Ricoh
Well-known
For old Ai and Ai-S
How difficult would it be to implement?
Mean a big difference to me.
Almost purchased, but stopped after reading a review by uncle Ken.
How difficult would it be to implement?
Mean a big difference to me.
Almost purchased, but stopped after reading a review by uncle Ken.
ruby.monkey
Veteran
No mirrorless camera offers auto diaphragm control of an adapted mechanical lens, and it's pointless on a camera that offers TTL live view anyway. You can work happily at taking aperture with all of them.
I mean, I'm sure it could have been implemented on the adaptor, but it's a pointless increase in cost and complexity given that a vanishingly-small portion of prospective buyers would demand it.
I mean, I'm sure it could have been implemented on the adaptor, but it's a pointless increase in cost and complexity given that a vanishingly-small portion of prospective buyers would demand it.
Ricoh
Well-known
Uncle Ken also mentions screen brightness jumping around; this with attempting to focus stopped down using peaking. I’m coming at this from SLRs and RFs, but I have experience with MFT, and that experience says native electronic lenses work best on my EM5 Mk1.
ruby.monkey
Veteran
No doubt. I currently have m-4/3, Fuji X, and Sony FE mirrorless cameras, and they all work best with their native lenses. No surprise there.
Having said that, everything I've used, from an Oly E-PM1 to a Sony A7II, has been a doddle to focus with manual lenses at working aperture on dumb adaptors. Perhaps hire a Nikon Z-whatever and try it with a K&F Concept or similar quality mount adaptor? You'll learn all you need to know without having to waste too much time or money.
Having said that, everything I've used, from an Oly E-PM1 to a Sony A7II, has been a doddle to focus with manual lenses at working aperture on dumb adaptors. Perhaps hire a Nikon Z-whatever and try it with a K&F Concept or similar quality mount adaptor? You'll learn all you need to know without having to waste too much time or money.
Timmyjoe
Veteran
Just for fun, when the Nikon Z cameras came out, I covered a few sporting events with the Z6 and a bevy of Nikkor rangefinder lenses from early 1950. All mechanical, all with mechanical apertures that are not controlled by the camera. Shot in Aperture Priority mode and it worked out fine. Really is a non-issue.
Best,
-Tim
Best,
-Tim
Ricoh
Well-known
Sounds good, may look at a trial run at my local camera shop using my Ai and Ais SLR lenses.
kjoosten
Rocket Scientist
Just did my first week of testing with some AI-P (and AI-S chipped) lenses along with some AI-S on a Z5/FTZ. I tend to operate manual mode with auto ISO.
Observation:
Focusing: All lenses are very easy to focus through the viewfinder. One-button 100% zoom plus focus peaking. The chipped lenses also allow the focus indicator to turn green when focus is achieved. None of these lenses allowed the rangefinder to function.
Metering: All lenses drive the metering scale (viewfinder and rear screen) and the live histogram. Most of the lenses I tried meter very accurately. The non-chipped lenses require focal length and max aperture to be entered via menu. The lens info can be easily selected via function button and command dial. The few AI lenses I tried seems to overexposed by about 0.7 EV. Exposure comp worked as expected with all lenses.
Aperture control: The chipped lenses just need their aperture ring to be set to min aperture. Shooting aperture is set with command dial. The shooting aperture is visible in the viewfinder, on the rear screen and in EXIF. For the non-chipped lenses, aperture is set with the aperture ring. No aperture info is visible anywhere else. If you stop down a lot in low light, the viewfinder will get dim and or noisy.
Flash: iTTL exposed very nicely with all lenses. Even with iTTL I tend to shoot manually with auto ISO.
Note these results differ from some other sources, including Thom Hogan’s Z5 guide.
Lenses tested:
Rokinon Series II, 14/2.8 AI-P
Nikkor 16/3.5 F Fisheye Auto, Ai'd and chipped
Voigtlander 20/3.5 AI-P
Nikkor 28/2.8 AI-S
Nikkor 35/1.4 AI-S
Nikkor 45/2.8 AI-P
Nikkor 55/3.5 AI micro - tended to overexpose
Nikkor 85/1.8 HC-Auto, Ai’d and chipped - tended to overexpose
Nikkor 105/2.5 AI-S, chipped
Nikkor 135/2.8 K, AI'd and chipped - tended to overexpose
Nikkor 200/4 AI-S, chipped
Observation:
Focusing: All lenses are very easy to focus through the viewfinder. One-button 100% zoom plus focus peaking. The chipped lenses also allow the focus indicator to turn green when focus is achieved. None of these lenses allowed the rangefinder to function.
Metering: All lenses drive the metering scale (viewfinder and rear screen) and the live histogram. Most of the lenses I tried meter very accurately. The non-chipped lenses require focal length and max aperture to be entered via menu. The lens info can be easily selected via function button and command dial. The few AI lenses I tried seems to overexposed by about 0.7 EV. Exposure comp worked as expected with all lenses.
Aperture control: The chipped lenses just need their aperture ring to be set to min aperture. Shooting aperture is set with command dial. The shooting aperture is visible in the viewfinder, on the rear screen and in EXIF. For the non-chipped lenses, aperture is set with the aperture ring. No aperture info is visible anywhere else. If you stop down a lot in low light, the viewfinder will get dim and or noisy.
Flash: iTTL exposed very nicely with all lenses. Even with iTTL I tend to shoot manually with auto ISO.
Note these results differ from some other sources, including Thom Hogan’s Z5 guide.
Lenses tested:
Rokinon Series II, 14/2.8 AI-P
Nikkor 16/3.5 F Fisheye Auto, Ai'd and chipped
Voigtlander 20/3.5 AI-P
Nikkor 28/2.8 AI-S
Nikkor 35/1.4 AI-S
Nikkor 45/2.8 AI-P
Nikkor 55/3.5 AI micro - tended to overexpose
Nikkor 85/1.8 HC-Auto, Ai’d and chipped - tended to overexpose
Nikkor 105/2.5 AI-S, chipped
Nikkor 135/2.8 K, AI'd and chipped - tended to overexpose
Nikkor 200/4 AI-S, chipped