GeorgeBo wrote:
Hi. I posted this over in the Nikon Manual Focus thread but thought it may be of interest here.
I have a number of Nikkor lenses that were made for Bronica medium format 6x6 film cameras and use them on a Bronica EC-TL II.
Giving them a try on the GFX 50S.
Below is a shot from today using the Nikkor-D·C 40mm f/4.
Second is a shot with it adapted to the 50S. Using a double adapter set up. Bronica S to Nikon F -> Nikon F to GFX
Thanks for looking.
George
The picture you posted looks good George, but the proof is in the full resolution pudding. If you're happy, it's good, right?
I did try a Nikkor-O C 50mm f/2.8 for Bronica S2 on my GFX 50R + Toyo VX23D outfit. Is that lens in the same family as your lens? I liked it from a mechanical point of view, but the image quality was not where I hoped it would be. The 50mm position on my old SMC Pentax-A 645 45-85mm was much, much better.
In the end I went with a Mamiya G 50mm f/4 for the Mamiya 6. Now that is one stellar lens. It holds its own with the Fuji GF 50/3.5 and with the 50mm position of my Fuji GF 45-100 zoom.
rdeloe wrote:
The picture you posted looks good George, but the proof is in the full resolution pudding. If you're happy, it's good, right?
I did try a Nikkor-O C 50mm f/2.8 for Bronica S2 on my GFX 50R + Toyo VX23D outfit. Is that lens in the same family as your lens? I liked it from a mechanical point of view, but the image quality was not where I hoped it would be. The 50mm position on my old SMC Pentax-A 645 45-85mm was much, much better.
In the end I went with a Mamiya G 50mm f/4 for the Mamiya 6. Now that is one stellar lens. It holds its own with the Fuji GF 50/3.5 and with the 50mm position of my Fuji GF 45-100 zoom. ...Show more →
Hi Rob. Thanks. I have the 50mm OC and the 75mm Nikkor HC for Bronica. The 50 is weakest of the three and the 75mm HC the strongest. At least in my observations. All of them are subject to flare, but do well under the right conditions.
The only native GF lens I have is the 50mm/3.5. I primarily use the A series Pentax 645 lenses with the 35mm being my favorite.
I do use Nikkor large format lenses with the 50S mounted on the Cambo Actus GFX. 65/4, 90/4.5 and 135/5.6. I also use them with 4x5 film. Sure there are better performers out there, but if I already have them, might as well use them.
GeorgeBo wrote:
Hi Rob. Thanks. I have the 50mm OC and the 75mm Nikkor HC for Bronica. The 50 is weakest of the three and the 75mm HC the strongest. At least in my observations. All of them are subject to flare, but do well under the right conditions.
The only native GF lens I have is the 50mm/3.5. I primarily use the A series Pentax 645 lenses with the 35mm being my favorite.
I do use Nikkor large format lenses with the 50S mounted on the Cambo Actus GFX. 65/4, 90/4.5 and 135/5.6. I also use them with 4x5 film. Sure there are better performers out there, but if I already have them, might as well use them.
Figures I tried the weakest of the three! I did read that the the Nikkor 50 was better than the Bronica version (but I have no personal knowledge on that).
The Pentax-A 645 35/3.5 is a superb lens. The 75/2.8 is also excellent. Lots of great glass in that line.
I think we're on the same bus... I've also used various large format lenses on my setup. I was using Fujinon-W on my 4x5 outfit, so it was easy enough to try them. I don't like Copal shutters much so I eventually sold them on for lighter options.
For your Actus and GFX, there are some superb and relatively inexpensive lenses in Schneider Kreuznach's inventory. The Apo-Componon HM 60mm and 90mm are terrific (and are the same optics as the Apo-Digitars).
I also only ever seem to have one GF lens at a time. First it was the 63/2.8, then the 50/3.5, and now the 45-100. The 45-100 is so darn big and heavy though; it's strictly a "utility" lens for me. I don't enjoy using it much. I get a lot more pleasure from roaming around with this strange arrangement when I don't feel like hauling around the VX23D setup.
rdeloe wrote:
Figures I tried the weakest of the three! I did read that the the Nikkor 50 was better than the Bronica version (but I have no personal knowledge on that).
The Pentax-A 645 35/3.5 is a superb lens. The 75/2.8 is also excellent. Lots of great glass in that line.
I think we're on the same bus... I've also used various large format lenses on my setup. I was using Fujinon-W on my 4x5 outfit, so it was easy enough to try them. I don't like Copal shutters much so I eventually sold them on for lighter options.
For your Actus and GFX, there are some superb and relatively inexpensive lenses in Schneider Kreuznach's inventory. The Apo-Componon HM 60mm and 90mm are terrific (and are the same optics as the Apo-Digitars).
I also only ever seem to have one GF lens at a time. First it was the 63/2.8, then the 50/3.5, and now the 45-100. The 45-100 is so darn big and heavy though; it's strictly a "utility" lens for me. I don't enjoy using it much. I get a lot more pleasure from roaming around with this strange arrangement when I don't feel like hauling around the VX23D setup.
Nice. I like your "plumbing" skills at adapting. Seeing what I can make work is part of the fun for me. I will definitely check out the SK lenses you mentioned.
I agree with the 45-100. Rented it once, it is big. And for less than the price of a new GF (with the exception of the 50mm/3.5) I was able to get all my 645 A lenses.
GeorgeBo wrote:
Nice. I like your "plumbing" skills at adapting. Seeing what I can make work is part of the fun for me. I will definitely check out the SK lenses you mentioned.
It was fun figuring out the bits and pieces. Minimal "machining" (AKS, sanding and filing) was needed to get to the right flange distance.
Normally those two lenses ride on my VX23D, a much bigger adapter. I like having the option to go light too -- hence this fun project.
By the way, the lenses in the pictures are the industrial variant Schneider made for applications like line scanning in factories that make printed circuit boards. They use the "Makro Iris" mount, which I really like because it's all metal, adapts easily to M42x1 or 39mm x 1/26th inch, and has a pleasing (to me) shape for the aperture blades. You can also get the same optics as enlarger lenses, and as Apo-Digitar lenses in Copal shutters, or in shutterless iris mounts. The Makro Iris mount is definitely my favourite.
rdeloe wrote: It was fun figuring out the bits and pieces. Minimal "machining" (AKS, sanding and filing) was needed to get to the right flange distance.
Normally those two lenses ride on my VX23D, a much bigger adapter. I like having the option to go light too -- hence this fun project.
By the way, the lenses in the pictures are the industrial variant Schneider made for applications like line scanning in factories that make printed circuit boards. They use the "Makro Iris" mount, which I really like because it's all metal, adapts easily to M42x1 or 39mm x 1/26th inch, and has a pleasing (to me) shape for the aperture blades. You can also get the same optics as enlarger lenses, and as Apo-Digitar lenses in Copal shutters, or in shutterless iris mounts. The Makro Iris mount is definitely my favourite. ...Show more →
Really appreciate the information on the Schneider lenses. If you don't mind, I may reach out to you as I look in to them. Especially around adapting.
GeorgeBo wrote:
Really appreciate the information on the Schneider lenses. If you don't mind, I may reach out to you as I look in to them. Especially around adapting.
I wrote up some notes on adapting lenses for tilt and shift with a GFX 50R and my VX23D, but just about any lens that works on my setup will work on an Actus and GFX 50R too. https://www.robdeloephotography.com/Pages/Toyo-VX23D-and-Fuji-GFX-50R At the bottom of that page is a link to a Google Drive site that has an archive with full resolution test images of all the lenses I've tried. That might be handy if you're thinking of a particular lens and want to see some samples.
Not sure if this has been discussed, but I'd like to point out that if you use a GFX100s (and/or possibly other GFX with IBIS), in the submenu where you can customize manual lens focal lengths, the description you enter will be recorded in the EXIF. I just realized this, so I optimized the little space available to enter a good description of my most commonly used adapted MF lenses.
wingbatwu wrote:
Not sure if this has been discussed, but I'd like to point out that if you use a GFX100s (and/or possibly other GFX with IBIS), in the submenu where you can customize manual lens focal lengths, the description you enter will be recorded in the EXIF. I just realized this, so I optimized the little space available to enter a good description of my most commonly used adapted MF lenses.
I'm envious! The GFX 50R only allows you to enter a focal length. I wish Fuji would do a little firmware update that allows for more entries than 6, and for more information. Alas, I don't think this is on their radar.
rdeloe wrote:
I'm envious! The GFX 50R only allows you to enter a focal length. I wish Fuji would do a little firmware update that allows for more entries than 6, and for more information. Alas, I don't think this is on their radar.
Don't hold your breath, because there is still only 6 slots for MF lenses in the GFX 50S II. But you can at least name them, like in the 100S.
Makten wrote:
Don't hold your breath, because there is still only 6 slots for MF lenses in the GFX 50S II. But you can at least name them, like in the 100S.
I've been whinging about this for years, ever since my first X camera. I understand that some things that appear in later cameras cannot be added to old cameras because of technological limitations (e.g., film simulations that require a certain sensor). But surely this isn't one of them!
rdeloe wrote:
I've been whinging about this for years, ever since my first X camera. I understand that some things that appear in later cameras cannot be added to old cameras because of technological limitations (e.g., film simulations that require a certain sensor). But surely this isn't one of them!
Anyway, as you say, I'm not holding my breath.
With the R, I made it a routine to change focal length setting (in a single slot) every time I changed lenses, because it made it easier to remember to actually change the setting at all.
Makten wrote:
With the R, I made it a routine to change focal length setting (in a single slot) every time I changed lenses, because it made it easier to remember to actually change the setting at all.
That's what I do too. I have it set up as the only entry in My Menu, so it is quick. I only get in trouble if I forget to change the focal length as soon as I change the lens.
It's really a minor problem, but still. C'mon Fuji: a few more rows, and let me add some text!
rdeloe wrote:
That's what I do too. I have it set up as the only entry in My Menu, so it is quick. I only get in trouble if I forget to change the focal length as soon as I change the lens.
It's really a minor problem, but still. C'mon Fuji: a few more rows, and let me add some text!
And enable the corrections without needing their adapter!
Does anyone know a ~135-150 mm lens that is small, sharp and covers well? Price doesn't matter too much, and it doesn't have to be fast; f/4 is fine.
I have an Olympus OM 135/3.5 that is tiny and covers the sensor with only minor, soft vignetting, but it's not very sharp even stopped down. Lovely rendering though. I also have the Mamiya 210/4 for 645 and it's looooong with the adapter. I would want something a tad shorter FL and most of all smaller, since it won't fit my minimal bags otherwise. Will only use it occasionally and now with IBIS I don't need faster than f/4.
Makten wrote:
Does anyone know a ~135-150 mm lens that is small, sharp and covers well? Price doesn't matter too much, and it doesn't have to be fast; f/4 is fine.
I have an Olympus OM 135/3.5 that is tiny and covers the sensor with only minor, soft vignetting, but it's not very sharp even stopped down. Lovely rendering though. I also have the Mamiya 210/4 for 645 and it's looooong with the adapter. I would want something a tad shorter FL and most of all smaller, since it won't fit my minimal bags otherwise. Will only use it occasionally and now with IBIS I don't need faster than f/4. ...Show more →
I have two suggestions for you. Both cover with room to spare because they're medium format.
The Mamiya G 150mm f/4.5 is an outstanding lens. It was made for the Mamiya 6 rangefinder camera system. It's sharp and contrasty from wide open. You can shoot it at f/4.5 without concern. The catch is that adapting it is not simple. You have to modify the lens and use some bits and pieces to make an adapter; there certainly are easier options.
Another option, also light and small and very good, is the SMC Pentax-A 645 150/3.5. The lens is very tiny, especially for a medium format tele lens, but you need a P645 adapter, which adds length. This one is not as good as the Mamiya G 150/4.5 at larger apertures; you need to close it down to at least f/5.6. There's a touch more CA sometimes with this one. On the plus side, adaptation is simple and inexpensive.
Peter Figen wrote:
What about the Mamiya 7 150mm lens? Purportedly a great performer although I have not used it myself, plus there's a Fotodiox adapter for it.
The optics in the Mamiya 7 lens are identical to the ones in my Mamiya 6 version. And you're right, there is an adapter for the 7. I've only ever heard reports form one person who used it on a GFX (not with this lens). He seemed happy enough, but I haven't heard follow-up.
If you're happy, it's good, right? 
