Lots of problems.
- How do you drive the older lenses mechanical linkages?
- More optics in the path means performance degradation.
- Reduced room for an adequate mirror, etc with the "new K" standard lenses.
He suggested changing the registration distance to more match the
smaller sensor. That's a good idea. Basically the "through" adapter is
like a K-mount teleconverter, but without any optics. It would probably
be about 1 cm thick. So:
- Don't lose the ability to drive older mechanical linkage lenses
- Have no additional optics in the path
- Possibly... I haven't thought completely through that part, but as a
knee-jerk it seems like it should work. Nothing magical about 35mm as an
SLR.
As I said before, I don't see the problem. An optical "wide converter" is a
bad idea. No, you won't get old and cheap lenses ... what you really need is
likely one-two lenses of shorter focal length compared to what you already
have in older K mount lenses, optimized for the digital sensor
characteristics and format.
/me is cheap. At this point, I can't/won't spend $500-$1000 for a
single prime lens when it took me years to build up to bying a DSLR. Best
bang for the buck right now is with old glass, so long as you're willing
to accept the workarounds it entails.
Unless you just revel in being obstinate about it, there's not much to argue
about. There's no better, realistic solution. DSLRs with the current sensor
are simply a different format and require lenses designed for them. Pentax
has done a fantastic job of compatibility with the existing lens line as it
is.
Godfrey
We'll agree to disagree then. :)
-Cory
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* Cory Papenfuss *
* Electrical Engineering candidate Ph.D. graduate student *
* Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University *
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