I have a number of old film SLR cameras and this just caught my eye.

I’m wondering what others think of the idea.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c...3/utm_content/Retail

I'm confused.

Why would you want to put a digital back onto an old film camera?

If you want to use your old lenses, buy a lens adapter to fit it onto a digital camera.

If you want image quality, shooting actual film will be better than the 1/2.3" cmos sensor in that digital back.

If you want to save a few bucks but still get good pictures, buy a used DSLR or Mirroless-ILC with modern lenses, modern focusing and exposure readings.

There's nothing new about the idea, for a long time basically all medium format digital cameras were just medium format film cameras with digital backs.

I don't think there are really any upsides over a modern DSLR (besides just getting to use that old film camera that you love as a digital camera). The controls on the camera can't change any of the digital settings and the controls on the back can't change any of the camera settings. The viewfinder can't display any of the digital camera info (e.g., current ISO setting, shots remaining on the memory card, etc.).

Edit: seeing Aeteocles' post, I would skip it... The tiny sensor will give (relatively) poor performance and using a focusing screen to focus the full image frame onto the tiny sensor will degrade image quality.

quote:

Originally posted by maladat:
(besides just getting to use that old film camera that you love as a digital camera)

See: You understand.
Every time I go to the room where my Pentax LX bodies are stored, I hear them whimpering in the box. It’s enough break your heart.

Why not just shoot film then?

Because digital is so much more convenient.
Come on! This is not about logic and what makes sense.

I'm happy to be the voice of reason this time.

Buy it.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:

quote:

Originally posted by maladat:
(besides just getting to use that old film camera that you love as a digital camera)

See: You understand.
Every time I go to the room where my Pentax LX bodies are stored, I hear them whimpering in the box. It’s enough break your heart.

You should just shoot film then. Convert the film to digital when you get it developed. You can even get into medium format pretty cheaply like this.

The digital back is a clunky attachment that hangs out the back and onto the bottom.

Your old camera isn't going to handle like you remember it. With a 1/2.3" sensor and mediocre vintage glass, what's the point then?

Buy yourself a used Fuji XT-1 or Fuji XT-2 and call it a day. It's got all the manual controls engraved on metal dials and it's got an excellent built-in Classic Chrome color profile. The Fuji XF lenses are mostly all metal, high quality deals. All the nostalgia anyone needs.

If that's all there is to it, why not buy it and try it? That's chump change.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:

Every time I go to the room where my Pentax LX bodies are stored, I hear them whimpering in the box. It’s enough break your heart.

It was a sad day indeed when my last MX body died.

I paid more attention when shooting film. And, I really miss Kodachrome 25...

quote:

Originally posted by GaryBF:
If that's all there is to it, why not buy it and try it? That's chump change.

I think the digital back itself is $230, and the adapter plate for the individual camera is another $70.

$300 could be a fairly significant upgrade between camera bodies the next time he buys one.