Customer Reviews

Fotodiox Pro adapter, Nikon Lens to MFT Micro 4/3 Four Thirds System Camera Mount Adapter, Olympus Pen E-PL1, E-P2, E-P1, E-PL2, Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1, G2, GH2, GF1, GH1 G10

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've personally used this adapter on several micro-four-thirds cameras. I can verify that it works on the Olympus E-P1 and E-PL1. It also works on the Panasonic GF1.

To mount the adapter on the GF1, for example, line up the red dot on the REAR of the adapter with the dot on your camera's lens mount. Then twist clockwise (when you're facing the front of the camera). This is no different than mounting any other lens to the GF1.

Then mount your lens to the adapter by lining up the dot on your lens to the dot on the FRONT of the adapter. Or, you can mount the lens to the adapter first - it makes no difference.

On the GF1, you'll need to go to the last page of the Custom menu and enable "SHOOT W/O LENS." Otherwise, the LCD will display an error. Other cameras may require some similar setting.

HOW DO I GET THE %$#@!&! THING OFF?!

Now, here's the secret. The little silver joystick-shaped knob on the adapter is the lens release. It only moves in one direction: backwards towards the camera. So, when you want to remove your lens from the adapter, pull the joystick back toward the rear of the adapter. That releases the little mounting pin on the flange of the adapter. Now, you can turn your lens and remove it. As soon as you let go of the joystick, it springs back to the forward position. Simple, but not documented.

Remove the adapter from the camera the same way you would any lens: push the camera's lens release button and turn the adapter counter-clockwise.

WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T

The lens has to have its own aperture ring, so forget about Nikon G lenses. Autofocus and VR does not work with any lens: there are no electrical connections between the camera and lens when this adapter is in place. Auto exposure DOES work.

I successfully used an older Nikon 105mm Macro lens (not VR) and got very sharp photos. I also used my F-mount Lensbaby 2.0 successfully.

The Lensbaby 3G does not work very well on this adapter. The adapter lens mount pin doesn't stick out far enough to lock the Lensbaby onto the adapter. You can use the 3G, but it will probably keep falling off as it unscrews itself.

Another lens that doesn't work is the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8. No matter what I did, I could not get this lens to focus properly with this adapter. It would have been cool to have that massive lens mounted on the tiny GF1, but no dice.

To wrap it up, the Fotodiox adapter works and the price is right. Buy it now.

PhotoCitizen

Be Gentle and Think and this adapter is fine for connecting your 4/3 Camera to Nikon Lens.
1st remember Nikon lens twist on going counter clockwise. The opposite direction of the 4/3 Camera & Canon Lensmounts.
Look at the little lever and slide it and watch the little pin retract. You need to hold the slide when you attach your Nikon lens. Make sure you line up the dots of the lens and adapter and then make sure the pin clicks into it's hole. I then attach the adapter with the lens attached to the body of my 4/3 Panasonic G2 camera. You will have no
auto focus and the aperture is also manually controlled by the ring on the lens. Just never get impatient and think about the sliding lever and make sure you are turning the lens and adapter in the correct direction.

Seeing all of the negative reviews gave me pause for concern, but I went ahead and ordered this adapter anyway. I'm glad I did. The copy that I received was well machined and well finished. It fit my 4/3 body (E-PL1) and 8 different Nikkor manual focus lenses perfectly. No problems mounting or demounting the Nikkor lenses with the adapter. No excess play. All of my lenses focused at infinity.

The only thing that kept me from rating this adapter 5-star is that the interior is a smooth gloss finish. It would be a truly excellent product had the manufacturer made the interior with ribbing/matte finish to reduce the chance of flair.

This is an inexpensive adapter that allows you to mate a dumb (non-electronic) Nikon/Nikkor lens with a micro four thirds (MFT, M4/3) lens mount.

I am using two of these adapters with 20 - 30 year old Nikon glass and a new Panasonic AF100 HD video camera. I am very pleased with the ease of mounting both the lenses to the adapter and the adapter to the camera body.

I have used cheap adapters in the past to connect Nikon lenses to cameras such as the Canon 7D and Canon 5DmkII. These MFT adapters are vastly superior, as I do not feel that I am about to break them in half. When adapting my lenses to the Canon mounts I purchased an adapter for every lens because excessive connection/disconnection would quickly destroy the adapter. These particular adapters are much sturdier and more well made. While I purchased two of them, I now see that I could have gotten by with only one. However, at such an excellent low price it is prudent to have a spare in reserve for critical shooting.

BOTTOM LINE: I am very pleased. Unless you have newer Nikon glass that requires an intelligent interface, I do not see why you would choose a more expensive option than this.

Overall, this adapter does the job admirable. My only complaint with it was that it felt a little loose on the mount, and the release for the nikon lens is a bit flimsy. I emailed fotodiox and they told me that there are some notched tabs on the inside of the adapter. Take a small flat head screwdriver and widen the tabs and it will make the fit tighter. That worked perfectly. I'm using it with a vintage 55mm f2.8 macro lens and it has taken some beautiful pictures.

I would highly recommend this, especially if they could make a better lens release. There is nothing technically wrong with it, it just dosen't inspire confidence in that particular part's build quality. The rest is great.

There is not much that previous reviewers have missed, but I'll put in my opinion anyway - it may help solidify the star rating numbers.

Note that I use the optional electronic view finder on my E-PL1 and all comments are based on the photos being taken through that view finder. I have not used the adapter with the view screen built into the camera body.

Having read the reviews below I was already aware that releasing the lens from the adapter requires sliding the release button backwards towards the adapter, not downwards, so I've had no issues with releasing the lens from the adapter or the adapter from my Olympus E-PL1.

However, mounted on the camera there is a very small amount of play between the adapter and the camera body. I may have gotten an example that is at the extreme range of quality control for fit. The amount of play is extremely small and does not seem to affect the photos, but I've reduced the ranking from five to four stars; even an inexpensive adapter should be a snug fit. Not enough of an issue to return the gadget, or to recommend others not to buy.

(As an aside, the Panasonic 20mm 1.7 with its metal mount is VERY snug on the E-PL1 body, while the "kit" lenses having plastic mounts go on smoothly and not as snugly as the Panasonic).

Using a Nikon 50mm 1.8 and a Tamron 90mm 2.8 with the adapter has been a treat; as noted in earlier reviews there is no anti-shake or auto-focus; using in aperture priority appears to be spot on for exposure levels. The magnification button (for focusing) on the camera body worked with both lenses. (A second aside - the aperture control ring on the Nikon "nifty fifty" is nowhere near as good a "feel" as the ring on the Tamron. Also the manual focusing on the Tamron is a better, more solid feel to it. Of course the Tamron costs quite a bit more than the $125 Nikon lens).

(A third aside - a split screen focusing aid is missed; my first SLR was an Olympus Pen FT purchased in 1969 and the feel of the E-PL1 with the manual focus lenses is somewhat reminiscent of that camera. A split focus screen would enhance focusing - and those old memories for me).

The adapter is relatively inexpensive, and pretty much works as advertised. Recommended for those who already own such Nikon mount lenses (remember, the lens must have an aperture ring, there's no electronic connection to the camera at all).

EDIT: I should have noted, there is no lens bag that comes with the adapter - the owner is on his/her own for providing storage. The device comes in a plastic bag inside a cardboard box. As noted in earlier reviews, there are no instructions either. You get the box, the bag, and the adapter.

This is easily the best $35 I've spent on camera stuff in a long time. I have a large collection of older Nikon lenses, and this adapter makes it possible to use some of my old favorites on my Olympus E-PL2.

There are a couple of caveats you should know about:

1.) There is no auto-focus when using this adapter, so it works best with lenses that have a decent amount of "feel" to the focus ring. Some later-model Nikon AF lenses have very loose focusing mechanisms (so that they present less resistance to the in-body focusing motor) but they can be twitchy when used as manual focus lenses.

2.) You must stop the lens down to the desired aperture before shooting. This may darken the image in the viewfinder / LCD screen. This is necessary to get an accurate exposure reading, since the camera has no idea what the lens' maximum aperture is, and it has no way to set the aperture, anyway. Those of us who grew up with old-school Pentax and early Nikon cameras know this as "stop down metering". I used the camera in "P" mode -- I set the aperture, and the camera adjusted the exposure accordingly. You can tweak the exposure using the +- adjustment just as you would a normal Oly lens.

3.) No operation with "G" lenses or AF-S lenses. Sorry, but this is just a mounting adapter, and it makes no attempt to connect the camera's electronics to the lens electronics.

Caveats aside, I tried this with a few of my favorite Nikon lenses and was thrilled with the results, including the 50 mm f/1.4 AF, 60 mm f/2.8 AF, and 85 mm f/1.8 AF. All three produced sharp images with excellent detail, even at the corners. Since the Nikon lenses were designed to cover a full-frame (24 x 36 mm) 35mm film frame, the Olympus is only using the center of the lens - the part with the best performance and least distortion.

Without the AF, I wouldn't try this setup for shooting an NBA game - but it would be fine for posed subjects, studio shots, and slow-moving wildlife work.

I did not encounter any issues attaching or removing the adapter from any of my lenses.

This product is not as polished as the more expensive adapters, but it works great and costs much less. The button that releases the Nikon lens on the front is not very easy to use and care must be taken when removing or mounting lenses. Once you get the hang of using it though, it operates easy enough. The build quality is decent. Just be careful mounting lenses and it works well.

The Fotodiox adapter provided me with the opportunity to use my existing Nikon lens with my E-PL1. Sure you have to use manual focus, but you still have all the other E-PL1 tools available. The adapter is well made and worked without problems. Showed it to a couple of photographer friends and they were motivated to go out and buy an E-PL1 and adapter just for the fun of using all there SLR lens with this easy-to-carry and use micro 4/3 format camera.

It was tricky to seat it the first time, but once seated, it was okay.
It appears to be well made. The detent is not ideal compared to the Cosina-Voigtlander adapter that I use for Leica M lenses. The CV adapter is a work of art. But the Fotodiox adapter works and is markedly less costly than the CV.