Compatibility

[Brian J Moody]

Could someone please point me in the right direction? I'm in need of a site (if one exists) that could tell me if and what mf lenses would be compatible with my camera. Current camera - panasonic lumix dmc g3, near future camera - Nikon d7100.
Thanks,
Brian.

[Oldhand]

I can't answer for the Panasonic, but for the D7100 - any Nikkor AI or Ai-S mount lens will work well. Most Nikon-F mount lenses will foul the mechanism on the camera body. (I have a D7000, and I think that it will be similar to your D71000. My comments relate to what I have found that works for me)
So, as well as Nikkors, there are Vivitars, Jupiters, Tokina, Kiron, Komine, Tamron, Hoya, Panagor etc etc
Occasionally there is an F mount lens that clears it, but it is a general rule that F mounts are no-go. Jupiter with F-mount works well as an exception to the rule., and there are other Russian lenses that do so.
There are adapters that will mount on the D7100 that allow use of other lens mounts, but these will take away the ability to long focus out to infinity. I have and use a Minolta MD 300 and 135 with adapter but the focus range is limited
Medium format lenses will work with an adapter and will retain long focus. I use Pentax 6X7 lenses on mine quite happily and Pentacon 6 mount lenses also work very well.

Hope this helps
OH

[Alternate Internet ID]

[Brian J Moody]

Thank-you and yes that helps a lot! I'm new to the vintage mf lenses but it's something I can really see myself getting into. Especially seeing as newer af lenses are so expensive!
Thanks again,
Brian.

[Lloydy]

[Oldhand]

It helps in your search if you learn to identify the Nikon AI and AI-S lens mounts from the back of the lens view.
Many lenses are advertised as being AI or AI-s when they are actually F-mounts, and the opposite also happens - with the lens being sold as F mount when it is actually AI or AI-S.
Welcome to the wonderful world of MF lenses
OH

[Brian J Moody]

I'm sure someone will come along with the knowledge of panasonic. Guess I'll just watch this space.
Thanks all.
Brian.

[SonicScot]

Hey Brian, if you can't find the answer on this forum, it doesn't exist.

[Brian J Moody]

Ha, you're not wrong there Gary.

[Farside]

[fermy]

Well, pretty much everything is compatible with m4/3 camera such as Lumix. Almost nothing except Nikon AI, AI-S and medium format lenses is compatible with Nikon and then there will be a question whether metering will work or not on Nikon.

[tao]

For new MF lenses there are not much choices. New micro four thirds mount MF lenses are currently offered by Voigtlander, Samyang (aka Rokinon, Bowel, Vivitar, etc.), SLRmagic, and Tamron, in selected models. Look for the m4/3 (not 4/3) consortium logo on the boxes.

On the other hand, the selection of vintage MF lenses for m4/3 are limitless. I would say virtually all yard-sell photo-camera lenses can be used on a m4/3 body with adapters that are readily available commercially. Movie camara lenses are more tricky. Better ask first.

[philslizzy]

Hi Brian, if you are contemplating a DSLR capable of using MF lenses, Nikon is the last make you should consider. I have two and right away I realised my choice was limited by the flange to film distance. All others are shorter.

The Canon models are much more versatile. I dont know much about Canons but there are plenty here who would advise and maybe even sell you a cheap used body. Ironically FD lenses cant be used on a Canon DSLR because a complicated adapter containing a glass element will be required. This softens the image somewhat but that will go at about f5.6 to f8.

Your Panasonic m4/3 camera is a good camera to do this. If you get a larger sensor NEX, the lenses will appear a little wider - and therefore more useful at the wide end. On your Panasonic your 28mm will look like 56mm in terms of coverage on a full frame sensor. On a NEX it will look like a 42mm - wider.

DSLR's are much easier to get action shots in my experience. I think your Panny has a viewfinder making it almost the same.

Flange film distance chart: http://www.graphics.cornell.edu/~westin/misc/mounts-by-register.html

[wuxiekeji]

[Brian J Moody]

Before I got into mf lenses I did look at both Canon and Nikon but Nikon seemed the better camera to me? In you're opinions, which is better from just the camera point of view? Obviously I now know which is better from the use of mf lenses point.
Thanks,
Brian.

[sichko]

One often forgotten point in connection with using Nikon Ai/Ais lenses, or even pre-Ai lenses (if modified), on Nikon bodies is automatic aperture. You can focus wide open and then take the shot without having to stop down first. When using Nikon lenses on a Canon body either (i) you have to focus at the working aperture before shooting or (ii) focus wide open, stop down, and then shoot. Some people find automatic aperture an advantage.

[visualopsins]

The *key* to lens adaptations which retain infinity focus is to compare the camera register distances -- in general, lenses from cameras with longer register distances can be adapted to cameras with shorter register distances. For example, Canon EOS register diatance is 44mm, M42 camera register distance is 45.5mm -- since Canon register is less than M42 register, M42 lenses adapted to Canon camera will retain infinity focus.

Using a list of camera registers sorted by register distance, first find the distance for the camera, then lenses from cameras listed subsequent, i.e. those from cameras with greater register distance.

http://www.graphics.cornell.edu/~westin/misc/mounts-by-register.html

[caspert79]

If you want to use a dSLR with MF and vintage lenses, Canon is the way to go. I've used many lenses on Canon bodies and it worked really fine. I used it with a Katzeye focusing screen with split focus to make focusing easier. There are also adapters available with focus confirmation. Whether you find a Canon or Nikon better is a matter of personal taste. I used both systems and liked both.

[Brian J Moody]

Back to the drawing board then!

[cooltouch]

Hey Brian, do you really have to have a DSLR? You might also want to consider a Sony NEX. The NEX 6 and 7 have an electronic viewfinder in addition to an articulating screen, so when you're working in bright sun, you can still see your subject clearly. Nice thing about a mirrorless camera like a NEX is it will take any lens you can think of with the right adapter. From C-mount to Canon FD, it can take them all.

I'm in a similar situation as you. I have an old DSLR and I need to upgrade. But I'm gonna go for a mirrorless camera because I have a large collection of Canon FD lenses and I want to be able to use them on a digital camera without having to use an adapter that contains a corrective glass element -- because those adapters don't work very well. I also own several Nikon lenses -- both AI and pre-AI mount, a few Pentax Ks and M42s, a few M39s, and three C-mount lenses. With a mirrorless like the NEX, I can adapt all of these mounts. Even though Canon EOS is very flexible as to the mounts that can be used, it won't take M39 or C-mount.

I've been a loyal Canon owner for over 30 years, but Canon still doesn't get it when it comes to mirrorless cameras. The EOS M is totally unappealing. But Sony does get it. Sony is due to announce an update for the 7 later this month, as well as a new full-frame mirrorless that's probably gonna sell in the $3000 range. Wish I could afford that one, but I'll be able to afford the 7 update + Lens Turbo, which should be almost as good.

[philslizzy]

Lens turbo is expensive (£95) and comes in fixed mounts. Its worth waiting to see if you have a favourite mount or lens before you get one.

I'd hang fire 'till your collection of lenses reaches 25-30 (about 2 months)

The lens turbo fits in place of your adapter and has lens elements that reduce the coverage of the lens to suit your sensor format. In effect I can now get the same coverage on my NEX as my film SLR's. Another plus is that the effective aperture is increased by about a stop. I'm not sure if the M4/3 version gives the same coverage but a wide lens will look wider.

I have gone for Minolta MD as these are now my lenses and mount of choice. My 21mm acts like a 21mm and the 35-70 acts like a 35-70.

[Lightshow]

[cooltouch]

[dnas]

[dnas]