How to Use Nikon Lenses on the Canon 5D Mark II

StormFactory

StormFactory

Well-known member
Okay, so this post at the moment isn't so much a statement as it is a question. I have been very reluctant to buy Nikon glass being that I have invested so much in Canon EOS for my photography and Canon FD for my Letus35 adapter. But until Canon adds manual control over video mode, it seems like a lot of people are putting Nikon lenses on their 5D Mark II.

So here are the questions...

1.) What adapter are you using to connect your Nikon lens to your 5D Mark II? Where did you buy it and how much did it cost? Links if any would be great.

2.) What model Nikon lens are you using on your 5D Mark II?

3.) When using the Nikon lens, what mode do you have the 5D Mark II set to?

4.) What other advice do you have for someone wanting to use Nikon or non-Canon EOS lenses on their 5D Mark II?


Maybe if we get enough good answers and methods, this post could be stickyfied.
 
i use this adaptor: http://haodascreen.com/Nikon.aspx
it's a solid US brand, it has a chip in it

i have nikon primes 35mm 1.4, 50mm 1.2, 85mm 1.4

generally there's a metal thing sticking out on 1.2 that you have to cut off. with this adapter i had to sand it down just a mm or two with a file, and it fits fine

i have 5d in Manual mode all the time

advice: only lens with manual ring aperture control. stick to primes.
 
alexandroff said:
i use this adaptor: http://haodascreen.com/Nikon.aspx
it's a solid US brand, it has a chip in it

i have nikon primes 35mm 1.4, 50mm 1.2, 85mm 1.4

generally there's a metal thing sticking out on 1.2 that you have to cut off. with this adapter i had to sand it down just a mm or two with a file, and it fits fine

i have 5d in Manual mode all the time

advice: only lens with manual ring aperture control. stick to primes.
Click to expand...
Does the chip allow the Nikon auto focus to work?

Which Nikons come with a manual aperture control?
 
alexandroff said:
i use this adaptor: http://haodascreen.com/Nikon.aspx
it's a solid US brand, it has a chip in it

i have nikon primes 35mm 1.4, 50mm 1.2, 85mm 1.4

generally there's a metal thing sticking out on 1.2 that you have to cut off. with this adapter i had to sand it down just a mm or two with a file, and it fits fine

i have 5d in Manual mode all the time

advice: only lens with manual ring aperture control. stick to primes.
Click to expand...


Manual Aperture Ring for sure.

Primes offer the very best in price to performance ratio. The Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8 AF-S is a great lens as well.
 
StormFactory said:
Does the chip allow the Nikon auto focus to work?

Which Nikons come with a manual aperture control?
Click to expand...

None of the G lenses have the aperture ring.

You should always double check.

I have a list of lenses somewhere that work well with the 5D Mk II in video mode but hopefully others will post up here as well in the interim.
 
StormFactory said:
1.) What adapter are you using to connect your Nikon lens to your 5D Mark II? Where did you buy it and how much did it cost? Links if any would be great.
Click to expand...

Novoflex (expensive @ £129!) and a cheap one (£10) from ebay, both work fine. (UK) Link - http://www.srb-griturn.com


StormFactory said:
2.) What model Nikon lens are you using on your 5D Mark II?
Click to expand...

Lots ! Zooms, primes, fast, slow, Sigma, Macros . . . . .

StormFactory said:
3.) When using the Nikon lens, what mode do you have the 5D Mark II set to?
Click to expand...

It makes no difference what you have the mode dial set to.

StormFactory said:
4.) What other advice do you have for someone wanting to use Nikon or non-Canon EOS lenses on their 5D Mark II?
Click to expand...

Manual lenses are handy not just for being able to set the aperture, they can also help with setting the shutter speed/ISO. - Point the lens at a constant light source (iPhone/iPod screen etc) and turn the aperture ring and then watch the shutter/ISO values change consistently with the f number - the on screen read out will give you a guide as to what the camera is doing - the values may not reflect exactly what the video mode with use but they are consistent and repeatable.
 
alexandroff said:
i use this adaptor: http://haodascreen.com/Nikon.aspx
it's a solid US brand, it has a chip in it
Click to expand...

I personally would avoid the adaptors with the focus confirmation chip, horror story's of small fakes of either the chip itself or the epoxy used to hold it in place flaking off over time and trashing the inside of a 5D (pre- mark II 5D that is)

alexandroff said:
generally there's a metal thing sticking out on 1.2 that you have to cut off.
alexandroff said:
Yeah ! I had to do a little surgery on my f1.2 . . .

Here you can see the metal tab that fouls the mirror if left on:

prongwi2.jpg


alexandroff said:
i have 5d in Manual mode all the time
Click to expand...

Makes no difference to video mode what mode the 5D is in, although 'M' looks professional ! :)

alexandroff said:
advice: only lens with manual ring aperture control. stick to primes.
Click to expand...

You can buy adaptors to fit G lenses (no aperture ring) onto EOS bodies like the 5D - and these adaptors allow you to manually control the aperture of the lens (it is set up so that you rotate the barrel of the G lens to change aperture).

So no real need to rule out G lenses.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
ESTEBEVERDE said:
None of the G lenses have the aperture ring.
Click to expand...

. . . but you can still mount them on an EOS body and control their aperture manually.


ESTEBEVERDE said:
I have a list of lenses somewhere that work well with the 5D Mk II in video mode but hopefully others will post up here as well in the interim.
Click to expand...

I have used . . .

50mm f1.2
28mm f2.8
80-200 f2.8
50mm f1.8
50mm f2.8

. . on the 5D as well as a few slower zooms, all work well, although I am not sure what qualifies as 'well' - they either work (fit) or they do not.
 
Lee Wilson said:
....

You can buy adaptors to fit G lenses (no aperture ring) onto EOS bodies like the 5D - and these adaptors allow you to manually control the aperture of the lens (it is set up so that you rotate the barrel of the G lens to change aperture).

So no real need to rule out G lenses.
Click to expand...


Cool!

Is there one you can recommend?
 
Lee Wilson said:
. . . but you can still mount them on an EOS body and control their aperture manually.


I have used . . .

50mm f1.2
28mm f2.8
80-200 f2.8
50mm f1.8
50mm f2.8

. . on the 5D as well as a few slower zooms, all work well, although I am not sure what qualifies as 'well' - they either work (fit) or they do not.
Click to expand...

Well just means that they are good lenses without a lot of distortion or coma barreling etc etc etc...
 
ESTEBEVERDE said:
Cool!

Is there one you can recommend?
Click to expand...


morgan_moore said:
Can someone post a link to a source of adapters for g lenses

(wanna get my 70-200 working - the focus is so silky)

S
Click to expand...


There a re two versions, the 'rotate the barrel' type and a newer model with introduces a lever to change the aperture on G lenses.

Not cheap, but one of these along with a standard Nikon/EOS adaptor opens up half a century of Nikon lenses for Canon EOS usage.

Click > http://www.16-9.net/nikon_g/
 
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