7D Metering problems with Manual Nikon Lenses

G

Gene Sung

Veteran
Yesterday, we were using a 7D with an old, manual Nikon AIS lens (50mm f 1.4) with a cinevate adapter.

We could not get the light meter at the bottom of the LCD (the one that says -3-2-1-0-1-2-3 or something like that) to work properly. It was WAY off. I haven't used Nikon lenses in a while on a 7D, but I sort of remember this problem happening a year ago while using another Nikon lens, but it was as bad as this time.

The meter obviously works perfectly with Canon EF lenses while in manual focus.

It was a borrowed 7D, and I could not remember how to get the histogram up. Would the histogram work with manual focus lenses?

Does that mean the light meter will not work with the Canons on non-canon lenses with aperture rings? That would really not be ideal.
 
i have had problems with the light meter with manual lenses. Usually -1 or one stop under is properly exposed but then there are times when it will get ALL CRAZY... and the one stop under is overexposed like crazy. I took a day when it was acting all crazy to study the behaviour against the histogram. Now i know when it starts acting up -3 (when the -3 stops blinking) is properly exposed. So now I can work more confident. Lenses that communicate with the camera are fine....but the manal old primes...seem to throw things way outa wack sometimes. the histogram will work wheather the craziness is happening or not...so i'd recommend you use that.
 
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I don't have a camera right now (got stolen), so I cannot test this. But I read this on the Novoflex site FAQs on their Nikon to Canon adapter

--------- Novoflex FAQ
Will metering work?

Yes. When the camera is set to Aperture Priority (A-mode) correct exposure is automatically calculated through the lens.

---------

Anyone try this? I hope to god this works, because the exposure meter is pretty good when used with EOS lenses. It would be a pain to have to take a bunch of pics to get the histogram. But if that's what it takes, that's what it takes I guess.
 
I always use my nikon AIS primes in AV mode. I rarely have an issue (unless it is REALLY bad lighting or I am purposefully trying to underexpose or overexpose a subject)
 
JPM, what Niikon to EOS adapter are you using? Fotodiox Pro? I've heard good things about those. We were just using a cheapo ebay adapter.
 
I'm thinking about picking up a 60D. I read the 60D have a live histogram in Video mode? Is this true?

If so, that should work with the older Nikon Manual lenses since people say the Stills Histogram is accurate on the 7D with the old Nikon Lenses.
 
gene_can_sing said:
I'm thinking about picking up a 60D. I read the 60D have a live histogram in Video mode? Is this true?

If so, that should work with the older Nikon Manual lenses since people say the Stills Histogram is accurate on the 7D with the old Nikon Lenses.
Click to expand...

I have a t2i w/ ML and it has live histogram which does indeed come in handy. I'm going to assume that ML made its way to 60d in which theoretically you should be able to do the same.

*just throwing that out there as food for thought.
 
JPM Photography said:
I always use my nikon AIS primes in AV mode. I rarely have an issue (unless it is REALLY bad lighting or I am purposefully trying to underexpose or overexpose a subject)
Click to expand...

AV? as in auto mode? i only shoot in manual so i dont think that would help any manual shooter.
 
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jambredz said:
AV? as in auto mode? i only shoot in manual so i dont think that would help any manual shooter.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I gotta second that. I use, almost, exclusively Nikon primes, with a T2i and use the TTL exposure to good effect. Of course, that is in manual mode, which I also use, almost, exclusively.
 
Yeah, I actually didn't even know what the Aperture Priority mode was, since I have never used it. Just threw it out there because I saw it posted on the Novoflex site.

But 60d sounds like you can have the histogram in Video Mode, so I'm assuming the Nikon mounts should be just fine for checking exposure. I hope anyways.

When I had the 7D, I always just used the meter at the bottom which worked pretty well, but I only had Canon compatible lenses then, so life was easier.
 
I use the Fotodiox Pro adapter and haven't had any problem with my 7D and Nikon Primes. Make sure you aren't getting any light leaks around the adapter.
 
Any updates or solutions to this problem? Every one of my 6 manual lenses (Olympus, Helios, Mamiya, Leica, Carl Zeiss Flektogon, Pentacon) on my 7D only gets correct exposure at -3! Very vey annoying!
 
With a chipped lens, you can solve it by trying to change the aperture (even if the adapter ring won't be able to change it). Tested on 550D and 60D.

To use a non-chipped lens on 550D, you have to remove the Canon lens while the camera is on. This trick won't work on 60D.

I don't know if 7D reacts to any of these tricks, but it might be worth trying.
 
60 D info

60 D info

Hi,
I have the 60 D with Fotodiox Daisy contacts and there is no metering just focus affirmation. There is no histogram in video mode BUT if you go to 'live view' in manual or av or if in video mode you can take perfectly(?) exposed shots with your Nikon Ais lenses, BUT again you must compose them so the bar lines above and below do not obscure the subject,

check this out concerning Cinevate adapters Nikon to EOS http://www.cinevate.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=163
 
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With a focus confirmation ring you should be able to try to change the aperture; with my adapter, it works.
 
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