Which adapter is best for Nikon F mount lenses?

[speedracerlo]

I just made the pre-order on B&H, but they didn't offer any kind of adapter for Nikon F to Sony E mount.
I looked around and saw the voigtlander and novoflex which seem to be the best in terms of adapters.
Would the voigtlander be just as good or is the novoflex worth the extra money?

 

[brunerww]

Speed,

I recommend this $25 Rainbow Imaging adapter from Amazon (to save an extra $2, select the Rainbow Imaging adapter in "more buying choices" on the right side of the page - I couldn't figure out how to link to it directly).

Inexpensive adapters from Amazon have worked just fine for me, and they have a great no-hassle return policy.

I just don't see any reason to spend $219 for a Voigtlander or $293 for a Novoflex.

But if you absolutely have to have to most expensive Nikon to E-mount adapter on the market you could always get the $380 MTF ;-)

Hope this is helpful.

Cheers,

Bill

 

[mico]

There is word if you read other forums that the cheap adapters do not have a matte like feature incorporated into the adapter that cuts extraneous light from hitting the chip like the MTF adapters do.. I would get an adapter made by a company that actually knows what they're doing instead of some Chinese knockoff for $20.

 

[brunerww]

There is word if you read other forums that the cheap adapters do not have a matte like feature incorporated into the adapter that cuts extraneous light from hitting the chip like the MTF adapters do.. I would get an adapter made by a company that actually knows what they're doing instead of some Chinese knockoff for $20.

Here's a guy shooting with an MTF adapter on the F3. He says:

when it comes to the MTF-adapter I am very happy with the build quality and what it does. However I find it really hard to adjust the aperture. It is hard to reach the adaptor ring because of the width of the F3 and if you don't find the small stud on the adaptor by chance the adaptor ring is too slippery to get a good grip on. I'd like the ring to have a pattern to make it easier to grip and the stud to be much longer so it can be reached with a finger without having to reach around the front of the camera.

I don't have any problems adjusting lens aperture with my ~$30 asian Nikon to Micro 4/3 adapter. And if I did, I'd be a whole lot more frustrated if I'd spent $300 plus on it :smile:

Don't want to start a flame war, but these non-electronic, non-optical adapters are just well-machined metal tubes. Voigtlander, Novoflex (and MTF) should be ashamed of themselves.

Bill

 

[Jason Allen]

I used the Rainbow Imaging adapter for a while on my NEX-3, and it both got stuck to the back of my 85/1.4 ZF, and then fell apart when I managed to safely remove the lens from its dastardly clutches!

I use this Fotodiox adapter currently on my NEX-VG10 and NEX-3. I plan to use it on the FS100 when I get one later this summer.

http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Adapter-Nikkor-Including-NEX-VG10/dp/B003Y2YE3A

It's built solid, the aperture adjustment for "G" lenses is damped enough that it stays put when stopping down, and it stays put when you just want the aperture wide open. I've really "put it through the paces" on two short films so far, and a bunch of freelance work. Not bad for $50!

 

[mico]

From Alister Chapman who knows a thing or two about cameras:

"One thing we discovered, not mentioned in the video is that when you use a full frame lens, like the Nikon 50mm. You must ensure that the E-Mount adapter you use has an internal baffle or choke. If it doesn’t you will suffer from excessive flare. The adapter I had did not have a baffle and some shots (not used) were spoilt by flare. The adapter I have from MTF for the F3 has a baffle as do MTF’s E-Mount adapters, so these should not suffer from this issue."

If you search you can find the video he did testing these cameras.

 

[mico]

Here's a guy shooting with an MTF adapter on the F3. He says:



I don't have any problems adjusting lens aperture with my ~$30 asian Nikon to Micro 4/3 adapter. And if I did, I'd be a whole lot more frustrated if I'd spent $300 plus on it :smile:

Don't want to start a flame war, but these non-electronic, non-optical adapters are just well-machined metal tubes. Voigtlander, Novoflex (and MTF) should be ashamed of themselves.

Bill

No war just trying to get the facts thats all. Your link is about someone using a Nikon adapter with an F3. Not all MTF adapters are the same and not everyone will be using a Nikon adapter . Fs100 adapters might be different and that poster also goes on to imply that he still is supporting Mike Tapa at MTF.

 

[Lee Saxon]

Voigtlander, Novoflex (and MTF) should be ashamed of themselves.

They should be ashamed of themselves for what they charge.

The cheapo brands like Fotodiox should be ashamed of themselves for producing worthless garbage.

I find the former to be the lesser evil.

if any tesing was done besides it just fitting properly, that is a crucial component to the system seems foolish.

Fotodiox doesn't do that much.

 

[mico]

Regarding cost it seems like MTF did some actual testing with lenses and cameras to have added this baffle or choke. So it doesn't seem like they just machined a metal tube. Thats time and money in R+D as well as the machining. They seem to be machined to strict tolerances from actual testing and that is worth a lot to me when you're depending on it to get a good image without any surprises. Spending thousands of dollars on a camera and lenses only to use a $20 adapter ,from who knows where or if any tesing was done besides it just fitting properly, that is a crucial component to the system seems foolish.

 

[David G. Smith]

I have a set of Nikkor manual prime lenses I plan on using on the FS100 I have my pre-order in for. Less expensive Asian manufactured Nikon F to Canon EOS adaptors have worked fine for me with these lenses on my Canon HD-DSLR. I am going to pick up a couple of the less expensive Asian manufactured Nikon F to Sony E mount adaptors first and see how they work for myself. It just makes sense to me to do this before slapping down the money for the more expensive adaptors first. While the manufactures of the more expensive adaptors may be spending more on R&D, they sure as heck are spending more on marketing.

 

[mico]

While the manufactures of the more expensive adaptors may be spending more on R&D, they sure as heck are spending more on marketing.

What does that mean? I haven't seen one MTF ad. I found out about MTF talking to pro rental/ sales houses and working cameramen. Researching adapters online reading forum posts I know why. Good shooting.

 

[speedracerlo]

the matte is an important factor, but
The main concern for any adapter to me is the amount of play it has.
I'll gladly pay a premium for the adapter that has the least play.
I'm curious whether the MTF has less play than the novoflex or voigtlander. Does anyone have experience with these adapters?
perhaps I should ask on the F3 forum

 

[daihard]

I took my cheap adaptor and lightly sanded the inside to a mat finish. Seems to help a bit (for the expensive baffle/choke substitue), and cost me about 10cents.
Someone had mentioned this a while back, talking about light spill between the lens, adaptor, and finally sensor.
GH2 and a 50mm f1.4 and 85 f1.4.

 

[brunerww]

I am going to pick up a couple of the less expensive Asian manufactured Nikon F to Sony E mount adaptors first and see how they work for myself. It just makes sense to me to do this before slapping down the money for the more expensive adaptors first.

I agree with David here. Personally, I will try the inexpensive adapters first and check for fit and flares for myself. If they work, I've saved myself a few hundred bucks.

But whatever folks need and can afford, they should buy. I simply want people know that the less expensive options exist. Information in the hands of the consumer makes for an informed marketplace, which benefits everyone.


Cheers,

Bill

 

[David G. Smith]

What does that mean? I haven't seen one MTF ad. I found out about MTF talking to pro rental/ sales houses and working cameramen. Researching adapters online reading forum posts I know why. Good shooting.

So, all I have to do is make a product and then everybody will be talking about, and it will be all over the internet without me spending a dime on marketing? Wow, that's how it works huh? I stand corrected.

 

[mico]

Good shooting pal you'll need it.

 

[dsleep]

I agree with David here. Personally, I will try the inexpensive adapters first and check for fit and flares for myself. If they work, I've saved myself a few hundred bucks.

But whatever folks need and can afford, they should buy. I simply want people know that the less expensive options exist. Information in the hands of the consumer makes for an informed marketplace, which benefits everyone.


Cheers,

Bill

i agree that information in the hands of the consumer is a good thing but saying things like "Voigtlander, Novoflex (and MTF) should be ashamed of themselves." is stupid and inflammatory and adds nothing to the conversation.

 

[speedracerlo]

does anyone care about the amount of play that an adatper has?
i can't find any info on which adapters have the best fitting

I found a voigtlander adapter on ebay for 179+8 which is a price I am comfortable with as long as the quality would be up to standard.
I really don't know about the $20 adapters, but there seems to be a few different designs.

I also found out that the Voigtlander Nikon F to M4/3 adapter is actually better than the Novoflex in terms of fit and play.
I'll probably just go with the Voigtlander to be safe.

I've learned throughout the past few years of buying filmming equipment that you get what you pay for.
the cheap ones, I don't recommend at all, unless you just can't afford the proper ones.

 

[Postmaster]

I´m happy with this one

http://cgi.ebay.de/NIKON-AF-G-lens-...o_Camcorder_Filteradapter&hash=item4cf6822237

 

[David G. Smith]

does anyone care about the amount of play that an adatper has?
i can't find any info on which adapters have the best fitting

I found a voigtlander adapter on ebay for 179+8 which is a price I am comfortable with as long as the quality would be up to standard.
I really don't know about the $20 adapters, but there seems to be a few different designs.

I also found out that the Voigtlander Nikon F to M4/3 adapter is actually better than the Novoflex in terms of fit and play.
I'll probably just go with the Voigtlander to be safe.

I've learned throughout the past few years of buying filmming equipment that you get what you pay for.
the cheap ones, I don't recommend at all, unless you just can't afford the proper ones.

That is why I have put together a set of manual Nikon lenses. The Nikon F-mount is the most popular lens mount in history. Any camera designer who is making a new interchangeable camera design, and lens mount, that is not easily adaptable to the Nikon F-mount is crazy. Adapting a Nikon F-mount to a new lens mount configuration, especially one with the short flange to focal distance as the Sony E-mount, ain't rocket science, it is well established mechanical engineering. Sure, you get what you paid for, but sometimes you end up paying for more than you need. I would be willing to bet that the MTF adaptors are outstanding pieces of gear, and will last a life time, but I am just not going to dish out the cash for the top end adaptors until I have tried the lower cost versions first. Especially for a camera system that I know I will be upgrading out of in probably 3 years. I am very, very excited about the FS-100 and can not wait to get my hands on it. However, I know that this is not going to be my last camera, and the less I can spend for camera specific gear, the better off I will be. I will continue to buy manual Nikon F-mount lenses, and, hopefully, start to move up to PL mount glass, all of which will be usable on the FS-100 and dang near any other camera that comes down the pike. If the lower costs F-mount to Sony E mount adaptors work for me, then I am way ahead. If they don't, then I am not out that much and will look for others.

Is that really so hard to understand?