peterteee
Newbie
I have a G1 and I like the kit lens. My Leica M and R adaptors are on its way and I will order an adaptor for my Nikon SLR lenses soon. I sample many of the the postings here and over at DP. Why there are so few threads about either Nikon F or Leica R SLR lenes used on the M4/3 cameras? The majority of the users write about how they love to use the new G1 or the PEN-1 with the olympus, canon FD, konica, minolta, Leica M mount lenses....I am thrilled to pull out all my relics to use from the 70's and 80's, humm ummm, sorry,they are called "Legacy" lenses nowadays
)
What am I missing?
) What am I missing?
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Gary E
Well-known
Leica R users are not piping in because it would be like putting a rear lens cap on their heavy lenses Seriously, most R lenses are quite heavy and would not balance well on the EP1. I can just imagine the 70-180/2.8 in front of any of the 4/3 cameras
Seriously, most R lenses are quite heavy and would not balance well on the EP1. I can just imagine the 70-180/2.8 in front of any of the 4/3 cameras
N
Nikon Bob
Guest
Nikon users have their own digital bodies for the "legacy" lenses they have so there is no imperative to put them on a G1. That is my guess anyway. Also if i had a 4/3 camera I would exploit the advantage it has in the size department and use lenses designed for it which should be smaller too.
Bob
Bob
That's true to a point, but none of the Nikons in the G1 price range support metering with legacy glass. This arguably makes legacy glass better on the G1 than on Nikons. Some of the lenses can be ungainly, but not all.
Some of the lenses can be ungainly, but not all.
jarski
Veteran
from what I've read here in forum, it does not matter which (Nikon, Leitz R or M, Canon-FD) legacy glass from 35mm film era is put on G1, results dont vary that much. dont have any references to copy here, just a personal impression. perhaps someone can prove I'm wrong ?
Yes, the results vary with the lenses. When I used a 50/2 Summicron-R, it looked like a Summicron signature, and when I used a Nikkor, it was definitely a Nikkor signature. No different than one would expect.
Pickett Wilson
Veteran
But nobody but we lens nuts care about "signature" anyway.
scottwallick
ambition ≥ skill
I have both the CV Leica M and Nikon F adapters for my E-P1. I prefer the handling of M lenses on the E-P1 (read: size) to the Nikon AF-D lenses I have. I do have a Nikon Series E 50mm f/1.8 that is light and small enough to handle well on the E-P1.
I quickly tried a few Nikon AF-D lenses on the E-P1. The 85mm f/1.8D shows promise. I have a few test shots for those interested.
Nikon 50mm f/1.4D
Nikon 28mm f/2.8D
If you'd like to see a Nikon F on the E-P1, have a look.
peterteee
Newbie
Size matters?
Size matters?
Hey Gary,
Obviously, the SLR lensens are gigantic if you compare to the M mount leica or CV lenses. But lets talk apple and apples. I am dusting off my Nikon 50/1.4 and my Leica 35 cron right now. I don't have any similar vintage canon or minolta or olympus prime 50 or 35 mm lenses to compare with, but are they so different in size that result in people staying away?
Size matters?
Leica R users are not piping in because it would be like putting a rear lens cap on their heavy lenses
Hey Gary,
Obviously, the SLR lensens are gigantic if you compare to the M mount leica or CV lenses. But lets talk apple and apples. I am dusting off my Nikon 50/1.4 and my Leica 35 cron right now. I don't have any similar vintage canon or minolta or olympus prime 50 or 35 mm lenses to compare with, but are they so different in size that result in people staying away?
peterteee
Newbie
Hi Bob. I have to agree with Digitalintrigue. I am not unlike many people, ie with a bunch of MF "legacy" lenens from way back when that we have not parted with for whatever reason sitting around the house. We probably have camera bodies and lenses from 2, 3 or 4 companies. I know Nikon has its digital SLR, and I know you can mount the F lenses. But you have to get up to at least the D200 before they meter, right? So isn't this the beauty of the M4/3 for people in this category? with a couple of adaptors, you have a new lease on life for those lenses from various companies. So the same question: how come there are so few posts from folks using it with Nikon F and Leica R lens?
burninfilm
Well-known
That's true to a point, but none of the Nikons in the G1 price range support metering with legacy glass. This arguably makes legacy glass better on the G1 than on Nikons.
You can pick up decent, used D200s for around $650, even from KEH. They'll support metering with all Nikon lenses except vintage pre-AI glass.
N
Nikon Bob
Guest
Peterteee and Digitalintrigue
I'll stick by my original musings. I just don't see it as an imperative to use 4/3 with F mount lenses. But if you have many different makers lenses why not.
Bob
I'll stick by my original musings. I just don't see it as an imperative to use 4/3 with F mount lenses. But if you have many different makers lenses why not.
Bob
JBurnett
Member
A lot of the chat about legacy lenses on m-4/3 seems to focus on "finds" -- orphaned-mount lenses (such as Konica or Canon FD), and others that have been given new life. To find something that is small, optically good, and CHEAP, makes people happy and want to "share".
I guess we'll be looking to you, Peter, to hear which Nikkors and Leica R's fare well! Your 50mm Nikkor will likely be a good match for the G1. The 35mm Summicron-R might feel somewhat heavy compared to your Nikkors (as much 430g for some releases of the 'cron-R) or something like a Canon FD 35mm f2 (245g).
I guess we'll be looking to you, Peter, to hear which Nikkors and Leica R's fare well! Your 50mm Nikkor will likely be a good match for the G1. The 35mm Summicron-R might feel somewhat heavy compared to your Nikkors (as much 430g for some releases of the 'cron-R) or something like a Canon FD 35mm f2 (245g).
Sure, one could pick up a used D200, which fully supports older Nikkor glass (and could even be used with Leica R glass with a leitax adapter.)
Micro 4/3 on the other hand can work with virtually lens mount, which the D200 can't. And manual focus with Leica R glass really demands an upgraded focusing screen with split image (ask me, I've tried...the 180/2.8 APO Leica R is incredible on Nikon, but worthless if it can't be focused accurately.) No need for such a screen on my G1.
Unlike the D200, the G1 will meter with pre-AI glass, too.
Micro 4/3 on the other hand can work with virtually lens mount, which the D200 can't. And manual focus with Leica R glass really demands an upgraded focusing screen with split image (ask me, I've tried...the 180/2.8 APO Leica R is incredible on Nikon, but worthless if it can't be focused accurately.) No need for such a screen on my G1.
Unlike the D200, the G1 will meter with pre-AI glass, too.
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BillBingham2
Registered User
Two words.....
Two words.....
Automatic Aperture
That is what makes the Nikons DSLRs a superior solution to a M4/3 camera for Nikkor glass. You can set your aperture for f11 and you view and focus at say f2.8, world of difference!
The D3000 (D60, D40x) is not that much bigger than the G1. Yes the EP-1 is smaller as it has no EVF but when I want to shoot stealth I do the GR-D thing.
I love auto aperture, that's what kept me away from the 42mm screw cameras.
B2 (;->
Two words.....
........I've tried...the 180/2.8 APO Leica R is incredible on Nikon, but worthless if it can't be focused accurately......
Automatic Aperture
That is what makes the Nikons DSLRs a superior solution to a M4/3 camera for Nikkor glass. You can set your aperture for f11 and you view and focus at say f2.8, world of difference!
The D3000 (D60, D40x) is not that much bigger than the G1. Yes the EP-1 is smaller as it has no EVF but when I want to shoot stealth I do the GR-D thing.
I love auto aperture, that's what kept me away from the 42mm screw cameras.
B2 (;->
N
Nikon Bob
Guest
JBurnett
Your comments on orphaned-mount lenses is the other half of what I was thinking. I don't have a lot of orphaned glass but do have enough legacy Nikkors to keep me happy with a Nikon DSLR.
Digitalintrigue
I do not have a problem focusing a Nikkor MF 85/1.8 using the D700's stock screen. I do understand there were issues with the D200 though and that a G1 maybe a better solution for you. If 4/3 users are happy to use F mount lenses that is just fine by me but personally I see no real need to feel compelled to do so.
Bob
Your comments on orphaned-mount lenses is the other half of what I was thinking. I don't have a lot of orphaned glass but do have enough legacy Nikkors to keep me happy with a Nikon DSLR.
Digitalintrigue
I do not have a problem focusing a Nikkor MF 85/1.8 using the D700's stock screen. I do understand there were issues with the D200 though and that a G1 maybe a better solution for you. If 4/3 users are happy to use F mount lenses that is just fine by me but personally I see no real need to feel compelled to do so.
Bob
I have tried manual focusing of the D200, D300, and D700 (I've owned them all.) Great cameras but the focusing screens are not geared toward manual focus, rather they are designed for brightness with relatively slow zoom lenses. The adapted Leica R APO 180/2.8 also focuses in the reverse direction (which normally doesn't bother me) but this makes the green dot focus assist rather difficult to use...
N
Nikon Bob
Guest
Each to his own as far as being content with focusing screens is concerned, I guess. I will agree that the Nikon AF focusing screens supplied are not ideal for use in manual focusing. Agreed too about the direction of rotation of the lens for focusing making the indicator arrows less useful also. That had me puzzled the first time I used a non Nikon lens. The D700 is the first DSLR I have owned and happy with it. I have not yet found the perfect camera but will settle for the one with the least amount of compromises at the price point I want to pay.
Bob
HenningW
Well-known
I still have a number of MF Nikon lenses, and have tried some on the G1. As I also have many Leica M lenses, I generally don't use the Nikon lenses that I also have in M; ie, I don't use my 28/2 Nikkor since I have a 28 Summicron. The Nikkor actually works slightly better at the edges than the Summicron, but the Summicron is noticeably better in the middle. And the Summicron is a lot smaller.
I do however use my 200/4 micro Nikkor quite a bit. I've always like long macro lenses, and having an even narrower angle of view with the G1 is just a bonus. It's a somewhat long lens, but not that massive, so it balances quite well. I also use it with the TC-14B converter to good effect, but it's hard to follow things as the angle of view is so narrow. The second most used Nikkor is the 55/3.5 micro. Others I've tried are the 15/3.5, 24/2, 28/3.5 PC and 35/2.8 PC (these have problems with the sensor when shifted, as the sensor really doesn't like light angles from the side) and 85/2. The latter I don't use as I have the Leica 75's, and they are better fits.
Focussing on the EVF is so easy and good that the lack of auto aperture is really a non-issue for me, unlike using the Nikkors on my Canon DSLR's.
I do however use my 200/4 micro Nikkor quite a bit. I've always like long macro lenses, and having an even narrower angle of view with the G1 is just a bonus. It's a somewhat long lens, but not that massive, so it balances quite well. I also use it with the TC-14B converter to good effect, but it's hard to follow things as the angle of view is so narrow. The second most used Nikkor is the 55/3.5 micro. Others I've tried are the 15/3.5, 24/2, 28/3.5 PC and 35/2.8 PC (these have problems with the sensor when shifted, as the sensor really doesn't like light angles from the side) and 85/2. The latter I don't use as I have the Leica 75's, and they are better fits.
Focussing on the EVF is so easy and good that the lack of auto aperture is really a non-issue for me, unlike using the Nikkors on my Canon DSLR's.
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Benjamin Marks
Veteran
I was going to write: "I can't wait to get an EP-1 so that I can take my Hassie 150, extension tubes, Russian hacked Hassie-to-Canon converter, and Canon-to-4/3 converter, stack 'em and take VR-sharp images of a yak's nose-hairs." But then that seemed snarky.
Actually, I had the same focusing issues with Canon DSLRs and Nikon glass as Henning has and am glad to hear that the micro 4/3 solutions for this work well. Henning, how to do you think that the EVF would work with moving subjects (e.g. children, animals etc.)?
Ben Marks
Actually, I had the same focusing issues with Canon DSLRs and Nikon glass as Henning has and am glad to hear that the micro 4/3 solutions for this work well. Henning, how to do you think that the EVF would work with moving subjects (e.g. children, animals etc.)?
Ben Marks