Are Nikon stills lenses of any use? at DVinfo.net

Karel Bata · February 8th, 2005, 05:15 AM

I'm off to Prague in a couple of days, where I've found a place I can pick up second-hand Kikon stills lenses very cheap.

I'm also intending to buy a HVR-Z1.

Can I use these lenses on that camera - with an appropriate adaptor - and would this offer any real advantages? I'm thinking of at least picking up a fish eye.

Thanks.

Rob Lohman · February 8th, 2005, 05:38 AM

To the best of my knowledge there is no adapter to mount other
lenses to that camera. I think the mini35 to mount 35mm lenses
is coming for the camera as well (or it already might be), but that
is an expensive piece of kit (think $10K without lenses).

Dylan Pank · February 8th, 2005, 06:38 AM

To fit photo lenses on a Z1 or an FX1 requires major reconstruction of the camera. It has been done. I spoke the the fellow that did this modification and he mentioned that he's interested in offering the modification as a service for what seemed a reasonable fee.

However it looks to be like a one way job - ie once the mod has been done, there's no way to refit the factory zoom lens, so it's not something I'd do to my only camera. Also the lenses he's fitted are all long, I don't know if it would be practical to fit short wide angle lenses such as a fish eye.

Once you do the mod, some features, such as as shot transition and steadyshot, would be lost.

Karel Bata · February 8th, 2005, 06:58 AM

Ah well, it was worth asking. Thanks for the replies.

Douglas Spotted Eagle · February 8th, 2005, 08:40 AM

Further, if you look at the shots the modified FX took, there are aberrations in the shot. Changing lenses would be sweet, but not at the expense of the quality of the shot. The Super HADS and the Zeiss lens are fairly well matched, IMO.

Dylan Pank · February 8th, 2005, 10:01 AM

Unless I'm mistaken, I got the impression (from the website and talking in person) that the shots that used the alternate lens had fewer chromatic abberations than the built in lens, though yes, there will always be SOME there.

The pictures on the Website would seem to bear this out, provided they're correctly labelled. When I spoke to the man at Video forum he point this out as a prime reason for using these lenses over the original lens.

February 8th, 2005, 05:15 AM	#1
Karel Bata Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: London, Antarctica Posts: 199	Are Nikon stills lenses of any use? I'm off to Prague in a couple of days, where I've found a place I can pick up second-hand Kikon stills lenses very cheap. I'm also intending to buy a HVR-Z1. Can I use these lenses on that camera - with an appropriate adaptor - and would this offer any real advantages? I'm thinking of at least picking up a fish eye. Thanks. __________________ What are the Alternatives to YouTube?

February 8th, 2005, 05:38 AM	#2
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	To the best of my knowledge there is no adapter to mount other lenses to that camera. I think the mini35 to mount 35mm lenses is coming for the camera as well (or it already might be), but that is an expensive piece of kit (think $10K without lenses). __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

February 8th, 2005, 06:58 AM	#4
Karel Bata Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: London, Antarctica Posts: 199	Ah well, it was worth asking. Thanks for the replies. __________________ What are the Alternatives to YouTube?

February 8th, 2005, 08:40 AM	#5
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	Further, if you look at the shots the modified FX took, there are aberrations in the shot. Changing lenses would be sweet, but not at the expense of the quality of the shot. The Super HADS and the Zeiss lens are fairly well matched, IMO. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

February 8th, 2005, 06:38 AM	#3
Dylan Pank Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Portsmouth, UK Posts: 611	To fit photo lenses on a Z1 or an FX1 requires major reconstruction of the camera. It has been done. I spoke the the fellow that did this modification and he mentioned that he's interested in offering the modification as a service for what seemed a reasonable fee. However it looks to be like a one way job - ie once the mod has been done, there's no way to refit the factory zoom lens, so it's not something I'd do to my only camera. Also the lenses he's fitted are all long, I don't know if it would be practical to fit short wide angle lenses such as a fish eye. Once you do the mod, some features, such as as shot transition and steadyshot, would be lost.

February 8th, 2005, 10:01 AM	#6
Dylan Pank Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Portsmouth, UK Posts: 611	Unless I'm mistaken, I got the impression (from the website and talking in person) that the shots that used the alternate lens had fewer chromatic abberations than the built in lens, though yes, there will always be SOME there. The pictures on the Website would seem to bear this out, provided they're correctly labelled. When I spoke to the man at Video forum he point this out as a prime reason for using these lenses over the original lens.