a sin for sure, canon on a nikon?

Ok, so I have a can not turn down deal on a Nikon D80, but I very badly would like to use the Canon MPE-65. How do the converters work between the two?

Sure, I'd prefer to have a 40D, or better with that macro monster, but hey, economy and all...

Oh, right, noob.

Thanks.

I was under the impression that the EF lenses would not adapt to the newer Nikon bodies. I'm thinking if you want to use the MPE-65, you'll be better off with a Canon body and quite possibly without a choice in the matter.

Canon lenses don't generally work on other (35mm) camera bodies.

The distance from the mount to the focal plane/sensor (flange mount distance) is shorter on Canon lenses than most others.

See here for a list of distances. Generally anything longer will be OK, shorter requires optics in the adapter to correct or you lose infinity focus.

esotericman wrote in post #7657022
Ok, so I have a can not turn down deal on a Nikon D80, but I very badly would like to use the Canon MPE-65. How do the converters work between the two?

Sure, I'd prefer to have a 40D, or better with that macro monster, but hey, economy and all...

Oh, right, noob.

Thanks.

For shooting macro an XTi will be just as good as a 40D in most cases...you don't really need 6.3 FPS when you're shooting close-ups of a monmoving object. The XTi and 40D have virtually the same sensor (The 40D has gapless microlenses that offer slightly better performance, but pretty much indistinguishable in most cases especially if you shoot in RAW).

996gt2 wrote in post #7658233
For shooting macro an XTi will be just as good as a 40D in most cases...you don't really need 6.3 FPS when you're shooting close-ups of a monmoving object. The XTi and 40D have virtually the same sensor (The 40D has gapless microlenses that offer slightly better performance, but pretty much indistinguishable in most cases especially if you shoot in RAW).

well, Live View is helpful for Macro (sometimes)
Also, I'm not sure the XTi and 40D make "indistinguishable" photos - 40D has to have an edge in IQ right?

doubledragon wrote in post #7658381
well, Live View is helpful for Macro (sometimes)
Also, I'm not sure the XTi and 40D make "indistinguishable" photos - 40D has to have an edge in IQ right?

I have both and think I prefer the XTi (400d over here)

Adapters physically provide a MECHANICAL mount that permits a different mount lens to fit onto your camera body's mount. Either the adapter provides additional SPACING to fit the lens at the proper distance to the focal plane, or optics are included to lengthen the distance that the lens can be from the focal plane (example: FD mount lens on EF body).

There will almost NEVER be an ELECTRICAL interface to an electronically controlled lens, which requires voltage for its AF motor, the ability to understand and execute the AF commands that come from the body, the aperture selection commands that come from the body (the 'language' is probably not the same), nor would the lens be able to report its focal length to the body!

you could always buy the nikon and flip it for a profit!

then get a 40d or something... =D

996gt2 wrote in post #7658233
For shooting macro an XTi will be just as good as a 40D in most cases...you don't really need 6.3 FPS when you're shooting close-ups of a monmoving object. The XTi and 40D have virtually the same sensor (The 40D has gapless microlenses that offer slightly better performance, but pretty much indistinguishable in most cases especially if you shoot in RAW).

Not so fast, my friend. The 50D was the first to get the gapless design. The 40D offers better AF, live view, and better WB performance than an XTi, though.

esotericman wrote in post #7657022
Ok, so I have a can not turn down deal on a Nikon D80, but I very badly would like to use the Canon MPE-65. How do the converters work between the two?

Sure, I'd prefer to have a 40D, or better with that macro monster, but hey, economy and all...

Oh, right, noob.

Thanks.

Since the MP-E 65 is a macro-only lens (!), starting at 1X on a Canon body, it shouldn't really matter, as you can't focus to infinity with the MP-E 65 anyway. You just get a slight additional magnification, in the order of 5 % or thereabouts (caused by the thickness of the adapter plus the extra mount to sensor distance). So instead of a 1X - 5X macro lens, it now becomes a 1.05X - 5.05X macro lens instead. Furthermore, it is an MF lens, so that doesn't make a difference either.

With any other lens it would be a real problem, as you can't focus to infinity, due to the larger register distance of a Nikon body.

You'll still have 1 problem however, unless the adapter takes care of this, and that is closing the diaphragm down to the required aperture: with Canon this is taken care of by an electronic interface, so I don't know whether that is going to work on the Nikon, unless you do the aperture preview trick, i.e., mount the lens on a Canon body, close down the aperture in, e.g., AV-mode, press the aperture preview button, and while keeping it depressed, unmount the lens, and then mount it on the adapter and Nikon body. Focusing will become very cumbersome however, as the image will be even darker with the aperture fully closed. To me this would really not be an option, I'd prefer to use a Canon body in that case maybe a 450D or a 1000D - both are excellent cameras. Another option is a used 30D, if you prefer a larger camera, or even a used 400D.

The advice of getting a cheaper Canon body that was given above, is therefore IMO the best way to go, with the MP-E 65. Also, if you are new to dslrs and/or macro, I'd suggest you start of with a slightly less challenging macro lens, like the Canon EF 50 F/2.5 CM, the EF-S 60 F/2.8 or the EF 100 F/2.8, which all can focus to infinity besides doing macro stuff.

Or get the Nikon body with a decent macro lens with Nikon mount, like the Nikon 60 mm, 105 mm, or any of the 3rd party ones from Tamron, Tokina or Sigma.

Kind regards, Wim

doubledragon wrote in post #7658381
well, Live View is helpful for Macro (sometimes)
Also, I'm not sure the XTi and 40D make "indistinguishable" photos - 40D has to have an edge in IQ right?

Only at high isos.

Kind regards, Wim

caesar2164 wrote in post #7658882
you could always buy the nikon and flip it for a profit!

then get a 40d or something... =D

Now here is a great idea!

Kind regards, Wim

So, very good. I need to pitch the Nikon OR I need to give up on the MPE-65 for now. Ok then, thanks for the input!