p.1 #1 · To NEX or not to NEX? Zuiko glass and Canon system
Dear alt-system friends, what do you prefer as an alt-system setup for my Zuiko glass? The Sony NEX 5n compact and lightweight which fits perfectly well to the tiny Olympus lenses.? Or a Canon 1DsmkII with adapter ring?
I am in a Canon system already and have the alt-lenses I own already covered by Canon glass. I shall like to start with the Zuiko 2.8/35mm, 1,8/50mm and 2.8/100mm. If I like it I would maybe expand a NEX system with a few more lenses and sell some of my Canon gear. I was thinking about selling the 100mm macro, the 50/1.4. But not the 35L and the 1DsmkII!
Is going NEX a wise step? Or should I stay in the Canon system and buy an adapter for the Canon-OM. Should I combine both? Buy a NEX-5N with two adapters, one for EF glass and one for Zuiko glass? What would you do in my shoes?
p.1 #2 · To NEX or not to NEX? Zuiko glass and Canon system
I'm really happy using Oly (and many other alt lenses) on my Canon 5D. However, if I were looking to buy a new camera body now, the NEX looks like the most appealing choice. The one big drawback is the crop sensor --- if you want to take advantage of lots of great alt wide angle options, then full-frame is the only way to go (here's hoping for a full-frame NEX in the near future). If you're happy shooting mostly 35mm full-frame equivalent focal length and longer, then IMO the NEX would be a no-brainer choice. If not, then the NEX might still be a good camera to have alongside a full-frame Canon body for the wider lenses.
An OM->EOS adapter is rather inexpensive, so if you already have a Canon body, you should go ahead and get one (along with a couple of the cheaper OM lenses) regardless of what your longer term plans are.
p.1 #4 · To NEX or not to NEX? Zuiko glass and Canon system
Oh, but the Canon glass is tricky on the NEX. You either have to spend the cash for the Conrus adapter that can change aperture or change the aperture on a Canon using the DoF preview button and releasing the lens with the button pushed. Or you have to work with wide open lenses only.
p.1 #5 · To NEX or not to NEX? Zuiko glass and Canon system
Thanks for your insights!
Ooops, that is something I had not realised. What is the use of a >300$ adapter if I can also buy a Canon APS-C body for that money? I don't get it? BTW: does a Conurus adapter also activate the focus by wire of my 85L? Is it a full service adapter including IS, execpt for the autofocus? Or are more features limited?
It sounds like a NEX system is only useful if I go the Zuiko route, something that seems to be most attractive anyway as it is a compact setup. I was thinking of buying a NEX 5N and an E-mount-OM adapter. The lenses that I have cover most focal lengths that I like, except that I will also need something wider that is about 35mm wide on full frame. Is that more or less a 24mm? Or do I need a 21mm to cover the same FOV?
From what I have seen in the Oly thread and NEX threads I like the image quality very much, the only drawback seems to be the crop factor. Or are there other limitations I have to count with?
p.1 #6 · To NEX or not to NEX? Zuiko glass and Canon system
fotofraag wrote:
Thanks for your insights!
Ooops, that is something I had not realised. What is the use of a >300$ adapter if I can also buy a Canon APS-C body for that money? I don't get it? BTW: does a Conurus adapter also activate the focus by wire of my 85L? Is it a full service adapter including IS, execpt for the autofocus? Or are more features limited?
Better IQ than any Canon APS-C body, a smaller package (with better build quality than a Rebel), IS is supported on the conurus adapter but AF isn't currently. Focus-By-Wire is however. And of course you can use a mix of EF lenses with other lenses which are unusable on EF mount (like M lenses).
It sounds like a NEX system is only useful if I go the Zuiko route, something that seems to be most attractive anyway as it is a compact setup. I was thinking of buying a NEX 5N and an E-mount-OM adapter. The lenses that I have cover most focal lengths that I like, except that I will also need something wider that is about 35mm wide on full frame. Is that more or less a 24mm? Or do I need a 21mm to cover the same FOV?
A 24mm is 36mm-e so it will do. The crop factor is 1.5 like all other Sony, Pentax and Nikon APS-C bodies.
From what I have seen in the Oly thread and NEX threads I like the image quality very much, the only drawback seems to be the crop factor. Or are there other limitations I have to count with?
The only other limitation is the use of RF wides can be problematic on bodies other than the 5N. SLR wides are not affected.
p.1 #7 · To NEX or not to NEX? Zuiko glass and Canon system
OK, thanks!
So if I go the NEX 5N route with OM and Conurus adapters, how are those Tilt adapters? I have seen them from Kipon. Are they good enough for non-tilted photography too? Or isn't that precise enough for plan parallel photography? Should I buy two adapters? One fixed and one tilt adapter?
p.1 #8 · To NEX or not to NEX? Zuiko glass and Canon system
fotofraag wrote:
OK, thanks!
So if I go the NEX 5N route with OM and Conurus adapters, how are those Tilt adapters? I have seen them from Kipon. Are they good enough for non-tilted photography too? Or isn't that precise enough for plan parallel photography? Should I buy two adapters? One fixed and one tilt adapter?
I'd buy two. Non-tilt adapters are dirt cheap anyways.
p.1 #9 · To NEX or not to NEX? Zuiko glass and Canon system
FWIW, I bought at least 3 adapters for each mount, then I only have to deal with the EF mount, mandatory for Nikkor glass, as they are backwards to everyone else,
OM is not too bad, but can become loose after a while which can be fixed easy enough.
I got the NEX-7 to use lenses that I can't use on my Canon, FD's, Hexanons, RF's....
I also needed a small compact travel/daily camera, so the NEX is it.
For your OM's, definatly get the MultiCoated versions(any that don't have a prefix-Zuiko[G-Zuiko] should be MC), they handle flare better, add contrast and better color.
p.1 #10 · To NEX or not to NEX? Zuiko glass and Canon system
I bought a Kipon tilt adapter and had to return it as it would not tighten. I ended up getting a Lengril (Canon tilt to Nex) but in fact I've been using it on the 18mm OM. Here a link to the OM version. I don't switch it, it stays on the lens. http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220877815523&ssPageName=ADME:X:EAC:US:1120
Mike
p.1 #11 · To NEX or not to NEX? Zuiko glass and Canon system
For me, the biggest draw of the NEX system was the ability to use Rangefinder lenses. The SLR glass, including the few Olympus lenses I own work well on the NEX, but it feels a bit weird sometimes with a huge lens sticking out of such a tiny camera.
p.1 #12 · To NEX or not to NEX? Zuiko glass and Canon system
Jabberwockt wrote:
For me, the biggest draw of the NEX system was the ability to use Rangefinder lenses. The SLR glass, including the few Olympus lenses I own work well on the NEX, but it feels a bit weird sometimes with a huge lens sticking out of such a tiny camera.
That was a big draw for me, but I find my usual kit is with either A or C/Y lenses in the bag rather than my LTM lenses.
p.1 #13 · To NEX or not to NEX? Zuiko glass and Canon system
They do have these adapters now. From my guess you would open the EF lens wide open on your canon body then turn it off or detach it from the body. Throw it on this adapter which will allow you to manually control the aperture on the adapter. I have a Nex 7 and 5D2 with EF glass and plan on going this with some of the lenses to see how they do on the 7. Granted it defeats the purpose of a small system but nice in that you can change lenses over in a second. No way affiliated with this auction, just showing you that they have these available...
p.1 #14 · To NEX or not to NEX? Zuiko glass and Canon system
Thanks, for all advice given. Unfortunately my dealer currently has no NEX5N, so I'll have to wait until they are in the camerastore again. I decided I will have NEX5N with two adapters for my OM Zuiko lenses. One normal adapter and one Tilt adapter. Thanks again for your help in making a decision.
p.1 #15 · To NEX or not to NEX? Zuiko glass and Canon system
bigkidneys wrote:
They do have these adapters now. From my guess you would open the EF lens wide open on your canon body then turn it off or detach it from the body. Throw it on this adapter which will allow you to manually control the aperture on the adapter. I have a Nex 7 and 5D2 with EF glass and plan on going this with some of the lenses to see how they do on the 7. Granted it defeats the purpose of a small system but nice in that you can change lenses over in a second. No way affiliated with this auction, just showing you that they have these available...
"We suggest Customers to rotate the ring from 1 to 6 to adjust the aperture ring in the adapter, if the position beyond 6, maybe dark area will be caused in the photos, for the reason that the aperture ring stay at the position is too small."
1 to 6? It doesn't have actual f-stops, but more importantly the aperture isn't at the optical center of the lens... I think the results are going to be poor.
"Turn the adapter anticlockwise till the fixative click."
For whatever reason this part made me chuckle... I think the Conurus adapter is the one and only solution if one wants to us EF (and EF-s) lenses on NEX.
Fotofraag, I think you will like your 5N. Approach it expecting it to handle differently than an SLR. Embrace that and you will see it's a great camera. NEX is a good platform for alt glass, the real time metering is a big plus too!
p.1 #16 · To NEX or not to NEX? Zuiko glass and Canon system
I have a cheapo EOS - NEX adapter, so cheap that there is some fore-and-aft free play. (I need to buy something better).
I regard presetting the EF lens aperture before removal from the EOS camera as a part of the creative process!
What I like about using legacy MF lenses, or EF lenses on the 5N, is that you are forced to stand back and think about your photography a little more, than the easy tendency to rapidly take digital photos. I do the latter when shooting motorcycle sport at 10 fps on my 1D Mk III, but still-life can be less frenetic!
I think the Conurus adapter is the one and only solution if one wants to us EF (and EF-s) lenses on NEX.