Can you attach a film camer lens to a digital slr

is there an adaptor? is it worth it? what are the pros and cons? I have a XSi and my father-in-law had a Canon zoom lens FD 70-210 1:4. I know nothing about this lens or what it can do. I do know it would not attach without something.

Another short answer here:
Yes, it can be done, but it is not worth the effort for FD lenses.

There are adapters for attaching FD lenses to EOS cameras. Is it worth it? That's up to you to decide. The adapter has a few downsides. For one there is a focal length multiplier and second it reduces the max aperture too.

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …BEOS_Lens_Adapt​er_FD.html

xarqi wrote in post #7471498
Another short answer here:
Yes, it can be done, but it is not worth the effort for FD lenses.

Qualifier: it's not worth using an optical adapter (simple adapter with optics), but some FD lenses might be worth modding to EF (i.e without an optical adapter, by physically modding the lens), but that takes some craftsmanship.

Other mounts are VERY easy to adapt to EF with a simple glass-free adapter. Popular ones include:
M42
OM
Leica-R
Nikon
Contax/Yashica
Pentax K

thank you all!!!! This is all a little overwhelming...and extremely intriguing. Love the camera just want to get some better long distance shots without breaking the bank.

The FD70-210 f/4 is a great lens. I still use mine from time to time with my AE-1. I shot with it on my 40D one day at a tennis event with an adaptor. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be (given the adaptor). With the 1.25x multiplier of the adaptor it becomes about a 87.5-250mm f/4.5 (maybe a f/5) on digital. The amount of light you lose isn't a big issue during the day, but at night its rough. You're better off getting a 55-250IS for your new camera and retiring the FD lens unless its an L and you intend to get it modified.

perryge wrote in post #7471527
Qualifier: it's not worth using an optical adapter (simple adapter with optics), but some FD lenses might be worth modding to EF (i.e without an optical adapter, by physically modding the lens), but that takes some craftsmanship.

Other mounts are VERY easy to adapt to EF with a simple glass-free adapter. Popular ones include:
M42
OM
Leica-R
Nikon
Contax/Yashica
Pentax K

Correct... M42 being probably the simplest, followed by Pentax K and Contax/Yashica. I have a minty fresh PK 50mm f/1.2 on its way. Can't wait to have DOF thin enough to only get HALF an eyeball

If the film camera is an old one (FD mount), the optical element discourages most users. If the film camera is one that was made in about the last 20 years, it is the EOS series and those EF lenses work directly and couple just fine with a modern Canon dSLR

mishymama wrote in post #7471451
is there an adaptor? is it worth it? what are the pros and cons? I have a XSi and my father-in-law had a Canon zoom lens FD 70-210 1:4. I know nothing about this lens or what it can do. I do know it would not attach without something.

Yes, you can get an adapter.

Firstly, it's worth mentioning that the EOS mount was devised prior to the Canon digital SLR bodies. Therefore, there are lenses available that will fit the digital EOS cameras with no adapters or modification. Those lenses were strictly for full-frame cameras, however, so consider the crop VS full-frame debate for the digital realm.

But as others have already mentioned, the prices and optical compromise may not be worth it. The FD-to-EOS adapters currently available range in quality from garbage to excellent, but knowing where they fall on the scale can be difficult to determine. Every time I see this issue brought up, the concensus seems to side with the Canon-made adapters, and because they are scarce, they command high prices. I've seen them sell for as much as $100 and more.

As others have also mentioned, there are other mount choices for adaptation, many of which are extremely inexpensive.
Of the mounts mentioned, I've been concentrating on the M42, which was popularized in the US by Pentax. Ironically, this mount is often referred to as the 'Pentax Universal' or 'Pentax screw-mount' type, even though it was not originally devised by Pentax. This mount was one of the mainstays of the industry for quite some time, and many OEM and third-party manufacturers catered to it. The result is that many high-quality lenses in this mount can be had for next to nothing, while much of that glass is still considered to be of top-notch performance today. In comparison to the FD-to-EOS mount adapters, the M42 adapters can be had for as little as $6 each.

In owning an EOS camera, you have great flexibility for using other-mount lenses on it, due to very low costs involved for simple non-optical adapters.

If you don't mind turning the focus ring manually, there's a lot of fine glass to be had on the cheap. The major tradeoff here is weight, especially with larger zoom-range lenses and those of around 300mm primes and longer, but the cost savings normally outweigh the old-school materials. Besides, these old beauties were made to last through a thermonuclear war in terms of build quality sometimes, so don't hesitate to give 'em a try.

Look to THIS SITE for in-depth information.

nureality wrote in post #7471997
Correct... M42 being probably the simplest, followed by Pentax K and Contax/Yashica...

Not necessarily. Some M42 mounts interfere with the mirror assembly on the 5D (The SMC Takumar 50/1.4 comes to mind), and some of the C/Y Zeiss lenses can also have some interference issues as well with the mirror and/or mirror box (28/2.8, 85/2.8, 21/2.8 for example). By far the easiest lenses to adapt for use are the Olympus OM...very simple adapter and no known interference issues of any kind, with any EOS body.

OP: Using the older MF lenses will require you to use stop-down metering when shooting. With the smaller viewfinder found on the Rebels and the xxD series of cameras, this can be a challenge when the light isn't so good. Also, you may need to upgrade your focusing screen as well. With few exceptions, many of these older lenses can be had for a very good price, and their IQ can compete very well with (and sometimes outperform) their modern-day counterparts.

argyle wrote in post #7472893
Not necessarily. Some M42 mounts interfere with the mirror assembly on the 5D (The SMC Takumar 50/1.4 comes to mind), and some of the C/Y Zeiss lenses can also have some interference issues as well with the mirror and/or mirror box (28/2.8, 85/2.8, 21/2.8 for example). By far the easiest lenses to adapt for use are the Olympus OM...very simple adapter and no known interference issues of any kind, with any EOS body.

OP: Using the older MF lenses will require you to use stop-down metering when shooting. With the smaller viewfinder found on the Rebels and the xxD series of cameras, this can be a challenge when the light isn't so good. Also, you may need to upgrade your focusing screen as well. With few exceptions, many of these older lenses can be had for a very good price, and their IQ can compete very well with (and sometimes outperform) their modern-day counterparts.

And the metering accuracy can very often be impaired when metering for the smaller apertures. Meter wide open and note the shutter speed. Then meter stopped down to f/8 or f/11 and note whether or not the shutter speed has changed EV exactly the same number of -EV of the aperture adjustment!