Love vintage lenses, especially Olympus and Pentax SMC. They give a 3D look to photos. Another great feature of the Sony A7 is the exposure compensation dial which is on top of this camera, making it dead handy to access when shooting into the light. Focus peaking is brilliant for these great old lenses.
Gary, thank you SOOO much! I have been considering buying a mirrorless camera, but was deterred by the fact that my existing analog lenses weren't compatible. Your explanation has opened up a whole new and exciting world where I can experiment once again with my analog lenses.
I have a mamaya Sekor 50mm f1.8 and and the canon fd 50mm f1.8, adapted to work on a Lumix g7. The canon takes good photos, but I don't like using it because it has a very short turn on the focus ring. The canons focus ring turns just shy of 180°, whereas the mamaya lens turns about 270°. The longer focus turn gives you much finer control over what's in focus, especially if you've got big hands like me. Also the aperture lock on the mamaya is much easier to switch on and off, since it has a raised lever instead of a flush wheel like the canon. The aperture lock is very useful especially for shooting subjects at a distance where you need number a smaller aperture like 4 or 6, by first setting the aperture where desired, then open it completely to dial in the point of focus, and switch it back before shooting. Having an easier to locate blind and easier to turn lock means not having to move the camera between these two steps.
Great video, answered just what I wanted to know. I usually shoot film with manual cameras and Nikon, Zeiss and Pentax lenses but really wanted to use them on digital at times. The A7 looks like a good match as I do want full frame to pick up edge softness and vignetting as well, something an ASPC will crop out.
Thank you! I spend a long time looking through videos on how a vintage lens works and proper settings using a modern camera (Canon in my case)!! THANK YOU for a detailed and easy to follow explanation!
Wow! I have to say I really enjoyed this. I sold my EOS 100D last winter and replaced it with a Song y RX100 III. Mainly because I wanted something pocketable and never really got around to learning how to shoot on manual. The RX100 ha sheen great and I’m now starting to get the hang of it and I have to say that this video and the previous one on the a7 itself have really peaked my interest. I think I might have to get one for myself as well. These cheap vintage lenses seem fascinating!
I so wanted one of these setups a few years ago when I was exploring product photography. The A7 is a beast. All the other mirrorless setups had smaller sensors. Is that still the case? IIRC the Fuji's looked cool, and there were a few other interesting mirrorless, but nothing pro level. I was playing around with a DIY ultra budget low light studio setup and was photographing bicycles. It was challenging with an old rebel. I dreamed of an A7 but they were still going for around $1k in functional condition years ago.
Image stabilization is mainly used for low light situations where you are using a long shutter time. If you are using a faster shutter time then it won't matter.
i was gonna buy a sony a7 because it was relatively cheap for me but then i quickly gave up on it because i saw the price of lenses (more specifically the gmaster, zeiss, tamron, and sigma) were so stupidly high damn near 3 times more expensive than the camera itself! but now i see that i dont have to pay those thousand dollar prices now i just need 40 buks . thank you
It works very well with vintage lens. There are cheaper options available but most of the those are APS-C cameras, whereas the a7 is full frame. The IBIS of the a7ii or a7iii really helps with vintage lens if you are shooting in low-light or hand held video.
I have been using a variety vintage lenses with my Sony a7ii. I only get vignetting with one lens. I'm not sure why. I haven't determined if it's affected by aperture opening or not. I keep planning an experimenting with that.
I Just got my first vintage lens. M 42 Mamiya 55, 1.4 but the adapter is too thick or something i cant not get deep focus on my sony a7iii. Any thoughts on that?
Love vintage lenses, especially Olympus and Pentax SMC. They give a 3D look to photos. Another great feature of the Sony A7 is the exposure compensation dial which is on top of this camera, making it dead handy to access when shooting into the light. Focus peaking is brilliant for these great old lenses.
Gary, thank you SOOO much! I have been considering buying a mirrorless camera, but was deterred by the fact that my existing analog lenses weren't compatible. Your explanation has opened up a whole new and exciting world where I can experiment once again with my analog lenses.
Awesome, I'd been wanting to know more about this for a long time. The cool thing is how focus peaking still works.
Those pics at the end were just great !!!
I am glad you liked them.
Amazing results....thanks for the information! I am looking at adapting anamorphic lenses to these vintage lenses for video.
I have a mamaya Sekor 50mm f1.8 and and the canon fd 50mm f1.8, adapted to work on a Lumix g7. The canon takes good photos, but I don't like using it because it has a very short turn on the focus ring. The canons focus ring turns just shy of 180°, whereas the mamaya lens turns about 270°. The longer focus turn gives you much finer control over what's in focus, especially if you've got big hands like me. Also the aperture lock on the mamaya is much easier to switch on and off, since it has a raised lever instead of a flush wheel like the canon. The aperture lock is very useful especially for shooting subjects at a distance where you need number a smaller aperture like 4 or 6, by first setting the aperture where desired, then open it completely to dial in the point of focus, and switch it back before shooting. Having an easier to locate blind and easier to turn lock means not having to move the camera between these two steps.
I've got a mamiya on my fuji and it's my favourite 50mm 1.8 lens!
I have yet to find an old lens for less than $35, and I own 12, mostly Minolta and pentax. Great video sir!
I just got one at an antique store for $25
I have lost track of how many I bought for $5 or less.
Gary! Best cheap, fast lenses that can be adapted to Sony full frame... Go! I want a really good astro lens, and manual focus is no problem for that!
Great video, answered just what I wanted to know. I usually shoot film with manual cameras and Nikon, Zeiss and Pentax lenses but really wanted to use them on digital at times. The A7 looks like a good match as I do want full frame to pick up edge softness and vignetting as well, something an ASPC will crop out.
Thank you! I spend a long time looking through videos on how a vintage lens works and proper settings using a modern camera (Canon in my case)!! THANK YOU for a detailed and easy to follow explanation!
*GARY!!!*
*Morning Professor!*
Taking the make up lesson today!
Mark!!!
Wow! I have to say I really enjoyed this. I sold my EOS 100D last winter and replaced it with a Song y RX100 III. Mainly because I wanted something pocketable and never really got around to learning how to shoot on manual. The RX100 ha sheen great and I’m now starting to get the hang of it and I have to say that this video and the previous one on the a7 itself have really peaked my interest. I think I might have to get one for myself as well. These cheap vintage lenses seem fascinating!
Exactly what I was looking for. I was wondering what the UI would look like with a vintage lens. Thanks
Thank you for bringing up camera videos..one of my favourites
Very useful, cheers
Glad it helped
Thanks a lot Gary. Wish there was more info on the Manual mode with vintage lenses.
Can you do something about cleaning a lens as these old ones can have mildew inside?
I so wanted one of these setups a few years ago when I was exploring product photography. The A7 is a beast. All the other mirrorless setups had smaller sensors. Is that still the case? IIRC the Fuji's looked cool, and there were a few other interesting mirrorless, but nothing pro level. I was playing around with a DIY ultra budget low light studio setup and was photographing bicycles. It was challenging with an old rebel. I dreamed of an A7 but they were still going for around $1k in functional condition years ago.
Canon and Nikon just launched mirrorless full frame cameras.
Great video, answered questions I had about setting up this type of lens for my Sony.
A7 still a good camera I love it
I'm a semi-pro portrait photographer and l use one. The image quality is still excellent for the current price.
I was thinking about buying an a7s to use with my canon fd's. Thanks for this video.
I have a7 what is the best adapter for the camera? And what is the best vintage portrait lens for a7
Which manual adaptor did you get? Or does anyone know anyone's you can get in the UK?
Thanks for this video!
You can also use shutter priority if you need a long shutter speed, works fine. Do the adapters from the Nex 6 work for the A7 series?
yes they use the same e mount
Without a tripod when using vintage lenses is that a problem with the original a7 WITHOUT IBS?
Image stabilization is mainly used for low light situations where you are using a long shutter time. If you are using a faster shutter time then it won't matter.
@@GaryExplains aight, thanks for the reply.
Very helpful! Thank you, Gary!
Glad it was helpful!
i was gonna buy a sony a7 because it was relatively cheap for me but then i quickly gave up on it because i saw the price of lenses (more specifically the gmaster, zeiss, tamron, and sigma) were so stupidly high damn near 3 times more expensive than the camera itself! but now i see that i dont have to pay those thousand dollar prices now i just need 40 buks . thank you
there are also adapters that allow utofocus but you need at least a sony a7II
Can you use any older lens as long as there is a mount for it? Or only certain older lenses
I have a question. If the camera is set to Apparatuse settings... what Apparatuse do I set the camera to?
Thanks
Hello Gary I want to buy a Mirrorless camera for vintage lenses. For beginning I want something cheep. The Sony a7 is ok ? (a7ii and a7iii )
It works very well with vintage lens. There are cheaper options available but most of the those are APS-C cameras, whereas the a7 is full frame. The IBIS of the a7ii or a7iii really helps with vintage lens if you are shooting in low-light or hand held video.
Do you change the sensor setting in the menu? I tend to get vignette if I don’t. This happens on all my manual lens unless I switch it.
Nope, I didn't need to change anything.
I have been using a variety vintage lenses with my Sony a7ii. I only get vignetting with one lens. I'm not sure why. I haven't determined if it's affected by aperture opening or not. I keep planning an experimenting with that.
can you please state the specific mount you used for your sony ?
I showed photos from different lenses with different mounts. What lens are you trying to adapt?
Howcome the back is so distorted?
The back? You mean the background of the photos?
I don't get it 😵 what kid of adapter do I need und where to get it?
What camera do you have and what lens do you want to attach to it?
@@GaryExplains Sony a7iii / A9 and the Helios
Looked for hours and can't find which adapter I have to use
Assuming the Helios has an M42 mount then you need something like this: geni.us/mAB4ZdJ
I think I'll stick with my Nikon DSLR which is also quite compact, but can just take all old Nikon lenses. :)
When did adam savage start making camera videos???
I see what you did there, hilarious.
I Just got my first vintage lens. M 42 Mamiya 55, 1.4 but the adapter is too thick or something i cant not get deep focus on my sony a7iii. Any thoughts on that?
You will need to use focus magnifier as well as focus peaking in getting the deep focus correctly on the Sony camera.
what about the video performance?
Whats the adapter called to fit old cannon lens onto the a7 please
You need a Canon FD to Sony E-Mount adapter like this one: geni.us/SS9Qv
5:30
Does lens work with video?
Yes, of course, but with the same restrictions (manual focus, manual ISO).
@@GaryExplains Thank you so much! Where do you recommend buying a mount adapter?
@@jordanbush7291 I think I got mine from Amazon.
@@GaryExplains Thanks!