talk to me about adapters...

[back alley]

not needing specific info re. various adapters but looking more for if you think having one is worth it?
did you buy one and end up using the fuji lenses most of the time anyway?
are you happy with the results from the non oem lenses?
any problems or concerns?

 

[JonasYip]

I'm liking M lenses on the XPro1, using the EVF.

I have some unknown-brand adapter that came with my camera which works just fine. But I also just got the Hawk M-X adapter which adds a focussing helicoid to the mix. Now I can focus that 28 'cron down to a few inches.

 

[2WK]

^what?! Cool! Getting into this Fuji-X business asap.

 

[SausalitoDog]

Joe-

I bought a no name adapter on ebay and used it for some old nikon F mount lenses and it worked really well - used a 105 2.8 AI lens and an old 50mm 1.4 (you can't use any of the newer G series that don't' have external aperture settings).

After playing with them for a bit - not really the greatest lenses for an xp1 since they make it so big, so I jumped in the water and bought a Fuji brand adapter and a used Leica 28mm emarit lens - it's great - I like the size, focal length and obviously the image quality. I use it on the street quite a bit.

That said, I can't help myself...I LOVE AUTO FOCUS (you can always override etc.). I love using the Fuji 35mm in manual mode and getting "rough" focus with the AE/AF button and you can't do that with an adapter.

If I stay in love with the 28mm focal length, I intend to buy a Zeiss 28mm next spring when they come out - they will have full auto etc.

I'm sure that folks coming from a "Full Manual" environment will do much better with an adapter than I am. There is nothing at all wrong with the adapters, just my aging eyes and the luxury of "rough focus" with native lenses.

Cheers,

Tom

 

[willie_901]

In my opinion the shorter the focal length the less useful adopters become. The light rays' angles away from the center of the frame are not compatible with the sensor microlenses. This leads to smearing and other artifacts. The sensor is rather close to the lens rear element. Some optical designs work better than others. Dante had an earlier thread where he discussed problems with infinity focus for some adapters.

I own three Nikkor pre-AI, AI and AIS lenses. These lenses are not that expensive and I am not motivated to spend time playing with them on the XP-1. I am pleased with the Fujinon XF lenses-35/1.4 and 18/2. The main disadvantage of staying with the Fujinons is waiting for new lenses to be released. Right now I plan to buy the 23/1.4 and the 56/1.4. I may get the 14.2.8 if turns out to be an outstanding performer.

Waiting for the upcoming Fujinons doesn't bother me because I can use a D700 with primes and ultra-wide zooms for focal lengths from 16 up to 105 mm if I need to.

If I had an extensive collection of M lenses I might be tempted to spend time seeing how each performed with an adapter. But I wonder if in my case my time might be better spent using the a fujinon lenses and creating more work.

 

[Ezzie]

In my opinion the shorter the focal length the less useful adopters become. The light rays' angles away from the center of the frame are not compatible with the sensor microlenses. This leads to smearing and other artifacts. The sensor is rather close to the lens rear element. Some optical designs work better than others. Dante had an earlier thread where he discussed problems with infinity focus for some adapters.

...

My experience too. My otherwise no slouch VC 28/1.9 Ultron is really not at all good on the X-E1 with M-adpater. Even stopped down to 5.6 there is rather prominent smearing og blurring og whatever you call it. It doesn't have the same characteristics as regular unsharpness. Indeed, never seen the phenomenon before.

Whereas the VC 50/2.5 Ultron works a treat. Not quite as sharp as Fuji's own offerings, but more than adequate. Can't say I see much of the mentioned problems with this particular lens. Will see how the CV 35/1.2 and M-Hex 90/2.8 work out.

 

[noimmunity]

If you like macro, Hawk's close focus adapter would allow some interesting images. Smearing is less important for macro images which usually have OOF edges anyway.

The chief advantage of the Fuji adapter, which is the one I have, is that it allows use of the OVF adjustable framelines. For lenses 35 and below, where zone focusing is really practical, this is a plus.

My ZM C Sonnar is a superb portrait lens on the XP1, yet it generally needs to be used in EVF mode, hence a cheaper alternative would be fine, unless one values the macro ability of the Hawk adapter.