Where is this "legacy lenses" thing heading?

[FPjohn]

One result is a second life for canonical lenses that have lost or been left behind by their camera systems. A f3.5 Micro-Nikkor is well suited to the NEX as are a world of "pancake" lenses.

yours
FPJ

 

[uhoh7]

I would prefer the flexibility of the NEX's crop factor over the E-PL2, but everything else about it seemed so inferior that I couldn't imagine it.

It's smaller
The LCD is much better
Focus assist is extremely good
V3 firmware makes interface fine
7fps and numerous shooting options
no EVF: i never use them.
no hot shoe: I hate flash.

Perfect: no.
With legacy glass, it's in a class by itself.

"I'll buy one when it's FF"
I love to hear that, because it shows there is the demand to support such a camera and only a matter of time before we get it.

So the 15 lenses i bought for my nex won't go to waste, or go down in value, except maybe the few APS-C ones I have.

Nexes are the small carry around choice of many pros, sure you won't shoot a wedding with one. But you can't march around in public randomly shooting with your DX3, without offending many people.

Anytime portablity and stealth--with hi-rez, are important, the Nex rules.

The 4/3 cameras are nice, but crop factor and ISO performance are behind the NEX--ceratinly they have other good features.

The Nex is controversial camera because it is revolutionary. Even Sony doesn't get it-imagining the camera is for P&S folks wanting to "step up".

No, the nex is the new rangefinder: high quality, small size, skill required for best results.

 

[Lss]

Well of course, RF implies the specific focusing method, however, for most the attraction was/is smaller form factor with full 35mm results. The focus method was the only way to get the mirror out of the equation. That's my take anyway--correct me.

There are also many people who genuinely prefer the overall rangefinder user experience. For me, it's the combination of focusing and framing, the ease and speed of use, that just works. While some (most?) others do not share this experience, it doesn't make it any less important for those who find it to their liking. Personally, I find a camera built around LCD screen useful to me mostly on a tripod or (if it has an articulating screen) when stretching my hands above my head to take the shot.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

the compact mirrorless camera niche

I like some of the images I've seen in the image sharing sites niche (a subset of the Internet access niche).

 

[shadowfox]

I would prefer the flexibility of the NEX's crop factor over the E-PL2, but everything else about it seemed so inferior that I couldn't imagine it.

+1

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[douglasf13]

I sold all of my 35mm DSLR equipment in favor of the NEX-5. As someone who shoots in M mode, with manual focus and raw only, the NEX-5 is a treat to use. Sure, I'd love an occasional EVF option, but the Clearviewer does such a good job with the high res LCD that it isn't much of a big deal. The camera is small, incredibly packable with a few primes, and is very easy to work with my way of shooting. Throw some Zeiss or Leica glass on there and you're in great shape.

As for "pro," not "pro" and everything in between, who cares? I'm more interested in fine art photography, rather than someone machine gunning a sporting event or wedding, and the NEX-5 with my various rangefinder lenses is certainly capable for that. I agree with an earlier poster in that these little mirrorless cameras fill the same role that rangefinders did last century: small, discrete, great IQ, fun to use.

 

[slungu]

I sold all of my 35mm DSLR equipment in favor of the NEX-5. As someone who shoots in M mode, with manual focus and raw only, the NEX-5 is a treat to use. Sure, I'd love an occasional EVF option, but the Clearviewer does such a good job with the high res LCD that it isn't much of a big deal. The camera is small, incredibly packable with a few primes, and is very easy to work with my way of shooting. Throw some Zeiss or Leica glass on there and you're in great shape.

As for "pro," not "pro" and everything in between, who cares? I'm more interested in fine art photography, rather than someone machine gunning a sporting event or wedding, and the NEX-5 with my various rangefinder lenses is certainly capable for that. I agree with an earlier poster in that these little mirrorless cameras fill the same role that rangefinders did last century: small, discrete, great IQ, fun to use.

Strange thing, I also dumped the DSLR stuff I had and jumped on the NEX with a few primes. Now my little backpack seems so empty and light 😀. A EVF would be nice, or at least a way to flip the screen the other direction in order to use it in portrait orientation the same way you do in lanscape, but that is really my only problem with the camera. Shooting manual focus primes with it is easy, all the controls are there when you need them - even the ISO is easyer to change than with my old 1Ds. And, the lenses used can be used on a rangefinder also, that is if you stick to M-mount lenses for the general purpose. Throw in a macro from any SLR system and you are all set.

 

[berlincontemporary]

I´d still love to see a great series that has been shot with a NEX and legacy lenses.

 

[douglasf13]

Here are a few threads that may or may not help:

http://forum.hklfc.com/?o=topic&act=show&id=48414&page=1

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/969329

http://forum.getdpi.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17553

 

[umcelinho]

might be interesting for some ultrawides, like the 12/5.6 Heliar. it becomes an 18mm, pretty wide and on the R-D1 I sometimes get shots that I have to correct the angle or crop to get the framing I was aiming at, since the external VF is not that accurate and keeping it level is not always so intuitive.

iI think maybe for this kind of use it would become specially handy, also for the 21mm (becomes a 32mm), but then one would already have a faster option in that equivalent focal length... same with the ultra wides, though the lack of distortion on some RF ultrawides can be a plus.

 

[zumbido]

I´d still love to see a great series that has been shot with a NEX and legacy lenses.

If what you really mean is to set up an impossible test, like "I'd love to see a series of Adams-esque landscapes shot with a NEX and legacy lenses," then it's... well, impossible. As would the same challenge be with "full frame" 36x24, film or digital.

Here are a couple of my recent "snapshots". E-PL1 with the Super-Tak 50/1.4:

http://machinehum.com/cecile/serious
http://machinehum.com/cecile/bye

 

[tomtofa]

...or at least a way to flip the screen the other direction in order to use it in portrait orientation the same way you do in lanscape...

Finally - I've been wondering about that ever since I tried a Nex, but haven't heard anyone talk about it before. I think that's actually kind of an important point.

Maybe I'd strain my old poor eyes with an LCD rather than an EVF to get the 1.5 crop (using a G1 now), but it would really need to be an articulated screen rather than a simple tilt screen...

 

[ampguy]

Hi Ronald

Hi Ronald

Thanks for the info. I've ordered a G/AFS adapter from Rainbow on ebay, and a 25/1.4 with C mount adapter from camplus on ebay. Will take photos and report on both when I get them. I have a half dozen or so non AI, AI, AIS, and a few AFS lenses, so it will take me time to go through them, but there are a few I'd really like to use on the NEX. I don't plan to really use a tripod, as I didn't bother much when using them on F3s or D40s, so I got the one w/o tripod mount. I'm aware the 25/1.4 will vignette, but it looks like a fun lens to try, and it's always good to have a C mount adapter.

In both cases, Leica M and Nikon F, I got the (expensive-ish) Novoflex adapter. I was not aware that there existed tripod versions of either. As stated, the Novoflex adapter allows aperture control with Nikon 'G' lenses without an aperture ring. Another advantage is, that the Novoflex Leica adapter works with the DR Summicron and the Nikon adapter works with non-Ai lenses. I have for example a dirt cheap 60's 135mm f2.8 that becomes a 200mm on the NEX and does beautifully there.

I chose to buy Novoflex because a friend wrecked his PEN with an off-brand adapter.

 

[ampguy]

cv 15 and 21 work great on the nex

cv 15 and 21 work great on the nex

don't have the 12, but the 15 and 21 work great, the 15 has less distortion than the kit prime, but doesn't focus as close, and no AF.

But no color shifts or weird edges. Works just like it does on the M8, in other words, better than it does on the M9.

might be interesting for some ultrawides, like the 12/5.6 Heliar. it becomes an 18mm, pretty wide and on the R-D1 I sometimes get shots that I have to correct the angle or crop to get the framing I was aiming at, since the external VF is not that accurate and keeping it level is not always so intuitive.

iI think maybe for this kind of use it would become specially handy, also for the 21mm (becomes a 32mm), but then one would already have a faster option in that equivalent focal length... same with the ultra wides, though the lack of distortion on some RF ultrawides can be a plus.

 

[douglasf13]

Finally - I've been wondering about that ever since I tried a Nex, but haven't heard anyone talk about it before. I think that's actually kind of an important point.

Maybe I'd strain my old poor eyes with an LCD rather than an EVF to get the 1.5 crop (using a G1 now), but it would really need to be an articulated screen rather than a simple tilt screen...

Many of us prefer the tilt up screen, because it is much better for shooting at waistlevel, rather than the swing out LCDs that are off to the side.

 

[jarski]

As stated, the Novoflex adapter allows aperture control with Nikon 'G' lenses without an aperture ring. Another advantage is, that the Novoflex Leica adapter works with the DR Summicron and the Nikon adapter works with non-Ai lenses.

hmm... would be interesting to try NEX with Nikkor 35/1.8G DX or Sigma 30/1.4 🙄

 

[slungu]

Many of us prefer the tilt up screen, because it is much better for shooting at waistlevel, rather than the swing out LCDs that are off to the side.

Yes, but you can not do that on the NEX when shooting "vertical". I also like the screen not going gaga, but staying aligned with the body, but since I shoot a lot in town, the landscape orientation is not always the best. And so, with the NEX I can not shoot from waist level.

 

[douglasf13]

You should seriously consider the Clearviewer. That it is what I use for vertical orientation. I never shoot with the camera out at arms length. I either shoot waist level or at the eye with the Clearviewer.

 

[berlincontemporary]

You should seriously consider the Clearviewer. That it is what I use for vertical orientation. I never shoot with the camera out at arms length. I either shoot waist level or at the eye with the Clearviewer.

Judging from the pics on the website it looks a little "fragile" to put it mildly. Also it doesnt seem to be available outside of the US anyway.

 

[uhoh7]

The "legacy lens" thing is OOC with nex in france.

Stumbled on this incredible thread today, which shows an enormous variety of lenses on the Nex

http://www.chassimages.com/forum/index.php/topic,92274.0.html

It's very interesting to see the size of various optics with adapters.

Leica M, M39, Pen-F, and other RF mounts, with their short register are most compact, obviously.

I like the big legendary SLR glass, like the bokina, etc on the nex for serious outings, but now I am working on "pocket mode".

I settled on the CV 35mm f/2.5 for one, but am now searching for the best really small 50ish that can be had for a reasonable price.

The old elmars are really small, but a tad slow.

Anyway I love this french thread because there is alot of russian, east german and japanese RF stuff shown on the nex and you can see the size.

Best