p.1 #1 · Ever feel guilty "adapting" a classic lens?
There are so many interesting threads on this forum about using classic lenses on Canon cameras.
Recently I was surfing around a couple of other forums on other camera brand sites and noticed some posts on some surgically "altered" lenses so that they would mount on the 5D. Some of the responses were less than kind to the practice of taking a beloved brand of lens and "altering" it to fit a Canon body.
Which made me think a little... I am about to mount a Pentax Taumar 50/1.4 onto a 5D as soon as my blessed M42 adapter arrives. But I was considering doing a full "aperture leverectomy" snip on a classic (and rare) Pentax 50/1.2 lens.
So here is the question: does anyone feel bad about surgically altering a classic Minolta/Olympus/Pentax/Zeiss lens so it would work on your fancy Canon camera? Has anyone encountered a negative reaction from a Minolta/Olympus/Pentax/Zeiss devotee who was not as thrilled with your "conversion" as you were?
p.1 #3 · Ever feel guilty "adapting" a classic lens?
With in reason....
I recently acquired a rare Minolta 17mm f/4 lens in mint condition, with the intent of converting to EOS mount. Because of the mint condition status, I let it go to someone that could appreciate its value.
Then, you have the dead end lens lines that have no camera upgrade path, such as Minolta Rokkor series, Olympus, and especially the Canon FL and FD lines. As I said, except for the rare, mint lenses for collectors, adapting to EOS gives these lenses a new lease on life.
p.1 #5 · Ever feel guilty "adapting" a classic lens?
I don't feel guilty about it. None of these lenses are 'rare' in the true sense. Thousands were made of each and every type we are talking about here. So no, I don't feel guilty on that count. However when I've done modifications like on the 35 1.8 Rokkor, I've done my best to keep them reversible if possible. Sometimes it's just not possible, and that's ok too.
However , none of these are 'dead end'. Film camera bodies exist for basically all these lenses, so there's plenty of usage paths for them that choose to use them with film. Maybe if film was no longer available at all, then they could be considered dead-ended.
p.1 #8 · Ever feel guilty "adapting" a classic lens?
Interesting stuff. The guy that sold me my Takumar seemed pleased that this old lens was now embarking on a new image creating career.
But it is an interesting thought. For instance are Pentax users happy that the Canon "alternative" camp are driving up the prices of classic Pentax glass? Keep in mind that almost all Pentax lenses work in some fashion on the new digital Pentax bodies...
p.1 #9 · Ever feel guilty "adapting" a classic lens?
I have no problem removing the Pentax-K aperture control lever and shield from a valuable classic lens that I plan to use, like the SMCP 18/3.5 and SMCP 200/2.5, even though it's not reversible for these particular lenses. I don't do it until I've used the lens enough on a 1.6x crop factor body to be confident that I like it. I still use the 18/3.5, but I sold the 200/2.5 after comparing it with a Canon 135/2L and 1.4x Extender - the aperture leverectomy didn't hurt its market value one little bit.
p.1 #11 · Ever feel guilty "adapting" a classic lens?
PhotoMaximum wrote:
Interesting stuff. The guy that sold me my Takumar seemed pleased that this old lens was now embarking on a new image creating career.
But it is an interesting thought. For instance are Pentax users happy that the Canon "alternative" camp are driving up the prices of classic Pentax glass? Keep in mind that almost all Pentax lenses work in some fashion on the new digital Pentax bodies...
As a (former) Pentax user, doing it to A and later lenses is bloody annoying as it ruins them for use on Pentax bodies, however it's also usually reversible for those lenses if done right (and should be reversed before sale). However it actually improves things on pre-A lenses for use on DSLR's and I've done it myself to one K lens (A Vivitar 300/5.6) in order to make it usable on a K100D (Stuck aperture lever in this case, but it allows Aperture Priority at all apertures instead of just wide open).
Users of Pentax's film bodies would have issues though.
p.1 #18 · Ever feel guilty "adapting" a classic lens?
I have adapted/hacked at least a dozen lenses. I don't give a crap about nostalgia or keeping the lens original, but i do wish i didn't have to adapt anymore. Which is why i no longer shoot Canon, and i'm waiting/scrounging my pennies for a D700 to complement my FE2's and 6 Nikkors.
p.1 #19 · Ever feel guilty "adapting" a classic lens?
How sweet would that be if we could put sensors in our favorite MF cameras. If we could do that then I would feel guilty about all my Rokkor conversions.
