Thinking on a digital Body for my Lenses

SO the time has come. For me to look into the idea of a digital body to make use of the 2 dozen FD lenses I have in my collection. I got a couple questions for you guys already into that.

 

APS-C sensor compared to Micro 4/3? I see on the wide angle side of things the APS-C has the advantage in that my 20mm F2.8 gives the view of a 32mm while on M4/3 its a std lens at 40mm. On the other end of the focal range its a very different story my 200mm f2.8 IF nFD becomes a 400mm on M4/3 while only a 320mm on APS-C

 

I won't be buying the latest wizz bang body more likely I'll look at a Used body It will have to have IBIS

 

I will be buying a Kit type zoom something like a 14-40mm to do the majority of the common stuff but I really enjoy using my telephotos so that will be a big factor in what body I buy.

 

How do you guys get along using a Telephoto with no eye level viewfinder? I'm not going to be holding my 400mm f4.5 nFD out at arms length to use a screen very well which then means it will have to be all tripod (of course at either 640mm or 800mm it will need to be.

 

Any strong recommendations for the older M4/3 mount bodies that would suit my needs?

I have a few digital bodies, but for M4/3rd's, I use an Olympus OM-D. When I put my eye up to the eyepiece, the electronic viewfinder automatically turns on so viewing is like a 35mm SLR. Plus I can magnify the view for precise focusing. Works well with my 500 FL-F 5.6 telephoto.

If you don't want to deal with all the focal length "changes" you could consider one of the full frame Sony cameras. I don't know if they have In Body Image Stabilization.

The II-series Sony a7 cameras have five-axis image stabilization. One of these would be my first choice, finances permitting. I suspect, Jim, after using an APS-C or u4/3 camera for very long, you're gonna miss your wide angle lenses -- or at least their wide-angle-ness. If you can find a suitable zoom that will work with your chosen system, then that's one approach. But with some, such as Sony NEX and a6000, choices are very thin on the ground.

With the same mission in mind, and on a budget, I obtained a Ricoh GXR with A12 leica mount module. With a Nikon adapter it lets me use any of my old Leica or Nikon lenses. I got it cheaply from Roberts Camera. It was posted as used, but it came in original packaging and seemed to be new old stock. Results have been so satisfactory that I later obtained several additional modules, also used and inexpensive. It is a useful, small and surprisingly sophisticated kit that I take along when I have no particular photographic plans but want a real camera. I have no interest in phoneography and rarely carry a cell phone.

Roberts Camera are good people to deal with, I've found. I bought a few Pentax 67 pieces from them.

 

Another option for getting wide-angle-ness out of your wide angles on an APS-C or u4/3 camera is to use a Lens Turbo II. I don't own one (yet), but I've seen a lot of photos in which they were used. Yes, the edges of the image can get somewhat blurry, but not so bad, really. There's also the Metabones Speed Booster that sells for a lot more. They appear to be very close, optically.

There's only 1 body for you to consider, given your financial and IQ constraints. Sony A7 MkII, used. Full frame, so your 24mm lens stays a 24mm. EVF and rear LCD lets you choose which works best. IBIS completes the picture.

 

I either own or have owned all the mirrorless options for FD (and other lenses) and the only other system worthy of recommendation is M4/3, which doubles your focal view and has IBIS. That 400mm becomes a 800mm. And you can get great images from that combination:

 

With a shelf full of FD lenses myself, I spent a very long time trying to decide what digital platform would give me the most from my Canon optics. I concur with several here before me who recommend the Sony A7-II (or the R or S versions if your budget allows) as the most for your money.It's been 1 1/2 years now and I still haven't mastered all the subtleties of the camera. I'm into my 7th decade of life and my 6th in 35mm photography. I could be 5 times the legal limit for sobriety and still work my Canon FTb-n without a problem, but in the field with the Sony I often find myself relying on the "P" setting and later wishing I hadn't.

This is where I love the idea of the marriage of old with new. I can set the Sony to shutter priority, be able to tweak the exposure with an obvious exposure compensation dial if needed, and let the combination of an inexpensive Fotodiox adapter and a beautiful 50mm f 1.4 FDn lens do its magic.The electronic viewfinder and electronic focus highlighter make shooting easy no matter how poor the light. The most important part of it for me is having the control I remember from the Ftb-n with focus and depth of field.

Patrick it is the telephoto end of the adventure I am most wanting. So the wide angle side of it I can use a lens in M4/3 mount and have the advantage of auto focus. I lean towards the 2x factor when looking at a body.

 

While I agree the Sony looks very interesting the cost at this time is just way out of my budget. Even with selling off a bunch of other equipment I would still not be able to at this time. See I am up to my wallet in restoring a 1948 Willys Jeep so that gets the majority of my fun money until finished.

About 3 years ago I went thru a similar agonizing decision...lots of old gear, and a really good APS-C body already in good use (Nikon D300). Not much money on hand, but sort of grouchy about not being able to use those old lenses (Leica, Olympus, Canon FD, Pentax, and C/Y) on digital. After reading, thinking, and generally getting disgusted with the whole thing, I saw Roberts Camera offering a used Olympus E-PL2 with the kit lens really, really cheap. Figuring I'd probably have to return it anyway, I pulled the trigger. Now, 3 years later, it is by far my most used camera (not my favorite, but most used). Why - those old lenses, ease of use and ability to experiment with a lifetime of old gadgets and lenses in a digital world, with the addition of a few inexpensive adapters. Lots of fun with the telephotos...wide angle a bit lacking, but I'm a medium focal range guy anyway. Would I like something perhaps newer...sure, worth the money to me...no. Am I a happy camper....as happy as any old photographer can be! So don't get hung up on too many user comparisons....there are lots of tried and true M4/3 bodies out there which have lost their glitter to the newest and greatest, but which still do a great job. So, give it a try on the cheap.

I decided on an APS-C mirrorless instead of u4/3 because I wanted that larger sensor. So I bought a clean used NEX 7 a couple years ago. As soon as I bought it, I bought adapters for almost every lens mount I own. Canon FD, Nikon, Pentax K, M42, M39, and even C-mount (for Bolex movie cameras and the like). I haven't looked back and I'm thoroughly enjoying being able to use all my old manual focus legacy lenses -- with the exception of a couple of 17mm's I own that just don't work well with that format. And yes, I too often use telephoto lenses, so the extra boost in apparent focal length with no aperture penalty is nice. My Canon 85mm f/1.2 SSC Aspherical becomes a 128mm f/1.2. My Tamron 300mm f/2.8 LDIF becomes a 450mm f/2.8. My 500mm f/5.6 becomes a 750mm f/5.6. Nice.

Patrick it is the telephoto end of the adventure I am most wanting. So the wide angle side of it I can use a lens in M4/3 mount and have the advantage of auto focus. I lean towards the 2x factor when looking at a body.

 

While I agree the Sony looks very interesting the cost at this time is just way out of my budget. Even with selling off a bunch of other equipment I would still not be able to at this time. See I am up to my wallet in restoring a 1948 Willys Jeep so that gets the majority of my fun money until finished.

 

I think you'll enjoy m4/3 a lot. Look into the OM-D E-M10 II for around $500USD.

You have many options here. I went cheap, and I use the old models Olympus E-P2 and E-PL1. The newer models are most likely even better. My E-PL1 was $150 for brand new with warranty/. I switch on days between using the M 4/3 cameras and my two Leica digital cameras.

Sony has several bodies with IBIS and you could use a Metebones adapter to Canon FD lenses.

Despite recently rising prices for FD lenses, they are often great bargains on the big fleabay market and from places like KEH.

 

 

Despite the fact that I have many, many adapters and use all kinds of odd lenses on various camera bodies, that is for fun and sometimes because a particular lens does something 'special'.

 

So in the end, I still feel the 'real' experience of using FDn lenses is to use them on something like an A1 or T90 body. If you can overcome the magnet sticking problem, I think the T90 is one of the finest cameras ever made.

Some of the newer cameras have very bright and sharp EVFs. And manual focusing with contrast assist makes it fairly easy. I like the micro four thirds but I am prejudiced because I use them. You may not find IBIS on earlier and cheaper used models, but then that is what a tripod is for. Plus the weight of FD lenses is not minimal unless you have a tripod foot--all of which you know. Compromise may be necessary. There are some best buys out there but I will not make a recommendation without a budget loosening recommendation first. How about $600 or so. Edited March 21, 2017 by GerrySiegel

Despite recently rising prices for FD lenses, they are often great bargains on the big fleabay market and from places like KEH.

 

 

Despite the fact that I have many, many adapters and use all kinds of odd lenses on various camera bodies, that is for fun and sometimes because a particular lens does something 'special'.

 

So in the end, I still feel the 'real' experience of using FDn lenses is to use them on something like an A1 or T90 body. If you can overcome the magnet sticking problem, I think the T90 is one of the finest cameras ever made.

 

 

I have a freezer full of film and I think 6) FD mount bodies including 2) T90's and 2) NF1's and an A-1 and every know accessory for all of them. Thing is I want a Digital Body. hence the question.

SO its in the mail as they say a Photo.net member has sold me an OM-D E-M10 Mark II with less then 600 shutter trips a 14-42mm R II (the kit Lens) and a pair of FD adapters one with and one without tripod foots and a M-42 adapter and some mystery screw mount lens to play with All the stuff that comes with the camera new including the box. And well within my budget. SO i guess I will get to find out what a 400mm f4.5 nFD on a Micro 4/3rds body on my Fancy Berlebach wood Tripod is like for backyard birding this spring. Should be an interesting spring. And once I get my big project done (a 1948 Willys CJ-2A all updated for todays roads and the Off road travel trailer I am building to go with it) Hopefully this will be my new adventure camera outfit.

I think your best best is to get one of the Sony A7 (any version and either I or II). You would want a FF camera because your lenses are FF. You want a camera with short flange to sensor distance than that of the Canon FD and the shorter the better.

I think your best best is to get one of the Sony A7 (any version and either I or II). You would want a FF camera because your lenses are FF. You want a camera with short flange to sensor distance than that of the Canon FD and the shorter the better.

 

DID you read I have already bought a camera. Not to mention the Sony is way out of the budget I listed. As to the wide angle side of things since Manual focus Wide Angles are hard to focus on a EVF that end of the lens spectrum will be handled by actual M4/3 lenses. Its the telephoto side of things I was always most interested in.