Article 4 of 4 in the Film Vs. Digital Series

Back to the headline, YES, you can use film lenses on digital cameras, and they do offer some advantages!

The biggest advantage is sharpness. It’s not that the lens properties magically change under some digital potteresque spell. Rather, the advantage is (again) a product of the small size of digital image sensors. Since inexpensive film lenses often lose sharpness at the edges of their image area, the pictures they produce on film cameras cannot match that of higher-end lenses with edge-to-edge sharpness.

Most digital format sensors — with the exception of full-frame DSLRs – unknowingly take advantage of this because they use only the center portion of the film lens’ image (often the sharpest part of a lens). 

The downside is that film lenses are often much larger and heavier than their digital-specific counterparts, making them a chore to carry when roaming around. There are some great inexpensive film lenses aimed at the entry-level market that shine on digital bodies, but be aware that they are mostly made of plastic and may not stand up to the rigors of daily use and abuse.

The Good – On most digital bodys, inexpensive film lenses can offer quality far beyond their price range.
The Bad – Good film lenses can be big and bulky when compared to their digital counterparts (but then again, we’re talking about using cheap plastic flim lenses on digitals now, aren’t we?)

Ready to go out and shoot like a pro? Try on some of the articles in the Advanced Technique section!

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