Pentax lenses with a mirrorless camera

NickTent · 08-20-2018, 06:32 AM

Hello,

Not sure if this is the best group for my question so if it is not, please let me know.

I own a Pentax K-S2 and the following lenses:

Pentax DA 50mm f1.8
Pentax smc DA 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED WR
PENTAX-DA L 18-50mm F4-5.6 DC WR R
Pentax HD PENTAX DA 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR Lens
Pentax HD PENTAX-DA 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE Lens
Pentax smcP FA 31mm f/1.8 Limited Lens

I am thinking to buy a mirrorless camera and I would like to know if there is any mirrorless camera out there that can use the above Pentax lenses. I don’t want to, if I don’t have to , to buy new lenses.

Thank you for your time,

Nick

**UncleVanya** · 08-20-2018, 06:40 AM

You can definitely use some of them. The 18-50 won't work because the focus is done by wire. Almost all of the mirrorless mounts in theory could use these. Be sure to look for adapters that say DA and indicate they can open/close the aperture. You will no longer know exact aperture, these are typically stepless rings that slowly close and open the iris. Also manual focus is fiddly due to these being autofocus licenses they tend to lack finely dampened focus rings.

**pepperberry farm** · 08-20-2018, 06:42 AM

K-01 comes to mind...

antipattern · 08-20-2018, 06:44 AM

What system are you thinking of using? Depending on whether you are using micro four thirds, Sony APS-C, FF or Fuji you may be getting a different field of view from what youare used to now, an most of your lenses will not you be full frame compatible.

From the list of lenses that you provided, I think only the FA31 limited would be fully compatible, at the expense of autofocus and automatic aperture. But because it has a manual aperture ring, it can be stopped down even if the adapter does not provide aperture linkage.

The other lenses do not have an aperture ring, so in addition to being manual focus, you would need some sort of mechanism to control the aperture.

What is your appeal for mirrorless? Maybe the Pentax KP would be a good compromise in terms of size and feel?

NickTent · 08-20-2018, 06:48 AM

Originally posted by antipattern

What system are you thinking of using? Depending on whether you are using micro four thirds, Sony APS-C, FF or Fuji you may be getting a different field of view from what youare used to now, an most of your lenses will not you be full frame compatible.

From the list of lenses that you provided, I think only the FA31 limited would be fully compatible, at the expense of autofocus and automatic aperture. But because it has a manual aperture ring, it can be stopped down even if the adapter does not provide aperture linkage.

The other lenses do not have an aperture ring, so in addition to being manual focus, you would need some sort of mechanism to control the aperture.

What is your appeal for mirrorless? Maybe the Pentax KP would be a good compromise in terms of size and feel?

Hello,

I was thinking a Fuji or a Sony mirrorless. Not sure which one of the two. They seem to have good reviews.

Thank you!

**UncleVanya** · 08-20-2018, 07:03 AM

APSC I'll assume?

biz-engineer · 08-20-2018, 07:15 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by NickTent

I would like to know if there is any mirrorless camera out there that can use the above Pentax lenses

Yes, it's already there, you already have it when you activate live view. Mirrorless is nothing else but the live view mode on DSLR.

NickTent · 08-20-2018, 07:16 AM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

APSC I'll assume?

Yes, APSC!

Fogel70 · 08-20-2018, 07:19 AM

Originally posted by NickTent

Hello,

I was thinking a Fuji or a Sony mirrorless. Not sure which one of the two. They seem to have good reviews.

Thank you!

Why do you want to use these lenses on mirrorless?
On Fuji and Sony you will loose autofocus and on the lenses that lack aperture ring you will need an adapter that can manually control aperture, but that will be done without much control of which aperture size is set.

At least two of the lenses will not work at all, 18-50 and 55-300.

**UncleVanya** · 08-20-2018, 07:26 AM

Is the 55-300 also focus by wire?

NickTent · 08-20-2018, 07:35 AM

Originally posted by Fogel70

Why do you want to use these lenses on mirrorless?
On Fuji and Sony you will loose autofocus and on the lenses that lack aperture ring you will need an adapter that can manually control aperture, but that will be done without much control of which aperture size is set.

At least two of the lenses will not work at all, 18-50 and 55-300.

"Why do you want to use these lenses on mirrorless?"

I guess I wanted to save money from buying new lenses, but I don't know what the implications are and I am learning now, by asking the questions and grateful for all the answers the group provides!

Thank you,

Nick

**UncleVanya** · 08-20-2018, 07:39 AM

Originally posted by NickTent

"Why do you want to use these lenses on mirrorless?"

I guess I wanted to save money from buying new lenses, but I don't know what the implications are and I am learning now, by asking the questions and grateful for all the answers the group provides!

Thank you,

Nick

I tried that on my m43 system. It helped fill gaps to a degree. My approach still includes the this option but I rarely exercise it. My approach to m43 has been mainly to get high quality slow zooms and a few primes. It is not my primary system.

**boriscleto** · 08-20-2018, 07:57 AM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

Is the 55-300 also focus by wire?

It doesn't matter. It's KAF4, it has electromagnetic aperture...

D1N0 · 08-20-2018, 08:26 AM

The only one I would use on mirrorless of those lenses is the FA 31mm Ltd, since it has an aperture ring so you can manually set the aperture on the lens and it as a great lens. If you want to adapt lenses to mirrorless get some legacy non AF glass. Using and EVF for focussing it is the real advantage of mirrorless. The Sony a6500 has IBIS, so has the Fujifilm X-H1 (they are the more expensive models though). I don't see an added value of using the DA AF lenses on mirrorless, more hassle than it is worth. If you are switching you are better off selling the lot and getting some new glass.

**UncleVanya** · 08-20-2018, 09:42 AM

Originally posted by boriscleto

It doesn't matter. It's KAF4, it has electromagnetic aperture...

Is that always closed or always open? I think it is always closed right?

08-20-2018, 06:32 AM	#1
NickTent Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 46	Pentax lenses with a mirrorless camera Hello, Not sure if this is the best group for my question so if it is not, please let me know. I own a Pentax K-S2 and the following lenses: Pentax DA 50mm f1.8 Pentax smc DA 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED WR PENTAX-DA L 18-50mm F4-5.6 DC WR R Pentax HD PENTAX DA 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR Lens Pentax HD PENTAX-DA 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE Lens Pentax smcP FA 31mm f/1.8 Limited Lens I am thinking to buy a mirrorless camera and I would like to know if there is any mirrorless camera out there that can use the above Pentax lenses. I don’t want to, if I don’t have to , to buy new lenses. Thank you for your time, Nick

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08-20-2018, 06:40 AM	#2
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,401	You can definitely use some of them. The 18-50 won't work because the focus is done by wire. Almost all of the mirrorless mounts in theory could use these. Be sure to look for adapters that say DA and indicate they can open/close the aperture. You will no longer know exact aperture, these are typically stepless rings that slowly close and open the iris. Also manual focus is fiddly due to these being autofocus licenses they tend to lack finely dampened focus rings.

08-20-2018, 06:42 AM	#3
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,660	K-01 comes to mind...

08-20-2018, 06:44 AM	#4
antipattern Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Berlin, Germany Photos: Albums Posts: 232	What system are you thinking of using? Depending on whether you are using micro four thirds, Sony APS-C, FF or Fuji you may be getting a different field of view from what youare used to now, an most of your lenses will not you be full frame compatible. From the list of lenses that you provided, I think only the FA31 limited would be fully compatible, at the expense of autofocus and automatic aperture. But because it has a manual aperture ring, it can be stopped down even if the adapter does not provide aperture linkage. The other lenses do not have an aperture ring, so in addition to being manual focus, you would need some sort of mechanism to control the aperture. What is your appeal for mirrorless? Maybe the Pentax KP would be a good compromise in terms of size and feel?

08-20-2018, 06:48 AM	#5
NickTent Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 46 Original Poster	Originally posted by antipattern What system are you thinking of using? Depending on whether you are using micro four thirds, Sony APS-C, FF or Fuji you may be getting a different field of view from what youare used to now, an most of your lenses will not you be full frame compatible. From the list of lenses that you provided, I think only the FA31 limited would be fully compatible, at the expense of autofocus and automatic aperture. But because it has a manual aperture ring, it can be stopped down even if the adapter does not provide aperture linkage. The other lenses do not have an aperture ring, so in addition to being manual focus, you would need some sort of mechanism to control the aperture. What is your appeal for mirrorless? Maybe the Pentax KP would be a good compromise in terms of size and feel? Hello, I was thinking a Fuji or a Sony mirrorless. Not sure which one of the two. They seem to have good reviews. Thank you!

08-20-2018, 07:03 AM	#6
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,401	APSC I'll assume?

08-20-2018, 07:15 AM - 1 Like	#7
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,231	Originally posted by NickTent I would like to know if there is any mirrorless camera out there that can use the above Pentax lenses Yes, it's already there, you already have it when you activate live view. Mirrorless is nothing else but the live view mode on DSLR.

08-20-2018, 07:16 AM	#8
NickTent Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 46 Original Poster	Originally posted by UncleVanya APSC I'll assume? Yes, APSC!

08-20-2018, 07:19 AM	#9
Fogel70 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Photos: Albums Posts: 3,062	Originally posted by NickTent Hello, I was thinking a Fuji or a Sony mirrorless. Not sure which one of the two. They seem to have good reviews. Thank you! Why do you want to use these lenses on mirrorless? On Fuji and Sony you will loose autofocus and on the lenses that lack aperture ring you will need an adapter that can manually control aperture, but that will be done without much control of which aperture size is set. At least two of the lenses will not work at all, 18-50 and 55-300.

08-20-2018, 07:26 AM	#10
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,401	Is the 55-300 also focus by wire?

08-20-2018, 07:35 AM	#11
NickTent Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 46 Original Poster	Originally posted by Fogel70 Why do you want to use these lenses on mirrorless? On Fuji and Sony you will loose autofocus and on the lenses that lack aperture ring you will need an adapter that can manually control aperture, but that will be done without much control of which aperture size is set. At least two of the lenses will not work at all, 18-50 and 55-300. "Why do you want to use these lenses on mirrorless?" I guess I wanted to save money from buying new lenses, but I don't know what the implications are and I am learning now, by asking the questions and grateful for all the answers the group provides! Thank you, Nick

08-20-2018, 07:39 AM	#12
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,401	Originally posted by NickTent "Why do you want to use these lenses on mirrorless?" I guess I wanted to save money from buying new lenses, but I don't know what the implications are and I am learning now, by asking the questions and grateful for all the answers the group provides! Thank you, Nick I tried that on my m43 system. It helped fill gaps to a degree. My approach still includes the this option but I rarely exercise it. My approach to m43 has been mainly to get high quality slow zooms and a few primes. It is not my primary system.

08-20-2018, 07:57 AM	#13
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by UncleVanya Is the 55-300 also focus by wire? It doesn't matter. It's KAF4, it has electromagnetic aperture...

08-20-2018, 08:26 AM	#14
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	The only one I would use on mirrorless of those lenses is the FA 31mm Ltd, since it has an aperture ring so you can manually set the aperture on the lens and it as a great lens. If you want to adapt lenses to mirrorless get some legacy non AF glass. Using and EVF for focussing it is the real advantage of mirrorless. The Sony a6500 has IBIS, so has the Fujifilm X-H1 (they are the more expensive models though). I don't see an added value of using the DA AF lenses on mirrorless, more hassle than it is worth. If you are switching you are better off selling the lot and getting some new glass.

08-20-2018, 09:42 AM	#15
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,401	Originally posted by boriscleto It doesn't matter. It's KAF4, it has electromagnetic aperture... Is that always closed or always open? I think it is always closed right?