I hope someone can advise! I am looking to buy a Tamron 17-50 F2.8 constant Nikon mount, do I need an adaptor for the Sony NEX 50


Iain J

Hi Iain

Too easy!! Just stay well clear from the el-cheapo Chinese adapters and you will be fine!! Also make sure the adapter you select does have an aperture ring on it so you can adjust the iris when required.

I personally have Novoflex adapters from Germany...they are pricey but brilliant ... I would rather pay a tiny bit extra for an adapter than buy one that ends up damaging my camera! I use my Tammy 17-50 on my Nikon D90's as well....great value for money lens and sharp too!!!

Chris

Hi John,

Found one at £138 plus £6 delivery from Germany on EBay

Cheers

Hi Iain

Was that for the lens or the adapter??

Chris

Quite possibly for the lens I'll say.

Us in Australia can get this one: Tamron SP AF 17 50mm F 2 8 XR DI II VC LD Asph IF FOR Nikon | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Tamron-SP-AF-17-50mm-F-2-8-XR-Di-II-VC-LD-ASPH-IF-for-Nikon-/251342907080?pt=AU_Lenses&hash=item3a853466c8&_uhb=1)

AUD$200 used or AUD$300 brand new from overseas.

I've never used this lens so have no opinions at all regarding it.

Hi Chris,

It's for the adaptor, the lens is £299 from Calumet!

Here's the Ebay link:

Novoflex Adapter Nikon Lenses to Sony NEX Cameras - NEX-NIK | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390673363087?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649)

Nice Iain

They do seem expensive compared to the couple of quid you pay for the Chinese ones but these adapters fit the camera like original equipment both on the lens side and camera side. I have two! (one for each of my EA-50's) Despite the low lens price I have found them to be nice and sharp and work pretty well and I do prefer zooms to primes as it makes framing so much easier especially if you stuck in one spot.

Chris

I think I will go for this lens. I have found a cheap second hand one like new near my house.
Only the adapter confuses me.

Cheaper ones like this will work to?

UK Nikon F Mount TO Sony NEX Adapter FOR NEX 3 NEX 5 | eBay (http://www.benl.ebay.be/itm/UK-Nikon-F-Mount-to-Sony-NEX-Adapter-for-NEX-3-NEX-5-/300515056624?pt=UK_Photography_CameraLenses_Lens_caps_hoods_adaptors_ET&hash=item45f817dbf0&_uhb=1)

but no control over the aperture?

Hi Tom

A lot of Nikon lenses have no aperture ring so it's essential to get an adapter that has an aperture lever/slider on it so you can open and close the iris.

Both my Novoflex adapters have them and on the EA-50 with the Tamron outside you can easily "bottom out" exposure wise if you leave it at F2.8 ... I have often seen my 17-50 cause the camera to hit the 10,000 shutter speed and have to close the iris down so you DO need the control.

Chris

You only get what you pay for, I paid around £200 for my Novoflex adapter and I am very happy with it.

Hi Tom

A lot of Nikon lenses have no aperture ring so it's essential to get an adapter that has an aperture lever/slider on it so you can open and close the iris.

Both my Novoflex adapters have them and on the EA-50 with the Tamron outside you can easily "bottom out" exposure wise if you leave it at F2.8 ... I have often seen my 17-50 cause the camera to hit the 10,000 shutter speed and have to close the iris down so you DO need the control.

Chris
I think I understand this Chris. When you can't control aperture the shutter speed can co for 1/200 for example inside. With the aperture control you can hold the shutter on 1/50, wright?

Hi Tom

When I do wedding receptions I obviously need lot's of light capture so my Tamron normally stays at F2.8 and whatever shutter the camera decides on. I shoot everything in 1080i and not progressive so I don't need to match shutter speeds. I will very seldom need to change sunlit shoots in the shade as at F2.8 the shutter speed is not excessive! In bright sunlight however I normally stop down to keep the shutter at decent rates. If you are shooting interlaced the shutter doesn't HAVE to be twice the frame rate ... I often will shoot outdoor stuff at shutter speeds right up to 1/6000 sec!!!!! Just be careful though..if you are filming movement ..like running water a very high shutter can freeze the action on each frame so it starts to look un-natural!!

I think if you are buying Nikon mount lenses then rather splash out a little extra for an adapter with the aperture lever ...both my Novoflex adapters have them!

Chris

A little off topic guys but I use a Tamron 24-70 (canon mount) with my metabones and run it at a constant 2.8 - mainly for dim evening receptions and it's fantastic - sharper image than my canon L series 24-105!!

Pete

HAs the tamron a pin on the inside of the lens for aperture control?
I think I will buy this cheap adapter. I think I will take the risk

Nikon to NEX lens mount adapter (kiwifoto) Unboxing - YouTube

The first cheap adapter I bought was a FOTGA for only $35.00 and it also had an aperture lever but the actuator looked like a pin that was actually a tiny piece of threaded rod. The adapter jammed on the camera and was so tight on my Nikon lenses it marked the mount quite badly.

I threw it in the bin!! I cannot see the logic in damaging an almost $4000 camera with a $30 adapter!!!

I would seriously buy a decent adapter like a Novoflex from Germany ..Mine were 160 euros and they are well made and fit perfectly. I got mine from a guy in Germany who also sells vintage lenses called the "Camera Gentleman"

Really don't buy Chinese cheap rubbish and damage your camera. lens or both!!

Chris

Chris is right, I have had some luck with cheap adapters but also issues with others where in one case I almost couldn't get the adapter removed anymore from my g6 but it could go the other way as well like a adapter that sits too loose. There is very little tolerance to make it fit and the expensive adapters are more precisely made. Here is an example of a kiwi adapter that was too loose on my gh3, very annoying when I wanted to manually focus or change the iris on the samyang lens that was attached, here it fitted quite well on the camera but there was too much play to fit eos mount lenses.

https://vimeo.com/72175879

Hi Noa

You were lucky! My FOTGA one wouldn't even fit on the EA-50 as the tolerances were so bad!! it would go on and be able to do about a 1/8th turn and then locked ... I even tried careful sanding of the fitting but the lip width was way, way out. On the lens end it was so tight the back plate of my Nikon lens was quite deeply scarred.

Unless you can physically walk into a shop with your camera and lens and actually try it then don't buy a cheap one ...Of course Tom might be lucky??

Didn't you have another brand adapter that you used to use on your EA-50 ?? I'm sure that worked pretty well!!

Chris

Chris,

about the tamron 28-75mm F2.8. This would have an iris ring they told me? In this case I don't need a special adapter like novoflex? Or do I miss something here?

Tom you are nuts - you only get what you pay for - I got a cheap adaptor so I could put my Tamron Lens on my DSLR Adaptor got stuck and I broke the lens! Adaptor £20 Lens £280 Need I say more!

Hi Tom

Most Nikon mount lenses don't have an iris ring but yes, some 3rd party lenses may have them fitted ..I remember my Sigma 24-70 was a Nikon mount but also had an iris ring. It won't cost you any extra to get the adapter with the control.

Seriously regardless of what mount lens you are using, don't buy a cheap adapter!! I already have a lens in my Nikon set with deep grooves caused by a cheap adapter. As Iain has already just said he has damaged a $280 lens which is MORE than buying a decent adapter.. Germany is your neighbour so it will be easy to find a Novoflex that will fit your camera correctly and not damage any lenses.

Chris

I use a Metabones on my EA50 but for my VG-20 (same NEX mount) I use a R.J. Camera focal reducer for EOS Lenses - price somewhere between cheap and expensive - I find it a perfect fit and they produce one for Nikon

focal reducer speed booster adapter for Nikon F/G AI AIS to Sony NEX 5 6 7 FS700 FS100 VG20 EA50 (http://www.rjcamera.com/ocart/index.php?route=product/product&filter_name=nex&product_id=62)

Don't buy cheap - you'll regret it!

Pete

Guys,

I love my Metabones smart adapter. Canon EF to Sony E. Well made too. Having full electronic control of lens functions makes it worth every penny. But.....if you are considering one.....keep in mind they are not compatible with Tamron EF mount lenses.

Steve

I second the RJ approval! Ive been running 2 of them for the last 6 months --
an eos to nex electronic adapter:
Electronic Aperture EOS NEX adapter (http://www.rjcamera.com/ocart/index.php?route=product/product&path=20_63&product_id=54)
& a canon fd version of the one peter linked to. Both have been problem free, & the build quality is excellent. Thumbs up for sure.