Nikon Lenses for GH2 AND 5D

R

rjett

Member
I am looking to build a lens set. I have heard on forms that the best pic is older Nikon lenses.
I have a GH2 but I would also like to have the 5D mark III when it comes out. I found several adaptors on Ebay that work for for both cameras.

Is the Nikon lenses the correct choice for my Canon/Panny kit?
And, if so, which Nikon lens would you recommend? Zooms and/or fixed.
Also, of the adaptors available is there a "best choice" and any that would allow the cameras to use all its functionality.

Thanks for your time, rj
 
If you want to get nikkor's, stick to the AI and AI-s primes - excellent optics, great MF, and solid metal. AF-D's are really excellent - they feature updated coatings and a nice selection of fast zooms - for primes, stick to AI/AI-s lenses. stay away from nikon G lenses since they do not have aperture rings and will require a special adapter or a nikon body to dial in the aperture.
 
The only issue with Nikon lenses is that they focus to infinity in a different direction than lenses from any other company (I think). There are workarounds if you think that is a big deal.
 
Ajit AP said:
The only issue with Nikon lenses is that they focus to infinity in a different direction than lenses from any other company (I think). There are workarounds if you think that is a big deal.
Click to expand...

Just to be clear, Nikon lenses focus the correct way, everyone else focuses backwards! :)
 
ROCKMORE said:
Cars have both left and right hand steering. Who's to say which one is right. It's just the way it is like lenses.
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Well, the thing is, every cinema lens, every video broadcast lens, and every stills lens (other than Nikon) focuses one way. And Nikon focuses the other. Whether you want to call it "right" or "wrong" is I guess a matter of interpretation, but Nikon is clearly the odd man out when it comes to focus direction.
 
Interesting. All cinema lenses I have used focus counter clockwise to infinity looking from behind the camera. The GH2 I just purchased is just the opposite. I will have to go to the nearest camera store to sort this out.

My next hoop to jump through is audio. I have a Zoom h4n and I have used PluralEyes but I would rather not deal with that. I can not wait for a software hack. And I do not want the bulky JuceLink option. How about an attenuator from line out to mic in. Ya, I know about non-balnced line and picking up crosstalk. I just know there has to be something out there......anyone?
 
Nikon is not alone, Pentax & Zeiss also focus clockwise to infinity

Of interest there is a standard within the graphics and imaging sectors which has adopted the right hand rule set which means that an image, starting with the origin at top left, has its x axis to the left, y axis down and z (depth axis ) clockwise turning from x to y axis. Nikon, Pentax & Zeiss therefore conform to these standards as they focus clockwise to infinity

'just sayin'
 
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Some of the original AIS Nikon lenses are still available new. Search Nikon USA for more details on AIS manual focus lenses and B&H. They are still made in the Japanese Original Nikon Factory and built with all metal construction, and SIC coatings on the glass. We did a number of comparisons to the Zeiss ZE, ZF and feel the build quality and focus smoothness and bokeh were much better on the Nikon AIS versions.

The older 85mm 1.4 AIS is very hard to find although we were lucky enough to find 3 over the years in top quality that we use for our studio. There are some pics of these 85 1.4 AIS lenses on 5D Mark II Canon gear at our site on the products pages, and I just posted another message with a similar question in the AF100 thread, but I highly recommend the Nikon AIS manual focus lenses. We shoot with the 85mm 1.4 AIS, 20mm 2.8 AIS, and the 50mm 1.2 AIS, although this lens will not fit on the Canon body without mod (we used our cnc shop to adapt and it was very affordable). We will be releasing some test footage shot on the 5D Mark II, and the Nikon D7000 very soon all shot with Nikon AIS lenses. Using the Nikon AIS lenses on the Canon will require an adapter which can be picked up on ebay for a few bucks.

Here is a pick of the pristine 85mm 1.4 AIS purchased on an ebay auction(using a adapter purchased on ebay) on our cineGLIDE (patent pending slider system)

cineZEN cineGLIDE.jpg

ERIC J KOSINSKI
President/CEO | cineZEN USA
www.cinezenusa.com
 
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