Great Adapter News at DVinfo.net

Jim Giberti · January 22nd, 2009, 01:49 PM

I'm on the run and can't get into too much detail on this or my recent Shuttle Control "discoveries" but here's some good news for people migrating to Nikons for film work.

I was going to test a series of adapters one at a time looking for the best solution for adapting my 5 primes and two 2.8 Nikon zooms. So, being logical I didn't start with the $270 version from B&H or the fotodiox; I started and finished with the $7.95 KAWA adapter.
No S**t, it's perfect.

I've got a good deal of experience with second party adapters for Nikon having owned 2 Mini 35s and Letus. This adapter is as tight fitting and well machined as the adapters on both of those systems.

It's almost embarrassing, but I've outfitted my whole 7 lens kit for $135 - They cost $15.00 each with shipping which is how they make a little money and that's more than fien. And they ship from the US in 3 or 4 days.

Ebay- Kawa Nikon Adapter.

Cheap, good adapters, full latitude, better image than my Mini35....now all we need is shutter control and this is a complete revolution (mini-revolution anyway.)

Michael Moore · January 22nd, 2009, 02:27 PM

I use the Kawa Nikon Adapter as well and it works like a charm!

I have been useing a few Nikon lens. a 28mm 2.8 and a 50mm not sure if it is 1.8 or 1.4 (don't have it with me right now).

Ether way the cheap adapter works like a not dam!

thanks
Michael

Jim Giberti · January 22nd, 2009, 04:05 PM

Do you have just one Michael?

That's the beauty of this. I didn't want to, but was going to spend whatever necessary to adapt my whole Nikon kit...even if it cost $1000 - $1500. It would be well worth it to have essentially Canon primes with full aperture control.

It's just too cumbersome and time consuming to switch one adapter on and off different lenses.
Like I said, I now have a full set of primes and fast zooms all shooting on the 5D2 for next to nothing.

Most importantly is the quality and fit of the adapter and I can't imagine how or why a $70 - $270 adapter could be any better than these - they're snug, snap right into place and are smoothly and professionally machined and finished.

Michael Moore · January 22nd, 2009, 04:15 PM

Yup i just have one :(

I only have 2 Nikon lens right now... if i get more i will look at getting another few adapters.

Your are right though i cant figure out how a 200 adapter is any better.

thanks
Michael

Filip Kovcin · January 22nd, 2009, 05:08 PM

are you sure this is KAWA, not KOWA adapter? i cannot find anything on ebay. maybe you can provide some pictures of it.

filip

Robert Huber · January 22nd, 2009, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Filip Kovcin

are you sure this is KAWA, not KOWA adapter? i cannot find anything on ebay. maybe you can provide some pictures of it.

filip

I couldn't turn anything up by that name either.

Bruce G. Cleveland · January 22nd, 2009, 05:42 PM

What exact specs do I need on Nikon lenses in order to work with the Mark II?? Sorry if this is a dumb question or has ben answered, but I want to find a nikon lens on ebay fairly inexpensive to start and see how the manual aperture works. thanks for any help.

Bruce

Jim Giberti · January 22nd, 2009, 05:46 PM

Here ya go.

Nikon Lens to Canon EOS Camera Adapter Mount NEW - eBay (item 290290560585 end time Jan-24-09 17:14:01 PST)

Greg Joyce · January 22nd, 2009, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Giberti

I'm on the run and can't get into too much detail on this or my recent Shuttle Control "discoveries" but here's some good news for people migrating to Nikons for film work.

I was going to test a series of adapters one at a time looking for the best solution for adapting my 5 primes and two 2.8 Nikon zooms. So, being logical I didn't start with the $270 version from B&H or the fotodiox; I started and finished with the $7.95 KAWA adapter.
No S**t, it's perfect.

I've got a good deal of experience with second party adapters for Nikon having owned 2 Mini 35s and Letus. This adapter is as tight fitting and well machined as the adapters on both of those systems.

It's almost embarrassing, but I've outfitted my whole 7 lens kit for $135 - They cost $15.00 each with shipping which is how they make a little money and that's more than fien. And they ship from the US in 3 or 4 days.

Ebay- Kawa Nikon Adapter.

Cheap, good adapters, full latitude, better image than my Mini35....now all we need is shutter control and this is a complete revolution (mini-revolution anyway.)

Excellent tip!

I had planned to spend anywhere from a low of $89 up to $200 apiece. Instead, I just ordered 2 for a total of $32. Now I just need to buy some Nikon lenses! (What can I say, I've never owned an SLR camera before.)

Thanks for the great tip, Jim.

Jim Giberti · January 22nd, 2009, 06:55 PM

News travels fast. I just got an email from the guy at KAWA thanking me for my kind words online and for all his new business.

Dan Chung · January 22nd, 2009, 06:57 PM

A word of caution guys, these adapters look suspiciously like the generic Chinese ones that I've been using for a while. I've had two fall to pieces on me, the little screws that hold the adapter together come undone too easily under the weight of lenses like my 17-35 and 80-200. Some thread lock glue might help. The spring that holds the lens lock can be a little tricky to use too making lens changing slow, it's best to get an adapter for each lens like Jim.

I now only use them on shorter lighter primes lenses. Generally they are fine but I've also found that the tolerances for backfocus and infinity focus can vary quite a bit. They are a little bit more wobbly on the body than some of the more expensive ones too.

I found really nice adapters here in China that look very similar to the fotodiox pro ones (maybe they are copies?), the seem to retail at around $60 each but I can't find them online. Not much cheaper than the Fotodiox Pro though.

Oh and I had an older and more expensive Novoflex adapter fall apart too, so maybe the price is not a guarantee of quality.

Dan

Jim Giberti · January 22nd, 2009, 07:10 PM

[QUOTE=Dan Chung;999322]The spring that holds the lens lock can be a little tricky to use too making lens changing slow, it's best to get an adapter for each lens like Jim.

Hey Dan. They are from China and seem every bit as solid as the mount on the Mini 35. I decided, whatever the cost, that I wasn;t going to be changing lens backs every time we changed lenses, so one for each lens was a given. But fir $15 it also eliminates the possibility that the spring loaded pin will ever fail.

<<They are a little bit more wobbly on the body than some of the more expensive ones too.>>

Not this model. I had read your earlier comments about loose fit and wobble and that's why I was going to try several brands, but this was the first and it's as tight and snaps on and off as if it were a Canon lens.

Plus at $15 you can have a couple of extra if any ever did fail.

Brian Leahy · January 22nd, 2009, 07:31 PM

Hey jim i see you bought seven adapters for your lenses, why not just have one and leave it on the camera, is it because you also have canon lens and want to swap between canon and nikon lenses?

Dan Chung · January 22nd, 2009, 07:32 PM

Jim,

Sounds like a good find then!

It's great that your adapters have a good fit, I might try one to see how different it is to my others, one adapter per lens makes perfect sense.

I would just check those tiny screws on adapters used with longer lenses from time to time for safety's sake, although I think if your long lens has some kind of extra support like a rails adapter then it's probably not an issue.

Dan

Jon Fairhurst · January 22nd, 2009, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Leahy

...why not just have one and leave it on the camera...

On the Fotodiox Pro, anyway, there is a clip that keeps the Nikon lens from accidentally rotating off. Unfortunately, you need to remove the lens/adapter from the camera in order to remove the adapter. In short, you can't just leave the adapter on the camera.

It's not terrible to use one adapter with multiple lenses, but it's definitely faster with one adapter per lens. The main reason I'd like multiple adapters isn't because of my time, it's because I want the camera to be open to the elements for as short a time as physically possible - especially in nasty weather. Also, the more pieces you have to handle, the more likely you are to drop something or mess something up.

January 22nd, 2009, 01:49 PM	#1
Jim Giberti Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bethel, VT Posts: 824	Great Adapter News I'm on the run and can't get into too much detail on this or my recent Shuttle Control "discoveries" but here's some good news for people migrating to Nikons for film work. I was going to test a series of adapters one at a time looking for the best solution for adapting my 5 primes and two 2.8 Nikon zooms. So, being logical I didn't start with the $270 version from B&H or the fotodiox; I started and finished with the $7.95 KAWA adapter. No S**t, it's perfect. I've got a good deal of experience with second party adapters for Nikon having owned 2 Mini 35s and Letus. This adapter is as tight fitting and well machined as the adapters on both of those systems. It's almost embarrassing, but I've outfitted my whole 7 lens kit for $135 - They cost $15.00 each with shipping which is how they make a little money and that's more than fien. And they ship from the US in 3 or 4 days. Ebay- Kawa Nikon Adapter. Cheap, good adapters, full latitude, better image than my Mini35....now all we need is shutter control and this is a complete revolution (mini-revolution anyway.)

January 22nd, 2009, 05:08 PM	#5
Filip Kovcin Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: warsaw, poland Posts: 440	are you sure - kAwa, not kOwa adapter? are you sure this is KAWA, not KOWA adapter? i cannot find anything on ebay. maybe you can provide some pictures of it. filip __________________ in kino (sic!) veritas

January 22nd, 2009, 02:27 PM	#2
Michael Moore Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Vancouver Posts: 94	I use the Kawa Nikon Adapter as well and it works like a charm! I have been useing a few Nikon lens. a 28mm 2.8 and a 50mm not sure if it is 1.8 or 1.4 (don't have it with me right now). Ether way the cheap adapter works like a not dam! thanks Michael

January 22nd, 2009, 04:05 PM	#3
Jim Giberti Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bethel, VT Posts: 824	Do you have just one Michael? That's the beauty of this. I didn't want to, but was going to spend whatever necessary to adapt my whole Nikon kit...even if it cost $1000 - $1500. It would be well worth it to have essentially Canon primes with full aperture control. It's just too cumbersome and time consuming to switch one adapter on and off different lenses. Like I said, I now have a full set of primes and fast zooms all shooting on the 5D2 for next to nothing. Most importantly is the quality and fit of the adapter and I can't imagine how or why a $70 - $270 adapter could be any better than these - they're snug, snap right into place and are smoothly and professionally machined and finished.

January 22nd, 2009, 04:15 PM	#4
Michael Moore Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Vancouver Posts: 94	Yup i just have one :( I only have 2 Nikon lens right now... if i get more i will look at getting another few adapters. Your are right though i cant figure out how a 200 adapter is any better. thanks Michael

January 22nd, 2009, 05:42 PM	#7
Bruce G. Cleveland Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Oshkosh, WI Posts: 190	What exact specs do I need on Nikon lenses in order to work with the Mark II?? Sorry if this is a dumb question or has ben answered, but I want to find a nikon lens on ebay fairly inexpensive to start and see how the manual aperture works. thanks for any help. Bruce

January 22nd, 2009, 05:46 PM	#8
Jim Giberti Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bethel, VT Posts: 824	Here ya go. Nikon Lens to Canon EOS Camera Adapter Mount NEW - eBay (item 290290560585 end time Jan-24-09 17:14:01 PST)

January 22nd, 2009, 06:55 PM	#10
Jim Giberti Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bethel, VT Posts: 824	News travels fast. I just got an email from the guy at KAWA thanking me for my kind words online and for all his new business.

January 22nd, 2009, 06:57 PM	#11
Dan Chung Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Beijing Posts: 665	A word of caution guys, these adapters look suspiciously like the generic Chinese ones that I've been using for a while. I've had two fall to pieces on me, the little screws that hold the adapter together come undone too easily under the weight of lenses like my 17-35 and 80-200. Some thread lock glue might help. The spring that holds the lens lock can be a little tricky to use too making lens changing slow, it's best to get an adapter for each lens like Jim. I now only use them on shorter lighter primes lenses. Generally they are fine but I've also found that the tolerances for backfocus and infinity focus can vary quite a bit. They are a little bit more wobbly on the body than some of the more expensive ones too. I found really nice adapters here in China that look very similar to the fotodiox pro ones (maybe they are copies?), the seem to retail at around $60 each but I can't find them online. Not much cheaper than the Fotodiox Pro though. Oh and I had an older and more expensive Novoflex adapter fall apart too, so maybe the price is not a guarantee of quality. Dan

January 22nd, 2009, 07:10 PM	#12
Jim Giberti Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bethel, VT Posts: 824	[QUOTE=Dan Chung;999322]The spring that holds the lens lock can be a little tricky to use too making lens changing slow, it's best to get an adapter for each lens like Jim. Hey Dan. They are from China and seem every bit as solid as the mount on the Mini 35. I decided, whatever the cost, that I wasn;t going to be changing lens backs every time we changed lenses, so one for each lens was a given. But fir $15 it also eliminates the possibility that the spring loaded pin will ever fail. <<They are a little bit more wobbly on the body than some of the more expensive ones too.>> Not this model. I had read your earlier comments about loose fit and wobble and that's why I was going to try several brands, but this was the first and it's as tight and snaps on and off as if it were a Canon lens. Plus at $15 you can have a couple of extra if any ever did fail.

January 22nd, 2009, 07:31 PM	#13
Brian Leahy Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 25	Hey jim i see you bought seven adapters for your lenses, why not just have one and leave it on the camera, is it because you also have canon lens and want to swap between canon and nikon lenses?

January 22nd, 2009, 07:32 PM	#14
Dan Chung Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Beijing Posts: 665	Jim, Sounds like a good find then! It's great that your adapters have a good fit, I might try one to see how different it is to my others, one adapter per lens makes perfect sense. I would just check those tiny screws on adapters used with longer lenses from time to time for safety's sake, although I think if your long lens has some kind of extra support like a rails adapter then it's probably not an issue. Dan