Adapting lenses to EOS

F16SUNSHINE · Expire: 2011-11-18

I've been overly busy lately so please forgive my absence from other discussions. This morning I stopped in and had a chat session with my Camera/Lens tech. He was preparing to do fine tuning for Infintity focus for a new pair of ZF lenses for a 1DS MKIII owner who was also there. I have to tell you first I am completely convinced that I will purchase the new 2/28 and 2/100 and plan to sell some pieces to fund this Embarassed

. The smoothness, fluidity, and accuracy of focus is unquestionably the most satisfying I have ever experienced Shocked

. I'm sure that all the new Zeiss SLR lenses share this. These two just happened to be there in the shop. So here is the question I'm hoping for some feedback about. Zeiss currently makes the new SLR lenses in 3 mounts. ZF/Nikon ZK/Pentax and ZS/M42. The opinions I was hearing today was that Canon owners are best to adapt ZF lenses. The main reason for this was that the longer register of the Nikon mount allows a thicker and therefore stronger adapter. Also for this shooter his thought was that Nikon may offer a FF camera in the future that he may want. My first impulse would have been to think that M42 would be the natural choice for Canon DSLR users. Of all the lenses that I currently adapt Zuiko followed by M42 cause the least trouble on Canon DSLR's. Infinity is closest to what it would be in it's native mount and the mounts seem to be as strong as is necessary. M42 can easily be adapted to other cameras as well giving it another advantage. Is this strength issue a concern for lenses ranging from wide angles to mid length macro? Maybe for a monster long focal it could be I don't shoot there and probably never will. Thanks for your thoughts. Cool

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

Although I started with M42 lenses and have gathered good experiences with M42-EOS-adapters, I agree that adapted Zuikos are great to use at a Canon only matched by my Nikkor-EOS-adaptations and my (perhaps the best one) Leica-EOS-adapter.

You should think about which system you might want to shoot in the future.
As an EOS shooter, I guess, chances are pretty high that you stay with EOS. Thus the ZF or ZS lenses would be recommendable. The ZS versions will be the most versatile.
But all in all, I think the ZF versions would be the best choice, since they work great on an EOS cam and will work perfectly on a Nikon.
Something tells me that if you change the system, a Nikon will have the highest chances. Wink

Let's put it that way: If I were to buy these Zeiss lenses, I would go for the ZF versions.

patrickh · Expire: 2011-11-18

Andy
I agree with Carsten. As you probably can guess, I have a nikon/eos adapter with chip and it works very comfortably and seems very solid. I love the nikkor character and consistent color so it is great for me to see this come through even on a canon sensor. Those Zeiss lenses are undoubtedly some of the best you can possibly put on a camera and will be able to take full advantage of future sensor developments. I am also convinced that now nikon has gone into FF it wont be long before they trickle it down and Canon will have to play along. We should all benefit. As a canon and nikon user I do have to say the nikon user interface seems superior to canon and makes a lot more sense. Both systems have their weaknesses though.

patrickh

F16SUNSHINE · Expire: 2011-11-18

Thanks Carsten and Patrickh. To be quite honest I did not think about Nikon mount be more sellable later. You guys did not bring it up specifically but somehow now it is in my mind. I have had a sort of awakening this week. I went over all my gear this week (before seeing those Zeiss lenses). I realize that I only use certain lenses in my collection. I never planned on being a collector of lenses or cameras really. It has in fact taken away much of my shooting time and effort. So I am going to trim this kit down to 7 or 8 lenses. Keep keep 5 or 6 that I already have purchase these 2 "new" ones. AND SHOOT MORE! It is to much to have 15 or 20 lenses with different mounts and duplicating focal lengths. Embarassed

bob955i · Joined: 15 Apr 2007 Posts: 2495

Another thing about the Zeiss Z range is that there's more of a choice in Nikon mount than M42 or Pentax mount for that matter at the moment so you may find that a chosen FL may not be available in M42 for example.

The only Zeiss lenses currently available in M42 are the Distagon 2.8/25, Distagon 2/35 and Planar 1.4/50 - the Distagon 2/28, Planar 1.4/85, Makro-Planar 2/50 are all Nikon/Pentax and the Makro-Planar 2/100 is Nikon only.

This may well change as time goes on, but when, is anyone's guess....

F16SUNSHINE · Expire: 2011-11-18

Thanks Bob
The 2/28 and 2/100 are the only Z-lenses I have interest in. The price of the Contax 2/28 and MP 2.8 100 is nearly as high as the new versions. That fact and the Ari-style focus heli in the new version makes them both a logical choice. I really can not describe how nice the focus action is on these new lenses Shocked

bob955i · Joined: 15 Apr 2007 Posts: 2495

F16SUNSHINE · Expire: 2011-11-18

bob955i · Joined: 15 Apr 2007 Posts: 2495

I don't have any Cosina built lenses but I do have a Bessaflex TM and find it to be well enough constructed and operationally solid to inspire confidence.

TBH I think a lot of the detractors haven't actually tried any of these lenses personally and are merely parroting and perpetuating a baseless prejudice probably because they can't afford them themselves. Laughing

Re only shooting with a few lenses - I had a Sigma ZoomMaster 2.8-4/35-70 zoom on my old BC-1 for twenty years and reckon that that combo took nearly 99% of my pre-digital shots as it covered nearly all of my FL requirements apart from ultra-wide.

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

I first would like to be able to afford any of those new Zeiss lenses, but I can't Sad

Apart from the 1.4/50 Planar which at Eur 500 or so is still in my capacity range, the other lenses such as the Distagon 2/28 are near the 1000 Euros and so out of my range.

Having that said, if I could buy these lenses, I would have your same problem.
THe Nikon adapter for EOS is surely the best one, but some of the best M42-EOS adapters are just as good.
More than the solidity of the adapter, I would be concerned by the infinity focus. With Nikon lenses you are safer, although I have to say that I never had infinity focus problems with my M42 lenses except for a Pentacon 2.8/29 which I rapidly sold.
Another factor to consider is that Nikon mount lenses surely have a higher used market value.
On the other hand, aesthetically speaking I find the rabbit's ears of Nikon lenses very ugly, while the M42 lenses look clean and nice to me.
So if I had enough money I would probably end up buying some of this and some of that Laughing

By the way, the difference between Contax used lenses and new Zeiss Z lenses is still around the 100% value based on my experience.
With 400 Euros you can buy a used Distagon 2/28 (I have bought two and for the second one I spent even less than 400).
To buy a new Z 2/28 Distagon you need to fork out more than the double.
OF course there is the focusing ring advantage and also the lens was bettered. So if there is the financial possibility, the new Z lenses is a good choice. But if money is a concern, I think that nothing can beat a Contax Hollywood for 400 Euros.

bob955i · Joined: 15 Apr 2007 Posts: 2495

F16SUNSHINE · Expire: 2011-11-18

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04