AlwaysOnAuto
Well-known
What are your thoughts on adapters?
I'm asking in terms of Nikon to NEX and Leica M to NEX.
I'm asking in terms of Nikon to NEX and Leica M to NEX.
NEX adapters
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YYV_146
Well-known
The best one is undoubtedly the Novoflex. I have two, and they are a notch above the other adapters. They also use springs to keep the lens in place, which are more durable.
The Voigtlander macro adapter is nice if you care about close focus. I have macro lenses, so I don't care for those.
The Voigtlander macro adapter is nice if you care about close focus. I have macro lenses, so I don't care for those.
kxl
Social Documentary
Re: Nikon to NEX - if you have G lenses, get the adapter that specifically states Nikon "G" - which allows you to adjust aperture via the adapter - it doesn't tell you the aperture but the image brightness does change. If you don't plan to use G lenses, then any should do.
For the M to NEX adapter, I'd go with one that has a focusing helicoid, which allows close focus. The Hawk's adapter does this (this is the one I have), and I believe the CV adapter (available from the head bartender) also does this.
For the M to NEX adapter, I'd go with one that has a focusing helicoid, which allows close focus. The Hawk's adapter does this (this is the one I have), and I believe the CV adapter (available from the head bartender) also does this.
L. M. Tu
Established
Is this for a full-frame A7-type camera, or one with a smaller sensor? You may want to make sure that the adapter you choose will be able to cover the sensor size that you have. There is also a pretty unique accessory called the Metabones Speed Booster, for smaller sensors only.
peterm1
Veteran
I have always used cheap ones bought from China on ebay. They are said to be a little hit and miss quality wise but mostly for me they have been just fine. It is typical for these adapters to be made with the metal ring that engages with the lens mount to be just a little loose and hence slightly wobbly. But the adapters have a cut in the metal which is parallel with and a few millimetres away from the base of the mounting ring. This allows you to insert something like a fine jeweller's screwdriver in the cut to spread the metal so it bears more tightly on the lens mount. This substitutes for the spring mentioned in another post. Sounds cheap and it is but it works fine enough for the few dollars you pay for one of these everyday adapters. As a result I have never felt the end to buy a top end adapter which can cost up to 10 times more. As there seems to be no image quality penalty it does not bother me as in use you would never know the difference. And because they are so cheap I can buy adapters for Leica M, Pentax M42, Canon FD, and Nikon f mount and so use a wide variety of lenses so mounted. I would never be able to do this is I limited myself to the high spec adapters.
I also have a M4/3 camera and the only more expensive adapter I bought for it is one which adapts the older Olympus 4/3 lenses to the newer micro 4/3 standard. This adapter has the electrical contacts needed to preserve auto focus and some other functions.
I also have a M4/3 camera and the only more expensive adapter I bought for it is one which adapts the older Olympus 4/3 lenses to the newer micro 4/3 standard. This adapter has the electrical contacts needed to preserve auto focus and some other functions.
uhoh7
Veteran
cheap adapters seem mostly fine, but they always go past infinity: so do many of the expensive ones.
However if you can find one which really stops at infinity, it's worth a lot more than the rest LOL
However if you can find one which really stops at infinity, it's worth a lot more than the rest LOL
vytasn
Established
I have been using the relatively inexpensive Fotodiox NEX adapter for M lenses and it works fine. However, the Fotodiox NEX to Pentax K adapter I had broke after a few months of use, and I replaced it with a more expensive, but better quality Rayqual adapter from Cameraquest.
YYV_146
Well-known
Both of my Novoflex adapters stop at infinity. My Voigtlander one also does. The Kipon and the Hawk's go past, so I do not use them often.
ColSebastianMoran
( IRL Richard Karash )
Cheap vs. premium?
I use focus peaking, and I'm usually shooting portraits at medium distance, so frankly I don't care that much about the precision. The cheap ones on eBay have served me very well.
If I were scale focusing or looking for correct infinity focus at the mark, then I might feel differently.
I use focus peaking, and I'm usually shooting portraits at medium distance, so frankly I don't care that much about the precision. The cheap ones on eBay have served me very well.
If I were scale focusing or looking for correct infinity focus at the mark, then I might feel differently.
pvdhaar
Peter
I've got two adapters for my NEX. An unbranded cheap one (ca 25 euro) for M-mount, and a Kipon branded one (ca 70 euro) for Nikon lenses. The unbranded one is perfect, absolutely nothing to complain about and a joy to use. The release catches on the Kipon however have play both on the NEX as well as on the Nikon mount side.. this allows quite a bit of loose rotation of the lens, resulting in slack when focusing back and forth. It does sit straight though, so the field of focus is okay. It's just odd to use.
Conclusion is that price doesn't tell the whole story. If you can try before you buy, that'd be good.
Conclusion is that price doesn't tell the whole story. If you can try before you buy, that'd be good.
AlwaysOnAuto
Well-known
Thanks for the input people, it is appreciated.
I should have said this is about my NEX 7 adventures with legacy lenses.
I'm on a pretty tight budget and was hoping to hear that price really didn't make much difference. I don't think it will, with my shooting anyways.
I've got a cheapie LTM to NEX one off ebay that seems to work just fine. I also got a little higher priced one with my camera, a Pro Optic M to NEX, but I haven't tried using it yet.
As an ex-machinist I can't imagine that any of them out there are not machined within a fairly close tolerance to nominal, what with CNC machining such as it is in today's high volume markets. I'm still waiting on my Nikon to NEX adapter which is on back order, but I'm sure I'll be happy with it too.
I will plead ignorance here though.
Why is infinity focusing so important and how do I check it accurately?
I should have said this is about my NEX 7 adventures with legacy lenses.
I'm on a pretty tight budget and was hoping to hear that price really didn't make much difference. I don't think it will, with my shooting anyways.
I've got a cheapie LTM to NEX one off ebay that seems to work just fine. I also got a little higher priced one with my camera, a Pro Optic M to NEX, but I haven't tried using it yet.
As an ex-machinist I can't imagine that any of them out there are not machined within a fairly close tolerance to nominal, what with CNC machining such as it is in today's high volume markets. I'm still waiting on my Nikon to NEX adapter which is on back order, but I'm sure I'll be happy with it too.
I will plead ignorance here though.
Why is infinity focusing so important and how do I check it accurately?
GaryLH
Veteran
It is only important if u scale focus. If the adapter focus infinity correctly prior to the infinity mark on the scale of the lens, then any use of zone or scale focusing will be off..
If u intend to use ONLY the evf for focusing, then it does not matter.
I suspect to keep prices low, +/- tolerences are not as tight as more expensive adapters, especially during the post machining phase, when various parts are put together.
I have found I can fix the infinity problem w/ some pretty thin shims.
Gary
If u intend to use ONLY the evf for focusing, then it does not matter.
I suspect to keep prices low, +/- tolerences are not as tight as more expensive adapters, especially during the post machining phase, when various parts are put together.
I have found I can fix the infinity problem w/ some pretty thin shims.
Gary
