In this episode, I talk about my own experiences adapting vintage and third-party lenses to micro four-thirds cameras, especially if you’re on a budget. I go over the ups and downs of different mounts—like Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Minolta, Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina. I also get into using speed boosters, what they can do, and the risks that come with them. Plus, I recommend some specific lenses that I’ve personally tested and liked. I try to keep things practical and based on what actually works, not just theory, and I invite you to check out my website for more detailed guides and camera settings.

Introduction & Episode Context (00:00:00)

What is this episode about?

Micro Four Thirds & Budget Cameras (00:01:11)

Explains focus on Micro Four Thirds cameras, budget gear.

Website & Lens Database (00:03:38)

Describes the website’s purpose as a lens/camera settings database and lists major brands tested.

Miscellaneous & M42 Lenses (00:04:46)

Covers M42 screw mount, Pentax, and mentions brands on the radar but not yet tested.

Minolta & Sony A-Mount History (00:07:21)

Explains Minolta’s transition to Sony, Minolta AF/Sony A-mount compatibility, and recommendations for budget lenses.

Lens List Organization (00:11:09)

Discusses how lens lists are sorted and details about Quantaray as a rebranded Sigma/Tamron store brand.

Rokinon, Sakar, and Vivitar (00:13:37)

Shares experiences with Rokinon, dismisses Sakar, and explains Vivitar’s variable quality and Series 1 designation.

General Brand List Recap (00:17:02)

Summarizes the main brands tested and transitions to detailed recommendations.

Canon Mount: Why Not (00:17:02)

Briefly explains reasons for no longer adapting Canon FD/EF mounts and refers to previous episodes for details.

Nikon Mount: Top Recommendation (00:18:19)

Recommends Nikon F-mount for adapting, discusses clickable aperture, and notes focus direction difference.

Nikon F-Mount: Best Vintage Lenses (00:19:31)

Highlights first-gen Nikon AF lenses as best value, especially the 50mm f/1.8, and mentions adaptability.

Third-Party Lenses in Nikon Mount (00:21:55)

Recommends buying Sigma, Tokina, Tamron, ProMaster, and Quantaray in Nikon F-mount.

Other Good Mounts (00:22:57)

Mentions Pentax, Olympus OM, and Minolta MD/AF as other good options, especially for 50mm primes.

Canon Mounts: Detailed Cons (00:25:18)

Further details on why Canon FD/EF/FL are not recommended for adapting.

Panasonic Native Lenses (00:27:36)

Panasonic native Micro Four Thirds lenses vs. adapted lenses.

Sigma Lenses (00:28:49)

Explains Sigma’s history, importance of lens generations, and sensor compatibility.

Sigma 18-35mm & Speed Boosters (00:29:54)

Discusses popularity of Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8, speed booster risks, and lens-sensor-specific performance.

Sensor Filters & Lens Sharpness (00:32:14)

Explains how optical low pass filters affect lens sharpness and why some lenses work better on certain sensors.

Sigma Build Quality (00:34:25)

Describes differences between Sigma generations, with newer models being smoother and older ones sometimes problematic.

Tamron Lenses (00:36:38)

Shares mixed experiences with Tamron, especially poor build quality in 1990s models, but notes some good optics.

Tokina Lenses: Best Off-Brand (00:42:23)

Praises Tokina for unique focal lengths, excellent build quality, and recommends AT-X series, especially in Nikon mount.

Final Recommendations (00:48:23)

Covers miscellaneous brands (Pentax, Kiron, Konica, Rokinon, Vivitar, etc.) and reiterates Nikon F as top choice.

Summary (00:50:48)

Main recommendations: Early Nikon AF, Tokina as best off-brand.

Speed Boosters: Pros & Cons (00:51:55)

Explains benefits and risks of speed boosters, especially with IBIS sensors.

Modern Vintage-Style Lenses (00:53:18)

Mentions new manual lenses in vintage style and hints at future podcast topics.

Outro & Website Resources (00:54:22)

Wraps up, directs listeners to the website for detailed lists and more info.