Nikon glass on A7s?

[M. Gilden]

I guess i'm confused as I've seen you have to manually set the focal length for proper stabilization. so that's fine for prime lenses but if I need to zoom from 24 to 70, do I have to set the zoom range each time?

Yes, that's true. The zoom is a problem because it won't update in real time- Canon and Minolta lenses will report their focal distance, and I believe will still work however I don't know anyone who has tried it yet. I sincerely hope it isn't limited to native lenses like AF is. Either way, primes are awesome and most film makers use zooms as variable primes... but it sure would be nice to have that work automatically, so I'll grant you that is a downside to Nikon lenses.

Matthew, while I don't deny that Nikon lenses - in particular their AF-D's - are a great option for video/cinema use, your post is a little bit misleading in some aspects.

Who's Matthew? You're quoting me, but that's not my name at all.

This may have been true 4-5 years ago when we had to choose between Canon or Nikon stills cameras, and when the Red One had a Nikon mount, but these days, in the new world of low-end cinema cameras, it is a different story.

Try one year ago. I was one of those people shooting Panasonic GH and Black Magic Pocket and waiting with baited breath for an adapter that supported changing aperture for my EOS collection. I used to carry an old Rebel in my gear bag just to change aperture and remove the lens while holding the DOF-preview button. All of us had to do that since there were only dumb passive adapters. Active adapters hit the market last summer. So yes, I agree that the market is shifting and the ability to not only change iris and report to the camera, but also have IS if the lens supports it, is just fantastic and something the Nikon adapters don't do (Yet). And what about Samsung NX1 owners? Or Digital Bolex, the new Leica SL, or what's out around the corner? The Nikon adapters come out instantly because they are simple and mechanical, and are still even today compatible with more mounts and platforms than the EOS ones are electronically.

My point is, until VERY RECENTLY, all my colleagues (and many threads on this forum) had discussed selling their EOS glass for Nikon versions to avoid this problem. Some are on platforms that still are doing this. My point was merely to tell the OP not to feel bad or jealous of Canon owners- until recently we were all jealous of him! Back up to just under 2 years ago, and everyone said that EOS support on Micro 4/3 and certain other platforms were impossible because "they don't speak Canon", and only Sony could be adapted because they practically advertise that other lenses can be supported via adapter. After years of R&D, a Micro 43 one came out. Who knows what's coming next, if it can be adapted elsewhere or if we'll see a Nikon adapter that reports focal length and IS electronically sometime in the future? The fact of the matter is, and always will be, you can use Nikon lenses mechanically on pretty much any mount in existence. But we're getting very far off-topic with this. He just asked if it would work, and we can all agree that YES IT CAN. And very well.

Several reviews have already stated that the in-body IS works better in conjunction with IS lenses. So Canon still has an edge over Nikon in this department. One other thing the Nikon lenses lack is the communication with the camera, so the user can not see their f-stop on the screen or in photo metadata.

Has anyone confirmed this symbiotic stabilization working on non-native lenses? I can imagine Sony being able to design their IS lenses and IS sensors to play nicely together, but does anyone remember the Olympus IBIS paired with IS Panasonic lenses? What a mess that was!

 

[Samuel H]

And what about Samsung NX1 owners? Or Digital Bolex, the new Leica SL, or what's out around the corner? The Nikon adapters come out instantly because they are simple and mechanical, and are still even today compatible with more mounts and platforms than the EOS ones are electronically.

I aggree with that.

Yes, L glass is great and IS is great but that glass is very expensive, and may not work on your next camera (or may take up to a year for the adapter you need to appear in the market). The only good thing is: as stills glass, it's not hard to sell. But I don't consider it a long-term investment.

On the other hand, my Leitz glass for Leica-R mount is fully manual and can be adapted to even more mounts than Nikon! Basically, anyting except PL, and in this case it includes Sony A and Pentax K, which are totally irrelevant for me right now but allow me to one-up M. Gliden for once in my life so there's that XDD <3

 

[M. Gilden]

On the other hand, my Leitz glass for Leica-R mount is fully manual and can be adapted to even more mounts than Nikon! Basically, anyting except PL, and in this case it includes Sony A and Pentax K, which are totally irrelevant for me right now but allow me to one-up M. Gliden for once in my life so there's that XDD <3

Once in your life? LOL
Dude, you created the Flaat profile. That's enough to one-up-me forever.

 

[deltoidjohn]

Who's Matthew? You're quoting me, but that's not my name at all.

My apologies! For some reason I'd just always interpreted your first initial as Matthew.

Will "Mr Gilden" be sufficient in future?

Try one year ago. I was one of those people shooting Panasonic GH and Black Magic Pocket and waiting with baited breath for an adapter that supported changing aperture for my EOS collection

Good point! I'd forgotten that it had taken a lot longer to release the m4/3rds adapters than the Sony version.

Yes, L glass is great and IS is great but that glass is very expensive

L glass is not your only option in EF mount though. There are plenty of great and inexpensive lenses from Sigma and Tamron, and the EF mount versions will work wonderfully with electronic adapters, including IS. Which makes any of these lenses a great option for the OP.

 

[unadog]

I would just mention that the strategy on adapting lenses may be different for those of us doing both stills and video. I gave up on manual focus for stills in 2004. I **do not** want to go back to manual focus and manual aperture control for event work, and similar faster paced stills work that I do. We are also starting to get functional video AF on systems like the Canon C100, taht should propagate to more systems as mirrorless finally catches up on AF.

I am shooting a Nikon D750 and a D5500 for stills and some video right now. I have Nikon, Sigma, and Tokina Nikon-mount lenses from 11 mm to 600 mm. I have a Metabones Nikon to M 4/3 adapter for my G7 and GH4. I have a full set of manual Canon FD lenses, a Nikon 24 mm 2.0, Contax 28 mm 2.8, etc.

But I also have a full Canon kit of fantastic glass, and I absolutely plan on hanging on to my Canon lenses. I am betting on those for long term compatibility, with AF, IS, and in camera aperture control, plus full metadata transfer. Specifically because they are all electronic, they are perfect for adapting to almost any camera system, except Nikon (because of the longer flange focal distance), while retaining full functionality.

In addition to the Metabones AF adapters and Speed Boosters, Kipon has a very good Canon EF to M 4/3 Auto Focus adapter that sells for $215 right now (which I have.) Commlite and FotoDioX have $100 Canon EF to NEX auto focus adapters (I have a FotoDioX.) I expect that Sony will include similar Phase Detection AF capability as they have in the A7RII in the A61xx or A7xxx series, either with the next release or soon after. Because it is becoming a competitive disadvantage NOT to have that capability.

 

[Samuel H]

Once in your life? LOL
Dude, you created the Flaat profile. That's enough to one-up-me forever.

You're too kind
*blushes*


Going back to the discussion about IS, I think this test is very useful (though yes, there's a lot of info missing).

 

[aras]

Don't worry if the lens doesnt lock...send it back

why would you wanna buy a ottus for the picture you link to?
Buy a 200$ used canon 85mm 1.8 and a 50$ adapter commlite or something and make that picture. You seem to have too much money in your wallet hurting your back!! lol

There are many good old nikon lenses and they fit sony e mount with a 10$ adaopter and work great

 

[Rdouthit]

FWIW I have an FS700 and an A7S and I shoot with Nikon lenses all day, every day. I use the Novoflex adaptor which is expensive but I can hang a massive 70-200 f2.8 VR off it when necessary. (Still recommend a support for that one though... It's 3 lbs on the front of the FS. Of course on an A7S the camera would hang off the lens.. Which will work great.) it can easily handle smaller lenses. I also bought one of the $60 adapters and it's not nearly as precise or solid. The clickless rotating aperture is perfect for G lenses.

(I do have some native Zeiss FE lenses, but I prefer the feel of the Nikons.)

 

[IronFilm]

I have nikon lenses and am interested in the A7sII or A7rII. Right now it doesn't look like there is good support for all nikon glass. You can get the metabones adapter but you will need to have an ais, or af-d type lens with aperture dial (no g lenses). Other adapters might offer aperture control. If you get the speedbooster you can use your g glass but you still adjust the aperture manually and you are stuck in APS-c mode. So basically no electronic connection to the camera as far as I know. Everything manual. You might still have focus peaking, not sure. It's not the end of the world, since most videographers prefer manual focus (with af for video often less than perfect) but if you are using it for stills, that may be another matter.

Nonsense, I can use G type lenses just fine. They're far more straight forward to adapt than Canon lenses (cheaper to adapt too!).

http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/9086/rj-lens-turbo-m43-adapters/p1

 

[IronFilm]

The only way EOS lenses will become obsolete compared to Nikon for film-making in the foreseeable future is if Nikon or Pentax, with their longer flange-distances, suddenly become the market leader for cinema cameras.

Well Nikon is clearly ahead of Canon for photography, so for those of us who do both then it is handy to have Nikon lenses rather than Canon.
And now Nikon is head of Canon for DSLR filmmaking too.... that is another bonus!

Try one year ago. I was one of those people shooting Panasonic GH and Black Magic Pocket and waiting with baited breath for an adapter that supported changing aperture for my EOS collection. I used to carry an old Rebel in my gear bag just to change aperture and remove the lens while holding the DOF-preview button. All of us had to do that since there were only dumb passive adapters. Active adapters hit the market last summer. So yes, I agree that the market is shifting and the ability to not only change iris and report to the camera, but also have IS if the lens supports it, is just fantastic and something the Nikon adapters don't do (Yet). And what about Samsung NX1 owners? Or Digital Bolex, the new Leica SL, or what's out around the corner? The Nikon adapters come out instantly because they are simple and mechanical, and are still even today compatible with more mounts and platforms than the EOS ones are electronically.

My point is, until VERY RECENTLY, all my colleagues (and many threads on this forum) had discussed selling their EOS glass for Nikon versions to avoid this problem. Some are on platforms that still are doing this. My point was merely to tell the OP not to feel bad or jealous of Canon owners- until recently we were all jealous of him! Back up to just under 2 years ago, and everyone said that EOS support on Micro 4/3 and certain other platforms were impossible because "they don't speak Canon", and only Sony could be adapted because they practically advertise that other lenses can be supported via adapter. After years of R&D, a Micro 43 one came out. Who knows what's coming next, if it can be adapted elsewhere or if we'll see a Nikon adapter that reports focal length and IS electronically sometime in the future? The fact of the matter is, and always will be, you can use Nikon lenses mechanically on pretty much any mount in existence. But we're getting very far off-topic with this. He just asked if it would work, and we can all agree that YES IT CAN. And very well.

This. x100


I'm quite likely going to get a Samsung NX1 sometime in the near future, as I think it quite simply offer the best bang for buck camera at its price point. And I've got the freedom of flexibility of choice to consider it, exactly because I've mostly invested in Nikon lenses.

 

[theprestige]

I kind of doubt there would be any IQ penalty. One of the advantages of mirrorless is that those fine lens tunings aren't needed. So if you like the look of nikon glass, it should be ok. It would be good to hear from an A7Sii or A7rII user if the Zebra, Gamma, and Focus Peaking still work for Nikon glass. I presume they would, but who knows. Also we know that the Nikon VR won't work, but how good the body's IBIS works is another question.

I need to know this too. I would have thought Focus peaking and zebras should work....

 

[Samuel H]

All those things worked on my a7S when using 50-years-old lenses that have no electronics at all, which means they also work with absolutely no lens on the camera. I'd be very surprised if they didn't work with electronic Nikon lenses.