Can an Olympus lens be used on a Nikon D3200?
Asked 7/8/2014
45 views
2 answers
0
I have a Nikon D3200 and want another lens for portrait photography. I’m considering an Olympus lens instead of a Nikkor. Will an Olympus lens fit a Nikon D3200, or would I need an adapter? If adapters exist, are there different types, and would any of them work well for this combination?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
2
Unfortunately, no. I'm going to assume that the lens you are interested in is a current Micro 4/3rds Olympus lens, but this is true for vintage "OM" lenses as well. The Olympus cameras have a shorter flange distance — basically, the lenses mount closer to the camera, which is the reverse of the situation where an adapter can work. (It might be theoretically possible to use a lens with glass elements to correct for this, but the expense and image quality loss with make it not worthwhile.)
You should probably look for lenses with a native Nikon mount for best results. Or, since you have an entry-level Nikon camera, if you're really attracted to what Olympus offers, it might not be that big of a deal to switch systems — sell your D3200 and buy a new Olympus to match your desired lens.
Originally by user1943. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1943
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
In most cases, no. Olympus lenses are generally not a practical match for a Nikon D3200.
Olympus Micro Four Thirds and Four Thirds lenses have a much shorter flange distance than Nikon F mount, so a simple mechanical adapter will not let them focus properly on your Nikon. An adapter with corrective glass would be needed, but that typically reduces image quality, changes focal length/aperture behavior, and is usually not worthwhile.
There’s another issue: many Olympus digital lenses are designed for smaller sensors, so even if adapted they may vignette on your Nikon’s APS-C sensor.
Older Olympus OM film lenses also are not a simple fit to Nikon F. Basic ring adapters generally won’t work properly; using them usually requires more complex mount conversion rather than a straightforward adapter.
Best option: buy a lens made in Nikon F mount for your D3200, especially for portraits. That will give you proper fit, focusing, and image quality.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI12y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
How well do lens adapters with built-in mechanical aperture control work?
Can I use vintage lenses on a Nikon D3200, and will image quality suffer?
Can I adapt an M42 lens to Nikon F without removing the original mount if it already focuses past infinity?
Is the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D a good choice on a D5000 even though it won’t autofocus or offer VR?
Can a Nikon D600 or D800 use Pentacon Six manual lenses via an F-mount adapter?