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Bummed about no Nikon Mount and price Increase

John Byrne

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I recall reading that the Nikon mount was a real hassle and was being delayed but didn't want a Canon or PL mount. I thought there might be an extension of the discount until it could be made, but now it is looking like I am out of luck. I only own Nikon glass and this is something I had hoped for since I joined here almost four years ago. I can't ready every thread so I'm sure this has been beaten to death. I did search and saw some are going with an adapter, but I wanted a Red mount for my Nikon glass. I guess that means I suffer, or is there some provision? I could have ordered the PL earlier, but everything I read about it is it is a 'dumb' mount, and I have a lot of 'G' lenses, so dumb is the last thing I wanted :-) (I'm dumb enough myself :-)
 
It is very easy to adapt nikon G lenses to Canon EF mount. It may be a dumb adapter, but you can get mechanical iris control, and is there any other camera that offers a "smart" nikon mount that isnt a Nikon camera?
 
I want a RED nikon mount too!!

But there's not much we can do to help them get it out. In the time being, I'll be using either the Optitek of Canon mount with some G-lens compatible adapters. Believe me, I'll be one of the first to purchase when that RED mount surfaces.
 
Although I have no interest in a Nikon mount, I'm pretty sure the Nikon mount is being developed according to Jarred. I believe that that there other third part options as well.
 
For standard Nikon F mount lenses there are tons of F to EOS adapters: from $15.00 flea-bay cheapies to the expensive Camerquest adapter (which I use). For adapting Nikon G lenses to EOS mount cameras, besides the well-received Optitek adapter, which attaches to an Epic or Scarlet body, there is also Photodiox (use the pro version) or Novoflex (which I use-w-my 5DII and I plan to use -w-my Scarlet), both of which attach to the lens. Optitek, Photodiox and Novoflex are all "dumb" mounts. I am not aware of any "smart" mount, per se for Nikon lenses. However, 16 : 9, (they were one of the developers of the G to EOS adapter now sold by Novolflex), do offer a chip that supposedly provides through the lens AF confirmation on EOS mount cameras. See: http://www.16-9.net/nikon_g/
 
Use Optitek for G lenses or Optitek of A mount for F, we use Fotodiox or V3 for Nikon to Canon so its all possible to do.
 
Last I had heard Nikon is very particular about giving out their lens control information for manufacturing mounts, this is one reason Phantom cameras quickly adopted full Canon support while leaving Nikon as manual only mounts. Perhaps this is part of the same "hassle".
 
Last I had heard Nikon is very particular about giving out their lens control information for manufacturing mounts, this is one reason Phantom cameras quickly adopted full Canon support while leaving Nikon as manual only mounts. Perhaps this is part of the same "hassle".

The hassle is that the Nikon lenses have a physical pin to drive the iris that has to be actuated by the mount. Canon EF is all electronic so no physical/mechanical drive is needed.

Optitek is RED approved and provides great control of regular and g lenses.
 
Yep, and it's where I may be headed.

Yep, and it's where I may be headed.

Have you thought about the Optitek Prolock?

Yes, I had forgotten their name, David, but had ready quite a bit about them here a couple of months ago, and know they are approved by RED. Thanks :-)
 
It is very easy to adapt nikon G lenses to Canon EF mount. It may be a dumb adapter, but you can get mechanical iris control, and is there any other camera that offers a "smart" nikon mount that isnt a Nikon camera?

Not that I now of, Noah. I have used the Novoflex on Sony's E-mount but adjusting the aperture is so Mickey Mouse, and the initial Nov. 3 announcement had me so excited, that I had hoped for some provision by Red to allow buyers to at least reserve the Nikon Mount before the discount ended. Now I'm buying as though I had just popped in off the street in 2012!
 
I would make sure you use an approved mount system as not to void your warranty.

I intend to. This is a big purchase for me and it just got more expensive b/c the anticipated date of creation is now unknown and has been pushed back until further notice. Maybe I'm making a mountain out of a molehill but buying a Canon mount and an adapter just so I can shoot Nikon seemed wasteful. Now that I've lost my discount I just wasted money again. Hence my lament. (Sorry to whine.)
 
Last I had heard Nikon is very particular about giving out their lens control information for manufacturing mounts, this is one reason Phantom cameras quickly adopted full Canon support while leaving Nikon as manual only mounts. Perhaps this is part of the same "hassle".

You're probably right, Martin. Perhaps Nikon wants to keep the 'window' open for future development of their own systems and are not sharing, or making life difficult for Red. Very logical possibility.
 
The hassle is that the Nikon lenses have a physical pin to drive the iris that has to be actuated by the mount. Canon EF is all electronic so no physical/mechanical drive is needed.

Optitek is RED approved and provides great control of regular and g lenses.

I've read that, Michael. I will need to try for myself. Thanks for the positive remarks about Optitek. It helps.
 
BIggest problem is No Metadata from Optitek mount.

It's a dumb mount with a good lock and replaces iris control of all Nikon lenses with it's own "iris" control.

On a Nikon G lens it's hard to know the FStop. You are essentially "guestimating" the stop or apeture.

I know this is a solid mount and it works well, but it lacks electronic "modern" features.

The entire digital future depends on metadata.

david


David
 
For most of us, the Optitek is a good stop-gap measure, one that allows those of us up to our eyeballs in Nikkor optics to move forward with our Epic transition, but with our eyes glued to the horizon waiting for RED's electronic Nikon mount. Unfortunately, listening carefully to Jarred makes it clear to me that it is nowhere near shipping, and I'm not expecting it for at least six months and maybe not until next year. Very sad. But, at least, we can get the somewhat limited benefit of operating with Nikkor optics in a manual configuration.

Also, there should be a good chance for a decent resale of the Optitek after the Red electronic version shows up, since there will still be those who are limited to manual versions of Nikkor glass wanting to use it on Epics and Scarlets.
 
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