Best camera for manual lenses

Airman · Joined: 10 Nov 2018 Posts: 25 Location: World

Hi,

I use my cameras only with MF lenses because I'm faster that way (focusing and composing at the same time).

My experience with cameras:

Fuji XT-2:
Pros
- with speedbooster adapter I get almost the same focal length of lenses as on FF
- amazing viewfinder
- looks vintage

Cons
- big and heavy (with speedbooster)
- ultra basic EXIF settings (that hurts the most) - you can only choose FL for 5 lenses...
- no IBIS

Olympus Pen-F:
Pros
- looks vintage
- size and weight
- amazing lens profiles settings - you can create new lenses with names and FL - that will work on IBIS (!!!)
- IBIS (!!!)

Cons
- even with speedbooster you are far from the FL of the lens on FF :/
- focus peaking not as good as with Fuji

What are you experiences with other mirrorless cameras? Nikon? Canon? Sony?

Pete · Joined: 01 Feb 2011 Posts: 240 Location: Denver, San Jose

My best camera for manual lenses is the Nikon Df. Most of my vintage lenses are Nikon but I have a few others that have been adapted. I like the way it handles and works with the old lenses. While it is limited to Nikon lenses, there is a plethora of great Nikon glass available.

Pros are: Vintage look, Full Frame Sensor, Fold up tab for Non-AI lenses, Excellent High ISO performance, Great image rendering with the D4 sensor, works with most new lenses too.

Cons: Only uses Nikon Lenses and difficult to adapt others, Bigger than mirrorless or even the old film bodies, No choices on focus screens unless aftermarket, Getting old and don't expect to see an update.

I was hoping the Z7 adapter would have better coupling with the old lenses but no luck. Guess I will have my Df until it no longer functions.
Pete

visualopsins · Expire: 2025-04-11

IMHO the best prosumer FF camera is A7R3, however, FF camera excludes use of lenses for smaller format cameras, due to insufficient image circle size. For those lenses the best camera may not be FF.

Sjak · Joined: 29 Sep 2017 Posts: 696

I think this is a very personal topic.

For me, by far the best is a digital Leica M with rangefinder-coupled lenses. My choice was the original Monochrom.

Size is compact, similar to a Fuji-body, it's a bit heavier as it's a much more solid construction.

Pro's:
- excellent focus function through OVF, with a bit of practice also good for action
- in OVF, more is visible than just the actual frame of the lens, which helps both in framing and timing
- no blackout (like in SLR) or lag (like on EVF)
- wide selection of rangefinder-coupled lenses available, ranging from $10 to $10k
- simple, uncluttered interface so one can concentrate on exposure and framing
- on models from M240-onwards, live view can be use so also non-RF_lenses can be used (but see also cons)
- fullframe sensor (except on M Cool

but much more discrete than any other digital FF-camera and even many APSC-bodies.

Con's:
- price of camera-body (although topmodels from e.g. Sony, Canon,... are also beyond the $3k-mark)
- choice of RF-coupled lenses limited to LM and LTM (and some Contax with a coupled Contax-LM-adapter)
- optional EVF on later models is add-on, and not as good as competition
- needs add-on thumb-grip and/or hand grip for shooting comfort, especiallt with longer lenses.
- OVF only works from 28mm to 135mm lenses; framelines are not very accurate

Other camera's that I used (and still use regularly) and liked:
- Fuji X-T1
- Pentax K100D
Quirky and fun, but less used:
- Ricoh GXR
- Sigma SD10

Sciolist · Expire: 2021-04-16

In my opinion, there's something in the Sony A7 series algorythms that likes old glass. Happy accident or deliberate, I have no idea. And I'm commenting from the position of having Fuji and Panasonic cameras, not Sony. Just check out the pics and see if you like the rendering. It gives a look reminiscent of mid 1970s to mid 80s quality lenses to my eye, without grain of course.

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9096 Location: Houston, Texas

If you can't afford one of the Sony A7 cameras (like me) and don't mind APS-C, then the Sony NEX-7 or a6000 are good cameras to consider. My NEX 7 likes almost all the MF glass I've tried with it, the one exception being ultra-wides, like the Tamron 17mm or the Tokina 17mm. But then, my Canon APS-C DSLR doesn't like them either.

Airman · Joined: 10 Nov 2018 Posts: 25 Location: World

DSLR limit choice of lenses (especially Nikon) because of the big flange focal length.
Leica - RF focus working only with M mount lenses (or LTM adapted) also limits lens choice. You can use that old EVF but then you get better package with other mirrorless cameras o.O

Nikon Z anyone?
Canon R?
Sony A7?

What kind of options do they have for manual shooters? Lens profiles like Olympus? Easy to set up IBIS? Useful EVF options?

Sjak · Joined: 29 Sep 2017 Posts: 696

paulhofseth · Expire: 2018-06-28

For years I used a Canon with Leica R and Zeiss optics. This avoided autofocus that locked on to the wrong spot. The camera allowed "tethering" via USB to a laptop, making the use of long optics on a tripod easier. For hand holding in slightly low light, Canons lens stabilization was fine, but adjusting aperture away from auto involved faffing around with buttons or the rear wheel. Even with Canons manual-focus screen, the viewfinder was far dimmer than my old R-9 and ST.

My newer Olympus PenF is smaller than my old M-6, has internal stabilization that makes it easier to handhold any lens, it can even take C-mount optics. The rear screen can be disabled and folded away and its viewfinder can focus in any light. For stationary subjects and on a tripod its extreme resolution mode is totally satisfactory while its normal resolution is quite sufficient for everyday use. It cannot however be physically linked to a computer, only with a battery-draining and interference-vulnerable wi-fi link.

Its firmware does however have an occasionally fatal omission; the little green focussing & spot-metering pont cannot be permanently fixed in the middle of the finder. If you use the 14xmagnification of the center in order to find critical focus before exposure, you may suddenly find that the spot has moved. It moves because you inadvertently pressed the little rear side control wheel while adjusting the lens. Yes, you can of course keep faffing about with buttons and repeat the exercise. An autofocus lens would be faster , but with the same problem of moving focussing and metering point (-unless you wish to abandon control and let the camera choose exposure and focus-point) .

Olympus must be aware of this but has not yet introduced the simple menu-choice of disabling the rear-side wheel. A really perfect firmware addition and manual-focus help would be a "picture inside picture" option where the center gave the magnified picture.

Conclusion: I will await useful new firmware and the end of the guarantee period before i use gaffa tape or the irreversible isocyanate ("superglue") option on the offending wheel.

p.

tb_a · Expire: 2019-08-28

My experiences with manual focus lenses on my recommendable digital cameras so far:

1. Pentax K20D modified with special split prism screen:

Pros:
Best usable like any old MF SLR. Very easy to focus like in the old analog/film days.
Bright optical VF.
IBIS works with all lenses.

Cons:
Limited to PK and M42 mount.
Only APS-C.

2. Ricoh GXR-M with optional EVF:

Pros:
Best camera for manual focus lenses ever as it was exclusively developed for manual focus lenses (particularly RF ones).
Optimized for wide angle RF lenses.
Leica-M mount, therefore almost every existing MF lens adaptable.
Very nice focus aid. IMHO best ever.
Lens profiles to take care of correct EXIF info.
Small and therefore nicely portable.
Works perfectly well with otherwise problematic wide angle RF-lenses (no color cast or corner smearing whatsoever).
Even the Jupiter-12 works (not usable on other APS-C cameras).
No AA-filter.

Cons:
No AF option (only with other AF lens modules).
No IBIS.
Only APS-C.

3. Sony A7R II:

Pros:
FF sensor with exceptional excellent image quality (same as in A7R III).
No AA-filter.
IBIS works with all lenses.
Every lens is adaptable.
Good focus aid (almost as good as Ricoh GXR-M but less intuitive).
Works better with wide angle RF lenses compared to A7/A7 II and A7R (no color cast at all).
EXIF info available via lens profiles app (Sony PlayMemories), therefore better than A7R III.

Cons:
Little traces of corner smearing with some wide angle RF lenses.

All my other digital cameras are not as good with MF lenses (NEX, Lumix, etc.).

Sjak · Joined: 29 Sep 2017 Posts: 696

tb_a · Expire: 2019-08-28

guardian · Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 1746

Can anyone help? Which Sony FF camera body has the angled pixels?

I think side looking (angled) pixels closer to the periphery of the frame (i.e., of the sensor) would help with my shorter focal length MF lenses. I do not want a FF camera body which has all the pixels looking straight ahead.

Also, does any other camera body manufacturer have this feature?

Thank you!

tb_a · Expire: 2019-08-28

guardian · Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 1746

Thank you, Thomas. Your post is valuable and thought provoking. I appreciate it very much.

Another aspect which appears to skew against Sony is diameter of mount. At least that is one of the arguments made here by a severe critic of the Sony camera bodies:

https://petapixel.com/2016/04/04/sonys-full-frame-pro-mirrorless-fatal-mistake/

You have to scroll down in that piece to locate the discussion regarding the various mount diameters as related to IBIS.

In the latter regard the new, wider, Nikon Z mount in a Nikon Z6 FX-Format camera body would appear to offer inherent improvement over the smaller Sony mount.

Basically the Nikon offers you IBIS on a fundamentally more sound design basis . . at the same price as a Sony A7 lll.

I view IBIS as an important feature for those of us oriented toward MF lenses.

tb_a · Expire: 2019-08-28

Sjak · Joined: 29 Sep 2017 Posts: 696

guardian · Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 1746

tb_a · Expire: 2019-08-28

tb_a · Expire: 2019-08-28

Sjak · Joined: 29 Sep 2017 Posts: 696

sarrasani · Expire: 2020-05-14

hello.
I know and I use (or I have used) FF and aps of Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Sony, Olympus with my lenses (Meyer, Contax, Leica-r,
Voigtlander and other...).
All of them are good but (apart of fuji) the bayer mosaic is not a friend.....
I think that leica monochrome or other brands without bayer mosaic are the actual state-of-the-art for B/W (ok, apart red dragon and similar cost cameras).
My actual favourite is Sigma sd Quattro H, waiting for the next Sigma FF (and hoping to use also contax and Leica-r lenses on this
new camera).
And let's remember that film cameras (all formats) are today hard to beat (good scanner, or better dark room, please).
My 2 cents and my human case.... n.1 of absolute quality :13X18 Shen-Hao, more easy/user friendly with good quality: Sony A7R II, my future/present compromise/funniest play:Sigma sd-quattro H and the next Sigma FF (if that L-mount will accept Leica-R and Contax adapters), and Minolta Dynax9 with scanned or developed/printed films.
All the best,
Sandro

Sjak · Joined: 29 Sep 2017 Posts: 696

sarrasani · Expire: 2020-05-14

Sjak · Joined: 29 Sep 2017 Posts: 696