Utilizing My Current Lenses or Invest in New System

[photogardener]

I have a Pentax 35 mm with various lenses (wide angle, telephoto, 2 x adapter and various filters) from a system I purchased several years ago. I want to go to a digital camera. These lenses are Vivitar, Cosmicar and Takamura. I am wondering if these lenses are still compatable with the Pentax Digitals and if so would they still be of the quality of today's lenses. Or would I be better off investing in another camera such as the Olympus EVOLT E330 and buying new lenses. Is there any other brand camera that these lenses are compatable with. I would like to stay under $600 for the camera body.

[SpecialK]

The Pentax K100D can be had for $400 or less (with USA rebate). It works (with various degrees of feature-compatibility) with all Pentax-mount lenses (adaptor required on screw-mount).

Don't know how good those lenses are, though. Remember the digital crop factor makes your wide lens not so wide, and the tele even longer. It's likely your current wide angle is a 28mm (popular film size) which would be equivalent to a 42mm on digital - nearly "normal". But, the 2-lens Evolt has a 2X crop factor, so the 14-40 is equivalent to a 28-80mm - still not especially wide.

[fionndruinne]

I don't know how good those lenses are either... but if you're happy with what they give you, I'd say staying with Pentax would be a good idea, and easier on the pocketbook. Take a look at the K100 (which, weirdly, runs on AA batteries, convenient and not-so-convenient at the same time), or if you'd like a higher-end piece of camera, try the K10D. That's a very nice, highly feature-ridden and well-built camera for a good price compared to Canon or Nikon.

[Paul79UF]

Don't feel like you are shackled to your current lenses. You could always sell them.

Check out what those lenses are selling on eBay using the "Advanced Search" and tick the "completed items" option.

[Rex914]

I think that investing in a cheaper Pentax (K100D) or the Nikon D40 would be a good idea. The D40 Kit can be had for well under $600.

Don't feel too much attachment to your current lenses though since they are probably on par with kit lenses at best, and probably worse since they are second or third rate third-party lenses from the look of it.

- Jon

[photogardener]

Appreciate comments so far regarding usage of my 35mm lenses on a DSLR camera body. I am researching and reading before I make an investment in a new camera body.
I have a Vivitar 5340s 5 mexapixel that I have taken pics with and like it as a quick carry all (light weight, takes fairly decent pics), but wanted to expand to interchangeable lenses. The thing I don't like about it is that it has to be constantly recharged after a short period of time. Is there a solution to this problem.