Nikon Z6/7 mirrorless system

[Birna Rørslett]

Today I finalised the infinity-focusing adapter for the Rodenstock 100mm f/1.6 Heligon and similar lenses on the Z cameras.

With bits and pieces all collected and accounted for, making the adapter itself was a 20 min job.

[Birna Rørslett]

Surprising sharp lens that 100mm from Rodenstock ...

This is 100% crop from an image taken with Z6. The crane was approx. 200m away. What I initially thought was a speck of dust on the sensor turned out to be a bird in flight(!).

[Birna Rørslett]

I tested for infinity focus on the rear forested ridge in the picture below, distance about 10 km. Last view of the evening sky from my balcony with the hand-held Z6. The adapter will definitively allow focus to be moved even farther away if the need arises.

[Nikfuson]

This is great. I have the same project at my hands now. Got the focussing collar. Still need to find the lens side of the Z bayonet.

[Birna Rørslett]

I can order Z mounts for you, Sten. In fact, I'm going to Fotocare tomorrow for a talk with my friendly Nikon repair tech and get more parts.

The lens will fit into focusing helicoids with inner threads of 48mm or larger. I used 65mm helicoid 17-31mm extension (Pixco). Inner front threads 52 mm as this is my de facto standard for exotica. On the rear I cheated a little and used the combination of 58-62 and 58-52 that slips neatly over the mount itself.

Just PM me.

[Ian R]

Worth the effort for sure. Lovely results.

[Birna Rørslett]

Still, by adding a K4 or K5 ring to the front of the focusing helicoid, the usual dream-like pictures can be had with this lens as before. Thus one loses nothing and gains versatility.

[Birna Rørslett]

One can still extract wonderfully unsharp and blurry images with the Rodenstock 100mm lens, even in its Z-mount version. That ability is kept intact in combination with the option to focus to infinity.

[Ian R]

Whilst not this lens, I have a few Rodenstock lenses and can vouch for them. They used to be much better known and were one of the lens options on the famous Kodak Retina series (where I first tried them).

These days they are mostly forgotten apart from by those who remember (or care) - but that they can be used on cameras like the Nikon Z is breathing new life into them. One of the legends was the Rodenstock 30mm f/2.8 of the early 1960's. Amazing quality for the time.

[Birna Rørslett]

Just bring them on.

A worthwhile project whilst awaiting the arrival of new Z-mount Nikkors from the mothership

[Birna Rørslett]

Another example is this picture taken with the Oude Delft Rayxar 50mm f/0.75 lens. Here I actually added more extension than required to move focus a bit closer, otherwise corner vignetting would be too severe. An alternative would of course be to set the image frame to DX, remove the extension and shoot the lens on my Z7 instead.

For this I used a generic DIY 52mm thread>Z mount adapter that proves handy for many projects.

[Nasos Kosmas]

Excellent color and bokeh!

[chris dees]

Some more recent lenses.
Z6 + 16/3.5 AI-d
Z6 + 70-300E, IMHO a very underrated lens

[tommiejeep]

Awesome news for the Sony users whom are (thinking of) jumping to the Zee cameras, Gabale is working on an electronic Sony FE to Nikon Z mount!!!!

Check the details here at F&M:
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1579875/16

This opens up a whole lot of possibilities for those whom invested heavily in Sony E adapters over the last couple of years.

Personally this would mean that one adapter can be used to:
- Adapt my Voigtlander 15/4.5 FE and Zeiss 35/1.4 FE
- Adapt the Voigtlander 125/2.5 APO with the Metabones Canon EF to FE adapter
- Use the Voigtlander close focus (helicoid) Leica M to FE adapter with the 50/1.2, 85/1.2 and 100/1.6 Heligon
- Make the mentioned manual lenses in to AF lenses with the Techart Leica M to FE autofocus adapter

Some examples here on NR where they've mounted a Sony 55/1.8 FE, a Canon EF 50mm and a Leica M lens:
https://nikonrumors.com/2019/01/18/this-is-the-upcoming-techart-autofocus-lens-adapter-for-nikon-z-mount.aspx/#more-131743

I was hoping for such an adapter but didn't think it would materialise so quickly.

And yes this is why I split my adapters, it's all about the Lego 

JA, I watched the Vids.  Seems auto focus with the 55 f1.8 was a bit slow and I only noticed them using single point in the centre. The rear screen seemed to show correct info.  It would be nice if the family could use lenses (Nikon, Sony and Leica M) on both Sony a7xx and Nikon Z on trips.  My son has the VM 15 f4.5III in his bag and I have a tough time getting it away from him 
Hopefully some better information will be available once the adapters are in use.
Cheers,
Tom

[Ian R]

Inspired by Birna, I have just (for the first time) dug out my old Rosenstock lenses to use on my Z6. Mine are all DKL and whilst there is no Z-DKL adapter, there is a F-DKL.

I went out and tried one out today on the Df to get the feel for them on a known camera, but despite getting some pleasing photos, the rear protrusion of the DKL lenses makes for the mirror to hang in the DF on the return. So only Z6 use from now on.

Typical German results - lower contrast, but high resolution - and VERY pleasing colours.

For the Kodak Retina 35mm Reflex there are:
30mm f/2.8
35mm f/4
50mm f/1.9
50mm f/2.8
85mm f/4
135mm f/4

The 35mm f/4 was used for the below photos.

To have quality German glass available at low prices second-hand is almost a gift. And they make for a truly compact outfit.