Is there a way to use Film SLR lenses on a Digital SLR camera?

Question

I recently got a Digital SLR camera (Canon Rebel XT) and my dad has several good lenses for an older film-based SLR camera. The lenses are different in the fact that the old ones have 3 "blade" type metal pieces at the bottom instead of the relatively flat new lens. Is there something I can get to use the old lenses on my new camera? I really want to use that lens

Answer 1

Best the mounting issue previously mentioned, it will only work well, if the digital camera has a full frame sensor... meaning a sensor the same size as a 35mm negative. If not, what you'll get will be smaller than what you see.

Answer 2

If the old film-based SLR is a Canon the lens should be interchangeable, assuming the size of the lens are the same.  Otherwise you'd have to check if there's an adapter.

Answer 3

First, you must determine what brand of camera your dad's lenses were made for.

If they were for a Canon FD type mount (FTb, AE-1) then an adapter is required.

If the lenses were for a Minolta MC/MD mount (SRT-202, XG-9, XE-7, X-700) then you will need an adapter. This adapter can often be found on eBay.

If the lenses were for a Nikon there is an adapter to use them on your Canon DSLR.

Although there are adapters to allow the use of non-Canon EOS mount lenses, there are limitations you should be aware of.

1) Some of the lenses may not focus to infinity.

2) All of the ones using an adapter will have to be manually focused.

3) All of the lenses will require using "stop down" metering. What this means is that since there is no mechanical or electrical connection between camera and lens the aperture remains where you set it. If you're shooting wide-open (f1.4, 1.7) this isn't a problem - your viewfinder stays bright. If, however, you stop down for more depth of field (f5.6, f8, etc.) your viewfinder gets dark - making it difficult if not impossible to focus. So you focus wide-open and then stop down to the aperture you want, meter and take the picture.

There is a wealth of  information at:

http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/eos...

http://www.lordofthelens.net

Answer 4

Depends. If the lenses are EF, then you could use it with any EOS series of cameras (both digital and film). If those lenses were made for prior to EOS series (1987), like FD mount lenses, then you may not be able use them.

I would not attempt to mount the incompatible lenses, they might destroy the contacts on the body.

Checkout this beginner lens FAQs, it may be of some help

http://photonotes.org/articles/beginner-...

Answer 5

Not that i'm aware of. Most lenses will fit all cameras of the same brand, even if they're "old" or "film". If the lenses you are trying to use are Canon, then theoretically, they should work. I haven't seen or heard of anything that will convert lenses though, and I'm not sure one exists. Good luck!  

Answer 6

I don't think so.

Depending on the make- there might be some adapters you can buy, but don't hold your breath.

Answer 7

It definitely depends on the lens you're trying to use. What you're looking for is called a "lens to body adapter". Ideally, these are "passive"... no optics to reduce the quality of the lens. That's possible iif the flageback distance of your body is less than the flangeback distance expected with that lens. Otherwise, you won't be able to focus to infinity.

The Canon EOS lens mount is relatively wide and short, compared to other mounts. That means that, in theory, you have room for a small lens mount adapter without changing the focal plane (adding correction optics is likely to reduce the quality of the image.. a mechanical-only adapter will retain the full quality of the lens). The flangeback distance is 44mm on any EOS body, which is pretty short. There's a chart here:

http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/eos...

About the only lens you can't [still in theory] directly adapt is the older Canon lenses, the breech lock FD series, which is the line that preceeded the EF lens standard used on all EOS cameras (film or digital). A few other brands, like Minolta and Konica, not also be adapted. Nikon, Olympus OM,  Pentax, Leica, Contax, etc. can be adapted.

Now, of course, you are on full manual focus and aperture with a lens do adapted. That means, if you shoot at f16, thing are getting really dark.

You can find some EOS adapters at various times on eBay (I have occasionally considered getting an Olympus OM adapter, I have far more lenses for my OM-1 and OM-4 than lenses for my Canon EOS Rt or Digital Rebel Xt), but haven't done it myself yet. Here are some available through a "normal" vendor:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/418/L...

http://www.rugift.com/photocameras/adapt...

Here's another one, specifically commenting on various Canon adapters:

http://www.cameraquest.com/frames/4saleR...

Answer 8

How old is "old"?

If they are FD mount, then not without a converter which would also decrease optical quality. Also while some old lenses are still decent quality, most have been outclassed by newer versions with improved technology.