Picking a camera system is tricky because you never really know which camera is going to suit you best until you’ve used it in real life.
The SONY system for example, on paper it’s the best camera, no doubt, but in real life…I just don’t like using it. I find it too fiddly, and believe it or not, I think they’re too sharp for my needs as a wedding photographer.
The Canons however suit my hand shape the best, so I’ve stuck with them over the years.
In the past, if you committed to a camera system you were pretty much in it for life as lenses couldn’t be adapted to fit other bodies, but thanks to modern tech, those days are no more and you can take you favourite lens and stick it on another body and it still be useable (albeit often with some compromise).
If you’re a Canon EOS user and looking to experiment with lenses from different manufacturers or vintage glass, you’re in luck. There’s a broad range of lenses that can be adapted to fit the Canon EOS mount, thanks to a variety of lens adapters available on the market.
It’s worth noting that the ability to adapt a lens to a Canon EOS mount can depend on the specific model of your Canon EOS camera, whether it’s a DSLR using an EF or EF-S mount or a mirrorless camera using an RF mount. This post uses affiliate links, I earn a small commission if you click on something and make a purchase, it keeps the site running, so thank you.
Here are some examples of lenses, regardless of manufacturer or year made, that can be adapted to fit a Canon EOS mount:
- Nikon F-mount Lenses to Canon EOS adaptor: Nikon’s F-mount lenses, including their AI, non-AI, and AI-S lenses, can be used on Canon EOS cameras with an adapter. This gives Canon users access to a range of quality Nikkor lenses.
- Leica R-mount Lenses to Canon EOS adaptor: Renowned for their quality, Leica R-mount lenses can also be adapted to fit Canon EOS cameras.
- Olympus OM-mount Lenses to Canon EOS adaptor: The Olympus OM system has a range of high-quality lenses that can be adapted to Canon EOS cameras.
- Pentax K-mount Lenses to Canon EOS adaptor: Pentax K-mount lenses, including their range of SMC Pentax lenses, can be adapted to fit Canon EOS cameras.
- M42 (Screw Mount) Lenses to Canon EOS adaptor: This mount type was used by a range of manufacturers, including Zeiss, Pentax, and Yashica, so there are a wide variety of vintage lenses available that can be adapted to fit Canon EOS cameras.
- Contax/Yashica (C/Y) Lenses to Canon EOS adaptor: Lenses from the Contax RTS system and some from Yashica can be adapted to Canon EOS.
- Medium Format Lenses: With the right adapter, it’s also possible to use certain medium format lenses, such as Hasselblad V-mount lenses and Mamiya 645 lenses, on Canon EOS cameras.
Can’t see yours listed? Check out the Amazon shop to see if they have it in stock: Click here for lens adaptor shop
Please note that using an adapter might mean giving up some features like autofocus, or automatic aperture control, as not all adapters support these features. The functionality also heavily depends on the specific lens and camera model.
It’s recommended to research the specific lens you’re interested in, and the appropriate adapter, to understand what functionality will be retained and whether the lens can be adapted without modifications that might damage it or the camera.
Please remember to always handle lenses and adapters with care and consult an expert if you’re unsure about compatibility issues.
As a Canon EOS user, you have a wide array of vintage lenses to choose from that can be adapted to your camera.
Using vintage lenses can introduce you to new, creative possibilities, with unique bokeh, colour rendition, and image quality that differ from modern lenses.
Here are some examples of vintage lenses that can be adapted to the Canon EOS mount:
Helios 44-2 58mm F/2: This Soviet-era lens is famous for its unique swirly bokeh. It’s an M42 mount lens that can be adapted to Canon EOS cameras.
Asahi Super-Takumar 50mm F/1.4: Another M42 mount lens, this Japanese-made lens is renowned for its sharpness and contrast.
Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50mm F/2.8: This lens from East Germany, also known as “The Eagle’s Eye,” is well-regarded for its sharpness and contrast. It’s available in various mounts that can be adapted to Canon EOS.
Nikon Nikkor 105mm F/2.5: This F-mount lens was used by the famous photojournalist Steve McCurry for his iconic “Afghan Girl” portrait.
Leica Summicron-R 50mm F/2: This Leica R-mount lens offers great sharpness and pleasing bokeh.
Canon FD 85mm F/1.8: Canon’s own FD mount lenses from the manual focus era can be adapted to EOS cameras, but they generally require a glass element in the adapter to maintain infinity focus, which might impact image quality.
Olympus Zuiko 50mm F/1.4: From the Olympus OM system, this lens offers good performance in a compact size.
Pentax Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 35mm F/2: This K-mount lens offers excellent sharpness and contrast, with a pleasing rendering of out-of-focus areas.
Yashica ML 50mm F/1.7: A solid standard lens from the Contax/Yashica system, offering good sharpness and smooth bokeh.
Minolta Rokkor 58mm F/1.2: An outstanding lens from Minolta’s MD system, famous for its unique rendering and low-light capabilities.
As always, using an adapter might mean sacrificing some features like autofocus or automatic aperture control, as not all adapters support these features. It’s recommended to research the specific lens and appropriate adapter to understand what functionality will be retained.
Similar lenses to the Helios
If you’re looking for lenses similar to the Helios 44-2, with its distinctive swirly bokeh and characteristic vintage look, there are a few options you might want to consider. Here are a few of them:
- Helios 40-2 85mm f/1.5: This lens is often referred to as the “big brother” of the Helios 44-2. It shares the unique swirly bokeh and is great for portraits due to its longer focal length and larger aperture.
- Jupiter-9 85mm f/2: Another lens from the former Soviet Union, the Jupiter-9 also offers a beautiful bokeh and is well regarded for its portrait capabilities.
- Meyer-Optik Görlitz Primoplan 58mm f/1.9: This lens, from East Germany, is another vintage lens famed for its dreamy, creamy bokeh. It’s more expensive and harder to find than the Helios lenses but offers a unique rendering.
- Pentacon 50mm f/1.8: Also from East Germany, this lens is part of the Meyer-Optik Görlitz family and shares some of the bokeh characteristics of the Helios lenses.
- Petzval Lomography Art Lens: This lens is a modern reinterpretation of a vintage design and produces a very distinctive swirly bokeh. They come in different focal lengths (58mm, 85mm) and are produced with modern mounts, including Canon EF.
- Zenit TAIR-11A 135mm f/2.8: This lens is known for its “soap bubble” bokeh, which can give a unique effect similar to the Helios 44-2 but with a longer focal length.
Remember, these lenses will need an adapter to fit on your Canon EOS camera. Also, since most of these are vintage lenses, they might have variations in quality and performance, it’s highly unlikely you’ll find these anywhere in shops so eBay is your best bet.