GH1 and Nikon AIS Lenses

R

Rhys Day

Active member
Hey everyone, unfortunately I already bought a set of Nikon AIS lenses (28mm, 50mm, 85mm and a 105mm) and was originally going to use them with an ex1/lens adapter, but am thinking about purchasing a GH1 instead (would get the 5d mark II for its full frame sensor but I really want 60fps for slow-mo). I realize the 35mm lenses will crop on the 4/3 sensor, but will they still be sufficient? or should I also get something wider?
 
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As 25 mm is a 'normal' on the GH1 you'd probably would want something around 20 mm as well. Also I find my Canon FD 35 mm a perfect portrait lens on GH1. The Wikipedia page for Nikon lenses list a 35mm f/1.4 which looks very tempting.

Due to to scarce availability on the second hand market here in Sweden I haven't dug deep into the Nikon side of things so a quick question: do you have manual aperture rings on those? If not you should go for a adapter like Novoflex that has a ring for aperture control. Otherwise you can get a cheaper "passive" adapter. Look in the hardware section for those.

http://www.novoflex.com/en/products/adapters/adapters-for-microfourthirds-cameras/
 
My Nikons look great on the GH1 (all manual aperture rings), but my widest is a 24mm f2 and I definitely want something wider. I did get to try out the 17-55 f2.8 Nikon zoom, but it's a DX lens and the wide end had massive portholing - I didn't cover the sensor until about 24mm anyway. Also no aperture ring on that one.
 
What? It should cover! The GH1 sensor is smaller than the DX sensor.

Wider is always good, but there aren't many options...

Absolute widest you can go that'll still have an aperture ring is the very rare Nikkor 13/5.6. Next to that is the 14/2.8 AF-d.

I have to say the best hope of good wide angles is going to have to come from the micro 4/3s partners, Panasonic and Olympus.
 
yslee said:
What? It should cover! The GH1 sensor is smaller than the DX sensor.

Wider is always good, but there aren't many options...

Absolute widest you can go that'll still have an aperture ring is the very rare Nikkor 13/5.6. Next to that is the 14/2.8 AF-d.

I have to say the best hope of good wide angles is going to have to come from the micro 4/3s partners, Panasonic and Olympus.
Click to expand...

yslee, of course you're right - I was conflating the GH1 and the MKII which I tested just previously to getting the GH1. Just tried out my old 18-55 f3.5-5.6 DX lens on the GH1 and it covers it just fine. You do have to jam something in the aperture control so that it remains wide open rather than stopped down (I've got a few small pieces of rubber I cut out for this reason), but it works pretty well otherwise. I'm not sure what the 18-55 offers that the kit lens won't do better, though.
 
Don't forget the Panasonic 7-14mm, or the Oly 9-18mm. The Oly has the advantage that it has a filter thread (which the 7-14 does not).

Cheers,
 
which nikon adapter are you using? which would you recommend?
would all nikon lenses fit the same adapter unlike canon FD and EF lenses?
still trying to figure all the mounts out! thanks
 
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