Using old manual lenses on a mirrorless camera.

BADGER.BRAD

BADGER.BRAD

Suspended / Banned
Messages
4,252
Edit My Images
Yes
I think I've set my mind on a Sony A6000 ( with a few other possible options) As I will not initially have the cash for other lenses I thought about using some of my manual M42 lenses with an adapter, could I focus these though the EVF or would I need to use the rear screen ? Anyone every done the same thing ? can you talk me through the process ?

Thanks all
 
You can use either the EVF or the LCD.

Move the focus point, magnify, focus, take photo :) A lot of manual lenses have a 'proper' infinity stop (rather than focus by wire rubbish) so with a wide angle (ie my CV21mm) & landscape I know that at a smaller landscape aperture infinity becomes point & shoot as such.

I guess the A6000 also has focus peaking which can help if you don't want to magnify.
 
yep, both
 
I use the 50mm 1.8 fd and the 70-210 f4 fd on my a6000. Ive found the focus peaking helps if you need to be quick but I don’t trust it if you have a “busy” scene. I think it works by highlighting areas of high contrast which should be the things most in focus. But when I’ve used it the focus peaking seems to highlight most of the edges in frame unless there’s only one subject with very little background. I’d only use the focus magnifier personally.
With the 50mm I did get pretty good at just eyeballing what was in focus and usually got it pretty spot on.
 
The camera should work in Aperture and Manual modes but remember that with APS-C cameras there's a x1.5 crop factor so a 50mm lens looks like a 75mm, etc. Other than that, remember to enable the option in the cameras menu to shoot without a lens.

I find focus peaking quite accurate at wide apertures where very little peaks but much less useful at smaller apertures when just about everything peaks. Small pictures viewed normally may still look fine but if you look closely you'll see any lack of accurate focus. You can also zone focus or use hyperfocal or Merklingter technique and if you have the time the magnified view will allow very accurate manual focusing.

I've just manual lenses quite a lot on my Panasonic MFT cameras and also on my Sony A7.
 
woof woof said:
The camera should work in Aperture and Manual modes but remember that with APS-C cameras there's a x1.5 crop factor so a 50mm lens looks like a 75mm, etc. Other than that, remember to enable the option in the cameras menu to shoot without a lens.

I find focus peaking quite accurate at wide apertures where very little peaks but much less useful at smaller apertures when just about everything peaks. Small pictures viewed normally may still look fine but if you look closely you'll see any lack of accurate focus. You can also zone focus or use hyperfocal or Merklingter technique and if you have the time the magnified view will allow very accurate manual focusing.

I've just manual lenses quite a lot on my Panasonic MFT cameras and also on my Sony A7.
Click to expand...
What level do you have your focus peaking set at? I’ve always had it on high. I’m not sure if that means it shows more of what it thinks is in focus though, so it would be less accurate.
 
Thanks everyone much appreciated. I had been looking at cameras trying to compare second hand lens availability and cost, This will at least give a good use for my old lenses and make the camera little more flexable while keeping costs down.
 
BADGER.BRAD said:
Thanks everyone much appreciated. I had been looking at cameras trying to compare second hand lens availability and cost, This will at least give a good use for my old lenses and make the camera little more flexable while keeping costs down.
Click to expand...

I paid about £200 I think for an A6000 for my boy. I've shot FF for years now and the A7 since '14/15 but when I've handled the A6000 on odd occasions, it feels pretty nice in the hand.
 
Thanks Lee, After acquiring most of my cameras in the free to £10 range I'm struggling to pay too much for a Digi camera with the possibility that I don't like using the thing, most of my cameras so far have been mechanical film cameras which I really enjoy using. I've been to the point of buying a Digital Camera before and backed out at the last second worrying about not liking menu driven cameras or low build quality of the cheaper DSLR's. But the cost of film/processing has finally got to me, maybe the use of the old lenses will give me that mechanical feel.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top