where there’s smoke there’s forum fire
I've searched the forum and I've searched the Internet for information regarding crossing the line between camera makes and their respectable lenses and with which cameras they will work. For instance, what all lenses will work with Nikon digital SLRs? Will Konica lenses? I understand that adapters can be purchased, but does that go for all lenses? What about Canon lenses?
Sorry if the question isn't too direct or easily recognized, but thanks for your time. :)
Nikon's mount is smaller than Canon's so you can't use canon lenses on a nikon body in the normal way even with an adapter. The other way round works with an adapter (nikon lens, canon body).
There are actually three things to consider: optics, electronics and mechanics:
Optics: as you might know there are different size sensors on the market. Nikon has the DX and FX systems. If the lens you want to use is made for a smaller sensor you will get a more or less decreasing image quality at the edge of the image.
Electronics: different camera makers use different contacts and communication ways to control the lens (like aperture and focus). If a Nikon would tell a Canon lens to move the focus motor the Canon lens would not know what to do.
Mechanics: there is a property called "flange focal distance" that basically describes the distance from the mount to the sensor/film. Nikon uses a rather large one with 46.5 mm. Canon for example only has 44 mm. If you want to mount a Nikon lens on a Canon camera you have got 2.5 mm for the mechanical adaptor. The Canon lens on the other hand would have to be mounted inside the Nikon camera body.
Third party lens vendors like Sigma or Tokina usually make lenses for different camera systems, but once you bought a Canon one you will not be able to fit it onto a Nikon (because of the different mount and communication build into the lens). In manual focus days I once had a Tamron zoom where you could exchange the adaptor from Nikon to other systems, but these lenses did not need any electronics.
To make a long story short: if you plan to move from one camera maker to another you will need to buy new lenses as well.
Hope this helps
Thanks for your feedback, guys. I really appreciate it.
But to better clarify things, I'll explain the situation for which I asked:
Some "third party lens venders," as Correlli stated, make lenses that are cheaper than others, obviously. However, I'm not sure if the lens(es) will fit on my Nikon. Since I didn't know enough about adapters and such, I tried to do research but still came up short.
I guess to even further clarify things, I'll ask this:
Are adapters made for most/all lenses that would fit any/all cameras? Would Sigma make a lens and then make an adapter for said lens to fit Canon and an adapter for said lens to fit Nikon and so on and so forth for other cameras?
Sigma and Tamaron modify each of their lenses to work with Canon or Nikon respectively. They don't take an adapter, you purchase the type of lens you need for the camera you have. This allows the lens to work with the camera as the electrical connections match up and the lens action is reverse engineered to work the same as a Nikon lens.
I have never used either, only Nikkors, so not sure to what extent all functions still work. Checking out their websites would probably give you all the information you could ever hope for.
@jonathennn
For the main mounts (Nikon, Canon, Sony, Sigma, 4/3rds) the "3rd party lens makers" (Sigma, Tamron, Tokina) make lenses that fit and provide AF and other functionality provided you buy a lens that built for your camera. No Adapter needed.
In your first post it sounds like you have older lenses that you may want to use that are not Nikon?
All Nikon from the last 50 years lenses will mount. How they work, depends on your camera. If they are not Nikon and you are thinking of using an adapter, simply stated - forget it and go buy a new lens. :)
One exception: If you have great Leica or Zeiss glass, or are attaching Cine lenses for video, then spend the money for a good adapter.
Real good adapters from Novoflex run around $250 give or take the given mount. These are probably the best engineered pieces that are tested and matched to a lens and body for optimal usage. There are others that range from $15 to $200 and work ok, but have various drawbacks (like the lens will not close focus or focus to infinity, etc).
Generally unless you are just playing, or trying for a particular "look" like an old Diana or Lomo lens, I would stay away from them.
The problem with adapters is that they are like toys from a Crackerjack's box - you never know what you will get. I have used great $20 ones and really bad $150 ones. There is really no way to know until you try them or do allot of research.
I have canon fd and minolta Fd to nikon body and they work... I particularly like the minolta one as I can use my 50mm macro in addition to my micro nikkors with a different result...
OK, how does a Novoflex adapter work with a Zeiss - Distagon T* 28mm f/2.0 Lens with ZF.2 Mount for Nikon F Mount SLRs, onto a Fuji X Pro-1 or Fuji X-E1? Any thoughts?
jonathennn said:
Will Konica lenses?
I moved from Konica film SLRs to Nikon DSLR three years ago, and I can state for a fact that you cannot get Konica lenses onto the F-mount for one simple reason: The distance from the focal plane to the lens flange on a Konica is shorter than on the F-mount. Even if the adapter were paper-thin, the Konica lens would be too far away from the Nikon DSLR's focal plane to produce focus at infinity. It's a shame, because I have the wonderful Konica 57mm f/1.2 that is really a great lens.
If you are interested in the geometry of the F-mount, you will find the actual data on Pierre Toscani's website. If I link to it, it may be erased, but Pierre Toscani is easy to find on the web.
EDIT: I just realized that the thread is a year old, so this may no longer interest anyone . . . sorry.
I reopened the thread to get some idea if folks are using F mount lenses on the new mirrorless APS-C cameras with an adapter. The new Fujifilm X-E1 looks like a nice body, and I would like to get a Zeiss, F mount lens for not only my D4, but also if I decide to get the X-E1, for it as well.
I have been considering a tilt/shift adapter ( Perhaps Kipon Hasselblad V mount CF lens to Nikon F Tilt & Shift Adapter found on ebay) to get a cheap (??) tilt/shift set up for D800. I have the lenses so the only expense would be the adapter. Anyone tried this? Results? Any concerns to be aware of? Other tilt/shift adapters using Hasselblad lenses? thanks for any feedback.
msmoto said:
OK, how does a Novoflex adapter work with a Zeiss - Distagon T* 28mm f/2.0 Lens with ZF.2 Mount for Nikon F Mount SLRs, onto a Fuji X Pro-1 or Fuji X-E1? Any thoughts?
You might look around at Steve Huff's site and m4/3s, mirrorless sites. The overall opinion from most I read is that the Fuji glass is first rate and using 3rd party lenses with adapters don't work well unless on a tripod. Evidently the manual focus zoom isn't great and there isn't any confirmation. With the new firmware I'm not sure if that has improved.
@corbrax - there are a few threads on using TS adapters. Most everyone who commented on those are still active here. You might find some helpful info.
http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=5723
http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=145
http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=4197
Thanks, TTJ. I had missed those references. I PM'ed one of the members.
TTJ, thanks... hope you heard me honk about 10 days ago when I drove by on I-680....:-)
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