Redrock M2/A1 Lens Question

[DammitJanet]

EDIT: Please Go To Page 3 For The Newest Development In The Lens Saga.


Thank You.

[scharky]

1. Any nikon lens that you can find today will work with the Nikon Lens mount (Except) the Digital only lenses.

2. You will not need a step down ring.

[DammitJanet]

Word!

Is it possible that there can be dust inside the lens, and should I avoid that? I mean, under very close examination, I could see a handful of very tiny black specks (which I assume to be dust) on the lens. I wiped it down on both sides thoroughly and decided that the particles must be on the inside. Now I had to hold it up to the light and a white piece of paper to see them, but if they're going to show up on my tape and ruin my footage, I'd prefer to know ahead of time, you know?

Gracias.

[DammitJanet]

Actually now we've decided to go with a new lens if we can find one.

How does this one look?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=8456&A=details&Q=&sku=247091&is=USA&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

[sleepsoldier]

looks good to me.

[DammitJanet]

Yes, but I'm asking the fine folks of the forum to tell us if it's compatible with the M2.

I guess I could just ask RedRock. Wonder how long that'll take. :-/

[qazwsx]

i have that lens and use it with the m2 just fine. i find that it's sharpest around f/2.8 & f/4.

[DammitJanet]

Gracias

[badlaa]

Yes that indeed is going to work with your M2 but remember that the autofocus lenses have much shorter movement of the focus ring so it can be quite painful to focus sometimes. Also the focus ring isn't as smooth as it's in those manual ones.

[DammitJanet]

Well, we got the RedRock Follow Focus with our M2. I wonder if that'll help or hinder at all.

[marlontorres]

haha... hey dammitjanet, thats the first lens i bought for my M2!

[DammitJanet]

Alright, so we got all set to put on our new Nikon lens tonight (the one in the above link) only to find that we accidentally bought the M2 with the Canon FD mount instead of the Nikon mount. We decided that it would probably be better to just return the lens instead of returning the adapter (we got the M2 before Christmas, and the lens a couple days ago). So...I've got a couple questions.

First, are there any drawbacks or advantages to using Canon FD lenses as opposed to the Nikons?

Second, will this lens be a suitable replacement for the Nikon that we ordered?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=8454&A=details&Q=&sku=12142&is=USA&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

If not, you're all more than welcome to suggest one that will be. Thanks!

[ESTEBEVERDE]

If you are not fully stocked up on lenses see if you can exchange the M2 and go with Nikon.

Nikon has many fabulous lens options.

[Noel Evans]

I use Canon FD lenses. The problem with FD lenses is that they are a little older and can cost a bit when finding good ones. Never buy a used FD lense sight unseen. You need to really inspect them well. Often you will find the specks you spoke about in the Nikon lense. A couple of small specks are OK and wont show up. Be wary of smokiness in the lense, thats a nasty. The wider the lense the more expensive it is. Lower fstop lenses are also more expensive.

I have a 24mm, 50mm and 80mm. The 24 is never used. My 50 and 80 are both 1.4 My lenses took a month to track down the price and quality I was looking for. Canon FD lenses in good condition are top performers IMO.

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/canon/fdresources/fdlenses/index.htm

Note on th Canon FD1.4 at that link: New FD 50mm f/1.4

In spite of additional improvements over its famous predecessor, the lens has remained compact and lightweight. It weighs a mere 240 grams. Its high resolution and high contrast are achieved by using high refraction index glass and a method for distributing lens power that suppresses spherical aberration and off-axis halos. The lens' renowned color balance is the standard for all other Canon FD interchangeable lenses.

[DammitJanet]

Thanks, all. We're going to talk to RedRock on Monday and see what our options are for exchanging the M2. Here's hoping they'll let us.

[Sean Michael]

I have an M2 with Nikon mount. I was told an advantage of the Nikon mount is that pretty much ALL Nikon lenses will work, because Nikon has used the same mount for decades.

Canon has changed mounts over time (EF lenses?) and this can cause some issues with manual adjustment of aperture. So unless you already have a library of Canon lenses, conventional wisdom says go with Nikon.

[sleepsoldier]

Ya, I'm really hoping they'll let us. I really don't feel like spending another thousand dollars because I was an idiot when I ordered the M2. Seems a little steep to punish someone, ya know? I'd rather just be able to switch it out and then have them send me a letter detailing how much of an idiot I am. But, we'll see.

[Sean Michael]

I bet Redrock will come through for you. But if they do not, you can probably resell your M2 and get your money back. Last year when I bought mine, there was a LONG waiting list. It took 2 months to fill my order.

[sleepsoldier]

Jesus. I hope the line isn't that long still. That would halt production. Gonna keep my fingers crossed, though.

[henry cho]

i use the canon fd mount, but, unless you own a stock of fd lenses like i did, i would probably advise going with the nikon mount. with most fd/fl lenses, you can't change the aperture on the lens without holding down one of the safety locks on the rear of the lens. the nikon lenses, as far as i know, don't have this issue. in any case, it's not that difficult to "prep" the fd lenses, by jamming something like a toothpick or paper clip to hold the safety lock down. also, i really like the older FL lenses, which fit the fd mount. they're a bargain, and big hunks of vintage canon glass. the 55mm f1.2 FL can be had for a song, and is very, very fast -- a nice compliment to the light hungry m2.

[DammitJanet]

Well, RedRock was very kind in sending us a Nikon mount. However...neither of us knows how to attach the lens. I've never worked with 35mm lenses before, and I can't quite get it to attach. I see there's a little metal tab on one side of the mount but I'm not sure how that's supposed to work with the lens. I don't want to force it as breaking any part of this thing would bring me to tears. Any help here (especially with pictures to go along with it) would be very much appreciated.

[ESTEBEVERDE]

post photos

[DammitJanet]

Ironically I had to use the A1 to take these pictures. I used the Photo button with the SD card. :-)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v85/atarms/IMG_0108.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v85/atarms/IMG_0107.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v85/atarms/IMG_0101.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v85/atarms/IMG_0103.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v85/atarms/IMG_0102.jpg

And these two I took with my phone.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v85/atarms/2-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v85/atarms/1-1.jpg

Thanks, everybody.

[Sean Michael]

Gently press the Nikon lens into the Redrock so that they are united, then rotate the lens counterclockwise until you hear/feel the metal tab "click" into place. To remove the lens, depress the metal tab and rotate the lens clockwise.

[DammitJanet]

Well, the good news is we got the lens on, and after taking it out in the sun, we got some test footage that I'm pretty proud of. I think it's definitely going to take some practice though...that and a shitload of light. I found that turning on every light in my kitchen and living room still resulted in too dark of an image. And the darker it was, the softer the picture, as opposed to being out in the sun, which made the picture razor sharp (where it was supposed to be, that is). Very curious, indeed...