DKL: An Underrated Option

One thing I do love about the DKL lenses is that they have one of the longer flange focal distances of full-frame systems. Canon EF is already pretty forgiving (allowing M42, Pentax K, and more), but DKL lenses are among one of the other mounts it'll accept without a need for internal glass. The added bonus is that DKL lenses can also on Nikon F and Sony A bodies without the internal glass, which is a rarity for DSLR mounts.

We have a few lenses in our collection, and the 35mm f/2.8mm caught my eye. It's a good focal length for my D500 (a crop sensor camera), and it'll have a similar field of view to a 50mm. One thing I also love about the DKL lens is how compact it is. Even my Nikon 35mm f/1.8 DX (which I always considered pretty compact), seemed large compared to the DKL lens.

DKL lenses don't have their own aperture ring, and they default on their smallest aperture. Thankfully, our adapters allow for aperture control, so you can let in more light or make use of a more shallow depth of field. One thing to note, is that the aperture ring's f-stops correlate to the Schneider Kreuznach Retina Xenon 50mm f/1.9 lens. Actual f-stops may different when used with a different lens.

One thing to note is that the mirror on a DSLR may interfere with standard shooting. When a lens is focused at infinity, it's usually retracted as far as it can be, and that can mean a lens' rear element is sticking further back than what the camera can accept. Because of this, the mirror bumps into the rear element, and the full sensor cannot be used to capture an image. The best remedy is to pull back on the focus. With the 35mm lens, the rear element stopped clipping the mirror when set to the 3-meter mark (approximately).

It's always fun adapting vintage glass. There's a tactile touch about them, and the character to their optics is something we seldom see in modern lenses. When adapting lenses, I'll always recommend a mount that doesn't require internal glass for the lens to focus properly. Medium format glass usually fits the bill universally, but even some glass for full-frame systems is applicable, depending on the flange focal distance.