ddutchison
Well-known
I'll be buying a Nex soon and I'm wondering if any of the cheaper adapters (cheap -for me - being under $50) would be suitable if left semi-permanently on the lenses?
I anticipate using the Nex for most of my photography, so I'd prefer this route.
I anticipate using the Nex for most of my photography, so I'd prefer this route.
pvdhaar
Peter
I've been using a no-brand M-mount adapter on the NEX3 without problems for more than a year. That includes infinity focus and correct scale focusing as far as I can judge, and no wobbling. If there's any fault at all, it's that the mount is a tad tight on the M-mount side.
Tessar.
Established
I use cheap adapters and have found the Nikon S to Nex/Leica M to Nex/L39 to Nex to all be OK but I had to shim all of them to get infinity focus to match the infinity mark on the lens.
This is easy to do with a screwdriver and silver foil and a hobby knife. I found that the Nikon S adapter needed about 6 layers of foil to shim it enough to get infinity focus spot on.
I'm not convinced of the higher accuracy of the Voigtlander adapters as I've seen plenty of reports about needing to be shimmed.
This is easy to do with a screwdriver and silver foil and a hobby knife. I found that the Nikon S adapter needed about 6 layers of foil to shim it enough to get infinity focus spot on.
I'm not convinced of the higher accuracy of the Voigtlander adapters as I've seen plenty of reports about needing to be shimmed.
Ken Ford
Refuses to suffer fools
A question for people that have both cheap and more expensive adapters like the Novoflex...
I've noticed I can focus beyond infinity with my Rainbow OM to NEX adapter. It's still functional, but bins the ability to focus by the lens scale.
Are the more expensive adapters built to give true infinity focus with the lens is at infinity?
I've noticed I can focus beyond infinity with my Rainbow OM to NEX adapter. It's still functional, but bins the ability to focus by the lens scale.
Are the more expensive adapters built to give true infinity focus with the lens is at infinity?
bwcolor
Veteran
My Hawks Helical has true infinity. Also, have Fotodiox (C/Y) with true infinity, but first version that I had was awful... lots of lens play. Cowboy Studio Nikon adapter seems to have true infinity, but I returned my only Nikon lens to KEH..
GaryLH
Veteran
There is a lot of tolerance variation in the fotodiox line... I have one for m that is at infinity and another that is far off. In general, I think a lot of the the cheaper ones maybe off on infinity. It is the reality of how tight your manufacturing tolerances are versus cost...
In terms of a work around for the cheaper adapters, I take my most used lens and focus at infinity... Mark the focus point on the adapter as an adjusted index point. This is a pain, since the index point on the lens versus the new index point on the adapter is so far away from each other, but for zone focusing or hyper focus points it tends to work ok.
Gary
In terms of a work around for the cheaper adapters, I take my most used lens and focus at infinity... Mark the focus point on the adapter as an adjusted index point. This is a pain, since the index point on the lens versus the new index point on the adapter is so far away from each other, but for zone focusing or hyper focus points it tends to work ok.
Gary
ddutchison
Well-known
So where do you buy a Fotoflex adapter?
So where do you buy a Fotoflex adapter?
Ebay gives me nothing at all
Google just gives links to this, or similar, threads (though google seems to be getting less usefull on a daily basis)
If someone could please provide a link to these adapters I'd appreciate it, they seem to be highly regarded among the lower priced items.
So where do you buy a Fotoflex adapter?
Amazon gives me this: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/185-2453358-6454422?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=fotoflex
Ebay gives me nothing at all
Google just gives links to this, or similar, threads (though google seems to be getting less usefull on a daily basis)
If someone could please provide a link to these adapters I'd appreciate it, they seem to be highly regarded among the lower priced items.
Jim Evidon
Jim
I was in a hurry after buying my NEX5N for an upcoming trip and bought the Fotodiox because it shipped quicker and was cheaper. I read with some concern today about the generous tolerances that some have experienced.
First, after returning from the trip and looking at the shots with my Leica M lenses/Fotodiox adapter, I am wholly satisfied. I just measured the thickness of my Fotodiox adapter at several points around the mount with a precision caliper, and I could not discern any measurable variation in thickness. I expect that a higher precision electronic instrument would find micronic variations, but come on, how flat does flat have to be to get an acceptable image? It may be that another Fotodiox would not be as consistent, but I am satisfied. BTW, I also have the same brand for my 4/3 GF1/Nikon adapter, and it is just as consistent. Ditto with the Metabones M to 4/3's adapter although I find that the Metabones release is somewhat stiffer to operate than the Fotodiox which attaches and detaches with much less effort.
I'm sure that the Novoflex and Voightlander have a much better finish and are probably huskier, but I suppose that is what you pay for. Mine work, and that is the most that I can ask.
First, after returning from the trip and looking at the shots with my Leica M lenses/Fotodiox adapter, I am wholly satisfied. I just measured the thickness of my Fotodiox adapter at several points around the mount with a precision caliper, and I could not discern any measurable variation in thickness. I expect that a higher precision electronic instrument would find micronic variations, but come on, how flat does flat have to be to get an acceptable image? It may be that another Fotodiox would not be as consistent, but I am satisfied. BTW, I also have the same brand for my 4/3 GF1/Nikon adapter, and it is just as consistent. Ditto with the Metabones M to 4/3's adapter although I find that the Metabones release is somewhat stiffer to operate than the Fotodiox which attaches and detaches with much less effort.
I'm sure that the Novoflex and Voightlander have a much better finish and are probably huskier, but I suppose that is what you pay for. Mine work, and that is the most that I can ask.
douglasf13
Well-known
There really is no such thing as true infinity with all M lenses in actual use, unless you send all of your M lenses in to be calibrated, which is why most of the adapter makers leave some tolerance. For example, my first Hawk's adapter nailed infinity with a few of my lenses, and it didn't quite reach infinity with others. My newer, version II Hawk's adapter, as well as my Metabones and Voigtlander, focus past infinity with most of my lenses, and nail it with one or two of them.
Erwin Puts says that Zeiss calibrates their lenses to the front plane of the film, and Leica to the back, and, the potential of that combined with the varying differences in tolerances forces most adapter makers to leave a little slack so that infinity is guaranteed, at the potential cost of a little mfd lengthening.
Erwin Puts says that Zeiss calibrates their lenses to the front plane of the film, and Leica to the back, and, the potential of that combined with the varying differences in tolerances forces most adapter makers to leave a little slack so that infinity is guaranteed, at the potential cost of a little mfd lengthening.
I have the fotodiox pro ( whatever that means ) and it works like a charm.
This one is with the 15mm ZM
This one with the 50mm 1.5 ZM
This one is with the 15mm ZM
This one with the 50mm 1.5 ZM
laoyou
Member
Looks like my adapter has a similar design as yours. I was a bit disappointed by its looseness. After having done what you did it is now much tighter. Thanks for the tip.
dmcgoy
Newbie
Another easy fix is to apply aluminum tape (the stuff you use to tape ducts) to the adapter (or lens) if your adapter is a bit too narrow. You can further tweak with scotch tape. Every single (cheap) adapter I've used is focusing well after infinity (no doubt to avoid angry customers).
Manuphoto
Member
I've tried the three brands at my store. Fotodiox ain't reliable, I wouldn't true it. Voigltander M to E adapters are the best bang for the bucks. Novoflex are the best I've tried. But I'd go of the Voigtlander, $80 less than the Novo for 98% the same thing.
clear2000
Established
I have the Hawk Helicoid adapter and it's great. It's worth the money and it's made very well.
jim_buchanan
Established
I have a Metabones M to Sony NEX adapter.
I also have a few perfectly calibrated Leica M lenses. The Metabones adapter was slightly too thin, allowing my Leica M lenses to focus past infinity. I shimmed the adapter by about .004" and now is my reference adapter for proper register of Leica M lenses on the NEX cameras.
I also have a few perfectly calibrated Leica M lenses. The Metabones adapter was slightly too thin, allowing my Leica M lenses to focus past infinity. I shimmed the adapter by about .004" and now is my reference adapter for proper register of Leica M lenses on the NEX cameras.
Shac
Well-known
I have the voigtlander and the Hawks for leica M lenses. Both are excellent I cannot see how the Novoflex could be any better for 2x the price. The voigtlander is extremely well made and the Hawks is just great for close focus (and well made. I have Fotodiox for Leica R and Nikon F lenes and they worlk just fine. All allow infinity focus with no problems