A7ii with Nikon lenses

[purpwaltz]

Yesterday evening I took my newly acquired A7ii out for a shoot to familiarize myself with the camera, prior to my trekking holiday in the Himalayas in two weeks. Since I don't (yet) own any native Sony lenses, I was using my Nikkor primes with a Vello Version 4 adapter.

Quick observations:

1. Autofocus with this combo is barely usable, even in straightforward situations with a lot of light. However,

2. Focus peaking is a boon for those of us who have to rely on manual focus! I am still getting used to it, so I got some out-of-focus pictures among others that were in good focus, but I am convinced that without focus peaking I would have got a much smaller percentage of in-focus shots.

3. In body image stabilization (IBIS) works unbelievably well on this camera! The picture of the mailbox was taken at 1/10s with a 50 mm lens, and the stationary objects in the picture are sharp!

4. The A7ii with primes is so lightweight! It is a real pleasure to carry in the field - in terms of weight, a lot better than my Nikon D7100.

5. The Nikkor primes are such a joy to use! Of course I have used them in the past, but recently having gotten used to (and lazy with!) all-in-one zooms, seeing the image quality with primes is a joy!

6. Finally, although the A7ii's controls feel good, I need to shoot a lot more in the coming days with this camera in order to become familiar with the camera. Having shot Nikon since 1995, getting used to a different UI is non-trivial.

Attached are pictures that I took with 3 Nikkor primes - 85 mm AF-S 1.8G, 50 mm AF-S 1.8G and 35 mm AF-S 1.8G.

Mahesh




Portrait of a friend - Nikkor 85mm AF-S f1.8G


Mailbox - a great example of how good the IBIS is on the A7ii - Nikkor 50 mm AF-S f1.8G




Nikkor 35 mm AF-S f1.8G




Nikkor 35 mm AF-S f1.8G

 

[l_d_allan]

Yesterday evening I took my newly acquired A7ii out for a shoot to familiarize myself with the camera, prior to my trekking holiday in the Himalayas in two weeks. Since I don't (yet) own any native Sony lenses, I was using my Nikkor primes with a Vello Version 4 adapter.

I'd suggest putting a priority on getting one or several Sony native FE lenses prior to your big (and no doubt expensive) trip.

My impression is that a lot more R&D $$$ has gone into adapters for Canon lenses. They are still relatively immature, but still ahead of Nikon adapters.

 

[purpwaltz]

Hi,

I don't think I will invest in any native glass at this stage (the Sony A7ii has eaten up all my budget), so I will just have to improve my technique. The more I play with the A7ii the better I like it. Focus magnification is fantastic for manual focusing, as is focus peaking. I have customized the buttons for the controls I am most likely to use during a landscape photo shoot. I think that I have the tools to get good images during my trek - of course whether I manage to get any at all is another matter .

I shot a sunset with the A7ii with the Nikkor 85mm AF-S f1.8G (image below), and even shooting into the sun (as it hung low on the horizon), there was no flare, no ghosts! I saw appreciable flare with the Nikkor 50 mm AF-S f1.8G shooting into the sun, but that could also be because the sun being higher on the horizon was stronger.

Mahesh

 

[l_d_allan]

I don't think I will invest in any native glass at this stage (the Sony A7ii has eaten up all my budget), so I will just have to improve my technique.

Makes sense.

FWIW, I do tend to "roll my eyes" when a person mentions "investing" in lens[es] and other camera equipment. Unless you are a professional with write-offs, I (and especially my tolerant wife "The Hon") don't think of it as "investing" but rather spending.

 

[ravduc]

I am using legacy mf lenses on my A7ii and haven't really found the need to buy Sony FE AF lenses. You will find cheap adapters that work fine with this camera and lots of legacy lenses from different manufacturer. Nikon Ai lenses work beautifully with this camera. Some of my favourite lenses for this camera are Topcor RE lenses, Rollei HFT lenses (BM mount), Canon FD lenses, Nikkors and Super Takumars M42 lenses.

 

[purpwaltz]

I think my wife will agree with your point-of-view completely!

 

[purpwaltz]

Lately I have been doing some research on Nikon MF lenses to use with the A7ii, and I am also coming around to the view that it is better to get great quality glass that is under-priced rather than buying (not investing in! ;-)) Sony/Zeiss glass that is ridiculously expensive. My current thinking is to buy the Sony 24-70 f4 at some point for general purpose shooting, but shoot with high quality, low-cost primes for landscape applications, which is why I bought the A7ii in the first place. Your comments are very reassuring in this context - thank you!

 

[olstrup]

Lately I have been doing some research on Nikon MF lenses to use with the A7ii, and I am also coming around to the view that it is better to get great quality glass that is under-priced rather than buying (not investing in! ;-)) Sony/Zeiss glass that is ridiculously expensive. My current thinking is to buy the Sony 24-70 f4 at some point for general purpose shooting, but shoot with high quality, low-cost primes for landscape applications, which is why I bought the A7ii in the first place. Your comments are very reassuring in this context - thank you!

I can wholeheartedly recommend Nikon AI/AI-S lenses for the Sony A7X cameras. They are mechanically of high quality and ergonomically they are a joy to use. They can often be found for very reasonable prices (a few like the excellent but little known 200mm/4 is often outright cheap). My workhorses were 24/2.8, 35/2.0, 50/1.2, 105/2.5 and the 200/4.

Now, I mostly use Leica M lenses on my A7S but that's only because I also had them in the closet from my film days and they are so very small and light. If I hadn't had them, I would happily use my Nikon AI-S lenses. I haven't yet felt the itch to get Sony/Zeiss lenses. I believe they are more fragile with their built in electronics than those old faithful MF lenses.

I figure you may live in a sometimes hot and moist climate, so if buying older lenses locally, check them out for fungus before money changes hands (especially those which have been tucked avay for years in leather bags and holsters).

 

[ravduc]

I would highly recommend the Nikkor 50mm f1.2 ai/ais lens which is still manufactured by Nikon, but available used online. This is an excellent lens, not cheap, but well worth it for it's sharpness etc. Another is the Nikkor 105mm f2.5 lens either in earlier Sonnar type (non-ai) or later Gauss (ai) type. The 50mm f1.8 Planar Rollei in QBM mount is an excellent and cheaper alternative to the 50mm Contax/Zeiss lens. It's a Zeiss design lens and QBM to NEX adapters can be purchased cheaply on Ebay. The only drawback is that you might need to adjust infinity focus as per these very simple instructions on Youtube :

I have done this on two of my Rollei 50mm hft lenses without any difficulty. It takes about five minutes. Well worth the effort for this oustanding lens.

 

[Entropy512]

Yesterday evening I took my newly acquired A7ii out for a shoot to familiarize myself with the camera, prior to my trekking holiday in the Himalayas in two weeks. Since I don't (yet) own any native Sony lenses, I was using my Nikkor primes with a Vello Version 4 adapter.

I'd suggest putting a priority on getting one or several Sony native FE lenses prior to your big (and no doubt expensive) trip.

My impression is that a lot more R&D $$$ has gone into adapters for Canon lenses. They are still relatively immature, but still ahead of Nikon adapters.

There's also the fact that a lot more R&D $$$ is needed for Nikon adapters due to the fact that only a tiny handful have electronic aperture and there are still screwdrive lenses out there - while Canons are 100% electronic.

Plus Canon has used EF for EVERYTHING including their Cine bodies - so the lenses and mount protocols have been tuned to add mirrorless and video suitability. Nikon has basically ignored video (and continues to do so) and as a result their lenses aren't really suitable for video - at least their SLR lenses aren't. The same things needed for good video AF (such as the ability to control the speed of the focus motor) are also needed for good mirrorless AF.

 

[Entropy512]

Lately I have been doing some research on Nikon MF lenses to use with the A7ii, and I am also coming around to the view that it is better to get great quality glass that is under-priced rather than buying (not investing in! ;-)) Sony/Zeiss glass that is ridiculously expensive. My current thinking is to buy the Sony 24-70 f4 at some point for general purpose shooting, but shoot with high quality, low-cost primes for landscape applications, which is why I bought the A7ii in the first place. Your comments are very reassuring in this context - thank you!

A lot of people are surprised by how much easier MF becomes for mirrorless due to all of the focus assist tools/tricks available that aren't with SLRs.

My old Pentax MF glass is far more usable on Sony bodies than it EVER was on Pentax's own bodies!

 

[purpwaltz]

I am also finding out that various adapters for the Sony E mount are quite reasonably priced, and highly regarded MF lenses are available for a song. Even in India, I found a few good deals for Zeiss lenses, Pentax K-mount lenses etc., which I can adapt to the E mount. This opens up all kinds of exciting possibilities that were not so readily available when I have shot with Nikons all these years.

 

[purpwaltz]

Thanks for the recommendations. Any pointers to good MF wide angle and ultra-wide angle lenses (MF)? My requirements are high image quality, and light weight. I go into a mountains a bit, and am probably going to increase my trips there in the coming years, so reducing weight is a big consideration.

BTW, I would LOVE to get the Voigtlander 15 mm for the A7ii, but at $800, it will remain a dream, I am afraid.

 

[purpwaltz]

Thanks for the recommendations. I ordered a Nikkor 200 mm f4 AIS lens from a seller on Japan on eBay based on reviews I saw on the net. Will explore the other lenses you suggested as well.

Yes, in some parts of India it is easier for lenses to have fungus growth, so it pays to carefully examine a lens before forking out any money. But carefully planned, I think it is possible to have a good selection of lenses for landscape and even portraiture without breaking the bank.

Thanks all you guys for your various pointers - this is very helpful!

 

[ravduc]

I don't use ultra wide angles very much and cannot recommend any legacy mf ultra wides for landscape for the Sony A7ii mainly because they tend to be soft in the corners. I can recommend a couple of legacy mf 35mm lenses. The Super-Takumar 35mm f3.5 M42 screw mount is a tiny lens, very well built, a joy to use, cheap and very sharp across the frame with beautiful colors. See the following comments:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/S-M-C-Super-Auto-Takumar-35mm-F3.5.html

Another lens that I enjoy using for it's optical qualities and construction is the Topcor 35mm f2.8 RE lens (make sure it's an RE lens and not a UV lens). This lens uses an Exakta to nex adapter (cost 15 usd). It also focuses very close, similar to the 35mm Zeiss Jena Flektogon, but is better built, cheaper, and just as good if not better than the Flek. It's actually sharper in the corners and renders colors beautifully. I know this because I have both lenses. See the following:

http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/re-auto-topcor-lenses_topic108389.html

 

[purpwaltz]

An update on this topic (hopefully it is helpful for those shooting on the A7x series with Nikon glass - I recently acquired the Nikkor 200 mm f4 AI-S lens. It does NOT work with the Vello version 4 adapter. When I turn the aperture ring, the aperture does not change. Changing the aperture via the camera dial does not work as well. I know that the lens is good because it works on my Nikon D7100.

I bought a generic Nikon F to Sony E adapter (looks like the same model that sells under the Fotasy brand on Amazon), and the Nikkor 200 mm AI-S now works fine in Manual and Aperture Priority modes with my camera. I have to adjust aperture on the lens.

Today I will be receiving a Vivitar 24 mm f2 manual focus (Nikon AI-S compatible) lens, and after preliminary tests I will post results here.

Those planning on sinking USD 400 into the latest Vello adapter that allegedly allows for AF with Nikkor AF-S lenses on the Sony A7x series cameras may want to re-think their purchase, as this adapter seems to have very limited functionality, at least at this time.

BTW, the Nikkor 200 mm f4 AI-S on the Sony A7ii seems like a terrific combination! The lens has a legendary reputation, and even though I have only had the lens for a little over two days, I can see why.

Mahesh

 

[Pi lover]

I picked up an A7ii recently and am having a similar experience to yours. The IBIS allowing slow shots and low light shots are impressive. I am using manual lenses I have for the most part although I have the 28-70mm which is not a bad lens. It isn't the $1500 Zeiss but it auto focuses pretty fast even in low light.

I picked up a Godox TT350s flash for about a hundred bucks. If you don't have a flash that uses the HSS etc. this has turned out to be very well spent money,

Grant.

 

[Steveapp]

I've only just jumped to the A7 with e 28-70 kit lens (literally a few days ago) and like the OP from Nikon though most of my Nikon glass is DX not full frame but I've just bought a cheap (£7.99) Nikon to Sony adaptor on Amazon to use my one full frame Nikon lens - a 50mm 1.8 (and as an aside to the Samyang 85mm 1.4 is on its way too )

I read up on this a LOT and as far as I can tell Nikon lenses are going to be a bit of a loss when it comes to the A7, Canon newer lenses should be easier because they changed the format relatively recently and the newer ones are more consistent than Nikon where there are lots of different focus methods etc. The price you pay for backwards compatibility.

That said I bought the A7 because I can't afford a Leica M10 and its lenses and wanted shallow DOF and manual focus - my eyes being what they are the A7 and Focus Peeking seems the only way Im going to be doing MF and in fairness it works brilliantly, I've even been using MF with the kit lens and I really enjoy that part of photography, it slows me down and makes me think a little more about my shots.

Just my two peneth

Stephen

 

[olstrup]

If you enjoy MF, Nikon AI-S and older lenses is a good choice for the A7X. There's a whole lens system from super WA to long tele to choose from and many can be had for very reasonable prices. The older MF Nikon lenses are very well made mechanically. I like mine a lot.

For AF, Nikon AF lenses are not the obvious choice since the few available adapters are not on the level of adapters for Canon AF lenses and you can completely write off the AF-D lenses as they auto focus via the "screwdriver" from a focus motor in the camera body (which yhe Sony cameras obviouly don't have). The AF-D lenses can be focused manually, but the ergonomic experience is not as good as with the older lenses which was designed for MF only.

 

[purpwaltz]

Thanks for the tip on the flash unit, and good luck with your photography with the A7ii!