AF Nikon adapter for the SL

[BCMielke]

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With the announcement of the autofocus EF Canon adapter I am wondering at the likelihood of seeing one for Nikon lenses.  Anyone have any thoughts?  

 

 

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[wildlightphoto]

An adapter for Nikon lenses will either be limited to specific types of Nikon lenses or will be quite complex and expensive.  There have been numerous electronic and mechanical variations on AF Nikon lenses.

[BCMielke]

I was afraid that you would say that.  From looking over the other thread that's what it appears to be.  

[steppenw0lf]

There are different ways to look at this. 

I do not expect an adapter that serves all different types of Nikkor lenses at the same time. But I am quite sure that there will be one for the most popular types. Maybe there will be two or even three different adapters. But you can choose what is most important for you.

So no reason to be depressed - just think of how some "experts" sounded a few weeks ago about AF adapters for EOS lenses. 

Simply wait and see ...

 

But I must admit, that I do not worry about this too much, because I enjoy the SL for its possibilities to use manual lenses.

For example I have the Nikon AF-S 2.8/17-35 ED lens. And I am happy using it manually. And I will probably never buy an AF adapter for this lens, as it makes no big difference. The same is valid for the 2/135mm DC which is nice to use manually.

 

Maybe I would buy an AF adapter for some tele-lenses. But we all know that typically the AF performance of these lenses is not as perfect as with a native camera. So I would probably rather spend the money on a corresponding Nikon camera, than on a "perfect" AF adapter.

As I have an eye on the 300mm PF lens, this could maybe be a reason to buy an adapter for E lenses (with electronic aperture control), if ever available.

 

But maybe AF performance will be much better in the future. It is all completely unknown, let's get surprised.

[FlashGordonPhotography]

It's been the same with the adaptors for Sony cameras. It appears that reverse engineering Canon AF protocols is easier than Nikon, although Sigma, Tamron and Tokina have done it for their lenses. However Sigma has announced that some of their lenses are not fully compatible with the new D5 Nikon. Canon has had the same fully electronic mount for a long time now and even the original EF lenses must work so it must be easier to have a single set of commands to copy.

 

Since Nikon and Canon are both similar in marke`t size I think if it were vaiable `to make a good Nikon adaptor, someone would have made one for the Sony's. There is one out there but it appears to be a work in progress with constant firmware updates. This might mean that we are heading to getting one but it also says it's not an easy task.

 

I have some adapted Canon lenses on the Sony A7R2 and they're great in good light but quickly crumble in low light or low contrast scenes. So even there it's not a total solution. However the T/S lenses and macro lenses are fabulous on the Sony's. As a result I think the main adavantage, currently, is to use other brand lenses with electronic exposure control and manual focus. That opens up some speciality lenses like tilt shift lenses for use on the SL now rather than years and years from now.

 

Of course, any Nikon mont lens with an aperture dial works like an R lens on the SL already. And there's even the Novoflex adaptor with the inbuilt diaphram. I have that one but since all my Nikon mount lenses have aperture rings I've never tested how well it works.

 

Gordon

[steppenw0lf]

The Nikon G adapters work very well. The only difference is that often (for all adapters I know, but I do not know all of them) the discreet steps are missing, so you do not know exactly (mechanically) what aperture you have.

It feels a bit like a film lens. But this is no big problem as the camera (SL) usually shows some kind of approximation and you see the result of the closing of the iris (the additional depth of field) in the viewfinder.

It uses the lenses iris, it just adds a manual steering mechanism - that is usually provided by a compatible Nikon camera (where it is electronic). This works because the G lenses do still have a mechanical diaphragm coupling - the E lenses do not.

[BCMielke]

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It appears that it is totally possible for AF to be enabled for Nikon lenses. Although this adapter is for Sony it gives me hope that we will see one for the Leica system.

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1217137-REG/vello_lae_se_nf_nikon_f_lens_to.html?utm_medium=Email%201617699&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_source=Newsletter%20160609&utm_content=Retail&utm_term=Nikon-F-Lens-to

[haydenc]

It appears that it is totally possible for AF to be enabled for Nikon lenses. Although this adapter is for Sony it gives me hope that we will see one for the Leica system.

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1217137-REG/vello_lae_se_nf_nikon_f_lens_to.html?utm_medium=Email%201617699&utm_campaign=Newsletter&utm_source=Newsletter%20160609&utm_content=Retail&utm_term=Nikon-F-Lens-to

 

Have a look at those reviews for this adapter! 1 out of 5 stars!

 

see the other thread to see my experience with the new canon adaptor. 

Basically it is slow and buggy.

If you need reliability and autofocus then you have to get native lenses for the SL

[Suteetat]

There is also Commlite adapter for Nikon G to E mount that came out a couple of months ago. Also a new firmware just came out for it a couple of weeks ago.

For now, it works well for 14-24,20/1.8G, 24/1.4G, 35/1.8, 58/1.4, 18-35G, Sigma ART 24/1.4, very usable with 70-200/2.8 and under good condition and not fast moving object, 300/4PF and 200-500 (these

are all the lenses that I tested, I am sure it works well with some other G lenses as well but as far as I know, not with 105/2.8 macro)

I can see 14-24 be an interesting option for SL as there is nothing similar in Leica line. The rest of the primes that work well, I am not sure that I want to use those instead of Leica M, R

lenses that I have except may be 58/1.4 since I like its rendering very much. As far as zoom go, Leica 24-90/90-280 are fine by me and for longer tele where AF speed is critical, I'll just

stick with my Nikon body. However, I could see myself using a version of F to T mount adapter for my Zeiss ZF.2 and other Nikon MF lenses such as 58/1.2 Noct Nikkor. I can already use

them with dummy adapter but it would be nice to control aperture and have full exif data with these lenses, I think.

[Avigo71]

I personly always wonder the prudence of using a 'Non Leica' lens on a Leica camera. The USP of a Leica system is hands down it's lenses. As far as camera features go, Nikon & Canon are definitely equal ( if not superior). I have all 3 systems. The unique  'Leica look' is what we all love! And we all know that it basically comes from the lenses, not the Sensor. So I often wonder as to why we all get so excited about these adapters. I would actually be more excited about an M or a SL adapter for Nikon or Canon camera bodies!

[steppenw0lf]

I am quite happy that these adapters exist. I have come to learn that the way Leica lenses render is not the only interesting way. For example I have now some old Contax lenses and I am again and again delighted by the results. And they seem different than results with corresponding Leica R lenses. This is a comparison I was not able to do before the SL.

Examples are the 35-70 lenses and the classic and now unpopular 4/80-200. http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/253192-leica-sl-image-thread-post-your-examples-here/page-70?do=findComment&comment=3068025  Maybe you look at the whole picture and find that all the borders in your head (in our heads) coming from the different brands are now a complete waste of time. It is now really possible to choose the lens which pleases most for a given topic/situation.

 

By the way, adding a R lens or a Contax lens is just as "prudent". Maybe this is why Leica did not wholeheartedly support the use of R lenses (the official single adapter is still not available).

[count_greebo]

I talked to Novoflex today. They were very nice. Said they expect to have a comparable Nikon adapter available "best case at photokina, if problems arise at the beginning of the next year, as we had to start from scratch developing it"

 

Hope this helps.

[ail]

Are  you suggesting that the adapter  will be AF?

I talked to Novoflex today. They were very nice. Said they expect to have a comparable Nikon adapter available "best case at photokina, if problems arise at the beginning of the next year, as we had to start from scratch developing it"

 

Hope this helps.

[count_greebo]

They said so, but only for lenses with a built in motor. As Nikon has changed its standards quite often, they're no quite sure yet which lenses will work fully.

[tobey bilek]

We want every thing now.   I remember reading in Leica Photography that it was not possible to integrate a meter in the camera.  Long time ago I know.