Canon lens to Nikon camera adapter

Canon EF lens to Nikon F camera mount adapter

Canon and Nikon are the most known digital camera brands nowadays, and many people want to try Canon lenses on a Nikon body.

Unfortunately, this is impossible. Here are the main reasons:

Different mounts

This is quite obvious, but still forth mentioning. Canon and Nikon mounts are physically different - different diameters, different lugs size and positions, different electrical contacts.

Flange focal distance

The FFD of Canon EF is 44.00mm, while FFD of Nikon F is 46.50mm.

This means that a Canon lens flange should be recessed by 2.5mm info the Nikon camera body to reach infinity focus.

This is physically impossible.

Optical correction

Would it be possible to add an optical element between the Canon lens and Nikon camera to compensate for the FFD difference?

Yes, of course. But you will get other problems - reduced resolution and contrast, geometrical aberrations, and overall image quality degradation in the result.

Modern lenses are carefully designed to work in strictly specified conditions like sensor size and flange focal distance. You just cannot add an extra optical element without ruining the lens' purposed performance.

Electronic controls

Let's assume that you don't need infinity focus, and want a macro setup. Will the adapter be possible then?

You can make an adapter that just physically connects the lens and camera body, and shoot close objects from 10-20cm distance.

But without electronics interaction, you will not be able to use image stabilization, autofocus and control the lens aperture value.

Is it possible to make an adapter that will control a Canon lens from the Nikon body? Yes. But why? If the lens can be used for close-ups only, it has a very limited market, and it is economically pointless to invent and manufacture such electronics.

Aperture control

It is possible to at least control the aperture value of the EF lens? Yes, but this is quite inconvenient.

The aperture is set electronically, so the only way of using the lens' iris without electronic contacts is to set the aperture on a Canon DSLR, press the stop down button and remove the lens without switching the camera off or releasing the stop down button.  Put it back on the DSLR to change the aperture and repeat.

Conclusion

While a Canon lens to Nikon camera adapter is theoretically possible, it will be expensive, with limited functionality, and low image quality.

That is why no one makes such an adapter yet, and will never do, most probably.

It is much more simple and beneficial to invest in lenses specifically designed for your camera brand.