Which adapter is best for Nikon F mount lenses?

allantab said:
Hey NeedCreative, do you have a link to the particular Nikon to NEx adapter that Rainbow Imaging sells that does not work? They have at least three models, one in the low $20s, late $20s-$30s, and one in the $50 range. The last two models apparently included aperture control
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It is the Rainbow Imaging Nikon G AFS to Sony E Mount adapter for $32.99 with aperture control for G lenses. But it didn't fit the Sony. fotodiox Nikon G to NEX works fine.
 
I have 2 fotodiox nikon to emount and there is play. But, I took a little strip of gaff tap and that solved the problem. Very snug and solid fit now.
 
Turns out not to be a "cheap China junk" thing - the expensive and much lauded Novoflex features the same behavior.

The remedy is the same as on the cheap $32 adapter (and almost always on a film set) = black gaff tape.

Frank
 
LoganMackay said:
Yes... I don't understand it. Someone buys a 5k camera and $250 - $1500 lens and cheaps out on the link between the two.
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So feel the same way, but be careful some might accuse you of buying into marketing hype regarding those expensive metal tubes made by MTF and cameraquest.
 
mico said:
Careful some might accuse you buying into marketing hype regarding those expensive metal tubes made by MTF and cameraquest.
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$250 is a small price to pay for 0 play between adapter lens and camera + accurate infinity focus + repeatable apperture settings with a G lens. I've used cheap ebay m43/Nikon adapters before and there is no comparison.
 
sinapps said:
$250 is a small price to pay for 0 play between adapter lens and camera + accurate infinity focus + repeatable apperture settings with a G lens. I've used cheap ebay m43/Nikon adapters before and there is no comparison.
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So true. I guess it took awhile for problems to arise for people to finally realize that its more than just a metal tube that makes some adapters, made by people who know what they're doing, a bit more expensive.
 
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mico said:
So true. I guess it took awhile for problems to arise for people to finally realize that its more than just a metal tube that makes some adapters, made by people who know what they're doing, a bit more expensive.
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Sadly, you are wrong. It's just a metal tube and the only difference is that people that make them speak English so they can come here and make their claims of "hi quality", "aircraft alloy" and " precision engineering". If that's what you mean by "know what they doing" then I agree- you pay more for it...
 
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optitek said:
Sadly, you are wrong. It's just a metal tube and the only difference is that people that make them speak English so they can come here and make their claims of "hi quality", "aircraft alloy" and " precision engineering". If that's what you mean by "know what they doing" than I agree- you pay more for it...
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I think you're wrong. Go to the F3 board and tell them they're all suckers. Its got nothing to do with aircraft alloy. Look I know you make adapters so why don't you make one for $25 and put your views to the test. The cheap adapters have no baffle, tolerances are off, infinity focus is elusive for some, I can shine a light on my cheap nikon adapter and see the problem, Alister Chapman ruined his footage using a cheap adapter, and these posts through testimony, some with verifiable video proof show the issue. I choose not to use gaffers tape to fix the issue. Whats your point that they're overcharging because they're not from China? Step up then and make some adapters. Do you think I want to pay hundreds for something you say can be made for far less and without any issues. I'd love for you to prove me wrong. There are a handful of companies that make adapters that do not have these issues and they all charge around the same price. Are they all in collusion together? Just because you make a $750 nikon adapter for the red camera doesn't make you right. I really want you to be right, all you have to do is make a issue free nikon adapter for $25, you'll make a fortune.
 
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I am using the below adaptor that I purchased off of eBay and I have not had any issues with it. The lens fits to it with no play. There is no play between the adaptor and the camera. There is no light leaks and it focuses to infinity. I paid $22.90 plus shipping. There is no way on God's green earth that I am going to spend several hundred dollars for a mechanical lens adaptor before at least trying a much less expensive alternative.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280606744018&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
 
David G. Smith said:
I am using the below adaptor that I purchased off of eBay and I have not had any issues with it. The lens fits to it with no play. There is no play between the adaptor and the camera. There is no light leaks and it focuses to infinity. I paid $22.90 plus shipping. There is no way on God's green earth that I am going to spend several hundred dollars for a mechanical lens adaptor before at least trying a much less expensive alternative.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280606744018&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
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I guess the issue is solved then. I would suggest that anyone looking for a nikon adapter run not walk to ebay and get that perfect adapter based on that recommendation.
 
Why should I make a Nikon adapter for $25 if there are tons of them on ebay? It makes no sense. Instead I buy these to test various lenses on various cameras.
They all work fine - I have about half a dozen different ones.

First of all ebay has return policy so you can return them if you don't like them. How is that different than anybody else?

When I took a marketing class at SBA years ago the instructor asked us to clearly define the unique nature of our product or service.
He immediately remarked that he will not accept cliches like "hi quality" or "great customer service" nobody buys poor quality products with poor customer service- he said.
Don't advertise this- it goes without saying. Apparently these cliches are alive and well here and serve as effective marketing. Go figure.....
As for my adapters - they have very unique and clear features that nobody else offers. This is all I need to do- explain what they are. I don't recall saying once that my products are high quality and we offer excellent customer service-this should be a given in this industry. I get compliments from accomplished professionals with amazing credits. That's all I need... Oh and the payment- but that's secondary. Integrity is first...

As far as the cost of European made adapters I think it's fair- I couldn't make and sell them for less.

Unfortunately the reality today is that manufacturing costs less than 20% in China(than in Europe or the US) , on top of that the Chinese are willing to take less profit so the end result is that they charge 10% as their price. This is precisely why we don't want to join the "choir" of standard adapter manufacturers- it's doomed IMO- waste of time.
I could be wrong- I've been before...
 
It does make sense. You should make one because I'm sure there would be no question of its dependability, which is hit or miss now with the ebay ones (see numerous testimonies). Seriously in your business course didn't they teach you about niche markets or about dependability as a factor in sales.

Don't misunderstand me this is not buyers remorse. I've bought more cheap adapters that didn't work out to finally being very happy in paying the costly price I did for my no issue FD and Nikon adapters. And you know what, if I can afford to pay for an adapter that is paying someone a living wage to make in the US and Europe that makes me kind of happy, instead of supporting a civil rights abusing poverty wage sweat shop child labour abusing country.

I have to wonder though why these expensive adapter companies took the time to put a baffle in their adapters when it isn't necessary. I guess its one of their ploys to make me think they're better adapters.

If you have bought these cheap adapters to test lenses on could you please tell us which ones worked because there seems to be a problem with some of them. A list would really help alot of people including myself in headaches and savings.
 
As it turns out that the light also shines into some of the expensive adapters - so paying a high price is not a insurance.
On the other hand, we have several 20 bucks adapters here that work flawless.
So the whole "you get what you pay for" discussion is a blind alley.

Still photo equipment - especially lenses don't have that tight tolerances , that we are used to in the motion picture industry anyway.
So buy a few adapters on ebay and return those that don't work for you. Save a lot of money that way and be a happy camper, without the feeling of getting ripped off.

my ct2 - Frank
 
mico said:
I guess the issue is solved then. I would suggest that anyone looking for a nikon adapter run not walk to ebay and get that perfect adapter based on that recommendation.
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You can do what you think best with your money and I am going to do what I think best with my money.

mico said:
If you have bought these cheap adapters to test lenses on could you please tell us which ones worked because there seems to be a problem with some of them. A list would really help alot of people including myself in headaches and savings.
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With the adaptor I noted above, I have tested, with no noted issues, a 20mm f2.8 AI-S, a 24mm f2.8 pre-AI, a 35mm f2.8 pre-AI, a 50mm f1.4 pre-AI and a 100mm f2.8 Series E lens.

I actually feel fortunate to have purchased such an inexpensive adaptor that is working without issue. Buying off of eBay can be a crap shoot, but if you have a little bit of experience you can get a feel for the game. I did not buy the first adaptor that came up when I searched for, "Nikon F mount to Sony E mount", nor the least expensive. I pulled up as many as I could find and compared them. What drew me to the adaptor I purchased was that it the eBay seller was a US company and that their feedback was pretty good. Using a US company, as a US resident, means that if you get a sh*t product, you can raise a little bit of hell with eBay, and PayPal, and, at least, get you money back. This may not be the case with non-US sellers, or with adaptors bought directly from a manufacturer or reseller. While I may have lucked out, I also, took very little risk to test out an inexpensive lens adaptor. Welcome to the game.


EDIT: Uhhhh, Frank got in first... so, what he said also.
 
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