HELP! Nikon lens adapters.

[Guest]

I'm tempted by a Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f1.8D lens for use on my m4/3 cameras. As it is manual control all I need is an adapter to fit it and the cameras. However not having ever been a Nikon user I am bemused and confused by the various designations.

Can anyone please point me to a guide to what fits what in the Nikon lens world? OR:- Better yet recommend an adapter that they know will work.

Many thanks.

[Guest]

Re: Nikon lens adapters.

You need a nikon F mount ( latest lenses now called G rather than D ) which has been standard for about 50 years ...Make sure you get one that has a ring that adjusts the aperture,,,,focus at f1.8 then push the ring and it goes to what you set on the lens aperture ring.
On the one below you can see the pin at 3 o clock and the ring marked open closed



( no duty to pay at this price)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nikon-F-mount-G-AF-S-AF-Lens-to-Micro-4-3-M43-Adapter-E-PL6-E-M1-OM-D-GH4-GF6-/110551045848?pt=UK_Photography_CameraLenses_Lens_caps_hoods_adaptors_ET&hash=item19bd5b16d8

[Simon Bee]

Re: Nikon lens adapters.

The bayonet mount on Nikon SLR lenses has remained almost unchanged since its introduction in the 1950's.

Earlier lenses ( pre "ai" ) have the solid "rabbit ears" tabs which are for coupling with the various metered heads available for the early professional bodies such as the "F" & "F2". These lenses all have aperture rings and can be used with any Nikon F-4/3 or Nikon F-M4/3 adapters.

The next series of lenses were the "ai" and then "ais" , they had a slightly modified mount allowing 'auto metering coupling' with the 'then' latest bodies, the actual bayonet however remained the same. These also had the 'rabbit ears' tab for coupling with the metering heads of earlier bodies however the appearance of the 'rabbit ears' had changed to ones with slots/holes in. The later 'ais' lenses also had an extra groove machined into the face of the mount, required only on later bodies such as the "FA". As per 'pre ai' lenses these also have aperture rings and thus can also be used with all Nikon mount adapters.

Then came the autofocus lenses, firstly the original AF lenses as designated by the inscription "AF" before the title "Nikkor", i.e. AF Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 . Although autofocus lenses these too have aperture rings and thus can also be used with all adapters.

The first "AF" lenses were followed by the "AFD" versions, "D" meaning that they allowed the use of "Matrix Metering" on bodies so equipped. These can be identified by the use of the letter "D" after the aperture speed inscription such as 50mm 1:1.8D . Like the earlier "AF" versions these lenses also have an aperture ring and thus will also work with all adapters. **As the lens you have enquired about is a AF "D" version you only require a basic adapter for the iris can be manually adjusted via the aperture ring**.

Then came the "AFS" autofocus lenses, Nikon's first with built-in silent motors. Several of these were available with aperture rings too, however later AFS introductions no longer had an aperture ring. The later 'no aperture ring" AFS lenses will require the use of an adapter that has its own built in iris which you adjust on the adapter otherwise you can only shoot "wide open".

The latest and current AFS lenses are designated by the letter "G" after the aperture speed inscription, such as "AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 G" , none of the "G" range have aperture rings and thus also require the use of an adapter with a built-in iris otherwise it's 'wide open' only shooting.

Bottom line ..... the 'basic' mount has remained unchanged since introduction in the '50s so any and all SLR Nikkor's will work however as I have already said the later ones without an aperture ring will need the appropriate adapter if you wish to be able to control the iris.

Hope this isn't too confusing and is of actual help to you and anyone else interested.

Regards, Simon

[Guest]

Re: Nikon lens adapters.

Thanks Simon Bee. Much as I'd hoped. I've ordered and will let you know how it works out on arrival.

[Guest]

Re: Nikon lens adapters.

you need the one I have described with the open closed ring or you have to fiddle with the small iris ring and you loose your framing ...

[Simon Bee]

Re: Nikon lens adapters.

you need the one I have described with the open closed ring or you have to fiddle with the small iris ring and you loose your framing ...

Hi Pistnbroke,

Why would you "lose" your framing? I concede it may be possible but you word it as though it is a certainty? Sorry but to me at least, framing comes from vision, it is not fiddly to 'focus, adjust aperture, frame,shoot' .... it's what many photographers ( including myself ) have been doing for years with our manual focus film cameras

And the aperture ring is even easier to use on a mirror-less body than the native body as due to the depth of the adapter the ring is considerably further from the body thus providing more room for ones fingers and thumb.

I would however say to the O.P. ..... if you are 'likely' to purchase further Niikkor's at some point, it may be worth getting an adapter with a built-in iris in case such future purchased lenses are of the "G" style. If you don't plan on getting another Nikkor or you 'know' you will only purchase lenses with an aperture ring then a basic adapter will do just fine. However do invest in a decent quality one as it can be all too easy to end up with something that doesn't focus to infinity or shows de-centering in the image due to poor manufacture.

Regards, Simon

[Guest]

Re: Nikon lens adapters.

If you use the adaptor indicated you will not need to take your eye off the viewfinder to stop down to the aprerture selected just move your fingers from focus ring to open/close ring.There will be no need to count clicks and all that nonsense.
I use the adaptor fine with G lenses. If you dont have the open/close they will always be at F22 but I focus at full aperture and stop down to F8 with no problem. You have an iris in the lens in the correct optical position why would you want one in the adaptor ..might as well fit a bit of card with a hole in it.

Just because we did it in the 60s with manual cameras does not mean we have to do it now . get the wrong tool for £6.50 or the right one for £8.99

When I am about my professional work I am often told that other photographers "manage"" ..I reply that I am not here to " manage" but to do the job properly.
You can "manage " with your basic adaptor if you wish.

[David M]

Re: Nikon lens adapters.

You don't need to take your eye from the viewfinder, you simply count the clicks.

One issue you may have if you already have some OM primes is the Nikkor will focus backwards. It took me a while to get used to that when I had a Nikkor converted to OM mount.

[Guest]

Re: Nikon lens adapters.

Yes. I'm experienced in using manual focus lenses, so see no issue in stopping down on the aperture ring after composing without looking. I do this with my 4 Samyang lenses 7.5mm Fisheye, 12mm f2.0, 35mm f1.4 and 85mm f1.4, so see no issue with doing it with the Nikon lens too.

As to different rotation sense. I use a Panasonic 45-200 alongside my Olympus 40-150 R and 75-300mm lenses and the pany zooms in the other direction. Again something you learn to live with.

Anyway the lens and an adapter are on their way and, as promised, I'll report back after they turn up tomorrow.

Thanks for everyone's input.

[Ralph Harwood]

Re: Nikon lens adapters.

Hi there everyone!

It is interesting to see the different ways people use their cameras - when I use my manual focus lenses I tend to focus wide open, then shut down the aperture until I have the depth of field I want, without any real regard for the numbers or clicks, then set the shutter / iso to get the exposure right.

Good luck with the new lens / adapter and you will have to let us know how the N***n lens compared with the olympus OM 50mm - a lens I have always enjoyed using.

Cheers,

Ralph

[Guest]

Re: Nikon lens adapters.

Sadly I don't have an Oly 50mm OM lens. However if it lives up to the Samyangs I'll be delighted given its low price, even with an adapter.

[Guest]

Re: Nikon lens adapters.

So it arrived and, apart from the weird rotation direction, the fit of the Nikon to its adapter is fine. So far all I've done is take a few test shots, as soon as I get well enough for a walk out I'll post some shots with it on my Flickr page. However so far, so good! It works just like the Samyangs or any of my legacy lenses, mostly M43 but some T2 fits, and seems sharp enough.