MTF Nikon Adapter / Loose Lenses

Macro uses the same ring, but with BF in the middle. You don't have to be close to the object as a matter of fact it may not work when in macro.
 
Douglases' technique is an interesting trick that makes use of misadjusted backfocus. i've only heard of it once before in my life and never tried it or heard of it before recently in 30 years of shooting. The traditional method is just to do a focus pull which I would think would be much faster and easier to implement but hey never tried the other method.
The reason broadcast lenses have BF adjustments though is to maintain focus through the zoom range. I presume that's just because Broadcast video gear was just never designed to the stricter tolerances that film gear was, and was being used by lots of people and rental shops that just weren't equipped for the kind of testing and care that film shoots received.

My feeling is that in the age of large sensor video and especially inexpensive large sensor video that we are between both worlds. Optitek is advocating for the the kind of standards film people have always demanded. He's 100% right, but it requires being able to test lenses and cameras with professional tools that unfortunately few people in the sub F35, Alexa, or sometimes Red and PL lens world world have at their disposal. When Letus, Redrock and Brevis cheap 35mm adapters became the rage a few years ago the situation was horrendous. The earliest adapters didn't have backfocus adjustments at all and the methods the did suggest were Byzantine to be generous. Moreover the people selling the gear didn't understand how to set backfocus correctly and had no testing gear. I bought 5 different adapters and they were all miles off. After a few years the manufacturers wised up somewhat. Thank god we're past that stage.

Right now we have people using inexpensive Nikon to Canon adapters that are all over the map and still camera lenses and cameras that I assume couldn't be built or adjusted to motion picture standards - the stuff is just too cheap. Lots of adapters are now available for the F3 and I am just wary - so I've developed my own testing methods to make sure I'm not screwing up too badly and I have tested my Nikons on a collimator at my old employers shop. But I don't know what's going to happen if I try to put the PL adapter on there. The first try was not encouraging. I hope I can find the standards in my area of the woods that will allow me to switch between Nikons and PL glass confidently and adapters that will hold my Nikons in place reliably. Optitek's adapter sounds good to me tho I just don't have the cash right now and my MTF is working OK.

Thanks for listening - i'm done.

Lenny levy
 
It's interesting to read about the angle/perspective of somebody that experienced all these transitions. I must admit I'm a bit detached from it since I've always been involved technically in 35mm film equipment and in last few years with digital cinema cameras. To me properly designed and consistently maintained equipment was always a given... Time (downtime)on set has always been by far the most valuable asset and fiddling with gear was simply not acceptable. Gear/rental companies rose and fell on equipment reliability issues....
So excuse me if I sound shocked/outraged sometimes when I read these stories. I really admire your persistence having to deal with these never ending gear challenges...
One thing I promise is that I apply all these rules I have lived by for last 25 years in our industry to every one of my products...
 
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If you have a lens which doesn't fit correctly on the mount, and are unhappy, send it back to them for a refund.

We test every adapter before it leaves us. Every adapter is hand finished atnd tested so we know when it arrives it's going to work straight out of the pouch.

The Iris pin on the MTF adapter is very thin and looks like it's going to snap off at any moment. At Adaptimax we use a thumbscrew which is much more accurate and sturdy. You can adjust aperture by a fraction of a stop very easily and quickly.

We have them in stock for next day dispatch. And for the next two weeks if you enter the code "10percentdvx" at checkout you will save a big 10% off the price of the adapter.

Best
Steve Shovlar
Adaptimax.com
 
Just got the Optitek mount for the F3 and am pleased with the build. It certainly is not a cheap device (more than twice the MTF), but it seems to be a better long term solution. I had the MTF and really liked it, but got a little spooked by all the comments in this thread. I think they're both solid mounts (haven't tried Adaptimax), but the Optitek seems more built for the long term with its locking mechanism.
 
truelife said:
Just got the Optitek mount for the F3 and am pleased with the build. It certainly is not a cheap device (more than twice the MTF),...
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Why all the mystery about the price??
Can we have a confirmation how much exactly, as I am sure I will order it as soon as Jacek reply to my email. I have been waiting since June for this... Working too long with G lenses and MTF gets frustrating...
 
Tata Steva said:
Why all the mystery about the price??
Can we have a confirmation how much exactly, as I am sure I will order it as soon as Jacek reply to my email. I have been waiting since June for this... Working too long with G lenses and MTF gets frustrating...
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Your email replied to. No secret- just basic forum etiquette...:happy:
 
At $650 I would go for it rather than the not so tight as the MTF. I'm not saying that if I only used Nikons I wouldn't pay the $1,000, but 3-5 sec. specialty lens shoot it is a hugh investment.
 
nsoltz said:
That's for the Red version, which is what confused me at first as well.
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Thanks for the clarification. The website does not appear to make that distinction, unless I overlooked it.
Despite the fact that this adapter may represent a better mousetrap, I find it hard to justify a $1000,00 purchase when my MTF, albeit not the best solution, still does the job.
Should the mount fail at some future date, i may be forced to change my mind.
 
Duke M. said:
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.
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Hi guys, is the stiffness normal with the MTF Nikon G to F3 adapter??! I'm trying out some Nikon manual glass lenses and there's no way I can turn the lens on even a bit, nevermind far enough to engage the spring lock.
 
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The more you use it, the more it will comform to your set. Remember there is a gap or slit in the mount ears, yours is just is just a bit widened making it tight. You can add some force to it when mounting. But if it is too too tight and will not mount, then return or have mtf close the gap a little more on ears.
 
I heard back from Mike Tapa at MTF who asked that I return it to them to have the Nikon mount replaced. This is a kind gesture and all, but do you really think it will just losen on its own? I can't even get a lens on to turn 1/2 inch for example...

What a bummer, I just bought this and now have to ship it back to the manufacturer?
 
My MTF has been just fine, but I want the Opti one for the aperture ring. Opti, emailed you twice to no avail. I am interested. Also wish to get in the que for an EPIC unit.

Thanks.
 
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