Using Nikon lenses on Canon DSLRs. About the compatibility of cameras and lenses of various photo systems

If you have a brand new Canon digital SLR camera, or just want to squeeze the maximum image quality from your Canon DSLR and don’t have money for very expensive professional lenses, manual optics comes to the rescue. In countries emerging from the former Soviet Union very popular Soviet manual optics.

Manual lenses are manual focus lenses. Usually, manual lenses mean old lenses. In the old days, lenses and cameras did not have auto focus. Note that (all ) is manual, i.e. cannot focus automatically. To work with a manual lens, you need to focus manually. This can be quickly learned.

Tessar 2,8/50 C.Z.Jena (GERMANY). Lens shown on Canon EOS DIGITAL Rebel XSi digital SLR camera M42-Canon EOS adapter with .

How to use old manual lenses on a Canon system? Very simple, to install an old manual lens on a Canon camera you need to find out what mount (bayonet) the lens is designed for. Basically, there are not so many types of fasteners, this is the good old M42 thread, H bayonet and M39 thread.

For lenses with M42 thread, an adapter is required M42 - Canon EOS. This adapter is screwed onto the lens thread, and then the lens is mounted on the camera. All Canon cameras will automatically measure exposure. Moreover, it will be possible to shoot in any camera mode, even in automatic, however, in this case, the aperture will need to be changed manually. It is very convenient to use the semi-automatic aperture priority mode (AV mode). When using an adapter M42 - Canon EOS will retain the ability to focus at infinity.

Regular adapter M42 - Canon EOS without a chip

Attention 1. When using a regular adapter M42 - Canon EOS without a chip on the camera focus confirmation will not work. This means that you will have to focus completely "by eye".

To solve this problem, you can buy an adapter with a chip. The chip usually makes it possible to confirm the focus and "deceives" the camera, after which the camera thinks that it has a native lens. The chip is also called dandelion, less often Lushnikov's dandelion. You can program the focal length of the lens and the aperture value into the dandelion (you don't have to). Therefore, in the resulting images, all lens parameters will be indicated in full (possibly, except for the focusing distance). Dandelion can be bought separately and attached to the adapter or you can buy an adapter with a dandelion right away.

Attention 2. The parameters set in the dandelion (wired focal and aperture values) have practically no effect on the operation of the focus confirmation, but affect the metering.

Where can I buy?

An adapter for lenses with an M42 mounting thread for mounting them on Canon EOS digital cutting cameras can be purchased at this link.

Lens Super-Takumar 1:1.4/50 Asahi Opt. Co. Lens made in Japan. Lens shown on Canon EOS DIGITAL Rebel XSi digital SLR. The lens was attached to the camera using .

A lot of lenses can be attributed to lenses with a landing thread. For example, the Helios-44m-X family of lenses, some of the Jupiter lenses, some of the Industar lenses and others. A striking example is the Helios-44m-2 and Industar-50-2 lenses.

KALIMAR MC 50mm K-90 AUTO 1:1.7 COATED. Lens shown on Canon EOS DIGITAL Rebel XSi digital SLR. The lens was mounted on the camera using a PENTAX K - CANON EOS adapter.

For a lens with an H mount, you will need to use an adapter. Yes, the H mount is the same as the one Nikon systems. Similarly, there is an adapter with and without dandelion. The most popular lenses with H mount: Helios-81N, MS Zenitar-N, MS Mir-47N, Mir-20N, MS Mir-24N, Telear-N, MS Granit-11N. Usually have the letter "H" at the end of the name. You can read more about this adapter.

Soviet lens MS Helios-44m-5 on a Canon EOS Digital camera. The lens was mounted on the camera using an M42-Canon EOS adapter without a chip.

For lenses with M39 thread, you need to use an M39-EOS adapter or two adapters M39-M42 and M42 - Canon EOS(picture below).

Pay your attention that there are lenses with M39 thread from two types of cameras - SLR and mirrorless. For normal operation on a Canon system, only lenses from SLR cameras with an M39 thread are suitable, for example, such as Helios-44, . Lenses from rangefinder cameras can only be used in macro mode, in more detail.

Examples of lenses with M39 mounting thread

1. (mirror version)
2. (mirror version)
3. (mirror version)
4. (mirror version)
5. (rangefinder version)
6. (m39, white, rangefinder)
7. (m39, white, rangefinder)
8. rangefinder
9. rangefinder
10. rangefinder

Two adapters M39-M42 and M42 - Canon EOS without a chip

Lenses from Kyiv-10, Kyiv-15 “AUTOMATIC”

Lenses marked “Automatic” from Kyiv-10 and Kyiv-15 cameras cannot be used on modern CZKs, since the lenses have a very short working distance. I have not seen adapters, it will also be difficult to regrind.

Attention 3. When using lenses from rangefinder cameras under the M39 on the Canon system, the ability to focus at infinity will be lost, and indeed, the focus limit will be a few centimeters. This is due to different working lengths of native optics and mirrorless. More details are written in the article.

For lenses with a "B" mount, from medium format, you need an adapter Pentacon Six (Kyiv-60) - Canon EOS. Bayonet B is exactly the same as the Pentacon Six, which is available on Kyiv-60 medium format cameras. If the Pentacon Six - Canon EOS adapter is difficult to find, then you can use two adapters - Pentacon Six-M42 and M42-Canon EOS. B-mount lenses include , Jupiter-36B, .

For "B" mount lenses, from medium format, you need to use two adapters Kyiv 88/Salute on Pentakon six + Pentacon Six (Kyiv-60) - Canon EOS. Pentacon SIX also called P6 and Pentacon 6 .

Attention 4. Bayonet "C" and "B" - two different mounts. Often people confuse them. Be careful when choosing a lens.

Soviet Mir-1 lens on a Canon EOS camera

There are also some very interesting USSR lenses with interchangeable shank. Usually, lenses are designated with the letter "A" at the end of the name. This means that the back of the lens can be changed. You can install, for example, a shank with an M42 thread, or with an H mount, whichever one you need is installed. Usually the shank is secured with three locking screws, which are very easy to unscrew and then screw back. Such lenses include, for example, the legendary Jupiter-37A. To use on a Canon camera, two adapters KP-A \ 42 + M42 - Canon EOS should be installed on the lens. Well, or completely with a perversion KP-A\N + Nikon mount F - Canon EOS.

Soviet lens Industar-22 P

And so, we installed the old lens on the camera - what to do next? When using Soviet optics on Canon cameras, you should always remember, what:

1. There will be no auto focus not on any Canon camera, not even on the coolest Canon EOS 1DX. You have to focus manually. Without a focus confirmation chip, it is very, very difficult to focus, especially with open apertures. I advise you to immediately get a dandelion (chip).
2. On a number of cameras there is a mode live view- it will help to get into focus. Even with Dandelion installed on the lens, the number of successful shots with focusing using Live View is much higher. It is very convenient to scale images in Live View for even more precise focusing.
3. Some lenses require adjustment of the aperture control method. Usually this comes down to the fact that you need to block the blinking diaphragm mechanism so that the diaphragm can be controlled manually.

About the compatibility of cameras and lenses of various photographic systems

The purpose of this article is to understand which third-party lenses possiblyinstall on a particular camera without the use of adapters with optical elements, without sacrificing the ability to focus to infinity. We will dwell on some characteristics of lenses and cameras that directly affect the possibility of using "non-native" optics.

First of all, we need to define the concepts ... In addition to the optical characteristics of the lens, such as the focal length and the maximum relative aperture (maximum aperture), three more characteristics are very important from the point of view of the possibility of installing any "non-native" lens on the camera . The first of these is working segment lens and camera, the second - posterior segment lens, and the third is coverage area lens (or, which is essentially the same - frame format cameras). We do not consider in this article another characteristic - the diameter of the lens mount (or thread), because if there is a ready-made adapter adapter for sale from one photographic system to another, and we will focus on those adapters that you can simply buy in photo stores or via the Internet, then this characteristic is already taken into account in such an adapter. For example, on cameras with a Minolta AF (Sony Alpha) mount, you can install lenses with an M42x1 threaded mount, but any bayonet lens from narrow-format systems (Canon FD, Olympus OM, Nikon F, ...) cannot be "screwed" precisely because of the lack of space in the diameter of the mounting hole. We will not touch upon any mechanical refinement of a particular lens related to its disassembly and alteration, because such an intervention requires certain skills and special tools. All information given in this article assumes that the lens is mounted on the camera without any interference with its design. As for the features of using specific adapter adapters, you can find them on the pages and .

Working distance of camera and lens

Working segment camera or lens is the distance from the supporting surface of the lens (camera) to the photosensitive element (film or digital matrix). The working distance for all cameras and lenses of one photographic system always remains the same. It is customary to measure working segments in millimeters with an accuracy of hundredths.

Now let's take a closer look at the working distance and how its value affects the choice of a particular lens. At the end of this article is a table of working segments and frame formats of some photographic systems, both the most modern and discontinued. All of them are located as the working lengths increase. The table gives an idea of ​​which lens can be used in a particular photographic system without the use of adapters with optical elements, and which lens can hardly be installed (and if it does, then with certain restrictions).

If the "non-native" lens you are interested in belongs to the photographic system that is in the table below than the camera on which you want to put it, and its working distance is at least a millimeter and a half more than the working distance of the camera (this distance is needed to install the adapter, which also has some thickness), then in this case, almost certainly, your experiments will succeed and you can easily find a similar adapter on sale (but there are exceptions, which will be discussed later in this article). If the system to which your lens belongs is higher than the system of your camera, then you will not be able to install such a lens (or you will have to work hard). In fact, it will need to be deepened into the camera during installation, but there is no need to talk about the small gap necessary for the adapter-adapter to fit in - there is simply no room left for it.

Figure explaining such concepts as working and rear segments of the lens.

In this case, you will either have to remake the lens shank (which is always quite problematic, and more often it is not possible at all), or use an adapter with an optical element to install on the camera (but this already violates the "purity of the experiment", because any lens between the lens and a photosensitive element significantly changes the optical scheme of the lens and introduces certain distortions, which you can read about and see for yourself on the page), or use a lens without the ability to focus to infinity (this option is quite acceptable for shooting portraits, still lifes or macro photography).

Rear lens segment

Rear cut is the distance from the outer surface of the last lens element of the objective (or from the most protruding back of the objective) to the light sensor. The thing is that structurally the last lens of the lens can be either quite deep in the lens itself (which is typical for telephoto lenses), or protrude quite strongly beyond its limits (this design is inherent in wide-angle optics). Therefore, the rear segment of lenses of various designs can vary within fairly wide limits.

Jupiter-12 Wide Angle Lens (35mm/2.8) for rangefinder cameras with mount contact/ Kyiv with a lens block far protruding back. It is strongly not recommended to install such lenses on SLR cameras in order to avoid jamming of the mirror.

In the case when the last lens is recessed into the lens, there are no problems using such a lens with an adapter on a "non-native" camera. But when the rear lens protrudes significantly beyond the dimensions of the bayonet, certain problems may arise. For example, some wide-angle lenses for rangefinder cameras are structurally made in such a way that almost the entire lens block protrudes beyond the rear dimensions of the lens, and only a small part of it remains in front. When mounted on a camera, b about Most of the lens block of such a lens is inside the camera. But for "rangefinders" this is not something extraordinary. They do not have a rising mirror, which means that the lenses protruding into the camera do not interfere with the shutter in any way. There will be no problems with installing such a lens on modern mirrorless cameras.(as long as the rear lens does not rest against the inner surface of the adapter, against curtains or shutter blades). Another thing - SLR cameras. During the shutter operation, the mirror is raised first, and only then the shutter starts to moveshutter. And here a problem may arise - it is possible that the mirror, when lifted, will simply rest against these very protruding lenses. In no case should this be allowed, because the lens can be removed without negative consequences for him and for the camera mirror will not work! In a word, both the working and rear segments must be taken into account when choosing a "non-native" lens.

Lens coverage or aspect ratio

coverage area lens is called a circle of a certain diameter, in which you can fit a frame of a photographic image without significantin the corners. The diameter of this circle will be equal to the diagonal of the frame used in the photographic system. In reality, the lens must cover the area of ​​a rectangle or square, for systems using a square frame, which are called frame format. In what follows, we will use the term frame format to characterize the coverage area of ​​the lenses of a particular photographic system.different photographic systems you can see in the table on this page.

What is the most important thing in this characteristic for us? If the aspect ratio of the "non-native" lens is greater than or equal to the aspect ratio of the camera on which we want to use it, then in most cases it will be possible to install such a lens. Yes, and with the purchase of an adapter-adapter, there will be no problems - modern industry I'm sure they've been making these adapters for a long time. If the format of the covered frame of the lens is smaller than the frame format of the camera, then in the pictures we will get either a strongan image in the corners, or a frame with a round picture in the center and completely black throughout the rest of the field. In our opinion, the expediency of using such a lens is very doubtful, except in cases whererelatively acceptable and is used as an artistic technique.

may appear to varying degrees with different lenses, even if they are designed for the same aspect ratio. Everything is determined by the design features and, to a large extent, the focal length of the lens.much more pronounced with wide-angle optics and less pronounced with telephoto lenses. So, before purchasing a lens whose aspect ratio is smaller than that of the camera you want to put it on, be sure to make sure that you are completely satisfied with the end result! Be sure to take a few control shots, carefully examine them, and only then make a final purchase decision.

This is what the shot looks like cropped lensto a digital camera full frame matrix or on a film camera with a frame format of 24 x 36 mm.

With Another concept that is quite relevant today is also connected - this is the "backward compatibility" of optics within one photographic system. It was more correctwould say "backward incompatibility" ... Currently time Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Sony produce digital SLR cameras with matrices APS-C format and lenses designed to work with these matrices. Three of them - Canon, Nikon and Sony, - they also produce cameras with matrices full frame and a wide range of full-format optics for them. Pentax for your film camerasalso produced many good full-length lenses. So... If full frame the lens can be successfully used on cameras both with matrices APS-C and Full Frame formats, then a lens designed for cameras with matrices APS-C format (colloquially - "cropped") can only be used on themselves or on cameras with an even smaller frame format(Olympus 4/3, Nikon 1, Sony NEX, ...) . "Cropped" lenses are not designed to cover a full frame. (But, as with any rule, there are pleasant exceptions. Nikon, for example, on their "top" digital full frame cameras such as Nikon D3X, Nikon D4, Nikon D800/810 or Nikon D850provided for the possibility of installing "cropped" optics. Camera, if "cropped" is installed on it DX- lens, automatically switches to the mode of using not the entire area of ​​​​the matrix, but only its part, equal in area to the frame APS-C format.)

findings

So... Let's summarize and concretize everything described above for some of the most popular photographic systems today. Let's start with medium format cameras (we combined them into one section) and finish with mirrorless formats Micro 4/3, Sony Alpha NEX and Nikon 1.

medium format cameras. We will not consider completely exotic cases - how, for example, to install a lens from Mamiya RB67 on Hasselblad (hardly anyone would think of such a thing), but let's focus on quite real and pragmatic examples that photographers have been using in their practice for a long time. Let's start with the lenses for cameras Kyiv 88 and Salyut that are relevant for Russia, due to their wide distribution. The lenses on these cameras were mounted using multi-threaded threads. Such a mount was designated with the letter "B" ("screw" mount). Lenses with a "B" mount can be successfully used on cameras with a different mount, used on Soviet medium format cameras, and designated by the letter "B" ("bayonet" mount with a cap ring). These are cameras Kyiv 6, Kyiv 6C, Kyiv 60 and later Kyiv 88CM (aka Hartblei) and Arax, which is essentially the same Kyiv 88CM, but has undergone some modification and refinement. In the world, such a lens mount is better known under the brand name, because it was first used on the cameras of this company. Note that the entire range of Soviet lenses for medium format cameras of domestic production was produced both with the "B" mount and with the "B" mount, which, as a rule, was reflected in the name of the lens (for example, Vega-12V or Vega-12B). Therefore, it does not make much sense to purchase a Soviet lens with a "B" mount if you want to use it, for example, on Kyiv 60 or Pentacon Six, so that later you can adapt it to the camera through an adapter. It is much easier to look for such a Soviet lens already with the desired "B" mount. Moreover, the prices for identical lenses, but with different mounts, are about the same. The only exception is the only lens that was produced only with the "B" mount - this is Industar-29 (80mm / 2.8). They were equipped with the very first Soviet medium format SLR cameras Salyut and Salyut S. This lens is worthy of attention for two reasons. Firstly, because this is the first serial Soviet lens for medium format SLRs, and secondly, because it is made according to the classic four-lens Tessar scheme (all Soviet Industars are nothing more than Tessar's). Subsequently, Industar-29, on mass-produced medium format cameras, was replaced by Vega-12 (90mm / 2.8), and even later by Wave-3 (80mm / 2.8) . But these lenses already had different, more complex optical schemes of the six-lens Planars.

But much wider opportunities in the use of "non-native" medium format lenses are provided by cameras Pentax 645 and Mamiya 645. Through appropriate commercially available conversion adapters, these cameras can be mounted as medium format lenses without restriction. Soviet-made with "C" and "B" mounts, as well as excellent and very high-quality opticsCarl Zeiss Jenaproduced by the GDR with bayonet mount (aka "B"). On Pentax 645 excellent "sit down" and lenses from Pentax 67 . Moreover, there are adapters on the market produced by both Pentax, and cheaper ones from third-party manufacturers.

Nikon.Among cameras with a frame format of 24 x 36 mm (and APS-C) , y the largest working length - 46.50 mm. Therefore, let's start with it.(We intentionally skip such systems as Praktina, Contax N and Leica R. The first two are due to the irrelevance of these cameras today. Praktina- This is generally a rarity in our market. cameras contact in Russia are not much more common Praktina . As for leica r, then the owners of these cameras are unlikely to try to attach something "non-native" to them - not the level!)

First, let's deal with compatibility within the system itself. To date- the most versatile system in terms of compatibility of optics and accessories within one photographic system.The whole point is that, for the entire time of production of SLR cameras, I have never fundamentally changed the lens mount mount. Bayonet for the first timewas used on a reflex camera of the same name in April 1959 and, without significant changes, has safely survived to this day and is used on modern digital reflex cameras Full Frame and APS-C formats.

For such a long period of production of SLR cameras and optics for them, the company has created a huge variety of excellent lenses. Over time, the method of transferring aperture values ​​​​to the camera has changed (more on this you can find on the page in the "Lenses/ Nikon"), but the mount remained fundamentally unchanged. And that means almost all previously produced lenses with bayonet , without any adapters can be installed on modern digital SLRs. The only exceptions are the earliest versions of lenses, the so-called Non-AI (or Pre-AI) produced for camerasand the first versions of the camera. The diameter of the body of these lenses in the place where the mount is fixed is larger than that of all subsequent generations Nikkor" ov, which means that the installation of such a lens will interfere with the leash of the aperture value transfer ring, which is used on cameras starting from (and actually these lenses can be used without any restrictions, since on these cameras it is possible to move the aperture shift lever to the side). Learn more about which cameras can use lenses non AI, and which ones are not, we will discuss in an article on.

The next generation of optics from - These are non-autofocus lenses AI and AI-S. They "sit" on modern digital and film DSLRs frompractically without any restrictions.Naturally, some functions will be supported on certain cameras, and some will not, but you can install the lens on any modern DSLR. (For more information about which automatic camera functions can be implemented and which lenses can be found on the official.) In any case, fully manual shooting modes will always be available to you. The same can be said about lenses. AI-P. They can be used on any modern SLR cameras., Moreover, on most cameras, in addition to manual modes, automatic modes with aperture priority will also be available ( A). But what will not be for sure is autofocus, because the lenses AI, AI-S and AI-P manual, that is, with manual focus.

Now let's turn to autofocus optics... In terms of compatibility, it can be conditionally divided into five groups. AF- lenses with mechanical focus transmission without built-in processor; AF-D- but with built-in processor; AF-G- with mechanical focus transmission,with built-in processor, but without aperture ring; AFS-D- lenses with a built-in motor and processor, and with an aperture ring; AFS-G- with built-in motor and processor, but without aperture ring. Series lenses AF and AF-D can be used on almost any SLR camera. On non-autofocus cameras, of course, there will be no autofocus. Autofocus is not possible with the younger models of modern digital SLRs, which do not have a focus drive motor. With AF- some modes will not be available with lenses ITTL (Intelligent Flash Compatibility) which require a built-in CPU in the lens. As for manual modes, they are fully available on all cameras from, beginning with and ending with the most modern digital cameras. Lenses AFS-D have, perhaps, the most complete compatibility - they will work perfectly in manual modes with mechanical cameras, and autofocus will be available with the simplest digital SLRs.

But here are modern AF-G and AFS-G lenses have one significant drawback - they do not have an aperture setting ring, which means that their use is limited exclusively to those cameras that have electronic control aperture values. Unfortunately, these lenses cannot be fully used on non-autofocus film cameras (even on fairly modern) , because it will be impossible to set any aperture other than fully open.

A few words must be said about DX lenses. They are also called "cropped" (from Englishcrop factor- lens focal length conversion factor, read more about this in this article in the chapter "Lens coverage area or aspect ratio"). They are designed for use with cameras equipped with sensors APS-C format, which are about one and a half times smaller in area than full frame frame. This means that the frame coverage of these lenses is much less than that of lenses designed for full frame. Therefore, the use of such lenses is limited to cameras. DX format. They are not able to completely cover the format frame 24x36mm.

With a fairly wide compatibility of optics within the system itself, cameras, due to the very large working distance, they are extremely limited in the use of third-party lenses (unless, of course, these lenses are designed specifically for use with cameras). Without the use of adapters with optical elements, without losing the ability to focus on infinity, on camerasunable to mount lenses pentax, Olympus OM, Canon FD and Canon EOS, threaded lenses M42x1... (Learn more about using adapters without optical elements, including on cameras, can be read in the article.) But medium format optics can be used on cameraswith no restrictions. On sale there are adapters-adapters from almost any of the medium format systems to Nikon. The adapter deserves special attention., which allows you to install on camerasboth Soviet-made medium format lenses (with "B" mount) and first-class German medium format optics fromCarl Zeiss Jena.

Olympus OM. Many photographers still use excellent film cameras in their practice.Olympus OM. And great optics.Olympus OM Zuikohas not lost its relevance and attractiveness not only for photographers shooting Olympus" ami OM, but also with modern digital cameras Olympus 4/3 and Canon EOS. But more on that later... As for the use on camerasOlympus OM"non-native" optics, then, as a rule, it all comes down to the use of third-party lenses, but made specifically for the systemOlympus OMwith her "native" mount.Very good bayonet lenses Olympus OM , for example, produced by the company Tokina. Theoretically, almost any lens from medium format photographic systems can be used on cameras, but in practice no one uses this. The vast majority of adherents of the systemtrying to get "native" lensesOM Zuiko.

Pentax. Like the company did not fundamentally change the design of the bayonetfrom the very first moment of its use on single-lens reflex cameras. Moreover, the first DSLRs fromhad a threaded mount for M42x1 optics, and the "K" mount was designed in such a way that previously produced lenses with a threaded mount could be mounted on cameras with this mount. From the earliest days of bayonet cameras, the company produces an adapter-adapter, which does not contain any optical elements in its design. (Currently available on the market as "native" adapters from pentax, as well as third-party adapters. At one time, the Soviet photo industry also produced such an adapter for Zenith and Almaz cameras. The first models of Zeniths had a threaded mount for M42x1 lenses, and the latest models had a "K" mount. You can read more about this on the page.)

So, speaking of intrasystem compatibility of optics, it can be stated with confidence that it is in no way inferior to the system, and in some ways surpasses it. This superiority lies in the fact that on cameras with a mount, without any restrictions, you can successfully use lenses with an M42x1 threaded mount (read about some of the nuances of use in the article). And there are a huge number of such lenses produced by the global photographic industry. This and lenses from the most Pentax ; and lenses from manufacturers such as Sigma, Tokina, Tamron and Vivitar ; and magnificent German optics factories and ; and, of course, a huge selection of Soviet lenses for Zenith cameras. There is only one limitation - on the first DSLRs from with a threaded optic mount, it will not be possible to use lenses with a K-mount.

In addition, in addition to film cameras with a frame format of 24 x 36 mm and digital DSLRs APS-C , the company has in its arsenal and medium format photographic systems Pentax 67 and Pentax 645. Moreover, adapters-adapters from medium format optics Pentax on the "K" mount are available on the market as in the "native" version from the pentax, as well as from third party manufacturers. By the way, on cameras Pentax you can use any lenses from medium format systems, as long as you find a suitable adapter.

As for the backward compatibility of "cropped" lenses (Pentax they are abbreviated D.A.), then, of course, it is not. "Cropped" lenses on full-frame cameras cannot be used.(More about functional compatibility of lenses and cameras from Pentax You can find out on the official.)

Practice. Zenith. cameras and Soviet Zeniths were equipped with a threaded mount for M42x1 optics (with the exception of bayonet Practice B and Zeniths recent years releasewith "K" mount). There are a lot of lenses with this mount on the market. These are "native" lenses for cameras, and Soviet lenses for Zenith cameras, and the widest selection of third-party optics. In addition, many German medium format factory lensesMeyer-Optik Gorlitzproduced with a removable interchangeable back, which allowed you to install on the lens or bayonet, or Praktica B mount, or threaded adapter M42x1. A factoryCarl Zeiss Jenaproduced an automatic adapter. Before shooting, such an adapter was cocked and focusing was performed with a fully open aperture, and at the moment the camera shutter was released, the cocked spring of the adapter diaphragmed the lens to the set working value.

Minolta AF. Sony Alpha. Digital photographic system Sony Alpha inherited its mount from autofocus film cameras Minolta and with it received full compatibility with autofocus lenses Minolta AF. But just like on camera Minolta with AF mount , on modern digital SLRs Sony Alpha install manual lenses of the system without an adapter with an optical element Minolta MD does not seem possible. Due to the relatively small bore diameter of the Minolta AF (Sony Alpha) mount, it is not possible to install any bayonet lenses from other common narrow format photographic systems, such as Canon FD, Olympus OM, and others. The exception is lenses with a M42x1 threaded mount, which fit perfectly through the appropriate adapter to cameras with a Minolta AF (Sony Alpha) mount. There is only one limitation and it is associated with the design features of the bayonetMinolta AF (Sony Alpha) - it is not possible to place a shelf on the adapter for pressing the push diaphragm rod of M42x1 automatic lenses. Therefore, lenses without switches A - M (automatic - manual) can only be used at fully open apertures. In addition to lenses with M42x1 thread, in reality, only lenses from medium format photographic systems can be used on Sony Alpha cameras from "non-native" optics. Adapter adapters are available on the market: Mamiya 645 - Sony Alpha, Pentax 67 - Sony Alpha, Hasselblad - Sony Alpha, Pentacon Six - Sony Alpha.

Canon EOS.Today, only two companies from the "Great Japanese Five" remain - Nikon and Canon offering a full range of cameras and optics, from amateur to professional. Pentax and Olympus completely left the niche of professional photographic equipment, and Minolta completely ceased to exist, selling all production and technology Sony. And if Nikon remained committed to the bayonetuntil now, then Canon by switching to bayonet canon eos, sacrificed compatibility with his own manual optics with a mount Canon F.D. But, as time has shown, such a risk was fully justified. The design of the new bayonet Canon EOS turned out to be very successful in terms of the possibility of using "non-native" optics. This was facilitated by the use in the system EOS relatively small working segment (total 44.00mm) and increased, in comparison with other systems, the inner diameter of the bayonet ring. It is these two innovations that allow the system Canon EOS use a huge number of third-party lenses on cameras. And this fact, to a large extent, adds to the company Canon supporters.

Let's take a closer look at which lenses can be mounted on Canon EOS cameras. Let's start with medium format lenses. They can be used almost without any restrictions, as long as the appropriate adapter is available. And there are plenty of them on the market today. Here are just a few of the adapters available from medium format photographic systems to Canon EOS- Hasselblad, Pentax 67, Pentax 645, Mamiya 645, Pentacon Six.

But the main advantage of the EOS mount are, of course, truly limitless possibilities of using lenses designed to work with cameras with a frame format of 24 x 36 mm. There are no restrictions on the use of manual lenses from the main competitor- companies. On Canon EOS cameras you can even mount lenses non AI, which on modern digital SLR cameras from the most Nikon it will not be possible to install without serious intervention in the design of the lens. Nikon" ovskaya manual optics AI-S, autofocus AF, AF-D and AFS-D also "sit" on the bayonet without any problems EOS. The only exception will be lenses of the series g, without aperture rings. You can put such a lens on the camera through an adapter, but you will only have to shoot at a fully open aperture.

Another indisputable advantage of Canon EOS cameras (if these are digital cameras, then this applies to them full frame representatives) is an opportunity to take full advantage of the excellent opticsOlympus OM Zuiko. No other digital SLR cameras, including cameras Olympus 4/3, due to the use of relatively small format matrices in them, they do not allow to fully reveal all the charms and advantages of the wonderful Olympus OM Zuiko lenses. And Canon EOS Full Frame cameras can handle it!

But that's not all... Excellent lenses from Pentax with Pentax K mount with no less success can be used on cameras Canon EOS. Limitations, as in the case of lenses from G-series will concern only modern optics without aperture rings.And for Russian photographers, it will be important that the cameras Canon EOS without restrictions, you can use lenses with a M42x1 threaded mount, and not only Soviet-made lenses produced for Zenith cameras, but also excellent German optics from and to cameras. There can be only one limitation - if the lens is automatic and does not have an aperture control switch A - M (automatic - manual), then not with all adapters it will be possible to aperture the lens to the working aperture, or you will have to invent something to tighten the push diaphragm lever in lenses with M42x1 threaded mount or fix the rotary lever in lenses with "K" mount. You can find more information about what requirements the adapter-adapter must meet on the page..

From all of the above, the conclusion suggests itself that today the Canon EOS system is the most versatile professional photographic system in terms of third-party optics. Available on Russian market lenses from SLR photographic systems, on cameras Canon EOS you can use almost any, with the exception of lenses Canon FD, Minolta MD and Minolta AF/Sony Alpha (the latter cannot be installed due to the too small difference in the working lengths of the Canon EOS and Sony Alpha systems - only half a millimeter). On sale you can find adapters without optical elements from rangefinders photosystems Contax or Leica M39on thecanon eos,but the use of such adapters is limited only to special types of photography, such as macro photography, reproduction and some types of portrait photography, since aiming at infinity willimpossible. This is due to the fact that the working segments of rangefinder photosystems are much smaller than the working segment of the systemCanon EOS and in order for them to focus to infinity, they would have to be buried inside the camera.In addition, you should be very careful when installing lenses, especially wide-angle ones, from rangefinder systems to cameras.Canon EOS.Lenses protruding beyond the lens barrel should not be allowed to block the movement of your camera's mirror.Canon EOS.This can lead to irreversible consequences and even damage to the camera.As for the backward compatibility of "cropped" opticscanon eos,then the situation is exactly the same as with "cropped" lenses fromNikonorPentax- on cameras with a frame format of 24 x 36mmtheir use is not possible.

Four Thirds 4/3 . Olympus E, Panasonic Lumix DMC-L Leica Digilux. This photographic system, supported by several manufacturers of photographic equipment, differs from competitor systems in two main characteristics - a relatively small sensor (12.98 X17.30 mm, with a crop factor x2) and a smaller working length of the cameras (38.67 mm).

The combination of these two parameters makes it possible to use in the 4/3 system a huge variety of "non-native" lenses from SLR photographic systems, from medium format to "cropped" lenses. Nikon, PentaxandCanon EOS.That's far from complete list commercially available adapters-adapters from medium format optics to a 4/3 system arePentacon Six, Pentax 67, Pentax 645, Mamiya 645... Theoretically, you can install any other medium format lens, but you will either have to make the adapter yourself, or use a combination of two adapters, for exampleand.

Range of available optics for 24 x 36 frame formatmmandAPS-Csimply limitless ... First of all, I would like to note the legendary lensesOlympus OM Zuiko. Adaptersreleases as herselfOlympusas well as many independent manufacturers. True prices for "native" adapters fromOlympusan order of magnitude higher than the prices for "non-native" adapters. Lenses fromcan be used almost without restrictions. The only exceptions are lenses of the seriesGdue to the lack of a diaphragm setting ring. The rest of the fleet of optics with a mount(Non-AI, AI, AI-S, AI-P, AF, AF-D, AFS-D), moreover, both designed for full frame and "cropped",fit perfectly on the cameras of the 4/3 system through the appropriate adapter. The following is the entire line of lenses fromCanon.And not only modernEOSlenses, but also old ones with a mountF.D.Adaptersandavailable for sale. With lenses fromPentaxwith "K" mountalso there will be no problems, and as withfull framelenses, and with "cropped". Limitation, as with lenses fromNikonseriesG, will only apply to optics without aperture rings. Russian photographers will certainly not be indifferent to the fact that the vast fleet of Soviet optics with M42x1 mounting thread will also feel great on 4/3 format cameras (corresponding adapters are available for sale). And even bayonet lensesMinolta MD,which cannot be installedNikon,neither oncanon eos,neither onPentax, via appropriate adapterPerfect fit for 4/3 cameras.

It will not be possible to install on 4/3 format cameras only lenses from rangefinder systems, such as Nikon S, Contax /Kyiv andLeica.This is explained by the fact that in these photographic systems the working distances are smaller than on cameras of the 4/3 format.

Mirrorless photographic systems. AT recent times Among photographers, mirrorless photographic systems are becoming increasingly popular. Compactness, low weight, functional saturation, stylish design and at the same time removable optics - all this makes mirrorless cameras attractive. And all the leading photographic producers (with the exception of onlyPentax) did not fail to mark themselves in this segment of the photo market. We will not discuss the advantages or disadvantages of mirrorless cameras in general and the advantages of any of the systems in particular. Our task is to evaluate the possibilities of using "non-native" optics on mirrorless cameras. And the possibilities are truly endless! And for this reason alone, mirrorless cameras are worthy of attention.

To date, three mirrorless systems are available on the market - these are Micro Four Thirds 4/3, Sony Alpha NEXandNikon 1.They differ fundamentally from one another in the size of the matrices used. The largest matrix in camerasSony Alpha NEX-she isAPS-Cformat (15.6 x 23.4mm)and corresponds in size to the matrices used in "cropped" SLR camerasSony Alpha.In cameras of the formatMicro Four Thirds 4/3a 4/3 system matrix is ​​used, with a size1 2 . 98 x17 . 30 mm. The smallest matrix (CXformat) for camerasNikon 1-her size is only 8. 8 x13 . 2 mm. And since the working segments of all three mirrorless systems are rather small, the restrictions on the use of "non-native" optics will be dictated precisely by the size of the matrices.

Because all three mirrorless systems allow for a wide range of optics, we will limit ourselves to listing the commercially available conversion adapters for each system and pointing out the most important limitations in the use of a particular lens.

, which, however, are also available in a "non-native", but much cheaper version. The rest of the abundance of adapters is made by third-party companies. Let's start with medium format photographic systems, adapters from which toMicro 4/3available for sale isHasselblad, Pentacon Six, Pentax 645, Mamiya 645.We could not find a factory-made adapter, but if anyone has a desire to hoist the lens fromPentax 67at the cameraMicro 4/3then it won't be a problem. You can successfully use any of the many possible combinations:and ... The question is different! But is it worth it to be sophisticated and adapt bulky and heavy medium format optics to miniature and rather fragile format camerasMicro 4/3? There are plenty of smaller, lighter lenses that can be used on these cameras.

Here is a list of photographic systems with frame formats 24 x 36 mm, APS-Cformat and semi-format (18 x 24mm),lenses of which can be successfully mounted on cameras of the formatMicro 4/3.Mirror systems -Leica R, Nikon F /Kyiv N, Olympus OM, Yashica / Contax, Pentax K, M42x1 (Praktica /Zenith),Minolta AF / Sony Alpha, Canon EOS, Canon FD, Minolta MD, 4/3.Rangefinders -Nikon S, Contax G (Contax /Kyiv),M39 (Leica /FED / Zorkiy),Leica M.Half format -Olympus Pen F.Adapter adapters from all listed systems toMicro 4/3available for sale.

There is another adapter to the system Micro 4/3 -this is an adapter. But, since the working segments of the lenses C-mountless than the working segments of the chambersMicro 4/3then structurally the adapter is made in such a way that its working surface is buried inside the chamber. This imposes some restrictions on the use of C-lenses.mount.In addition, the frame coverage of C-mountsmaller in area than the camera matrixMicro 4/3which means that there may be a rather noticeableframe, especially pronounced when using wide-angle optics.

In addition, you need to be very careful when installing lenses from rangefinder systems on mirrorless cameras. Micro 4/3.This is especially true for some wide-angle lenses with a lens block that protrudes far beyond the rear dimensions of the lens. It is possible that the rear lens may rest against the inner surface of the adapter.You can read more about this on the page Hasselblad, Pentax 67, Mamiya 645, Pentacon Six.We couldn't find an adapter , but this problem is easily solved with a combination of two adapters (there are plenty of options). SLR on frame format 24 x 36mmandAPS-Cformat -Leica R, Nikon F / Kyiv N, Olympus OM, Yashica / Contax, Pentax K, M42x1 (Praktica / Zenith), Minolta AF / Sony Alpha, Canon EOS, Canon FD, Minolta MD, 4/3. Rangefinders - Nikon S, Contax G (Contax / Kyiv), M39 (Leica / FED / Zorkiy), Leica M. Semi-format - Olympus Pen F.

Even adapters are availableand. But, in view of the fact that the matrix of the systemSony NEXmore matrices used in camerasMicro 4/3(and much more of the frame covered by C-lensesmount)application of lenses from systemsMicro 4/3and C-mounton camerassony nex,in our opinionis inappropriate.CompanyNikondoes not lag behind competitors and declared itself in the field of production of mirrorless cameras with the release of models of the seriesNikon 1.The cameras have the smallest sensor among mirrorless systems (crop factor x2.7). And therefore, the use of "non-native" optics on cameras has practically no boundaries (even C-mountcan almost completely cover the frameCXformat). At the time of writing this article, we found adapters for sale:Nikon F, Canon EOS, Canon FD, Olympus OM, Olympus Pen F, Minolta MD, Minolta AF (Sony Alpha),M42x1, M39x1, Leica M, Leica R, Pentax K, Contax/Yashica, C-mount.It is clear that through two adapters you can install any lenses from medium format cameras.

We do not mention in our review of SLR cameras fromFujiandSigma,because the camerasFujiare produced in cases fromNikonwith bayonetand everything that applies to cameras is true for them. As for the camerasSigma, thenfor quite a long period of time, this company does not announce itself in any way in the production of "carcasses", and those cameras that were released earlier are already obsolete today.

And a little about expediency .. . It is worth saying that the use of "non-native" optics is not always justified. For example, a heavy 120 or 180 mm lens from any of the medium format systems on cameras with a frame format of 24 x 36mmcan perform the functions of a good portrait painter and its use is quite advisable. What can not be said about medium format wide-angle lenses ... It is hardly worth fencing an utter design and "screwing" such "widths" on cameras with frame formats of 24 x 36mmand less. And there are two reasons for this. First. Wide Angle Lenses are made according to complex multi-lens schemes, which means that there are more reflections inside such a lens, which does not have the best effect on the contrast of the resulting images, and, Olympus OM orPentax.So before you decide to try to install a "non-native" lens on your camera, think about what you want to get out of it.

In conclusion, I would like to say about the advantages that the use of a lens with frame coverage gives b about larger than the frame size of the camera on which it is supposed to be mounted (or much larger about larger, in case of using a medium format lens on cameras with a frame format of 24 x 36 mmor less). It is well known thatof all lenses is uneven over the field of the frame. It is largest in the center and decreases as it approaches the edges of the frame. In addition, any lens is inherent, to one degree or another,and. , for example, becomes much more noticeable in the corners of the frame and is almost absent in the center. Thus, using a lens on the camera, withbaboutbigcoverage than the camera's aspect ratio, you use only the middle part of the image formed by this lens, and therefore

Table of working segments and frame formats of some photographic systems

Publication date: 10.10.2015

What should you do if you get fuzzy footage on a regular basis? Is the technique to blame or is it your actions? This article will help you figure it out. In it, you will learn how to check the focusing system of the device for accuracy and adjust it to get sharp shots.

Nikon D810 / Nikon 85mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor

I would like to say right away that in most cases it is not the camera that makes the mistake, but the person working with it. So, for starters, it’s worth looking for the cause of errors with focusing in own actions with the apparatus. In recent tutorials, we talked about how to work with different autofocus modes and focus points. This knowledge will help you in practice. It will also be useful to read an article on how a novice photographer can evaluate and improve the quality of their own work.

Autofocus can fail when working in low light, and when shooting complex, diverse shots (the camera will not know what to focus on). Such focusing shortcomings can be avoided by simply setting the device according to the shooting conditions. For example, choosing the AF-C constant focus mode and 3D subject tracking when shooting sports will allow you to get much more sharp shots than working with single-frame focusing. But there are focus errors that occur systematically, regardless of the shooting conditions.

Back and front focus

In SLR cameras, the phase type of autofocus is the main one. It is with him that you are dealing, working through the viewfinder of the camera. Phase focusing occurs using a separate sensor installed in the camera. As you can see, this a complex system, and sometimes it can work inconsistently.

The consequence of this will be systematic autofocus errors, called back- and front-focus. In the case of back focus, the camera constantly focuses not on the subject being shot, but behind it. In the case of front focus, on the contrary, the camera constantly focuses in front of the subject. Please note that the presence of back- and front-focus can only be said when the camera makes a mistake with focusing every time in the same direction. If one frame is sharp and the other is not, then the problem should be looked for elsewhere.

The problem of back- and front-focus is especially terrible when working with high-aperture portrait optics. There, the depth of field will be very small, therefore, any, even minor focusing errors will be very noticeable in the photo. For example, the sharpness in the frame will not be in front of the model, but on the ears.

On the other hand, if you are a happy owner of a whale lens or universal zooms that do not shine with high aperture, you can sleep peacefully. After all, even if your camera has back or front focus, you most likely will not notice it, because focusing errors will be compensated by a large depth of field.

Contrast autofocus

In a SLR camera, in addition to phase focusing, there is another type of autofocus - contrast. You activate it by turning on the Live View mode and sighting the picture through the screen of the device. With contrast autofocus, there can be no back and front focus, since it does not require separate sensors for its operation, focusing passes directly on the matrix. Thus, if phase focusing regularly "smears", try switching to Live View mode and working with contrast autofocus. It works a little slower, but gives more accurate results.

Checking Focus Accuracy

How to check the camera for back and front focus? An accurate conclusion about the presence or absence of these shortcomings can only be given by an authorized service center of the manufacturer of photographic equipment. However, the photographer can make a preliminary assessment of the focus accuracy for himself.

We propose a simple algorithm for such verification.

First, let's prepare the camera.

1. Insert the battery and memory card into the camera. Turn on the camera.

2. Check if autofocus is enabled.

3. Press the Menu button, in the "Image quality" item, select "JPEG High Quality". If you know how to work with RAW, you can use this format.

4. Turn on A (Aperture Priority) mode. If you know how to work with manual mode M, you can use it. Open the camera aperture to the maximum value. Everything is simple here: the smaller the number indicating the aperture, the more it is open. In the case of a kit lens, you will most likely have to deal with apertures around F5.6.

5. Set the minimum ISO value. This is usually ISO 100 or 200. This will ensure that test shots are clean and free of digital noise.

6. Now - the most important thing! Let's select the focus mode on one point. It may be called "Single-point AF" in the camera menu.

7. The point is small - download and print a special target on any printer to check the accuracy of focusing.

There are targets different kind, but the proposed option is perhaps the most popular. In principle, you can check the focus, say, using a regular ruler (how it will become clear later), but it is much more convenient to do this on a target.

Checking autofocus

So, the camera is set up, the test target is printed. It's time to act!

The camera is best mounted on a tripod.. Without a tripod, such a check will be extremely inaccurate and indicative.

Provide adequate lighting for shooting. It is best to shoot by the window during the day. You can use a flash (both built-in and external).

Place the target on a flat surface, and position the camera at an angle of 45 degrees to it at such a distance that the target occupies a significant area of ​​the frame.

Choose the center AF point. Focus exactly on the target - on the inscription Focus Here (Focus here). A thick black line with this inscription should be located in your frame strictly perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens.

Take a few shots. Do not use continuous shooting, focus again after each frame. Remember that after focusing, in no case should you move the camera, change the shooting distance. If you are using a zoom lens, test it at different focal lengths. I note that it is most convenient to conduct testing from a focal length of around 50 mm, and you can start with it.

View received footage. To see them better, do it not on the camera screen, but on the computer monitor. If you see a systematic focus error on all frames, then most likely you have detected back or front focus. It's not worth worrying about this. This is easily fixed in the service center. And owners of advanced cameras (starting with the Nikon D7200) can adjust the focus directly from the camera menu

Fine tuning autofocus

Advanced cameras (starting with the Nikon D7200) have an autofocus fine-tuning feature that will help you get rid of problems with back and front focus, fine-tune the focus system. The convenience of the function is also in the fact that the device remembers the settings separately for each specific lens. Let's say a bug shows up with one of your lenses. You can make adjustments specifically for him, and they will not affect the work with other lenses. When you attach a lens to the camera, it will automatically apply the appropriate corrections for it. Please note that autofocus fine-tuning will only work when focusing through the camera's viewfinder (with phase focusing). When working through the Live View screen, it is not activated, and there will be no need for it, because in this case a contrast type of autofocus is used, which eliminates problems with back and front focus.

Not too often, but photographers need to use Nikon optics on Canon DSLRs. Both companies have a very wide the lineup lenses and almost everything that one manufacturer has can be found from another, so it makes little sense to use adapters, but for someone it is. For example, we can compare the quality of optics. Using cameras from different manufacturers, it is impossible to make an objective assessment, because due to the difference in image sensors and image processing algorithms, photos will look different. In this case, it remains to take one carcass and install all the lenses on it.

What are the options for mounting Nikon lenses on a Canon DSLR?

It is possible to mount a Nikon F mount lens, even the new "G" lenses that do not have an aperture control ring on all Canon DSLRs. To do this, you only need an adapter from the Nikon mount to Canon. There are many manufacturers of adapters from famous brands and nameless offices. The simplest adapters cost no more than $20. Such devices may not support all types of lenses. Basically, support will only be provided with older Nikon optics. New lenses require special adapters that can cost up to $300.

Is it possible to do the opposite?

No, Canon lenses cannot be mounted on Nikon cameras. Electronics can be made to work, but physically the lens simply cannot focus. The problem is that in Nikon cameras the distance from the mount to the sensor is greater than that of Canon. This makes focusing impossible. The lens will go into a kind of macro mode, as if it were mounted through macro extension rings.

For Canon optics to work properly on Nikon cameras, the lens would need to be recessed inside the body, but this is impossible.

Why use third party optics?

Let's see what is the point of using Nikon lenses on Canon cameras. In essence, this makes no sense. Each company develops optics for their products, and it works the best way within the ecosystem.

Sometimes you need to go against the manufacturer and do it your own way.

1. Sometimes people move from one system to another. If you sold a Nikon carcass, but good lenses remain, you can continue to use them.
2. Many photographers have a soft spot for the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G lens. Up to the point that they are ready to work with it through the adapter on their 5D Mark III.
3. This can be done just for fun.

There are companies that specialize in the production of optics for various cameras. Such lenses are immediately designed for different mounts. Companies that produce photographic equipment for themselves make optics that can either be installed only on their own camera, or through an adapter on others, but here we may encounter limited functionality or complete incompatibility.

Adapter Limitations

In the event that you decide to use Nikon optics on your Canon, you should be aware of the following limitations:

1. Autofocus won't work
2. In-lens stabilization and aperture adjustment won't work either.
3. Manual focusing in low light on a closed aperture is difficult. You need to open the aperture, focus and return the desired aperture value
4. There are adapters without a chip. They do not support focus confirmation. Also the camera will not receive from the lens EXIF data
5. Metering will work, but there may be errors
6. Swapping one adapter for different lenses can be tedious, and buying a separate adapter for each is costly.
7. Most the best way lenses - optics with aperture ring
8. Using Nikkor G optics, you cannot fine-tune the aperture. Adjustment is not precise
9. For the adapter to work properly, it may be necessary to get rid of the protective rubber gasket on the lens mount when using type "G" optics

There are a lot of negative aspects of using adapters. It is much easier to sell unsuitable optics and buy the same one, but made by Canon.

How to choose an adapter

You need to buy an adapter made of high-quality metal. It must be securely attached to the lens and to the camera. Cheap adapters may not securely attach the lens to the camera and allow dust to pass through.

One of the best manufacturers adapters is Novoflex. Programmable adapters from 16:9 are also good.

Based on materials from the site:

I have been asked for a long time to write a blog about the use of Soviet lenses on SLR cameras, in this case the Nikon D5100. And now this moment has come. The first thing I would like to start with is what started my passion for photography. On the reflex camera I have been photographing for about seven months, and in my arsenal there is a Nikon D5100, and three lenses, this is a whale 18-105, Helios 44-2, and Helios 81n, in fact, they will be discussed. My passion for photography began with mobile phone(Lapography), or rather with the Iphone 3GS, and later 4S, several times became the owner of a flash drive, in Mobifoto, later there was a desire to step over to another level of photography, and try to shoot on a SLR. In choosing a camera, I didn’t bother much, I just went and bought the one that the funds allowed at the moment. I gave my preference to the Nikon brand, since I once had Canon PowerShot a570 is and he's in service center was more often than I photographed on it, in the end I sold it. I'm not saying that all cameras of this brand are bad, maybe I came across such a model, but an unpleasant aftertaste remained. So I bought myself a Nikon D5100 with an 18-105mm kit lens. Almost immediately after the purchase, I came across an article about the use of Soviet lenses on the CZK, and I had a great desire to try to shoot them, especially since their prices are not high. Just at my friend's, Zenith ET with Helios 44-2 was found. Later, I also bought Helios 81n for myself, but I will talk about this later in the blog. And now back to Helios 44-2.

Helios 44-2

The first thing I encountered was the need to use an adapter, and the lack of focusing on infinity. It was not difficult to buy an adapter, I ordered it, paid for it, received it. But with focusing I had to tinker a little. It was necessary to disassemble the lens, which also turned out to be not so simple (it took a lot of effort to unwind it, it stubbornly resisted) and adjust infinity by selecting the adjusting rings. I had to make the rings myself, and several pieces of different thicknesses, since there is such an opportunity and a tool. In the end, it was not possible to achieve infinity, but it became possible to focus up to about 50 meters, (unlike one and a half meters without alteration), which was quite enough for me to complete my tasks.

But as it turned out, these were not the last difficulties. It turned out that my camera does not support exposure metering with manual non-chip lenses, for example, as it is possible on older models, such as the D7000. Which made it very difficult to work with this bundle. I had to set the shutter speed and aperture value by eye, and several times to get the desired result. And given the almost lack of experience, many interesting moments were lost. Yes, and very often I forgot that when changing lighting, you need to change the shutter speed values, as a result, I got either overexposure or a too dark image.

In the future, everything became much easier, I got used to this glass, and it was possible to set the exposure values ​​in two or three frames.

Then in the "App Store" I found an application that, with the help of Iphone cameras performs exposure metering, it is called “Exposure Meter”. In it, you can manually set, for example, the aperture, and the application will select the shutter speed and ISO automatically, or vice versa, set the shutter speed and the rest of the parameters will be set by the program. After determining the parameters, you enter them into the camera, which greatly simplifies the work.

I would also like to add that on an open aperture it is difficult to get into sharpness, the slightest deviation and the subject is not sharp. It is especially difficult to shoot nature (flora) in windy weather, and a small breeze is enough to complicate focusing, and in order for the picture to turn out sharp, you need to show great patience and perseverance.

I forgot to say about the most important thing, on cameras like the D5100, it will be possible to take pictures only in M ​​mode. In other modes, the camera writes “Lens not attached”.

You also need to add that the lens has a preset aperture ring, that is, you focus with a fully open aperture, then turn this ring and take pictures, sometimes you forget about it too. Which is actually not convenient, unlike lenses with a jump rope, which served as the decision to buy Helios 81n.

Helios 81n

I purchased this lens at a flea market via the Internet, there are plenty of them on the net, ranging from shabby to glasses in perfect, almost new condition. The price also depends on the state (well, the impudence of the seller) 350-900 UAH. I bought my copy for 450 UAH.

The first main difference is 44-2, as I wrote above, this is a jump rope, and a Nikon mount (that is, the absence of adapters and the ability to focus on infinity, without dancing with tambourines). I set the lens, the desired aperture value and went to shoot, no need to twist any rings.

The second advantage of 81n, in practice it turned out that on open apertures it is sharper than 44-2. As it turned out, focusing is much easier, both by the green dot in the viewfinder and through the camera display. Another disadvantage in using Soviet glasses on the D5100 is the rangefinder that does not work, as in the D7000 (which I also tried to shoot with this glass). And this means that arrows light up near the green dot indicating in which direction to rotate the focus ring to get into sharpness.

Almost immediately after buying 81n, I went to the VDM exhibition in Kyiv, which was held indoors, and the presence of a fast lens turned out to be handy. I took the D7000 from my brother and installed my helix, and gave him my D5100 c 18-105.

What was very pleasing when using this bundle was the working exposure metering, and the rangefinder that I mentioned above.