REVIEW: Using Nikon Lenses on a Fuji X Camera
I've been using the Fujifilm X-Pro1 for the past month and I haven't enjoyed my photography so much since I bought the Fuji X100 12 months earlier. The only issue I have with the X-Pro1 is the lack of a long telephoto lens. The longest lens I have is the 60mm f2.4, which is the equivalent of a 90mm telephoto; it's a great lens but I sometimes wish my Fuji system had a bit more pulling power.
Fuji have provided the X system with a telephoto zoom, the 55-200mm f3.5 / f4.8 R LM OIS and I will be testing this lens next week for three days. I will be showing the results on this blog.
However my Nikon kit has one of the best short telephoto zooms in the world, the Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8 AF-D. I bought this lens brand new in 1996 for £1600.00 and it has been a faithful companion ever since. I've bought and sold plenty of SLRs / DSLRs in the past 18 years but I've never felt the need to upgrade the 80-200mm because it is still optically the best lens I own and it has never let me down.
I had read about adapters that were available for the Fuji X-Series cameras to attach different lenses to the X-Pro1, XE1 etc. On Amazon I found a company selling the Fotodiox adapter for the grand sum of £17 + P&P and so I decided to buy one.
The package arrived and I discovered the adapter is made of metal, is well constructed, and fitted easily between the camera and the Nikon lens.
All of my Nikon lenses are the older 'D' type, which means the lens has an aperture ring rather than the newer 'G' type lenses that have had the aperture ring removed. Having the aperture ring means the lens can be used on the X-Pro1 with the Fotodiox adapter because the aperture can be set manually.
I took the X-Pro1 fitted with the 80-200mm f2.8 out and about to capture some images of the sunset here in East Lothian.
Firstly the X-Pro1 is a crop sensor camera so the 80-200 becomes a 120-300, with a constant f2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range. The downside is the fact that the lens can only be focused manually; there is no AF function when it is attached to the X-Pro1. The focusing might be manual only but I started with an all manual camera (Minolta X700) and so I am quite used to this method of focusing.
The other problem is the lens is quite large and I am unsure if the pressure on the lens mount caused by the heavy Nikkor might damage the camera. So I decided to carry the X-Pro1 with the lens attached in the crook of my arm rather than slinging it over my shoulder using the camera strap.
To get the lens to work on the X-Pro1 you need to set the camera menu to 'shoot without lens' and then the camera shutter will fire.
The viewfinder also needs to be set to EVF so you can see what the camera is seeing and then it is pretty easy to focus manually.
Set to aperture priority the X-Pro1 shows f1 in the viewfinder because it can't read the lens aperture but the shutter speed does adjust automatically when the aperture is altered on the lens. All of the shots on this page were shot in aperture priority and the camera adjusted the exposure perfectly.
The images taken here show that the Fuji X-Pro1 using the Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8 AF-D is a great combination and I am very pleased with the results.
As I said above, I am testing the Fuji 55-200, which has the advantage of AF, optical stabilisation and full automation with the X-Pro1, but it is nearly £600.
I will keep an open mind when I test the Fuji telephoto next week and I might still end up buying the 55-200mm but having the 80-200mm f2.8 already in the MacLean Photographic arsenal means I can keep my options open.
All images taken on a Fujifilm X-Pro1 and Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8 AF-D lens
Fuji have provided the X system with a telephoto zoom, the 55-200mm f3.5 / f4.8 R LM OIS and I will be testing this lens next week for three days. I will be showing the results on this blog.
However my Nikon kit has one of the best short telephoto zooms in the world, the Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8 AF-D. I bought this lens brand new in 1996 for £1600.00 and it has been a faithful companion ever since. I've bought and sold plenty of SLRs / DSLRs in the past 18 years but I've never felt the need to upgrade the 80-200mm because it is still optically the best lens I own and it has never let me down.
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| The Fuji X-Pro1 fitted with the Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8 |
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| The all metal Fotodiox Fuji X Mount to Nikon F Mount |
All of my Nikon lenses are the older 'D' type, which means the lens has an aperture ring rather than the newer 'G' type lenses that have had the aperture ring removed. Having the aperture ring means the lens can be used on the X-Pro1 with the Fotodiox adapter because the aperture can be set manually.
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| Picking out this tree on Doon Hill silhouetted in the late sunshine |
Firstly the X-Pro1 is a crop sensor camera so the 80-200 becomes a 120-300, with a constant f2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range. The downside is the fact that the lens can only be focused manually; there is no AF function when it is attached to the X-Pro1. The focusing might be manual only but I started with an all manual camera (Minolta X700) and so I am quite used to this method of focusing.
The other problem is the lens is quite large and I am unsure if the pressure on the lens mount caused by the heavy Nikkor might damage the camera. So I decided to carry the X-Pro1 with the lens attached in the crook of my arm rather than slinging it over my shoulder using the camera strap.
To get the lens to work on the X-Pro1 you need to set the camera menu to 'shoot without lens' and then the camera shutter will fire.
The viewfinder also needs to be set to EVF so you can see what the camera is seeing and then it is pretty easy to focus manually.
Set to aperture priority the X-Pro1 shows f1 in the viewfinder because it can't read the lens aperture but the shutter speed does adjust automatically when the aperture is altered on the lens. All of the shots on this page were shot in aperture priority and the camera adjusted the exposure perfectly.
The images taken here show that the Fuji X-Pro1 using the Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8 AF-D is a great combination and I am very pleased with the results.
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| Barns Ness Lighthouse - lens at 200mm |
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| Barns Ness Lighthouse - lens at 80mm |
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| Wildlife photography becomes a possibility using the X-Pro1 and 80-200mm f2.8 |
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| Barns Ness Lighthouse |
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| Looking across the bay towards Bass Rock |
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| The benefit of a long telephoto lens is the ability to focus on subjects within the landscape, such as these waves in the late sunshine |
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| The Barns Ness quarry ramp machinery - lens at 80mm |
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| The Barns Ness quarry ramp machinery - lens at 200mm |
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| Doon Hill in the late evening sunshine |
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| Trees on Doon Hill |
As I said above, I am testing the Fuji 55-200, which has the advantage of AF, optical stabilisation and full automation with the X-Pro1, but it is nearly £600.
I will keep an open mind when I test the Fuji telephoto next week and I might still end up buying the 55-200mm but having the 80-200mm f2.8 already in the MacLean Photographic arsenal means I can keep my options open.
All images taken on a Fujifilm X-Pro1 and Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8 AF-D lens
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Jeff Carter is an Official Fujifilm X Photographer and was named as a Fujifilm brand ambassador in June 2015. In 2016 he worked with the company on the launches of the Fujifilm X-Pro2 in Tokyo and the Fujifilm X-T2 in Paris in July 2016. You can view his profile and gallery on the Fujifilm website HERE
An interesting combination indeed. I too owned the Nikon 80-200 lens up until a couple of years ago and what a lens it was, absolutely tack sharp. Sold all the Nikon gear and finally went X-Pro1 earlier this year,mainly to kill the enormous weight I used to carry around.
ReplyDeleteThe XF 55-200 is a fantastic lens by comparison to the weight difference alone. Had mine a couple of months and very impressed.
I'd hang on to that 80-200 though.....simply too good to let go.
Thanks Martin, I'm looking forward to trying the 55-200 and comparing it to the 80-200. I don't think I'll be selling the 80-200 anytime soon as I still have a D800 and selection of lens but I haven't used it since I got the XP1 last month.
ReplyDeleteWonderfully interesting article. I will try my Nikon prime lenses on the X Pro 1, but rather the 85 f1.8D and the 35 f2. I believe the 85 could be a killer combo since it is small and very good! Looking very much forward to trying.
ReplyDeleteIt makes sense to use the manual focus lenses as they tend to be smaller. I find the 135mm f2.8 AIS to be a very good fit with my X-E1, anything bigger is unbalanced. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mickmassie/11027126073/in/photostream/
ReplyDeleteCan anyone tell me which type of adapter I need to use an older Nikon AF lens (not AI, not AF-D, not AF-G, just "AF" on a Fuji X T10? I've seen several types available.
ReplyDeleteThanks ��.
John - There are no adapters that will allow you to use Nikon lenses with auto focus ability on an X-T10 or any other X-Series camera. All of the adapters only work with Manual Focus.
DeleteJeff - I'm using an M42 adapter, manual focus. My question is about the various types of Nikon F mount adapter that I see. I've seen G ones, and many AI, amongst others, but I am not sure which type works with an "AF" lens (24mm).
ReplyDeleteJohn the only difference is if you have a G lens or a D lens. D lenses have an aperture ring (like the ones in my blog above) and then you can buy the cheaper adapters. If you have a G lens, which don't have an aperture ring, you will need to buy an adapter with the aperture blades fitted so you vary the light hitting the sensor. If you use the standard adapters with the G lenses you are stuck with the lens on a single aperture. Does this make sense?
DeleteK&F Concept has an adapter with a ring, which you can use with G lens and set the aperture.
DeleteThanks, Jeff. I guess in that case that any "standard" F mount adapter will fit the bill. As the AF lenses are pretty vintage I wasn't sure. BTW, I have tried both an Isco Göttingen and a Helios 44 lens in M42 mount on the X T10 and I was very pleased with the results.
ReplyDeleteJeff are you still liking your Fuji and how have you progressed. I could see another post about it.
ReplyDeleteI've just sold my old 80-200 Nikkor along with my old D200 and got the Fuji X-T1 with 18-55mm. I do still have my main Nikon kit 70-200 f2.8 vr2 and my Sigma 120-300 F2.8 plus macro lens etc.
Kevin, all my Nikon gear was sold in June 2014 and I am not exclusively Fujifilm. Now have X-T2 and X-Pro2 plus full suite of lenses.
DeleteI am looking for a 500mm telephoto. There are lots of generics for the Nikon mount (SamYang varaiants). Anyone had experience of using these on the fuji. I have an x-t1 and x-m1.
ReplyDeleteHi Jeff. I'm currently using XT-10 and just bought a Nikon 85mm f1.8D the older version. Which adapter do I need to use? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou can still get the Fotodiox Lens Mount Adapter, Nikon F Lens to Fujifilm X-Series. There is a link in the text above.
DeleteThanks Jeff. Really nice blog you put. It really helps a lot to a beginner like me. Thanks.
DeleteNo problem Safwan, if you need anymore help please do not hesitate to ask.
DeleteWill do Jeff. Thank you so much.
DeleteHi Jeff, is a collar for the Nikon 80-200mm available in the market ? It is needed to mount then on a tripod.
ReplyDelete