For some reason, I always thought there was an optical element for adapting F mount to EF, but seems I was mistaken.
No, it's the other way around. Nikon shooters are the ones who cannot mount Canon lenses. I mean, they can, but the adapters have to have correctional glass for the lenses to able to focus to infinity. In short, they're horrible and useless. 👎
Now you've got me thinking about going down that dark, evil, Nikkor path of doom
Really, the only thing I can think of wanting from that line up is that damn 55mm F/1.2 you use, but not entirely sure how to sift the various versions. Ken Rockwell (sigh) has some info on the different designations, and the price seems pretty reasonable at around $300 from eBay. So, tell me whats what.
I'll try to make this quick and easy. There are three types of Nikon F lenses (from oldest to newest):
Pre-AI (or
Non-AI),
AI and
AI-S.
I was starting to write a big text on each, but then decided against it and I honestly think you're better off reading from some place else, even from
wikipedia. It's a bit long and complex.
But in particular, the history of the Nikkor 50mm f/1.2* - again, from oldest to newest - is this:
Nikkor-S 55mm f/1.2 (Pre-AI);
Nikkor AI 55mm f/1.2;
Nikkor AI 50mm f/1.2;
Nikkor AIS 50mm f/1.2.
Each is an evolution of the previous.
For now, I would skip the Pre-AI versions. It's very unclear sometimes which lens have what (meaning coatings, number of elements, number of blades, etc.), but it's generally accepted by most that there's normally a big step-up in optical quality from Pre-AI to AI lenses. The same can be said between AI and AI-S lenses, but it's much less pronounced - if any sometimes.
Also, you can't mount Pre-AI lenses in modern Nikon cameras (except for the Nikon Df) as it can even damage the body - although there are simple modifications which can be done to Pre-AI lenses to turn them into AI (these are called
AI'd lenses). Additionally, I'm not sure whether the Nikkor-Canon adapters will accept Pre-AI lenses. I think they do, but it's another reason to skip these lenses for now.
Anyway, I'll also leave you with
this link. It's a fantastic database, in which you can learn much about all the versions of a given lens (with the added bonus of having photos of each). If you can spot the serial number, you can get a good idea of the model and year of the lens for sale.
(It's usually more reliable for you to check on the lens version using this site than just trusting the seller's description of the lens).
Two quick tips: stay clear from lenses with fungus and from lenses with deep scratches on the rear element. Dust spots inside the lens or minor scratches on the front element is generally OK.
Sorry for the long text, but this isn't easy to explain in just a post. But there's lots of info here for now for you to digest on, anyway.
Let me know if (and when) you need more info.
*Now and then, you'll bump into a Nikkor AI/AIS 58mm f/1.2 (also called Noct-Nikkor), but that's a whole different league. Don't get scared by its prices.
Also, I got a new focus screen, while not being a Catz Eye, is still helping immensely with manual lenses, so expect more from the Rokinon in the future.
Nice. I would love to try different focus screens as well someday. 👍