Mirrorless for use with Nikon lenses?

gustafson

Senior Member
I'm exploring the possibility of adding a cheap mirrorless body as a backup to get me extra reach for wildlife with my current lens collection (plus maybe a 300 f/4.5 or 400 f/5.6 prime), while keeping weight low. I think I would like to have EVF with focus peaking, and some metering compatibility. Any thoughts on what mirrorless bodies (and associated adapters) would be the best fit based on my current lenses and intended use would be greatly appreciated.


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mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Looking at your lenses it looks like they are manual focus,if they work ok you could look at a 1 series with a cheap manual adapter the FT1 would be wasted with most of your lenses,

I took this on a XYZXYT mirrorles camera and a manual adapter with no communication,its a Nikon fit screw drive sigma 105,you shouldn't need to worry about stopping the lens down,you just stop it down before you focus the EVF compensates for the loss of light,this was f8 or 11 cant remember,didnt use focus peaking just focused the EVF image.

P1010012.jpg
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Just to add check just what a 1 series with various adapters would give you in the way of metering ect,a ft1 is expensive compered with a dumb adapter so you need to be able to take advantage of its ability's,i have only ever used a FT1 on my V2 and with lenses it could make full use of.
 

IVN

Senior Member
If your lenses are MF only, you are better off with a M4/3 camera. I have an OM-D E-M10 and it meters and offers stabilisation (in-body), focus peaking and MF magnification with ANY lens and ANY adapter. Even C-mount lenses designed for CCTV use and dumb adapters. Nikon 1 cameras (I also have a Nikon 1 V1) on the other hand only meter with the FT1 and compatible lenses. There is no metering with dumb adapters (you have to use M mode and eyeball metering and focus) and no focus peaking (none of the N1 cameras has that feature) or MF magnification (only available with native lenses and FT1 and compatible Nikkor lenses).
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
I use my Nikon lenses on a Fuji X-E2 and am very happy with the results I get. There is a focus peaking magnification that is absolutely great to use when doing macro and the simple fact that I have the histogram in the viewfinder facilitates the exposure compensation. The adapter cost me about 20$
 

Eduard

Super Mod
Staff member
Super Mod
I haven't tried to adapt lenses, but focus peaking is an excellent feature in many of the mirrorless systems!
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
For me, manual focusing is pleasant. It brings me back to real photography where I'm the one who decides what I want in focus, not the camera.

Here's an example I got with the E-X2 with my Sigma 105 macro lens. Glass on a frosted glass table.

_DSF6386 - copie.jpg
 
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