Can I Use Old Lenses w/Rebel XT?

I'm an amateur photographer and am considering buying a Canon Rebel XT 350D. I already own a Canon AE-1 35mm film SLR which includes a Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 lens and a Tamron SP 58mm 70-210mm f/3.5-4.32 AE TeleMacroZoom lens w?optional SP Flat Field Tamron 2X TeleConverter. Can these lenses be used with the Rebel XT. What would be required if I can do so? If I need an adapter between the FD to EF, where can I get it? Would this same adapter be suitable for use with the Tamron lens or would I need a different one? Should I consider these lenses in my decision to buy the Rebel? I'd sure like to hear the opinions of more experienced photographers. Should this affect my consideration whether to buy a Canon body only or a kit lens? How would you proceed? Thanks for any ideas you may have.

i don't know where to get the cconverter, but i asked the same question at a recent photography show in my area and this is what i was told:

~ef-fd converters cost around $175-$200
~no auto focus
~worth it if you have the money, as there are somme nice fd lenses out

i'm sorry i don't know where to get one. try ebay for cheaper prices? good luck!

I don't think having FD lenses should really factor into your consideration of purchasing an XT. Fact is, you're going to have to use manual focus and stop down metering. To get the real benefit of the EOS system, you'll need to purchase EF lenses. That you have the lenses, and can use them with a converter is nice, but I have a half a dozen FD lenses and have never used them with my EOS cameras just because it's just a hassle.

As to the adapter cost, the previous poster is about right. As far as availability goes, I would check on e-Bay, B&H Photo and KEH Photo (or a local Pro Photo Supply store). If your Tamron lens is in an FD mount, you shouldn't need an additional adapter.

Mark

The only influence you should let the FD lenses you have play on your decision in buying a DSLR is whether you think well of the company based on their preformanced and reliability. I came from FD to EF, and there are no adapters that will let you use your FD lenses directly, as designed, on the EOS cameras. There are adapters, but unless they contain a mini-teleconverter they will also serve as extension tubes, so you'll lose infinity focus, in addition to needing manual focus and stop-down metering. The adapters that permit focussing to infinity also act as teleconverters, on the order of 1.25x or so. So your lenses (even wides) become longer. They will already behave as longer lenses on the 350D because of the smaller sensor reducing the captured angle of view, so you're facing a double whammy on the wide end.

Thanks to all for your quick replies. Mark, Do I understand you correctly that if my Tamron has an FD mount, (It has an Adaptall 2 Mount, which I'm fairly certain is an FD mount. In fact, I have used the Tamron with my AE-1 in the past), then it will mount directly on the Rebel XT without any further adapter? That would be great! Would I loose any functionality with the Rebel XT by so doing?

I have not tried this converter, but it is much less than stated above. I think that I am getting one as I have so many great FD lenses and manual doesn't bother me. I have been into photography for about 42 years so you can guess I have done my share of manual focus.
http://www.adorama.com​/CZFDEOSA.html

I see it is only 39.95.

No, that's not what I meant at all. To mount an FD lens to an XT you need an EF to FD adapter. If your Tamron has and Adaptall 2 Mount which is an FD mount, you still need to use it with the EF to FD adapter with all the issues associated with that combination.

Sorry, I wish I could give you better news, but alas, it's not to be.

Mark

What Jon said! I just tried my FD 17mm f4 on my Rebel XT and the image quality was just terrible, aside from the hassle of stopped down metering. I was using the cheaper adapter, I don't know if there is a better (expensive) one.

What Doc said about the cost of an adapter being in the $40 range seems to bear out what I heard elsewhere, unless there are 2 versions of adapters - one more expensive than the other. I'd be curious why this would be so. Would the more expensive one ($175 - $200) offer any special benefit(s)? I also heard of (but have not yet checked them out myself) potential sites for adapters as follows:
www.cameraquest.com
www.tamron.com/lenses/​prod/adaptall_mounts.a​sp
www.a1.nl/phomepag/mar​kerink/mounts.htm
www.srbfilm.co.uk

Just get the EF lens, you'll be much happier with your new XT.

I agree with others, I would simply look at new lenses (in which case you could buy any DSLR system, gasp did I say you could look at a Noink.)

I have an AE-1 as well, the 50 1.8 is a nice built lens but nothing really special every AE-1 owner has one. You likely would be able to sell all the AE gear for one nice new lens for the Rebel XT. Or just keep the AE gear for fun but I never use mine anymore.

If cost is an issue in going digital I would look into the full line of 3rd party lenses from Sigma and others, you could pretty much get any SLR body you wanted provided Sigma had a lens for it too. A N* D50 or an original Rebel 300D is the cheapest way to go IMO.

You could duplicate, maybe even blow away the resolution you have now by getting a Rebel XT( or D50 if money is an issue), Sigma 30mm f1.4 DC and Sigma 50-200mm f4-5.6 DC lenses. (since consumer level DSLR have a smaller sensor then film the above lenses would match your current kit. However, I would likely replace the Sigma 50-200mm DC with a Canon 70-200mm f4L if you had the cash & went with another Canon system, results will blow your mind.

I'm convinced! Forget what I now have and start over! Sell off the old and put the proceeds towards new equipment. Thanks guys, for pointing out what should have been obvious from the beginning.

You could also remove the FD mount from your lens and install an EF mount. Or get your camera shop to do it. It will be a permanent conversion but you wont lose any usefullness.

Basically it is easy to adapt lenses from cameras that are thicker than the EOS. All you need is a ring that is the thickness of the difference. If you use lenses from shorter bodies like the Canon FD lenses you will only be able to focus on things within a couple of feet! you need to add an optical element to allow focusing beyond a couple of feet. This element will also increase the focal legnth ie 50mm becomes 80mm and cost you at least 1 f-stop.

This optical element needs to be very high quality if you are even gonna bother. Given an adapter price range of $39-200 I would assume you are paying for the quality...

Gram, welcome to the forum

READ THIS THREAD:
Using FD (and other) lenses on EOS bodies

It will answer most of your questions...
And forget about both the crappy 39.95 and the expensive (and unavailable) original Canon converters...

The EF 50/1.8 costs about 75$, a used 70-210/3.5-4.5 lens (if you really want to use this on the dslr, results won't be that great) will be about 200$.

Best regards,
Andy