I hate my new D700 gear; ergo, I really do hate digital

Focus

Focus

Keith said:
A little OT but does anyone here have any info about the Leitax adapters that allow you to put Zuiko lenses on a Nikon body. I can get an adpater for 62 euros that will allow me stop down metering on the D700 and I would seriouly love to see the Nikon IQ interpreted via my 50mm f1.2 Zuiko ... the mind boggles because I call this lens my SLR Noctilux for it's wild OOF areas in certain conditions and I think digitally the Nikon would really do it justice!
Click to expand...
None of the OM to Nikon adapters allow infinity focus. Ok for macro etc.
 
IMO digital or film in the hands of one with a good eye will result to great pictures. The Nikon DSLRs and pro lenses are actually very good but there are some factors that complicate the process of getting good results as the myriad of menu imbedded settings are so many that more often than not it creates negative effects.

I've used Nikon DSLRs in the past from the D70, D200 and D300 and had some great glass as well; 12-24, 17-55 2.8, 85 1.4, 70-200 VR and of course a 50 1.4 and all gave some pretty nice results. I did some paid jobs with them weddings and calendars, however, I can not make photography as a profession as I have a full time day job which actually finance my insatiable appetite for gears. My only biggest issue with this set-up is the bulk and weight which actually is a nuisance when I travel whether business or family trips. Prior to DSLRs I am into Nikon manual focus SLRs for many years and is not as serious a problem in terms of gear lugging during trips but still is bulky and heavy.

In early 2008 I went the route of RF and oh what a relief carrying an R3a and a Nokton 40 1.4 with another lens anywhere I go and much much better in street photography, which I love to do, obviously it does not scare one's subjects. From this time on I went the Leica path and is very happy. I also have a M7II for those times that I need to enlarge something for my house' walls and when I need more details like landscape, architecture, etc.. Btw, I shoot now mostly B&W.
 
To the OP: you have discovered an answer for yourself, not a universal answer that is applicable to everyone. Others may reach diffferent conclusions that are just as valid for themselves as your conclusion is to you.
 
Last edited:
1948nikon said:
None of the OM to Nikon adapters allow infinity focus. Ok for macro etc.
Click to expand...


This conversion is fully reversible and will not damage either the lens or the camera.
-The Olympus-OM lenses will focus to infinity and will maintain the aperture click stops
-The Nikon cameras will show a focus confirmation light in the viewfinder.
-The professional Nikon cameras (D200 and up), and FujiFilm S5Pro, will meter in A and M modes (stop-down).
-Users of non professional Nikon cameras (D40, D60, D80, D90, etc) can select Manual mode and check the histogram of a test shot to meter accurately.
Click to expand...


Is there a problem here that I'm not getting regarding focus! Do you mean that when the lens itself is set at infinity it's not true infinity for what the sensor's seeing?
 
Quick baby photos? Family trip images? Products I want to sell? A disappearing sunset? Withering flowers from my backyard? Macro or tele shots? My D700. For everything else I have Leicas. :)
 
The Nikon lens flange is further away from the film lane (sensor). The body is a lot thicker than the OM, so when your lens is on infinity its actual point of focus is around 1 meter.

The canon 5d along with the OM adapter will give you perfect infinity focus because the body is thinner.
 
Actually, I'm beginning to fall for the Nikon Coolpix P7000 just because it has a nice, old-fashioned look about it. And it's a lot cheaper than a Leica! :)
 
1948nikon said:
The Nikon lens flange is further away from the film lane (sensor). The body is a lot thicker than the OM, so when your lens is on infinity its actual point of focus is around 1 meter.

The canon 5d along with the OM adapter will give you perfect infinity focus because the body is thinner.
Click to expand...


Ahh ... that makes sense. It's a pity the seller doesn't mention this ... I wonder how many people buy these adapters not realising this?
 
OK, so you made a mistake and it cost some money, get out from under it and use film. There are plenty more expensive mistakes you could make, try getting divorced after picking the wrong partner. Everyone is different and I am the opposite in that I enjoy digital. I guess I don't mind McDonalds all that much.

Bob
 
The Nikon F lens registration is 46.50mm and the Olympus OM is 46.00mm. That extra .5mm will not allow the OM lenses to be put on a Nikon camera without a negative optical element that will extend the registration but will degrade image by adding another element. The only way to do it without an extra optical element would be to fully replace the OM mount and permanently make your Zuiko lens an F mount one.
Nikon uses one of the longest registration in the industry for a 35mm SLR so only their lenses are usable on their cameras. Leica R lenses are 1mm longer in registration so it's possible to use a mount change flange to turn Leica R lenses into Nikon mount with full meter and focus coupling.
Canon EOS cameras have this market almost locked up since they built their motors into the lenses from the get go, allowing for a shorter registration. EOS-anything adapters have been around for years. I used my SMC Takumar 50mm f/1.4 on a few EOS bodies and loved it.
Canon was smart to put all the metering and focus confirmation stuff in the body instead of having to talk to the lens as is the case with Nikon.

Phil Forrest
 
I guess, in many ways, this is just another film versus digital thread. The D700 is a fantastic camera, capable of creating wonderful images.
But if you prefer the mechanics of using a film camera, then you are going to feel this horrible sense of regret with any digital camera.
 
Phil_F_NM said:
The Nikon F lens registration is 46.50mm and the Olympus OM is 46.00mm. That extra .5mm will not allow the OM lenses to be put on a Nikon camera without a negative optical element that will extend the registration but will degrade image by adding another element. The only way to do it without an extra optical element would be to fully replace the OM mount and permanently make your Zuiko lens an F mount one.
Nikon uses one of the longest registration in the industry for a 35mm SLR so only their lenses are usable on their cameras. Leica R lenses are 1mm longer in registration so it's possible to use a mount change flange to turn Leica R lenses into Nikon mount with full meter and focus coupling.
Canon EOS cameras have this market almost locked up since they built their motors into the lenses from the get go, allowing for a shorter registration. EOS-anything adapters have been around for years. I used my SMC Takumar 50mm f/1.4 on a few EOS bodies and loved it.
Canon was smart to put all the metering and focus confirmation stuff in the body instead of having to talk to the lens as is the case with Nikon.

Phil Forrest
Click to expand...


Hi Phil,

The Leitax adapter does actually replace the original OM mount on the lens and comes with hardware and fitting instructions.
 
SolaresLarrave said:
Quick baby photos? Family trip images? Products I want to sell? A disappearing sunset? Withering flowers from my backyard? Macro or tele shots? My D700. For everything else I have Leicas. :)
Click to expand...

Basically this. Except that I have Nikon rangefinders instead of Leicas and no babies (that I'm aware of :rolleyes:).

Now only if there was a way to stuff the D700 sensor into a Nikon SP 2005 body.... :bang:
 
I felt the same way with my first digital; or something like it anyway. I kept thinking that with film and manual focus in particular, I was taking the picture but with digital the camera was taking the picture.

I've since come to feel otherwise. I would sell the 70-200/2.8 which is a very expensive lens, and the ohter pricey lens; and keep the D700 and the 24mm AF; and add the $100 50mm f/1.8 AF lens; and a used manual focus 100/2.5 Ai or AiS, and let them sit and take them out once in a while and you'll see.

I think what a lot of experienced digital users forget is that for one starting out in it, there's a sense of glut in terms of the pictures taken; and no real understanding of how to process them in useful ways, etc. It's a huge knowledge base and learning curve that's required.

I just got a Canon P which I am loving loving loving. Hand metering, thinking, etc. The film is in the camera and I'm speaking to it, somehow.

But I also recently got a used D300 and I deeply enjoy that too. Tonight I was taking pictures of the moon with a MF 300/4.5 AiS handheld, braced on my windowsill. Then I played with the images in ACR. Here's one. I wouldn't know how to get this with film. I was at ISO 2500.

5124764525
 
I had the exact same thing with the 5dII.

Terrific camera, absolutely wonderful, but not for me. I acted quick and sold it within 4 or 5 months after purchase, didn't lose too much. (quite a lot of money and stress for a student mind you :))

I got a M6TTL with an elmarit 2.8/28 V4 and couldn't be happier for my handheld camera needs. Now I'm getting married, so I'm holding of large format camera purchases :)
 
I've been shooting almost nothing but film this year. I vastly prefer it to shooting with my D70.

That said, give me a full frame camera with good iso performance at 6400 and I'd have a hard time saying no, even if it was a larger beast than I'd prefer to use.

On the other hand, my D70 with 3 lenses, Bronica kit and gaggle of rangefindefs cost less than half a D700. Big picture, I can't complain (well, aside from the iso performance - I'll complain perpetually there)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom