shimokita
白黒
I am looking at the possibility of using an F-mount Nikon manual focus AI-S lens (not G-Type) with a full frame Canon EF-mount dSLR (5D Mk II). I understand that there are a couple of adapter options from FotodioX, Kipon, Novoflex, Redrock, or Vello. Any recent actual use stories (horror or success) and/or recommendations.
taemo
eat sleep shoot
I have either a fotodiox or kipon somewhere in storage that I used on my 5D.
it works fine and has focusing chip but TBH didn't find it worthwhile shooting manual focus on DSLR, even with the EE-S focusing screen. For 5DII, it will be the EG-S
I'm shooting Canon EOS R now which is mirrorless, I should buy an inexpensive AIS lens and test it out the EOS R though as I still have the adapter.
it works fine and has focusing chip but TBH didn't find it worthwhile shooting manual focus on DSLR, even with the EE-S focusing screen. For 5DII, it will be the EG-S
I'm shooting Canon EOS R now which is mirrorless, I should buy an inexpensive AIS lens and test it out the EOS R though as I still have the adapter.
Orthogonal
Established
I've used cheap adapters off of ebay. Just make sure if you used a chipped adapter the chip is compatible with your body. I found one of my F adapters had a chip that prevented the 5DIII from shooting, my fix was just to put a small piece of electrical tape over the chip contacts.
I only have two F lenses and had unexpected results. My 50mm f2 HC performed very nicely on digital (I prefer it to my film results) whereas my 105mm f2.5 was great on film but washed out and difficult to focus on digital. YMMV.
I only have two F lenses and had unexpected results. My 50mm f2 HC performed very nicely on digital (I prefer it to my film results) whereas my 105mm f2.5 was great on film but washed out and difficult to focus on digital. YMMV.
shimokita
白黒
Thanks for that comment
shimokita
白黒
Thank you... the main lens I want to try is the AI-S 50mm f/1.2 which is one of my favorite manual focus lenses when I shoot with film...
Benjamin Marks
Veteran
A word of caution. AF focussing screens make working with MF lenses on Canon bodies a bit of a chore and can be an exercise in frustration, particularly with fast lenses. When the digital Rebel came out in the early 2000's I bought one to have direct-to-digital files with which to work. All of my cameras up until that point had been Nikons, so all of my glass was too. Although the greater flange-to-sensor distance of the Canon camera made adapting the Nikon lenses pretty easy, focus was a constant hassle, and particularly with indoor, dimly lit, shots I missed focus more often than I nailed it. I thought that the problem was the Rebel's tiny focussing screen, so when the Canon 5D came out, I jumped on it. The results were no better. Film SLR's back in the day had fairly coarse ground focussing screens and usually had a focussing aid in the center, like a split image or micro-prism (or both). But with the advent of autofocus, focussing screens almost universally went to a high-contrast fine-grained screen with no focussing aid. This makes nailing critical focus difficult.
I wouldn't go that route again with anything other than a static subject shot from a tripod. The very shots that you want a fast f:1.2 lens for (available light, hand-held) will be difficult to nail given that lens's narrow DoF. I am not saying it;s impossible. It is quite possible. It is just not probable.
Orthogonal
Established
True that focus is hard to get on an AF screen, but after installing an MF screen shouldn't be any different from a regular film SLR. I haven't done it on my 5D3 since it seems it can mess with the metering (plus I'm mostly AF anyway) but apparently the mk1 and mk2 screens can be swapped out with a range of MF screens without much hassle.
CMur12
Veteran
This is an opportune thread.
Does the camera require any specific change of settings to work with legacy glass on an adapter?
I also have a 5D MkII and I recently bought a couple of cheap adapters to use a Pentax M42 or Nikon pre-AI 28mm lens on it. I'm doing this because this is my favorite wide angle focal length and I normally focus wide angle with the DOF scale, focusing on a zone rather on a specific object.
- Murray
Does the camera require any specific change of settings to work with legacy glass on an adapter?
I also have a 5D MkII and I recently bought a couple of cheap adapters to use a Pentax M42 or Nikon pre-AI 28mm lens on it. I'm doing this because this is my favorite wide angle focal length and I normally focus wide angle with the DOF scale, focusing on a zone rather on a specific object.
- Murray
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
I'm not expert on Nikkor lenses. I have manual focus lenses, some are only mountable on Nikkormat and F2. Some are OK on EM.
I purchased less expensive F to EOS adapter on amazon.ca. It worked on 5D MKII and RP.
To have correct metering camera must be in Av.
Getting manual focus lenses on EOS FF DSLRs was big thing in early 2K. Someone came with big compatibility chart. Might be still on the cloud.
If you really want to get best results from it, do not waste time and money on focusing screens. Get adapter with AF points confirmation chip. Set EOS DSLR to back button focus. An learn how to take image while holding your breath.
Select any AF point you want/need. Or just enable all of them. Hold back button to activate focus, rotate focus ring, once AF point is lit and it is where you want it to be in focus, hold your breath and take the photo.
I purchased less expensive F to EOS adapter on amazon.ca. It worked on 5D MKII and RP.
To have correct metering camera must be in Av.
Getting manual focus lenses on EOS FF DSLRs was big thing in early 2K. Someone came with big compatibility chart. Might be still on the cloud.
If you really want to get best results from it, do not waste time and money on focusing screens. Get adapter with AF points confirmation chip. Set EOS DSLR to back button focus. An learn how to take image while holding your breath.
Select any AF point you want/need. Or just enable all of them. Hold back button to activate focus, rotate focus ring, once AF point is lit and it is where you want it to be in focus, hold your breath and take the photo.
shimokita
白黒
Point taken and for the most part I am a landscape kind of guy... I was hoping to use focus confirmation by back button focus.
shimokita
白黒
Thank you for the comments... much appreciated
Agreed...exercise in frustration even with different focusing screens.
50/1.2....for landscape?
50/1.2....for landscape?
shimokita
白黒
Take care with M42 Pentax lenses on the 5D Mk II... I wanted to go that route, but there are many horror stores about using M42 lenses on (specifically) the 5D (Mk xxx). No personal experience but the internet is full of warnings.
I have the AI'ed Nikkor-H 2.8cm f/3.5 which I picked up for historical reasons and we get along very well ;-)
shimokita
白黒
Thank you... I was hoping to use focus confirmation and back button focus has been implemented all ready for years.
The warning I have read about is the release spring breaking and/or the adapter getting stuck on the lens... any experience or difficulty in that regard?
shimokita
白黒
The AI-S 50/1.2 stays on the F3P about 90% of the time. It's my only Nikon 50 and at times a waste of the 1.2, but I like the uniqueness of the lens...
My second most used MF Nikon lens is the AI-S 105mm f/2.8 Micro.
The problem is that I don't have a 50 for the 5D Mk II and the 35/1.4L is way too wide. The EF70-200 with extender is my tripod lens but not ideal for walking around. I am looking for a contemporary solution ; )
Understood.
Good luck with your endeavor...I never had much success, only frustration, when adapting lenses on DSLRs. Mirrorless is another matter.
Good luck with your endeavor...I never had much success, only frustration, when adapting lenses on DSLRs. Mirrorless is another matter.
CMur12
Veteran
You have used the Nikkor 2.8cm f3.5 lens on the 5D MkII?
I've heard that the rabbit ears get in the way, but it looks like I could just unscrew the piece and put the screws back in.
Mine is a Nikkor-H 28mm f3.5 pre-AI.
I read somewhere that some M42 Pentax lenses extend too far back and run afoul of the mirror. I was going to look carefully at the lens extension through the adapter and see how it compared with the Nikkor, but it might be better not to risk mounting it on the camera. Thanks for the feedback!
- Murray
shimokita
白黒
I have not used any Nikon lenses on my Canon 5D Mk II... I am just researching the possibility. I have seen photos of old AI lenses on EOS bodies, so I didn't think the ears would be a problem... I just check and there seems to be enough clearance but I will check it out when I get the adapter.
I actually purchased my Nikkor-H 2.8cm f/3.5 as an original pre-AI lens and had it AI'ed here in Tokyo... just took a couple of days at the repair shop.
At the moment I have five Pentax M42 SMCT lenses (28/3.5, 35/3.5, 55/1.2, 105/2.8, and 135/3.5) and wanted to use them on the Canon 5D II, but the warnings put me off so I nixed that approach.
.
