Adapting medium format lenses to Nikon FE?

[Shooter McGavin]

Hello all,

I recently completed my set of pre-ai C coated lenses which I love dearly, however I'm a little curious about trying to adapt other lenses to my FE as well. I used to have a Pentacon Six so I have a couple of those old Zeiss zebra lenses laying around. Is it possible to use an adapter to make these lenses work with the FE?

I see they do have adapters for P6 to F mount...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Hartble...era-Adapter-/281511656153?hash=item418b66fad9

But I have a feeling most people using the adapters are doing so for video purposes and might not be suitable for an old film camera, but who knows perhaps I'm wrong.

So basically just wondering if anyone knows if this would work? Would the meter work? Would the little tab for pre-ai lenses on the FE have to be in the up position?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Xmas]

If google does not find you one you need friendly machine shop.

or a pro 3D printer and a pair of lens mounts salved from scrap body and scrap lens.

If you drop the latter they do shatter.

I'd expect you need stop down metering.

 

[bdial]

That mount looks to be just the thing you need.
Putting the ai tab up would be a good idea, but from the picture it looks like it may clear it. If you're impression is that people like to use this on digi Nikons for video, most of the newer cameras don't have the tab hinged, so the mount would need to provide clearance to accommodate that anyway.

The meter will still work, you would meter in stop-down mode.

 

[mweintraub]

I have a Pentacon Six to Mamiya 645 and a M645 to Nikon. They do make a P6 to Nikon adapter. I'd recommend to not stack adapters!

There shouldn't be any problem using the adapters for film camerass

 

[j-dogg]

The problem you will run into is the flange-to-film plane distance on most MF cameras is hilariously long so your adapters will be huge and bulky......not to mention why would you adapt MF to Nikon in the first place

 

[Ian Grant]

The problem you will run into is the flange-to-film plane distance on most MF cameras is hilariously long so your adapters will be huge and bulky......not to mention why would you adapt MF to Nikon in the first place

There were a few lenses that were essentially the same for MF and 35mm, the Carl Zeiss Jena 180mm f2.8 & 300mm f4 Sonnars for instance. These two could be used on the Pentacon P6 or M42 screw thread withe an additional adapter. The CZJ MF lenses were excellent I used a couple a few times on a Bronica S2a a wide angle and the 80mm f2.8 Zenanon (Made by CZJ) they were as good as the Nikkors Bronica also used.

Some of the Russian MF telephoto lenses can also be excellent performers on 35mm or digital hence the use of adapters. It's more about being able to use lenses you already have on a smaller format although some want specifically to buy and use the Sonnars.

Ian

 

[mweintraub]

The problem you will run into is the flange-to-film plane distance on most MF cameras is hilariously long so your adapters will be huge and bulky......not to mention why would you adapt MF to Nikon in the first place

I bought a Pentax 6x7 to Nikon adapter. DAMN, that thing is huge.

 

[John Koehrer]

Some of the 6x-35 don't provide linkage to aperture or meter so the lens is stopped down before exposure and the meter reading is measured in stopdown mode.

I've used some LF lenses with a bellows on a 35, basically the same idea. Kinda clunky
but some kind of fun. Difference would be the 35 shutter would be locked open and the leaf shutter used.

 

[darinwc]

Honestly why bother? The Nikon lenses are excellent. There are lots of interesting lenses in both vintage and modern.

The medium format lenses don't have much to offer. They are not any faster, or sharper, or particularly interesting. I would much rather get a vintage medium format camera with lenses before adapting them to a Nikon.

 

[darinwc]

I think I have seen blad to Nikon adapters before but they are not common.

 

[darinwc]

You could also get a macro bellows and add a medium format mount on the end.