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Nikon lens mount. Does it work?

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Christian Bright

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Having trouble finding a thread testing a Nikon 17-55mm 2.8 or a 80-200mm f2.8 on an actual RED Nikon mount. Anyone tried them? Do you get iris control? Any info passed from lens to camera? Or do I have to use the Optitek mount to get control of these auto type lenses? Really would love to know before we buy. Thanks in advance!!
 
I'm also interested in this thread. I have a 17-55 Nikon and it works great with my Long Valley Posilock Mount for Epic/Scarlet. Lens is almost too sharp and I'm thinking about getting some 1/8 black promist, honestly, escpecially for leading lady type close ups.
 
The red website lists compatible lenses. I'm using one right now with most of the Nikon lenses, 300 f2.8 works a treat, focus distance iris control, IS, etc all works. will try the 70-200 tomorrow.
 
I have been using the 17 - 55 with my Red nikon mount and it works great. Meta data might be off some but I don't pay much attention to that.
 
That is good to hear. Anyone else had a similar experience?

The RED 'official' list for Nikon is actually pretty short compared to Canon. Since the Optitek for Epic is about the same price as the Aluminum Nikon mount, I wonder if it that makes it a better deal because it' compatible' with more lenses? Or are the features you loose from the RED mount too much to give up? I can give up auto focus (would I really use it?) and Metadata (or I think I can) as long as I can shift the iris. I would think that is the most important. Right?
 
I have both mounts and like them both for different reasons. Optitek is bullet-proof and you can get smooth aperture adjustments with the modern lenses that don't have manual aperture.

Christian Bright said:
That is good to hear. Anyone else had a similar experience?

The RED 'official' list for Nikon is actually pretty short compared to Canon. Since the Optitek for Epic is about the same price as the Aluminum Nikon mount, I wonder if it that makes it a better deal because it' compatible' with more lenses? Or are the features you loose from the RED mount too much to give up? I can give up auto focus (would I really use it?) and Metadata (or I think I can) as long as I can shift the iris. I would think that is the most important. Right?
Click to expand...
 
Bob Gundu said:
I have both mounts and like them both for different reasons. Optitek is bullet-proof and you can get smooth aperture adjustments with the modern lenses that don't have manual aperture.
Click to expand...

So how is the Red mount with manual lenses? And with modern lenses that are not on the characterized list? Does it control iris properly?

I'd love it if someone who has used both the Red mount and the Optitek version to describe how the two compare.
 
D Fuller said:
So how is the Red mount with manual lenses? And with modern lenses that are not on the characterized list? Does it control iris properly?

I'd love it if someone who has used both the Red mount and the Optitek version to describe how the two compare.
Click to expand...


I can comment on the Red mount question next week when my epic arrives... I've got a manual 50mm F1.2 and 105mm macro that I keep in my kit.
 
With manual lenses it works great. Great to hear that the 17-55 works.
I wonder if someone tried the stabilized Sigma version. Could it work as a "run and gun" lens for documentary use in 4K?
 
Thanks Doug I was going to mention the Long Valley PosiLock too. I just started reading about it. For $300 its a steal compared to the other mounts, but is it good enough quality? (Users chime in here) I'm still leaning toward the RED mount since I will get a few lens that work perfectly, but I cant deny the need to control my 17-55mm and the 80-200. Such nice lenses, I'd hate to see them unused!

I'm aslo with you, D Fuller, I'd love to hear from anyone who has used both, or in this case all three! Compare, contrast, discuss.
 
The Long Valley Posilock uses the same locking mechanism as the Red One Nikon mount. I made both of them. Seriously stout 303 stainless locking ring in 6061 anodized aluminum housing.

Seems to me the Red Epic/Scarlet mount offers electronic control for metadata and electronic stabilization and touch focus which the manual mounts do not. Manual mounts offer smooth manual iris ramps during shots which I don't think you can get with Red's electronic mount.

I haven't used Red's Epic/Scarlet Nikon mount so others advise here.
 
I have the Optitek Nikon pro lock mount on my mx.

It works a charm, I have only used it with electronically aperture controlled lenses and the aperture is controllable mechanically via the ring.

so far tested on 70-200, 50 1.4, 105 macro, 24-70. Never had an issue.
 
Worth pointing out that unlike the Canon mount, the Red Nikon DSMC mount does indeed allow smooth iris pulls electronically - albeit with some limitation on speed and within defined fractions of a stop. In short, changing aperture mid shot when rolling isn't a horror show like it is on the canon mount, but nor is it super-easily controllable if you are racking iris substantially for creative purpose.
 
I bought the Optitek Nikon mount for one camera and the Long Valley Nikon mount for another camera after trying the All Star Nikon mount for F and G lenses. Outside of the early G lens option for the All star mount, all have worked fine (the G lens Allstar option was more like a working prototype at the time... he may have improved it since then.) The Allstar Nikon F mount required one to change an adapter from lens to lens or buy a bunch of adapters for each lens, so with no workable G lens option (at the time) I've shelved that mount.

I tried all these different mounts while waiting on the Red Nikon mount to be finished. As it turned out, the Red Nikon mount wasn't characterized for the G lenses I own so I've just continued using the Optitek and Underdahl Long Valley mounts.

The camera I use most has the Long Valley mount on it and the only issue I have is that the aperture lever is a little too free for my feel but you get used to that easy enough. The Optitek wheel has a better feel but of course, with the price differential you would expect that. As it turns out, I've only used the G lens 28-300 zoom on the main camera and a 16-35 G lens on the other and there has been no problem with either of those relatively speaking, heavy lens. On the Long Valley Mount I've even inserted a 3x extender between camera and lens with no problems.

I haven't been brave enough to hang an old 50-300 Nikkor F lens on either of them yet without support. But I'd almost bet the lens would break before any of the mounts. '-)
 
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I have one of the earlier Sigma 120-300 lenses. Aperture works fine but there is no autofocus. On screen info for focal length is accurate, but focus info is completely wrong. I have the same problems with the Nikon 12-24mm and the Tokina 11-16mm.
 
@Russ
So you get the Tokina 11-16 to work, besides the inaccurate focus info? You mean metadata?
(maybe I'm resorting to wishfull thinking now)
 
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