DSLR Question..

[Mojo]

Hello All.. :)

I have an unusual question to ask.. But maybe some of you guys have come across this and hopefully you can give me some advice..

I was thinking about buying a DSLR, the reason is that my little pocket cam is wrecked and i always fancied a DSLR.. Why not! :)

I actually fancied a Nikon and was considering a D5000 as a beginners choice.. However, was told that i should invest a bit more and buy a D90 as this will allow me to use all the lenses available and not be limited to ones with the AF motor built in the lens (as the D90 has the AF motor in it)..

All good then.. However, i do have an old 35mm SLR that belonged to my father and naturally became mine when he passed away (my sister wasn't bothered) and i had that for 23 years!! My dad has owned it from new in the eighties i think!!

Its a Canon AE-1 and i have 3 lenses for it a 28mm, 50mm and a 135mm lens.. They are completely manual (Focus and Aperture, etc..)..

Now, these lenses have the old FD mount, i found adapters on ebay that make these fit on Canon's newer EF mount type cameras.. Has anyone tried using an old lens with a newer camera in this arrangement?

I am not bothered about the auto functions, but if these lenses can fit and work well with newer camera, that will swing my preference to a Canon DSLR and in addition to the kit lenses, i will have 3 more lenses to play with if i need to..

Sorry for the long post, any comments would be much appreciated..:)

Thanks,

Mo

* Here's a link to 2 types of mount adapters, one has no correction lens and the other does.. (and i am confused to what the lens does, something to do with allowing infinity focus :confused:)

[url=http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Macro-FD-lens-EF-EOS-camera-adapter-no-glass-550D-5D-/180549495725?pt=UK_Photography_CameraLenses_Lens_caps_hoods_adaptors_ET&hash=item2a0996abad#ht_2213wt_913]Macro FD lens to EF EOS camera adapter no glass 550D 5D on eBay (end time 18-Sep-10 08:57:16 BST)[/url]

[url=http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-FD-Lens-Canon-EOS-EF-Mount-Adapter-Infinity-fo-/270608836845?pt=UK_Photography_CameraLenses_Lens_caps_hoods_adaptors_ET&hash=item3f018b28ed#ht_955wt_1139]Canon FD Lens to Canon EOS EF Mount Adapter Infinity fo on eBay (end time 15-Sep-10 05:18:58 BST)[/url]

[Mart61]

I have no experience with using adaptors. I'm a Nikon freak and, to the best of my knowledge, all Nikon lenses fit all Nikon cameras from just about time immemorial.

You are right to consider the Canon tho as it's one's collection of lenses that tends to make many DSLR users brand-loyal.

I do have a question tho. What quality are the lenses you have? Tell us a little more about them. What is their minimum aperture?

The only reason I ask is that some of the cheaper lenses are little more than a few quids worth of plastic and glass. However if the lenses are classics, you'd be nuts not to use them.

:D

[xygax]

I have to say teh D90 is superb... but its a £600 camera and then you will need a lens or two so it can work out as big bucks... but it doubles as a video camera.... there are those who will say the cannon is a better buy lenses probably bat bodys i dont think there is much in it... both have silightly different features but for me my D90 wasthe natural progression from a D50 that ws good also....

Steve

[Mojo]

Thanks for the quick replies guys :)

I have just dug out my lenses.. They are all Canon lenses and they go like this:

28 mm 1:2.8 S.C.
50 mm 1:1.4 S.S.C.
135 mm 1:3.5 S.S.C.

[Downdraft]

Bought myself an entry level D3000 back in May and I'm really pleased with it.
Now i'm no David Bailey but it does produce some lovely pictures and as luck would have it a friend had a spare 200mm lense that he has given me on a long term loan basis, so with that and the 55mm that it came with I have a choice depending on long distance or near shots.
For the money the outfit is excellent, included was the body, 55mm lense, battery, charger and a couple of optic protectors. All that for less than £450 retail and I got mine on a sale price for £299, well chuffed.

[Mart61]

Here's a few details on the lenses you have. Alas I don't think any of them are classics. Had they have been a bit faster (lower maximum aperture numbers) they would have been well worth using.

This is not to say that these are not good lenses tho. An f/1.4 50mm is a very fast lens, probably the fastest you will ever own.

[URL="http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/canon/fdresources/fdlenses/earlyfdlenses/28mmfd.htm#f2.8"]28 mm 1:2.8 S.C.[/URL]
[URL="http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/canon/fdresources/fdlenses/earlyfdlenses/50mmfd.htm#f1.4"]50 mm 1:1.4 S.S.C.[/URL]
[URL="http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/canon/fdresources/fdlenses/earlyfdlenses/100mmfd.htm#135mmf3.5"]135 mm 1:3.5 S.S.C. [/URL]

[Mojo]

Now that is a bargain Sean!! Can't go wrong with that !!

Martin.. Thank you very much for the link mate, i'll do a bit of reading and learn more about them and that would probably put me in a better position to make an informed decision..

[Mart61]

Tim's your man for advice on Canon gear tho.

I'm not gonna go down the Canon vs Nikon argument tho. They both make great cameras that have the ability to take great pics in the right hands.

It's all about personal taste. Whichever way you decide, do handle all of the cameras you have in mind. For me, the Canon that I tried just didn't feel right in my hands, whereas the Nikon did. It's a bit like the DX6i Vs DX7 debate. Forgetting the price difference, one just feels better in your mitts.

:D

[synergyn9]

Canon man myself Mo, but as Mart says it all comes down to what feels best to you

I've got a Canon 50D and love it, probably because it is reassuringly heavy

Trouble is I have been bitten by the 'L' lens bug which can lead to a serious outlay. Thinking of moving up to a full frame camera shorty, probably a Canon 5D Mk2.

Never thought I would enjoy photography so much but really getting into it. Just back from a week round the North East Coast and took some great landscape shots

[Tim Procter]

Remember Mo Canon has the more "MAN" appeal.:D


[img]http://www.zen118613.zen.co.uk/Various/sigmasterbl8.jpg[/img]

[SteveH39]

kin ell, that dude got some serious issues :)

not sure which is more disturbing tho, the image or the fact busterboy peruses such sites :)

[Mart61]

[quote=SteveH39;529982]not sure which is more disturbing tho, the image or the fact busterboy peruses such sites :)[/quote]

It's a self portrait, right Tim?

:D

[moyesboy]

Slightly off topic, but is there a decent value DSLR that will take my Pentex PK manual and auto lenses?

[trvo]

I personally use a Panasonic Lumix G1, it can take superb pics but the lenses are priced rather steep. If I was buying again I'd go for the Canon 40d for ease of use and cheap lens availability, the Nikon D90 has a lot of fans too but I've never used one...

Trev

[Mojo]

[quote=busterboy;529932]Remember Mo Canon has the more "MAN" appeal.:D


[img]http://www.zen118613.zen.co.uk/Various/sigmasterbl8.jpg[/img][/quote]
:smilielol5::smilielol5:

The Canon v Nikon debate is always entertaining :D