Nikon Micro Nikkor 55mm Lens on Canon 6D

[Kit-V]

Although I do not consider myself a beginner, when it comes to using a 40 year-old manual focus Nikon lens on a modern dslr (Canon 6D), this is new territory for me. The lens is mounted to the camera body with a adapter ring. Although I certainly understand that the auto/electronic features of the camera are disabled with this lens, I nevertheless have 3 really basic questions.

When focusing with the focus ring, is there a way to know (other than "it looks like it's in focus") when focus is achieved?

Although I can manually select the shutter speed on the camera, I cannot do so with the aperture. However, I noticed that the lens has an aperture ring. Am I correct in assuming that this how the aperture is selected?

Thus, it seems that setting the correct exposure is done in the camera's M mode. Correct?

Kit

[D Fuller]

Although I do not consider myself a beginner, when it comes to using a 40 year-old manual focus Nikon lens on a modern dslr (Canon 6D), this is new territory for me. The lens is mounted to the camera body with a adapter ring. Although I certainly understand that the auto/electronic features of the camera are disabled with this lens, I nevertheless have 3 really basic questions.

When focusing with the focus ring, is there a way to know (other than "it looks like it's in focus") when focus is achieved?

That's pretty much the method. (Some DSLRs and mirrorless cameras have focus peaking. I don't don't have a 6D, but I don't believe it is one of them.)

Although I can manually select the shutter speed on the camera, I cannot do so with the aperture. However, I noticed that the lens has an aperture ring. Am I correct in assuming that this how the aperture is selected?

Correct. If you look through the lens from the front and turn the ring, you should see the aperture change. If you don't it's stuck.

Thus, it seems that setting the correct exposure is done in the camera's M mode. Correct?

That'll work. Or you can probably use the Aperture Priority (A) mode if you prefer. That method basically just meters the light and sets an appropriate shutter speed.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

You will probably use live view and 10x enlargement to focus, using the lens fully open. Then you would probably close the aperture to f/8. I am not positive about this, but you might want to recheck the focus at f/8.

[D Fuller]

You will probably use live view and 10x enlargement to focus, using the lens fully open. Then you would probably close the aperture to f/8. I am not positive about this, but you might want to recheck the focus at f/8.

This is a great point. It would be wise to test the lens to see if it has focus shift when you stop down. That way, you know if you have to think about focus shift when you're doing work you care about.

[Kit-V]

Thank you for the input, everyone. I might add that in Aperture Priority the f-stop is not indicated in the LCD (i.e. f=00).

BTW, one other oddity: when I switch to Live View, the LCD is extremely dark except for any brightly lit subjects. This is the case even at wide open. Is this just a glitch associated with mounting an older Nikon lens on a newer Canon dslr?

Thank you so much!

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

1. You will have to measure light with the lens stopped down.

2. Isn’t there a setting on 6D menu for live view which simulates the exposure? Try turning it on and off to see if that helps.

P.S. Remember I suggested a Canon macro? It would be fully automatic and also auto focusing for normal exposures   

[Kit-V]

1. You will have to measure light with the lens stopped down.

2. Isn’t there a setting on 6D menu for live view which simulates the exposure? Try turning it on and off to see if that helps.

P.S. Remember I suggested a Canon macro? It would be fully automatic and also auto focusing for normal exposures   

Thank you. I purchased the lens used for $40 specifically to work with the Nikon ES-1 slide holder in order to digitize numerous 35mm slides. It appears that this will be a cost-effective option. Nevertheless, the questions that I posed were merely to just play around with this lens.

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

That’s a good price.