Adapter · Nikon F to Sony E adapter
Nikon F (AI / AI-S) lenses on Sony E
A Nikon F (AI / AI-S) lens was built to sit 46.5 mm from the film. A Sony E camera's mount sits 18 mm from its sensor, so an adapter 28.50 mm deep puts the lens back where it was designed to be, and it focuses from close up to infinity with no glass in between.
- Nikon F flange
- 46.5 mm
- Sony E flange
- 18 mm
- Adapter depth
- 28.50 mm
What the adapter has to do
Manual Nikkors have their own aperture ring, so a plain F-mount adapter only has to hold the lens. Nikon's own FTZ and FTZ II take AI and AI-S lenses on Z bodies with metering and in-body stabilization. Nikon lists non-AI lenses as unusable on them and warns that forcing one on can damage the adapter or the lens. Check the photos for the AI ridge on the aperture ring, or for an AI conversion, before you buy one for an FTZ.
Search “Nikon F to Sony E adapter” on eBay ↗eBay searchSet up your Sony E camera
- 01Set Release w/o Lens to Enable (Shooting menu, Shutter/Silent on recent bodies), or the shutter won't fire on a plain adapter.
- 02For in-body stabilization, set SteadyShot Adjust to Manual and enter the focal length printed on the lens under SteadyShot Focal Length.
- 03Turn on Peaking Display in the Focus menu, and pick a Peaking Color that stands out from your scene.
- 04Use Focus Magnifier (Focus menu, Focus Assistant) to zoom in and check focus before you shoot. It's quicker assigned to a button.
What each lens becomes
On a full-frame Sony E body these lenses frame just as they did on film. On a smaller sensor the frame is cropped, so each lens frames like a longer one. The f-number still sets exposure, while the depth of field looks like the larger number shown.
| Lens | On 35mm film | APS-C (1.5×) |
|---|---|---|
| Helios 81N 50mm f/2 | 50mm f/2 | 75mm f/3 |
| Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 AI-S | 28mm f/2.8 | 42mm f/4.2 |
| Nikkor 35mm f/2 AI-S | 35mm f/2 | 53mm f/3 |
| Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI | 50mm f/1.4 | 75mm f/2.1 |
| Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AI-S | 50mm f/1.8 | 75mm f/2.7 |
| Nikkor 85mm f/2 AI | 85mm f/2 | 128mm f/3 |
| Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 AI | 105mm f/2.5 | 158mm f/3.8 |
| Nikkor 135mm f/2.8 AI-S | 135mm f/2.8 | 203mm f/4.2 |
| Nikkor 180mm f/2.8 ED AI-S | 180mm f/2.8 | 270mm f/4.2 |
| Nikkor 200mm f/4 AI-S | 200mm f/4 | 300mm f/6 |
The Nikon F lenses we cover
- 50mm f/2
Helios & Industar · Nikon F (AI / AI-S)
Helios 81N 50mm f/2
$100–$130 typical ask
17 on eBay
- 28mm f/2.8
Nikon · Nikon F (AI / AI-S)
Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 AI-S
From 1981
$430–$600 typical ask
92 on eBay
- 35mm f/2
Nikon · Nikon F (AI / AI-S)
Nikkor 35mm f/2 AI-S
1981–2005
$310–$440 typical ask
67 on eBay
Nikon · Nikon F (AI / AI-S)
Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI
1977–1981
$120–$180 typical ask
29 on eBay
Nikon · Nikon F (AI / AI-S)
Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AI-S
1980–2005
$170–$260 typical ask
191 on eBay
Nikon · Nikon F (AI / AI-S)
Nikkor 85mm f/2 AI
1977–1981
$210–$310 typical ask
81 on eBay
Nikon · Nikon F (AI / AI-S)
Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 AI
1977–1981
$270–$340 typical ask
62 on eBay
- 135mm f/2.8
Nikon · Nikon F (AI / AI-S)
Nikkor 135mm f/2.8 AI-S
1981–2005
$150–$250 typical ask
94 on eBay
- 180mm f/2.8
Nikon · Nikon F (AI / AI-S)
Nikkor 180mm f/2.8 ED AI-S
1981–2005
$280–$380 typical ask
129 on eBay
- 200mm f/4
Nikon · Nikon F (AI / AI-S)
Nikkor 200mm f/4 AI-S
1981–1996
$100–$160 typical ask
55 on eBay
Nikon F lenses on other cameras
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