20/02/2026 8:20 pm
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I'm looking to add some vintage character to my Nikon D750 shots. I’m especially interested in M42 or Pentax glass, but I'm worried about losing infinity focus with an adapter. Does anyone have experience with specific lenses that work well on F-mount without too much image degradation? Any 'hidden gems' you'd recommend for under $150?
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20/02/2026 8:45 pm
> adapters with glass are kinda a letdown This^ tbh I tried m42 once and it was a mess. Native Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AI-s Series E Lens (sharp) vs adapted glass (blurry/no infinity) is no contest. Stick to native glass, it's safer!!
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20/02/2026 8:55 pm
In my experience, I had issues with M42 glass because the flange distance is too long for Nikon. Basically, adapters with glass are kinda a letdown cuz they really degrade quality. I'd honestly compare that vs native glass like the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AI-S Series E. It's way sharper and fits ur D750 without focus issues. Native is SO much better for $150... anyway, gl!
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24/02/2026 9:11 pm
Late to the party but honestly, skip the M42 glass on your D750. The flange distance is just wrong for Nikon, and those glass adapters totally kill the character you're looking for. If you want a real hidden gem for under $150, look for a Tamron Adaptall-2 90mm f/2.5 Macro. It uses a swappable mount system so you get perfect infinity focus without any extra glass in the way. Its legendary for portraits and has that vintage feel. Another reliable pick is the Nikon Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 AI. You can usually snag the AI version within your budget if you hunt on eBay. It has such a smooth, classic look that newer lenses just cant replicate. If you want something wider, the Nikon Nikkor 28mm f/3.5 AI is super cheap, sharp, and built like a tank. Much better than struggling with adapters that wont focus right and ruin your image quality... good luck!
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20/02/2026 8:20 pm
In my experience, I tried an adapter for the one I got and unfortunately had focus issues. It was sooo disappointing... Honestly, I'd ask a pro first to stay safe?
