MTF Nikon Adapter / Loose Lenses

C

C.A.Magid

Active member
Anyone else having issues with lenses not being tight or secure on an MTF Nikon adapter?

All lenses seem to rotate or jiggle a bit in a circular way. Maybe wiggle back and forth with about 3 to 5 degrees of play. I would not call the connection FIRM when it comes to rotation.

This is not a huge issue with lenses with manual apertures.

It is a big issue with G series lenses which use the MTF pin for aperture control. The lens can rotate a little if you reach the end of a focus or zoom range or bang the barrel. It moves enough to change the exposure on the lens since it tweaks the aperture pin against the MTF adapter.

Do I just have a bad adapter? Are people living with this?

I don't like the way the aperture adjustment works on the adaptimax but if it is more secure I may give it a try. Any other ideas?

These adapters are not all they are cracked up to be. Someone needs to make a much improved version with a better aperture mechanism.
 
You won`t have these issues if you choose A-mount system. Lens mount shouldn`t be an expendable, we should produce it by best and most precise manufacture. Mounting lenses by little springs and small bayonet will not solid enough, but A-mount system could transfer still camera mount to cine-style, it will be very solid. And with the adapters, it can protect your back lenses, and it let different cameras have same back focus length, same mount and same rear cap. It can also let your lenses and mount attached firmly, without play and wear. You can also change the direction of the lenses, like use PL mount lenses, you can get the highest working efficiency.
A-mount system was designed for over-30-years working, besides making by solid metal, it has changeable mount base. Whatever camera will be available in the future, if it has less than 42mm back focus lengh, A-mount system could be worked with it by changing mount base. Now, you can use this system on RED, F3, AF100, EPIC and E-mount camera in the future.

different type of lenses with A-mount(Niokn, M42, Leica R, Contax, PL):
IMG_9385.jpg

A-mount with F3 and Leica lens
IMG_4135.jpg

A-mount with AF100 and Nikon lens
IMG_4029.jpg

A-mount with REDONE and Contax lens
IMG_0053.jpg
 

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I do get a very minimal amount of play, rotation wise, on my MTF adapter, but only if I torque it. If I pull smoothly on the focus ring it's not an issue.

The tolerances involved may not just be those of the MTF adapter, but also of the specific Nikon mount lenses you're using.

Can't comment on the aperture system, since my primes are Zeiss ZF, so I have an externally accessibly manual iris by default.

The adapter built-in iris control is really a hack for lenses not designed for manual use. Moving to lenses designed for manual use with external control would certainly be one solution.
 
Viddovation said:
I do get a very minimal amount of play, rotation wise, on my MTF adapter, but only if I torque it. If I pull smoothly on the focus ring it's not an issue.The tolerances involved may not just be those of the MTF adapter, but also of the specific Nikon mount lenses you're using.Can't comment on the aperture system, since my primes are Zeiss ZF, so I have an externally accessibly manual iris by default.The adapter built-in iris control is really a hack for lenses not designed for manual use. Moving to lenses designed for manual use with external control would certainly be one solution.
Click to expand...
I have had a loose NIKON mount and all you need to do is (very very) lightly tap a very thin jeweler's screwdriver between the thin slice cut in the NIKON's mounting ears. This will just widened the mounts to hold tighter. But it only needs the slightest of widening. So use the lightest touch, and mount lens and feel. One small tap on mine and it was nice and tight.
 
Maybe this is what JD suggests:

From the LetusDirect Support HelpDesk:

"My Nikon lenses are loose on the Nikon mount. What should I do?

Some lenses may be too loose on the Nikon mount. The Nikon AI mount we offer is designed to work with a wide variety of lens brands and you may find that some lenses are not as tight as they should be when mounted.

To adjust the tension of the lens holding ability of the mount, use a small flat screw driver or other flat object to carefully expand the space on the three flanges located around the perimeter of the inside of the mount (see image below).

There is a slot cut on these flanges that can be expanded or contracted as needed to adjust the lens holding tension to the amount you desire.
If your Nikon mount seems too tight and does not easily release lenses, you can compress these flanges to decrease the friction."

This works for the Nikon Mounts on Letus DOF Adapters. It may also work for MTF's.
 

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Its funny, my MTF adapter (and everyone I've talked to) is extremely tight will all 6 of my primes and 3 zooms. Is the looseness with 3rd party lenses? Sigma, Tamron, etc.
 
The looseness comes from use. The more on and off the lens mount has the looser. It is a fundamental flaw of Nikon Mounts and lens. This is one of 2 reasons why I never rented or used Nikon lens on motion picture cameras or I would convert the nikon lens to PL mount.
 
CinemaElectronika said:
Maybe this is what JD suggests:

From the LetusDirect Support HelpDesk:

"My Nikon lenses are loose on the Nikon mount. What should I do?

Some lenses may be too loose on the Nikon mount. The Nikon AI mount we offer is designed to work with a wide variety of lens brands and you may find that some lenses are not as tight as they should be when mounted.

To adjust the tension of the lens holding ability of the mount, use a small flat screw driver or other flat object to carefully expand the space on the three flanges located around the perimeter of the inside of the mount (see image below).

There is a slot cut on these flanges that can be expanded or contracted as needed to adjust the lens holding tension to the amount you desire.
If your Nikon mount seems too tight and does not easily release lenses, you can compress these flanges to decrease the friction."

This works for the Nikon Mounts on Letus DOF Adapters. It may also work for MTF's.
Click to expand...


I think what cinemaelctronika posted might be your solution. I have a camera quest rayqual Nikon to e mount adapter. Its the only other adapter that puts baffles inside. It has those adjustable wings. If the MTF is similar you can spread those wings and get a tighter connection.
 
allstar said:
I don`t understand why people can bear these issues? Is that mount very cheap?
Click to expand...

Compared to getting your A-mount and adapting all of lenses to it? Yes. Very much so.

Plus, Nikon is a very interchangable mount, my lenses hold resale value very well for when I make the move to a PL set of primes.

Anyone getting the Nikon mount is doing so for budget reasons. True cinema PL lenses are preferable, but they cost more. In that sense, the MTF Nikon adapter is a stop gap until we can afford PL primes.

I bear the issues because it's the best system I've ever been able to afford owning. Worlds better than when I was using the fiddly depth of field ground glass adapters.
 
Nikon ProLock by OptiTek

Nikon ProLock by OptiTek

Michael Carmine said:
The looseness comes from use. The more on and off the lens mount has the looser. It is a fundamental flaw of Nikon Mounts and lens. This is one of 2 reasons why I never rented or used Nikon lens on motion picture cameras or I would convert the nikon lens to PL mount.
Click to expand...
That statement is absolutely correct.
it's why the ProLock exists:
It is a positive locking mount much like PL. It is much more gentle on the lens mount so it won't wear it out.
It works with all standard unmodified Nikon F mounted lenses. Genuine Nikon and after market(Tokina, Tamron, etc)
For G lenses with no iris ring the mount adapter has Iris ring built in the mount. Calibrated adjustable iris scale to match all Nikon lenses With standard gear included.
It's the same mechanism that Red camera users have used for over two years with consistent solid results and raving reviews. Now also available for Red Epic.
 

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$750 for the prolock. You're the one that keeps claiming these adapters are just metal tubes and that the ebay ones are just fine. You've also claimed that precision in making adapters is a marketing trick. Someone can buy 30 cheap nikon adapters for $25 bucks a piece and dispose of them when they loosen then spending $750 on your adapter. Hows it feel.
 
Absolutely. But if you are a professional that needs the best and makes living off their camera there is ProLock.....
And ProLock is ACTUALLY CLEARLY DIFFERENT. There is a very precise locking mechanism for Nikon.
Third generation(evolution- not redesign) now- slightly better than before (never settle- always improve the next generation)
 
Does the Prolock also have a back focus adjustment? I would love for the nikon mt top have its own adjustment so I could keep the regular F3 mount set for PL.
So far I haven't seen many adapters that are are perfectly machined including the Sony PL >F3 adapters. I have tried 2 on the same camera with different results.
 
The ProLock is not adjustable- that would be plain WRONG from the engineering stand point(I've explained why many times).
It is however perfectly matched to the PL adapter- this is part of the QC procedure. Actually really simple one too- I can't get why this is such an issue....
In two years on the marked not once I had a complaint about it on RedOne camera... Go figure....
 
optitek said:
The ProLock is not adjustable- that would be plain WRONG from the engineering stand point(I've explained why many times).
It is however perfectly matched to the PL adapter- this is part of the QC procedure. Actually really simple one too- I can't get why this is such an issue....
In two years on the marked not once I had a complaint about it on RedOne camera... Go figure....
Click to expand...

I'm not sure you understood Lenny, and I'm not sure I understood your response.

What I think Lenny was asking was, after this is installed is there any way to use PL lenses. I have the same question.

What I think you responded (a bit defensively it seemed. See the highlighted phrases) was that you can still use the PL adapter. Is that correct?

BTW, you often make references to comments you made on Reduser. Many of us are not regular viewers at Reduser, so those sorts of comments sound condescending and not helpful. Do not assume we've seen your comments over there.
 
clarification(hopefully)

clarification(hopefully)

It's typical forum misunderstanding. No I'm not defensive, maybe a little frustrated having to explain something hundred times over, like a broken record:violin:
On this forum, not necessarily Reduser, I've done it at least a dozen times. Adjustable height adapters are wrong on cameras like F3 or Epic. Plain and simple.
The fact that someone wants one, or someone even makes one- does not change the "wrong" part. Lenny is a nice guy, I like him dearly(in a "manly" way of course) but that does not make him always right. He knows that...
Now back to the topic:
You remove the PL adapter and replace the ProLock- 10 seconds tops- why would you want or need hybrid system with all the complications/errors/expenses involved?
If your flange with the PL was set to 52mm correctly the ProLock will match it perfectly.
Now if your pl/Nikon lenses have their backfocus messed up they may not focus correctly- but what does that have to do with the camera or adapter? It's a lens problem and the lens(es) should be corrected.
It's really pretty simple notion- no need to make it complicated......
I hope this post does not look too defensive to you-I sincerely do:love4: all LOVE here
 
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