 Lynsey Lund |
Lens compatibility I have Nikon D70. My grampy has a fabulous Zeiss lens that he got when he was a bit younger and really taking photographs. It is a macro zoom 70-210 (f/2.8 I think). How can I tell if the lens will be compatible with my camera or not? Does it affect the functions of my camera? The whole secondary provider of lenses still confuses me. Thanks!
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Jon Close |
The Zeiss lens was made for a particular lens mount design. If it is for the old M42 screw mount (aka Pentax or Praktica screw mount or "universal" screw mount), then there are relatively inexpensive M42-to-Nikon adapters that allow attaching to a Nikon SLR. However, there is no communication between lens and camera, so the D70's meter cannot be used. If the lens is for the Yashica/Contax or other bayonet mount, then I don't think there are any adapters available to fit it to a Nikon camera. Nikon's bayonet mount is smaller diameter and farther from the film/sensor plane than other makers, which makes it difficult to adapt lenses designed for other mounts.
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George Anderson |
If it's Carl Zeiss, it must be a C/Y bayonet lens at the oldest, no screw-mount zooms were that fast. I am familiar with a Carl Zeiss T* 70-210/3.5 Vario-Sonnar zoom lens for the Contax/Yashica bayonet mount, but not a f/2.8 version. Check the manufacturer information and aperture numbers on the lens ring again and see if they go below f/3.5. The good news is that if it's a Contax/Yashica bayonet mount lens, you can easily purchase a used 35mm Contax or Yashica film body that will use it, and prices are at their lowest these days for bodies - while CZ lenses have continued to increase in value. See this website for lots more information on Contax/Yashica film cameras and bodies: http://www.cdegroot.com/photo-contax/
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Lynsey Lund |
Thanks for the great info guys! I hadn't even tried fitting it on there because I wanted to make sure I wasn't going to ruin it. I will check into the lens adapters if I can, otherwise I can just stick with his camera body. He has a really nice....something? Not sure the brand, but he bought it for that body. Just was trying to see if I could use it for digital. Out of curiosity Jon, if I get an adapter that will make it fit my D70, what mode I need to operate in? Since the sensors won't work, I need to put it in manual mode and do manual focus and aperture? Just wanted to make sure I was understanding you right! Thanks so much!
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