C-Mount CCTV (or other) Lenses on a Nikon D80?

[CRØW]

Hi all!

Yes, I'm another new member in the forums, and would appreciate any help. I might continue posting here, as all in all I'm quite a newbie to the "more advanced" Digital photography. a little about my experience: been using a Nikon CoolPix 5400 for about 2.5-3 years now (my first camera in fact), and would like to advance to a DSLR. didn't have any experience with it before, but read quite abit about DSLR photography in general, and would like to move to a Nikon D80 in a month or so.

Ok, now for my actual question/interest:
I'd like to know if there is a good method of mounting C-Mount lenses (different kinds) on the Nikon camera? (I heard the Nikon mount is called an F Mount, right?)
The method and adaptor set I heard of so far is to use 2 adapters: Nikon to M42, and M42 to C-mount.

All in all I know the results of mounting C-Mount lenses on the Nikon won't produce such a good and versatile configuration, but still I would like to play around and see what I can acheive as I have access to some lenses, including a nice range surveillance lens that was at one time used for border security! (which I would really like to try for i's telephoto capabilities, hope it'll work somehow)

Anyway, I think this first post of mine got quite long, so as I said, I would appreciate any help/advice.

Thanks,

CRØW -Max.

[deckcadet]

hi Max,
Unfortunately, you'll end up with some nice close up lenses, but not much else.
C-mount lenses are designed with a flange focal distance (distance between the mount and the film/sensor plane) of less than 20mm. Any SLR mount has a much greater FFD. In particular, Nikon's F mount has a FFD of 46.5mm. Therefore, it will be impossible to mount a C-mount lens on a nikon SLR and maintain infinity focusing, or even focus at any respectable distance. It is possible that if these are adjustable focus lenses, at some focus distances you might end up bringing focus *inside* the lens!

If you still want to try it, it would work if you get the aforementioned F-mount to m42 adapter and an M42-C-mount adapter. Just be sure not to screw it in too far, so that you still clear your mirror.

Hope this helps.

[CRØW]

Thanks for the quick reply
Well, that's what I was afraid of, that there would be an optical incompatibility...
Are there no other adapters out there that may allow the C-Mount lenses to be installed and used like it was meant to? I mean there's supposed to be something out there, doesn't it?

[deckcadet]

If there would be, it would be an adapter with additional optics that would probably compromise image quality and/or impact the effective f/stop.

Naturally more optics = more money.

Also, CCTV lenses would be optimized for the probably smaller, lower resolution sensors of CCTV cameras and might not necessarily do so well on a DSLR.

[fx101]

Nope, unless you want a nice macro lens you're going to need to invest in some optics. If you don't want to spend much buy the 50mm f/1.8 (you can pick up one for around $100 if you look around) and it is one of the sharpest lenses you can get and incredibly cheap too.

[cs85]

Hi,

I was trying to figure out a similar issue just yesterday. A couple days ago I acquired a Canon Zoom Lens TV-16 25-100mm f1.8. It was in good shape (and free), so I grabbed it. However, I haven't found out much about it.

The lens is a C-mount and I'm currently using a Nikon D40x. From what I've read, it seems (technically speaking) I could use a T-mount adapter on my camera, and then a C-to-T adapter to connect the lens. I guess I could also do as Crow has suggested with an M42 adapter.

I have no idea what a C-to-T-to-F mount connection would produce, so I'm hoping someone can help. I'm not expecting great photographs, but would I get anything with a decent amount of clarity? Or would I just be wasting my time and money trying it out?

Thanks.

[parapadvx100]

I´ve found THE adapter on amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003EB14IY/...Y&linkCode=asn

i just bought it, but it hasn´t been delivered yet. I can´t wait to use it with my Nikon D60 and a 12,5mm-75mm 1,8f C mount Lens.

[yeahbooy]

Hi,
I'd love to find out how that adapter worked, because I too have a few C-mount TV camera lenses that I'd like to mount using that C-mount adapter to my Nikon D40x. I see that the information provided about this adapter on Amazon states that the lenses won't focus to infinity. But, if not infinity, then up to what distance will something be in focus and sharp? For example, with your 12.5mm-75mm f/1.8 C-mount Lens, are you able to bring into focus anything between 12.5 and 75 mm away from the camera with anything beyond 75mm showing up blurry? Do you like the quality?

Thanks in advance.

[ob1]

My question regarding a Cmount for a Nikon D3100 to a Operating Microscope. First some background:

Operating scopes have the light source and magnification that gets delivered to the eye via a series of lenses. Available is a beam splitter that takes the bean that goes to the eye and splits it off to go to the camera. The camera then captures exactly what you see, no extra lenses needed. Connecting the camera to the beam splitter is a photo adapter with an adjustable apeture. The pics I attached taken on the phone apology for the quality.

The beam then goes up to the port onto which the camrea attach. I have been told it is a C mount connection and this is where I start running out of ideas.

[ob1]

The internal diameter of the thread is 20mm, the outside diameter is 37mm

The thread is on the inside surface making it female and it is very fine. I dont have the means to measure it, must be less than 0.5mm

Can anybody point me to a shopping list for fitting the D3100 to that?

I will be using a D3100 on the basis that we have it at home. I might change to a camera later that can for incstance take longer HD video clips.

[ob1]

And jsut to make upmy 5th post so that I can start my own topic :aureola: