I finally decided to enter the realm of Micro Four Thirds cameras. As many would suspect, I did not do it properly. I decided to get the retro route, as I do with many other things. I also did not want to invest in a load of lenses, so I chose to buy a FOTGA Lens Mount Adapter for Nikon G Lens To MFT for my E-P1. In doing a bit of research, it did not come up as rubbish and it was cheap, one of my favorite combinations. Some adapters are prone to problems such as being too tight, being too loose, ripping contacts off of lenses, etc. But then others are just fine.
Here is what I think of my latest purchase.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Low cost
- Simple design
- Decent build quality
Cons
- You cannot tell what aperture you are using when using a G lens
- Does not come with caps
Gear Used
To test this out, I used my Olympus PEN E-P1, my trusty Nikon 35mm f1.8G, 28-80 f3.5-5.6G and my Nikon 50mm f1.8e , Nikon 24 mm f2.8D and Sigma 500mm f4.5 on a 3LT Brian.
Tech Specs
Tech specs taken from Amazon:
- This is the adapter for using Nikon G lenses on Panasonic/Olympus mount cameras
- Auto Focus will not be available, and it is recommended to use Manual / AV modes
- With Lock / Open Aperture Control Ring to set the designated aperture
- Made of Brass and Aluminum alloy, very durable
- Compatible with the lens: Nikon G Lens; Compatible with the camera: Panasonic: DMC-G1, DMC-GH1 DMC-GF1; Olympus: E-P1, EP-2
Ergonomics
This adapter is not remarkable looking overall. That is a good thing, however, because it keeps the simple and clean design that I find more pleasing. The Lock/Open ring controls the aperture.
The switch to release the lens is not the most comfortable thing in the world to use, but it’s sturdy. The marking to let you know where to put on the lens is a bit small and you may not even notice it unless you look very closely. Once you know where it is, it becomes second nature.
The Nikon lens mount section is durable and the lens locks in securely. The little screw that controls the aperture seems durable and does its job.
The M4/3 mount is simple as well. No electronic components. It mounts securely and there is no need to worry once it’s on.
You can easily take a lens off the mount without removing the adapter. Switching lenses is not an issue at all.
Build Quality
It is a solid piece of equipment. It is mechanical with a good amount of thought put into it. It is decently sized and lightweight. If you carry it with your M4/3 camera, you do not have to worry about it taking up a lot of room.
Ease of Use
In its theoretical application, it is easy to use. This adapter allows Nikon lenses (G/ F/ AI/ AIS) to be used on Micro 4/3 camera body. Mount the lens on the adapter, and mount the adapter on the camera. If you are using a Nikon G lens, you move it between open and lock. On the Ep1, the screen dims as the aperture gets smaller. If you using a lens with an aperture ring, you at least know what aperture is set to. Overall, the Fotga Lens Mount Adapter for Nikon is very straightforward and easy to use.
Image Quality
The image quality depends on the photographer honestly. How well you can manually focus is key. It takes a little patience.
Working with the adapter does take some getting used to. Your skills as a photographer will come into play. I am sure better photographers than me, says every other member of the Phoblographer, would get better results.
Image quality will vary from photographer to photographer. Sometimes on the back of the camera you think you got the focus right, when you are actually a bit off. Better results will come from the use of an EVF. With the EP-1 I try to enlarge the display to try and get a better focus. I learned this after this shot. Mistakes are easy at first.
Conclusions
I made a decent purchase. I am finding the EP1 to be decent camera, despite gripes from people I know. This mount is allowing me to use my current Nikon lenses as well experiment with some rather large test lenses. Realistically there are better options for 4/3rds adapters and cameras, but they also cost more. Being simple and inexpensive is a huge plus. I would recommend that photographers stick with the Nikon D, Ai and AIS lenses. You will have far more control over the aperture. I doubt I will do anything astonishing with the Fotga Nikon G to Micro 4/3 M4/3 Adapter, but I will have some fun trying.
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