Which SLR lens mounts are most common, and is Pentax K-mount still a good long-term choice?
Asked 4/4/2013
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I’m starting film photography with a Pentax K1000 and an inexpensive K-mount lens. I’ve read that K-mount is still supported, but I’m trying to understand lens compatibility better before investing further.
For someone using film SLRs, which lens systems or mounts are the most widely used today? Are there one or two brands that dominate, and is Pentax K-mount still a practical system if I may want a better camera later?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
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Canon and Nikon currently produce the most lenses are are often referred to as the big two. This is just as true for digital and film lenses. Of the two, Nikon's mount is older, dating to 1959 before the invention of autofocus.
While Pentax currently produces a small lineup of lenses, however they have maintained backwards compatibility for lenses for a long time. This makes them an ideal choice for users who do not mind less modern lenses and looking from them on the used market. The mount shape and size have not changed since 1975.
The other is Sony which has never produced a film SLR but has acquired the Minolta mount when it acquired Konica-Minolta's camera business. Sony's defunct DSLR and their latest SLT cameras use the original Minolta AF bayonet mount. This one has a legacy of lenses dating back to 1985 when Minolta produced the first AF-capable DSLR.
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
13y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
There isn’t one single “canonical” lens system, but Canon and Nikon have historically been the biggest SLR lens ecosystems. Nikon in particular is notable for its very old F-mount, introduced in 1959, which gave it a long compatibility history across many film cameras and lenses.
Pentax K-mount is also a solid long-term choice for film use. Pentax has kept the K-mount physically consistent since 1975, and that backward compatibility is one of its strengths. While Pentax has a smaller current lens lineup than Canon or Nikon, there are many used K-mount lenses available, which makes it attractive for film shooters.
So if your priority is the broadest system, Canon and Nikon are the most common names. If your priority is affordable film gear with good backward compatibility, Pentax K-mount remains a practical and sensible system.
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