Nikon lens

[david farland]

Walked into the local Nikon store the other day to get the wrap on Nikon lens. I was looking at a D200 because it had a similiar size/pixel count to the RED. I'm thinking if I got a RED Nikon AF adapter I could use various Nikon lens and they'd have similiar FOV/DOF on the RED as on the D200.
Is this correct?

Then the sales rep began doin my head in with the following:
1. "All Nikon lens in current catalogue would work on D200. Some would have vignetting". OK
2. In regards to the RED/Nikon adapter, he said "certain Nikon lens may not infinity focus on the RED."Ummm

What are the critical factors when building the Nikon adapter for RED, Why if it works one of the current nikon lens, wouldn't it work on all?
and can't you just use the focus adjust to get out of trouble?

Dave Farland

[Sanjin Jukic]

All about the Nikkor lenses, types, etc...
http://nikonimaging.com/global/products/lens/index.htm

[Evin Grant]

This local camera guy has no idea about what will or will not work on Red.

[peter roehsler]

Nikon lenses on hard-mount adapters should work fine at infinity, as flange distance for APS-C sized sensors (Nikon´s D200 is 23,6x15,8 mm) is 51,98mm and RED´s flange distance will be 52mm. Some DSLR lenses (super-wides) could show some vignetting when stopped down due to some APS-sized flavours of sensors measuring anything from 20,7x13,8 mm (thanks Sanjin for your link to sensor tables in the next post) to D200´s 23,6x15,8 mm whereas RED´s sensor will be 24,4x13,7 mm. Any lens made for 35mm (24x36mm) photography should not have a problem at infinity, nor should you experience any vignetting.
Peter

[Sanjin Jukic]

Thanks Peter,

also someone interested in the cameras could find even more info about SLR technology at

SLR Technology
http://www.photozone.de/3Technology/index.html
SLR Sensor Dimensions
http://www.photozone.de/3Technology/digital_1.htm

[Stephen Williams]

Nikon lenses on hard-mount adapters should work fine at infinity, as flange distance for APS-C sized sensors (Nikon´s D200 is 23,6x15,8 mm) is 51,98mm and RED´s flange distance will be 52mm.
Peter

Hi Peter,

I think you are confusing the setting the depth on a film camera to 51.98 so that the focus is 0.02 into the film.

Nikon FFD is nearer 43mm, can't remember exactly.

Stephen

[peter roehsler]

Sorry Stephen,

My mistake - you are right. Nikon flange distance is 46,5 mm. Must have mixed it up with the PL numbers: meaning the protruding part of RED´s PL mount (52mm to the sensor) will be replaced by a thinner mount for Nikon (46,5mm to the sensor = 5,5 mm shorter).

Peter

[James Brundige]

Decision time is coming. (as I creep up the wait list). I have read various guesses about the origin of Red lenses. (Sigma glass with Cooke housing?), but the bottom line is what looks best. Any feedback?

[Michael Hastings]

Walked into the local Nikon store the other day to get the wrap on Nikon lens. I was looking at a D200 because it had a similiar size/pixel count to the RED. I'm thinking if I got a RED Nikon AF adapter I could use various Nikon lens and they'd have similiar FOV/DOF on the RED as on the D200.
Is this correct?

Then the sales rep began doin my head in with the following:
1. "All Nikon lens in current catalogue would work on D200. Some would have vignetting". OK
2. In regards to the RED/Nikon adapter, he said "certain Nikon lens may not infinity focus on the RED."Ummm

What are the critical factors when building the Nikon adapter for RED, Why if it works one of the current nikon lens, wouldn't it work on all?
and can't you just use the focus adjust to get out of trouble?

Dave Farland

Your camera guy is confused. The D200 imager size is 23.6 x 15.8mm, much smaller than the 36x24mm of full frame slr and about the same as RED (24.4mm x 13.7mm (Super35mm)) so yes it will give you a very good approximation of the DOF and angle of view you will get on RED.

Since the D200 imager is much smaller than a normal still - all of the old lenses will work without vignetting - in fact they are shooting just the center portion of the lens where the aberrations are usually the least and any vignetting that might have been there on full frame would be minimized or eliminated.

The whole idea of DX lenses is they are designed for the smaller format digital chip so should work fine on D200. Since the diagonal of the RED is slightly smaller than the D200, DX lenses should work fine on RED as well.

Since a dumb nikon could basically be made by taking a mount from a nikon camera or a cheap adapter, mounting it on a squared off piece of aluminum or stainless rod with a hole in it, and the four mounting bolt holes - and then shimming it to the proper depth - there really aren't any big issues.

Since RED went to a front end where the imager to the front surface is not always the same, each mount would have to be individually shimmed which is a bit fussy and time consuming - (but ultimately not that difficult for a trained tech like the lens guy at your local cine rental outfit) - they went to an adjustable mount on the standard PL mount and now are going to that same type of adjustment on their Nikon mount.

If people had known it was going to take so long someone like Kevin Halverson or others could have had a Nikon mount months ago (like they did with the FD mount). It would have needed shimming to your camera but again not that big a deal for a tech.

Now it is not really worth it for anyone to go to the trouble since RED has announced theirs coming soon.