Nikkor / Zeiss ZF Mount on Canon w/Aperture Ring - Issues?

[Arkarch]

Looking at option to use new Zeiss 15mm ZF mount (Nikkor F) on a Canon Body. It was suggested in the video blog from Stefan Czech.

Apparently the ZF version has an aperture ring that is ideal for video. And considering a $3K investment for a lens, having dual use on Nikon and Canon bodies (with adaptor) sounds like a deal maker.

I absolutely know this is Manual Focus - the lens is. No issue. I am almost always Manual, especially for a wide on landscapes. The sensor lightup on the Canon side sounds helpful nevertheless.

But what grief will I have for exposure even with an manual aperture ring available?

Not sold on the concept yet.

And this question likely applies to other Nikkor lenses. I know the 14-24 has no aperture ring so its what - guess?

 

[iDee]

You will not experience any grief related to exposure with the ZF mounted Zeiss. I shoot with the 35zf, 50zf, and 100zf.2 on a Canon 7D. Exposure metering works just as it does with EF/L lenses. There is an aperture ring on all ZF/ZF.2 lenses. Best of luck on the purchase.

 

[Arkarch]

Thanks iDee,

Just to clarify, the aperture ring setting will be transmitted to the body such that I could do Aperture Priority?

And do you recommend a particular adapter for the ZF.2 to Canon?

 

[dr croubie]

With any manual lens, you can shoot Av and M on any canon body (or Tv with AutoISO).

Look for an adapter with an AF chip by Victor Lushnikov, they sell on ebay by user 'ml-gvalt' or from peleng8.com, they're the best. I've got them on all my MF lenses and adapters, it's what EdMika uses on his adapters too.

The aperture in EXIF will always be what you program the adapter to, like f/1.4 or so, it won't change. The camera will thus always think you're set at f/1.4 or whatever, no matter what you turn the aperture to. (From what I know, ZE-mount lenses work the same as canon lenses as far as the aperture goes).

Metering will always be 100% accurate in live-view. In Viewfinder-mode, sometimes it's off (not by more than a stop), I haven't done enough testing to see if it's lens- or aperture-dependent yet. histogram and re-shoot is easy to do.

For nikon G-lenses (ie, without aperture ring), you can get them on ebay too, just search for something like "nik* G (eos, ef) adap*" should get you some. Never tried them so not sure how well they work.

 

[Arkarch]

Got it!

(I think - but I used to do a fair amount of film work some 30 years ago so I should be right at home)

Warming up to the idea.