Worth it to get a Nex ONLY for adapted manual lenses?

My NEX-3 came today and I am quite pleased. Updated the firmware immediately and then tried out a couple of the adapters I ordered with some of my legacy lenses. Fun! And my initial shots at high ISO rather startled me. This thing really works.

Cheers...

Rem
 
I bought the NEX assuming that I'd mostly use it to shoot my M and LTM mount lenses on an adapter. At the time a body only wasn't available, so I got one with the 16mm. The thing is, that notwithstanding some less than stellar reviews, that 16mm has grown on me. And yes, I can see that the Voigtlander Skopars are sharper, but still I've come to like the 16 a lot and it's the lens that's most on the camera.
 
pvdhaar said:
I bought the NEX assuming that I'd mostly use it to shoot my M and LTM mount lenses on an adapter. At the time a body only wasn't available, so I got one with the 16mm. The thing is, that notwithstanding some less than stellar reviews, that 16mm has grown on me. And yes, I can see that the Voigtlander Skopars are sharper, but still I've come to like the 16 a lot and it's the lens that's most on the camera.
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I opted for the 16mm lens also, and I'm glad I did. I can handle the distortion and corner softness, both of which are easy to deal with PP. But the ability to use the legacy lenses really is an asset. My 50mm 1.4 Zuiko, and 1.8 Nikkor will make good portrait lenses, and we've already seen that a number of users are happy with the 35mm 2.5 Color Skopar, which I also have. I do not, however, have a good 24mm lens, and that is something I will be looking for. I think that having an equivalent 35 or 36mm lens would be a good addition. In the end I'll probably end up like you...spending most of my time walking around with the 16 affixed.

Cheers...

Rem
 
remegius said:
..We've already seen that a number of users are happy with the 35mm 2.5 Color Skopar, which I also have. I do not, however, have a good 24mm lens, and that is something I will be looking for. I think that having an equivalent 35 or 36mm lens would be a good addition.
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Absolutely correct, the 35/2.5 is very very good on the NEX.. My other Skopar, the 25/4 Snapshot Skopar, is too by the way. The original LTM version is small, sharp, and doesn't even break the bank. And not being RF coupled is no issue on the NEX.
 
Said it before, will say it again.

Got a NEX-3 with Nikon and Leica adapters (Novoflex). Joy. I only wish there was decent 18mm prime (28mm equivalent). Maybe the 16 is to be considered after all.

Btw, the Novoflex adapter allows ALL Nikon lenses that I own to be mounted. Non-Ai, Ai, AF, even G lenses and AF-S. They all work, if you are willing to focus manually of course.
 
I also use the 16 alot. I did get the UWA for it for about $100 USD.
The thing is, the adapter actually makes the lens sharper and even better contrast.

I also use OM, Canon FD & M lenses on the Nex5.
I find with the screen on Sunny setting, it's very easy to focus.
The camera is very intuitive in MF.
The only issue I have is the ISO stuff.
 
M4streetshooter said:
I also use the 16 alot. I did get the UWA for it for about $100 USD.
The thing is, the adapter actually makes the lens sharper and even better contrast.
..
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Weird that, isn't it? The fisheye does something similar. Here contrast remains similar, but images definately appear sharper and colour fringing is reduced. I haven't yet figured out if it's a consequence of extra DOF or that it's a real improvement from the combination of optics.

Whatever is goign on here, the fisheye/16mm combination is so good that the images could just as well have come from a dedicated lens. Well, it should be for that matter, given that the FE adapter is so freaking heavy..
 
Since the NEX (esp. the 3) is one of the most affordable digicams with APS sensor and exchangable lenses and it offers the shortes reigster distance on the market, yes, it is worth it to get it only for manual lenses.
I would recommend the 2.8/16 with it instead of the kit. That 16mm is pretty good and provides a wide angle that is not easy to get with manual lenses.

jsrockit said:
Are you immune to ergonomics? Then buy one. If not, try before you buy.
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That's a prejudice IMHO. The ergonomics of the NEX are not as bad as they are said to be. You get quickly used to it and then the NEX is easy to handle.
 
remegius said:
I opted for the 16mm lens also, and I'm glad I did. I can handle the distortion and corner softness, both of which are easy to deal with PP. But the ability to use the legacy lenses really is an asset. My 50mm 1.4 Zuiko, and 1.8 Nikkor will make good portrait lenses, and we've already seen that a number of users are happy with the 35mm 2.5 Color Skopar, which I also have. I do not, however, have a good 24mm lens, and that is something I will be looking for. I think that having an equivalent 35 or 36mm lens would be a good addition. In the end I'll probably end up like you...spending most of my time walking around with the 16 affixed.

Cheers...

Rem
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Rem, keep in mine that any rangefinder lens you find wider than 35mm is going to introduce corner aberrations, like purple color casts or occasionally smearing, on NEX, so you'll have to deal with Cornerfix. There is a new Chinese 28mm lens for NEX that will be available any day now, but I'm just gonna wait for the upcoming NEX/Zeiss 24mm to take care of that range.
 
I have a Pentax SMC K 24/2.8 on an NEX 5. It is much bigger than most RF lenses, including the adapter, but works beautifully. Sharp and clear to the edge - no corner issues that I can see.
 
Got my nex 5 w/both kit lenses plus a 8 gb card...(878.20 usd), playing around w/kit lenses and lot of funny..
Try some canon and leica lenses....Great ¡¡¡ iis a pleasure to see inmmediately the performance from these classic lenses...
BTW some sm to m leitz adapters fit somethig loose with the m to nex adapter, others dont...
Which is the latest firmware update???
Regards...
 
zuikologist said:
I have a Pentax SMC K 24/2.8 on an NEX 5. It is much bigger than most RF lenses, including the adapter, but works beautifully. Sharp and clear to the edge - no corner issues that I can see.
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Only rangefinder-type lenses with short registration distances should have corner issues on NEX, so, if you can deal with the size, SLR lenses are currently the way to go wider than 30mm. As I said, I'm just going to wait for the NEX/Zeiss 24mm lens, since I'm more of a standard lens shooter, anyways.
 
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