Nikon lens on Canon camera

[brucep]

I received this PM and will answer it here on the forum so others may read the responses and offer their own.


bruce

i am planning to buy a nikon d60 camera as well as any one of the following lenses, please check...

1) Nikkor 55-200mm f 4.5 lens (http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Product/Camera-Lenses/2166/AF-S-DX-VR-Zoom-NIKKOR-55-200mm-f/4-5.6G-IF-ED.html)

2) Nikkor 70-300mm f4.5 lens (http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Product/Camera-Lenses/2161/AF-S-VR-Zoom-NIKKOR-70-300mm-f/4.5-5.6G-IF-ED.html)

The problem for me is the selection, as I may sell that nikon d60 in future. suppose if I sell that nikon d60 and buy a canon at that time, those lenses will become compatible with canon?
Please help
regards
Anindya

I'm not the person to answer a question about Nikon lenses, Anindya, since I have Canon cameras and lenses. However, I do know that there's no way to mount a Nikon lens on a Canon camera. When you purchase a camera, it's like choosing a family to marry into. You're choosing a somewhat limited lens selection and dedicated flash units will only work on their brand of camera. There are third party lenses which will come in several brands' mounts, but you can't take a Sigma lens (for instance) that's made for a Nikon and put it on a Canon camera, even though Sigma may make the very same lens to fit a Canon (which won't fit the Nikon).

[bmxphotographer]

I have heard about a brass ring adaptor or something but dont know enough about them to give you any advice

[brucep]

It seems to me that any adaptor would have to increase the lens to sensor distance just as extension tubes do. When a lens calibrated to focus on infinity is exended further from its mount, it is able to focus more closely (the subject can be closer to the camera), but it loses its ability to focus on distant objects. That would certainly limit the usefulness of any adaptor ring, IMO.

[Landis]

I'm quite sure Bruce is correct: Nikon Lenses will fit ONLY Nikon Bodies and the same with Canon or other brands as well.

I know that back in the Dark Ages of film photography, there were adaptor rings you could get for certain lens/camera combinations that would let you do this, but that was when you had ONLY manual focus lenes and not all the electronic stuff we have today.

[Jan]

Bruce and Landis,
Last weekend Cathie bought for $5 a Nikon film camera made 37 years ago. With it came two very good lens, and a very good flash light. They are all manual of course but what can you lose.
She has made enquiries and for 14 English pounds she can purchase a connector so the len fit her Canon 10D.

She is very busy for the next few days but after that I am sure she will share the information about the connector. I will ask her tomorrow.

[Landis]

If the old Nikon bayonet is smaller than the Canon, you can probably do that. I don't know how the aperture will work, as back then, the auto aperture close down was always mechanical back then. Should be interesting to see what she has to tell us.

[Calnumismatist]

Here is a mount (http://www.camerahacker.com/Novoflex/EOSNIK.shtml) for mounting Nikon glass to Canon.
Years ago I knew a guy who had done this and the mount ended up jamming on his camera causing some expensive repairs.

As Bruce mentioned, once you are branded, it is kind of tough to make the switch. Most photographers are upside down in glass to body ratio. (which is a good thing to most of us).

[Landis]

Note that with that adaptor, none of the lens auto features will function: Focus, IS if it has it, Aperture.

Getting the lens on there is one thing. Getting it to function is another.

[Cadwell]

You can use some old Nikon lenses on modern EOS cameras. "Use" as in you can buy adaptors to make them fit and they will let light through. Of course they won't auto-focus and you can't control the aperture from the camera. Lenses which have manual aperture control on them can be stopped down using that. Lens which lack manual aperture control can only be shot wide open. For camera metering to work correctly you can only only use the camera in "M" or "AV" (Aperture Priority) modes.

[CathieT]

Hi all.

It's actually a Pentax camera and here's the connector link.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Adapter-Fits-Pentax-PK-K-Lens-To-Canon-EOS-Camera_W0QQitemZ370106121433QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDig ital_Camera_Accessories?hash=item370106121433&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1207|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A13 18

What I am more interested in trying to find out is whether it's safe to use the Topman 230 Tilt swivel flash that I got included in the price. There's a guy with one for sale on Ebay, and he says that the flash is 3.2 volt and that the Canons will take up to six ...

Has anyone used one on a 10D or something of that vintage?

PPS - thanks for the heads up on AV Glenn!!

[Cadwell]

There's a guy with one for sale on Ebay, and he says that the flash is 3.2 volt and that the Canons will take up to six ...

You need to be VERY sure that the trigger voltage is 6 volts or less. Later Canon dSLRs are more tolerant of high trigger voltages but the 10D can be badly damaged by a flash with high trigger voltage.

If it is less than 6 volts, then it can be used as a manual flash. You will need to set the flash power yourself and Canon E-TTL flash metering won't be available to you.

[CathieT]

Thanks Glenn.

Unfortunately there was no manual with - I shall have to see if I can confirm that info somehow!!

C

[brucep]

You should be able to fire that flash with a slave trigger (digital type so it doesn't "mis-read" the pre-flashes of your on-camera flash) to bypass any voltage issues.

[CathieT]

Thanks Bruce.