxForums.com

09-01-2017, 11:27 AM - 1 Like	#3
SharkyCA Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Carleton Place, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 806	Originally posted by photolady95 Every lens made for Pentax or by Pentax can be used on modern Pentax DSLRs. M42 requires a special adapter and the link below will help you understand better how to use M42 lenses. Using Manual Lenses (M42 Screwmount, M , K) on Pentax DSLRs F-- - PentaxForums.com Thanks very much for your quick reply photolady95! You have made my day!

09-01-2017, 11:30 AM - 1 Like	#4
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	Originally posted by SharkyCA Thanks very much for your quick reply photolady95! You have made my day! Happy to help. Now you need to join here so you can talk to others who use M42 lenses.

09-01-2017, 12:53 PM - 1 Like	#5
noblepa Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bay Village, Ohio USA Posts: 1,142	I especially like using the 50mm, f/1.4 Super Takumar from my Spotmatic on my K10d. Having cut my photographic teeth on a Spotmatic, manual focusing and stop-down metering don't bother me in the slightest.

09-01-2017, 07:31 PM - 1 Like	#6
patrick9 Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Murfreesboro Tennessee Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,458	On the bayonet mount lenses( I don't use any M42 mount lenses so not sure about this with them), you need to go into the camera's menu and select allow aperture ring. I am not sure why Pentax does it this way but they do. I use several old/ legacy glass on my DSLR's

09-01-2017, 07:41 PM - 1 Like	#7
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,477	Originally posted by patrick9 On the bayonet mount lenses( I don't use any M42 mount lenses so not sure about this with them), you need to go into the camera's menu and select allow aperture ring. I am not sure why Pentax does it this way but they do. I use several old/ legacy glass on my DSLR's When the *ist D was released it didn't allow for any manual lenses except A series lenses. The ability to use the aperture ring with stop down metering was added in a firmware update, and it's been required to change the setting ever since...

09-02-2017, 07:54 AM	#8
timw4mail Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Driving a Mirage Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,670	Originally posted by boriscleto When the *ist D was released it didn't allow for any manual lenses except A series lenses. The ability to use the aperture ring with stop down metering was added in a firmware update, and it's been required to change the setting ever since... I blame the ZX-50...as it was one of the first crippled mount cameras.

09-02-2017, 08:01 AM	#9
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,477	Originally posted by timw4mail I blame the ZX-50...as it was one of the first crippled mount cameras. I didn't mention the ZX-30/50/60 or ist because they couldn't use the aperture ring at all...the ist D could be updated to use the aperture ring, and was when it was clear there was a demand for it. It doesn't matter that it was dumb to keep the crippled mount on a flagship camera...

09-03-2017, 09:52 AM - 1 Like	#10
rjm007 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Uxbridge UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 218	Originally posted by SharkyCA Hello all. Perhaps this forum may help me out, I have two 1970 ish Pentax SP cameras that have numerous lenses between them, screw mount and bayonet mount, can these antique lenses be used on the new digital format cameras? 42mm thread I believe, they are in storage and do not have access presently. Thanks to anyone for their input. And they can be used on many digital cameras with an adapter. I have a lot of Pentax lenses all being used on a Sony digital body.

09-08-2017, 11:41 PM - 1 Like	#12
opfor Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Oxford, UK Photos: Albums Posts: 276	Some of the A lenses give great pics, I tend to pick them up whenever possible. I started with an ME so I guess that I'm just showing my bias for the color and sharpness you can get with some of the old lenses...:-)

Old Pentax lens on a new digital format

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!