Medium-Format Lenses on DSLRs

[Michael Erlewine]

I am confused about how to pick Medium-Format lenses for use on DSLRs like the Nikon D810. In Medium Format there are various sizes of lenses with varying image circles. What is the rule of thumb for knowing which MF lenses will fit? How do we figure out the image circle of the D810 and which MF lenses will work, please?

[richardHaw]

i am assuming that all MF lenses will work if you have an adapter

many people are using MF lenses with n ikon bellows and they work great when tilted or shifted since the actual image circle is so much bigger 

[Mongo]

Mongo loves his old medium format 645 Pentax and its lenses. They are all manual. in 2010, Mongo experimented with those lenses on his then D200 (but they will work on any Nikon DX FX cameras).

The lens that prompted him most to try this was the 120mm f4 1:1 Pentax 645 Macro. Purchased a reasonable quality adaptor from over seas for about US$30 and it works a treat with this and all other 645 lenses in Mongo's cupboard.

The image below was about the first image taken with the D200 and 120 mm medium format macro.

Mongo will try to post images of the adapter and simple set up in the next day or so. No bellows etc needed in this case - just a small adapter (which has no lenses/glass in it. so, the quality of your lens is perfectly preserved)

While Mongo has not tried this yet with other brands and sizes of medium format lenses, he understands that 6 x7 also can work (as well as other sizes) with the right adapter including Pentax, Mamiya and maybe blad etc.

[Michael Erlewine]

Thanks folks, but I am asking about image circles and those of MF lenses and how they fit in with the image circles used for the Nikon D810.

[Frank Fremerey]

Generally speaking, a lens that has an image circle to cover 6x6, 6x7 or 6x17 qcm will easily cover the circle of a 2.4x3.6 cm Sensor. But that is for a flat or shifted usage.

Not all lenses work well with movements, because they are not tested and corrected for that, most are optimized for flat field photography with fixed standarts.

That is why I recommend Large Format lenses, which are always tested and optimized for movements.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

For all 35 mm and medium format lenses which have no tilt and shift, the minimum image circle is at least the diagonal of the format.. Usually more, but not greatly so.

Thus for 35 mm at least 43.3 mm, typically 45-(50) mm circle in diameter.
For 6x6 cm, at least 85 mm.

etc.

If anyone recognises the correspondence between what is considered a 'normal' lens for a given format and size of the image circle, this is not spurious: actually, it is by definition.

For tilt/shift capable lenses, their projected image circle should be much larger than the minimum figure.  There will be a difference in the requirements if tilt is done at the rear standard instead of the front one, but the descriptions of this will not be elaborated here. Any good textbook on  large-format and view camera photography should cover this topic in depth.

The maker's technical specifications for large-format lenses usually include the projected image circle for various aperture settings.

[Erik Lund]

Here is the answer:
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenses/

[Michael Erlewine]

So, a MF lens with an image circle of 110mm should work well with the Nikon D810. And I understanding this right?

[Erik Lund]

There is no relation between 'work well' and 'image circle'...

[Michael Erlewine]

Let me try again.  If I get a MF lens with an image circle of 100mm, is that too large (or too small) for general close-up work with the Nikon D810.

[bjornthun]

Michael, try to visualize this: A cone of light is projected from the lens, with its' apex near the diaphragm, inside the lens.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Michael: you have used the 120/5.6 AM-Nikkor. It covers easily 4x5" at 1:1 magnification, thus vastly larger image circle than the D810 requires. As it is optimised for close-ups, it still keeps its image quality used in this manner.

You cannot in general assume the same for any medium- or large-format lens. See what the maker specifies for its usage, and try in practice what the lens can do for you.

In terms of sheer resolving power, most lenses for larger formats do not perform as well as the better lenses for small formats. This is due to the combination of cost, size, and prize. The larger format used more than offsets this apparent flaw. However, when you reverse the situation and use the lens for a smaller format, few of the LF lenses can match the best dedicated lenses for the small format. Fact of life.

[Michael Erlewine]

Michael: you have used the 120/5.6 AM-Nikkor. It covers easily 4x5" at 1:1 magnification, thus vastly larger image circle than the D810 requires. As it is optimised for close-ups, it still keeps its image quality used in this manner.

You cannot in general assume the same for any medium- or large-format lens.

Thanks all! My takeaway at this point is to look for MF lenses that are macro or close-up enabled. That way, I won't end up with something that I can't use. There are literally hundreds of used MF lenses out there, some not too expensive. I am just trying to get the hang of it at this point.

[Frank Fremerey]

Here is the answer:
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lenses/

Thank you Erik. Very good Database that answers all the questions, Michael might have. Immediately bookmarked!

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

Michael, may I assume you are looking for those lenses with larger image circle
as you are now using a Tilt/Shift bellows system, which when used in Shift mode
requiures a considerably larger image circle.

Be aware however that not all those lenses with have the ability to deliver apochromatic
correction, which you are so fond of. Very few MF/LF actually have that. Be also aware
that some "Apo" lenses, especially the ones for reproduction are not "apo" in a modern
sense (like the Nikon Apo Nikkors not to be confused with Apo EL-Nikkors) and what your
D810 needs.

You may want to consider the f5.6/210mm Apo EL-Nikkor or similar high resolution lenses.

Use our both well know channel to communicate for details....