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Contax G adapter

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fermy

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Lens acquisition bug bit me again and I've bought Contax G Sonnar. But now the adapter question rears it's ugly head.

From what I've seen the only decent adapter is metabones one (the one with a big focusing ring). But I don't see it cheaper than $125 and I definitely do not want to pay for the adapter more than I payed for the lens.

Then I see that poorer jinfinance adapter are whooping $50. On the web they look like ergonomic nightmare with small sharp focusing ring.

So hit me with some more info. What Contax G adapters are you using , how happy are you with that adapter, and, where did you buy the adapter in case it was cheaper than I've found?
 
Contax G is one adapter where you don't want to skimp on quality because it has precision moving parts. The cheap adapter can very easily get stuck on your lens and still not work, which means you have a $300 paperweight. $125 is about the going rate for Contax G adapters, whether it's the Metabones, the Kipon, or the Monza adapters. I don't have one, but I've read good and bad reviews about all of them, so be an informed shopper and do your research.
 
That's right, I don't want to skimp on quality, but putting $125 on a piece of metal machined somewhere in a barn in China seems like madness to me. I'm sure you realize that none of these adapters really has any precision mechanics inside and none of them really is quality as in German quality or Zeiss quality . That's why I am looking for a cheaper solution, but of course I don't want to buy a headache instead.
 
fermy said:
That's right, I don't want to skimp on quality, but putting $125 on a piece of metal machined somewhere in a barn in China seems like madness to me. I'm sure you realize that none of these adapters really has any precision mechanics inside and none of them really is quality as in German quality or Zeiss quality . That's why I am looking for a cheaper solution, but of course I don't want to buy a headache instead.
Click to expand...
So you want precision quality but you don't want to pay more than 50 bucks for it?
Dream on..
 
fermy said:
That's right, I don't want to skimp on quality, but putting $125 on a piece of metal machined somewhere in a barn in China seems like madness to me. I'm sure you realize that none of these adapters really has any precision mechanics inside and none of them really is quality as in German quality or Zeiss quality . That's why I am looking for a cheaper solution, but of course I don't want to buy a headache instead.
Click to expand...
$125 IS the cheap solution. You're looking at a relatively complex mechanical adapter here with a fair amount of moving parts unlike the simple machined tube adapters you're used to. The precision German/Japanese solution would cost you upwards of $300, and there isn't one out there that I know of! The Metabones and Kipon adapters are as close as you're going to get to precision Chinese manufacturing - they're actually very nicely built, and a clear cut above the other cheap adapters out there. It's your call.
 
klauspauk said:
fermy wrote:

That's right, I don't want to skimp on quality, but putting $125 on a piece of metal machined somewhere in a barn in China seems like madness to me.
Click to expand...
Funny, what seems like madness to me is buying a lens for which you feel no suitable adapter exists, and then complaining about it.

Buy a cheap one, which won't work well, or an expensive one, which will. Or buy none, and don't use your lens. Contax-G lenses are pretty, they make nice desk toys.

Pretty simple set of choices.
 
klauspauk said:
fermy said:
That's right, I don't want to skimp on quality, but putting $125 on a piece of metal machined somewhere in a barn in China seems like madness to me. I'm sure you realize that none of these adapters really has any precision mechanics inside and none of them really is quality as in German quality or Zeiss quality . That's why I am looking for a cheaper solution, but of course I don't want to buy a headache instead.
Click to expand...
So you want precision quality but you don't want to pay more than 50 bucks for it?
Dream on..
Click to expand...
No need to dream!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Contax-CY-C-Y-Yachica-Lens-Micro-M-4-3-M43-Adapter-/330447724426?pt=Lens_Accessories&hash=item4cf0381f8a Contax C/Y for under $30

http://cgi.ebay.com/Contax-G-Lens-Micro-4-3-Mount-adapter-GF1-GH1-E-P1-/320496112281?pt=Lens_Accessories&hash=item4a9f0e9299#ht_1388wt_1032 Contax G $63

All supreme quality!!!

See here for for more: http://shop.ebay.com/rainbowimaging/m.html?_nkw=micro+4%2F3&_trkparms=65%253A12%257C66%253A2%257C39%253A1%257C72%253A4083&rt=nc&_ipg=200&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14.l1514
 
seems like a weird post, but here goes …

i have both the jinfinance and metabones adapter.

jinfinance has a small focus ring
metabones has much easier focus ring

jinfinance is easy to get on and off the lens
metabones is incredibly difficult

build quality is just about the same, maybe jinfinance seems more solid.
 
I am not complaining, I knew full well the situation before buying the lens. I just want to set the record straight so that we don't have illusions about the subject. All of these are cheap and primitive hacks (maybe with exception of monza adapter, but it seems like it didn't live up to the expectations). I could be wrong). This does not mean that all of these hacks are the same quality/performance wise. These are the differences that I actually want to find out.

I know there are quite a few people here who tried many of the adapters on the market. I'd be very much interested what in their opinion is currently the best option taking into account the pricing difference.
 
smoglab said:
seems like a weird post, but here goes …

i have both the jinfinance and metabones adapter.

jinfinance has a small focus ring
Click to expand...
Is this jinfinance adapter?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Contax-G-Lens-Olympus-Pen-EP1-EP2-EPL1-E-P2-Adapter-/330438938203?pt=Lens_Accessories&hash=item4cefb20e5b
smoglab said:
metabones has much easier focus ring

jinfinance is easy to get on and off the lens
metabones is incredibly difficult

build quality is just about the same, maybe jinfinance seems more solid.
Click to expand...
Is metabones adapter significantly quicker to focus? Which one do you prefer? Is metabones 2x better in your opinion (I know that sounds incredibly stupid, but I don't know how to word it better)?
 
Tesselator, do you use specifically their Contax G adapter? I am asking because, other adapters are indeed just extension tubes, this one has to drive focus screw, so it's easy to screw up the construction.
 
fermy said:
Tesselator, do you use specifically their Contax G adapter? I am asking because, other adapters are indeed just extension tubes, this one has to drive focus screw, so it's easy to screw up the construction.
Click to expand...
First, you found a cheaper listing for the Rainbow Imaging distribution. Cool! Jin and Rainbow buy from the same manufacturers so it's probably the identical part made by the same company. Occasionally Jin or Rainbow will have something different from one another though.

Second, yes, I own and have used that adaptor. It's perfect. :)
 
Shameless bump. People please share your experience and your thoughts.
 
Just cutting and pasting what I wrote a few days ago on another forum:

"I bought three different ones, just to find out which one I like best - they all work but none of them is perfect. Don't expect Leica- like smoothness when focusing. The Metabones and the Monza adapter (a small series by Robert 'Monza' over on another forum) have the best build quality but different designs. I prefer the Metabones one with the outer ring for focusing, but after playing with it for a while one could easily get used to the one with the smaller focusing wheel also. The Lenswerk adapter (through ebay) also has an outer ring but is not as solid as the metabones one - but much lighter, which is not a bad thing either. It really comes down to preference, I think all three are workable. I decided to keep the Metabones even though it is quite heavy, and I will sell one or both of the other ones."

For me, the Metabones adapter worked best with my XL hands. I haven't tried any of the Kipon adapters which seem to get the same mixed reviews as all the other ones.

Stefan
 
Thanks for the report, apicius9.

I actually read quite carefully the whole thread on GetDPI. I was quite interested in Lensworks adapter as it is quite a bit cheaper ATM (I see for $80), until someone posted the disassembly photo. Then it became apparent that gearing on that adapter is done improperly.

What I cannot figure out from that discussion is

a) whether metabones adapter has smoother focusing action (which might indicate that gearing is done right on metabones) than lensworks, or the preference to this adapter stems from the fact that focusing ring is wider

b) People are reporting that metabones are difficult to put on/off. Is it due to the people unfamiliarity with Contax G lenses adapter construction or failed quality control (screwed up dimensions) on metabones. Btw, do you use metabones with Sonnar?

Could you expand a bit on these issues?
 
I tried 3 different sellers adapters. Metabones is the most solid and heavy one. I had a hard time putting it. I ended up with lens not locking 100% so it falls easily. I have to check more to see if I can lock it fully before I can use it in the field.

Jinfinance is easier to change it but I think it kills your fingers for focus. I have the $50 one, looks like the old version although he was saying the new one in his post. Also his latest l39 adapter was 90 degree off too. He used to sell it cheap but at current prices I think I would go for metabones or maybe kipon to try.

Third seller was she-in. The quality of the adapter is not comparable to metabones but it has the same method of focusing and much easier to take it on and off. Focusing is ok so far. I don't know how long it might last but that is the best one that I used. I bought it for $109. Now it is selling for $500 which is too much. Maybe they ran out of production. Otherwise I could have order a couple more.
--
Serhan
http://www.pbase.com/sc_20170/

 
In terms of smoothness, I think the Metabones and the Monza adapter are comparable. As I said, both focus good and smooth enough even for fine sharpness, but both are rougher than a regular lens focus ring. As for the mounting, I am not sure. I was unfamiliar with the G lenses and had a hard time at the beginning. Once somebody explained the issue to me, I found it easy enough to take any of the adapetrs on and off, again with the two mentioned ones being the easiest. Maybe there are quality control issues, or maybe it is the unfamiliarity with these lenses, I don't know. I kept the 45mm and the 90mm and I am thinking about keeping the Metabones one permanently on the 45 and the Lenswerk on the 90 (I use that one less often), and selling off the Monza adapter. Not that it is bad in any way, just more consistent to keep two with the same mechanism.

Stefan
 
As with many things, your mileage may vary.

I found the quality on metabones questionable. I removed the word "build" since it went beyond it. It took me about five hours to finally get my 35mm lens on. I am not kidding. Check some of the other fora and you will find this is not unusual. There are no instructions included even though, once you write him and complain, he will send you a link to some. Just ask for them from the start.

The problem seems to be in the dimensions of certain lenses. There is a tab on the adapter that has to fit into a slot on a lens to work. Some lenses accept it readily (my 90, 45), others do not (my 35 which requires more force to lock on than anything I have ever had to do on a camera).

That adapte posted was NOT the jinfinance adapter as I know it. It looks similar, but certainly not the one I have which is black. Given the color difference I would expect it is a different unit, perhaps inferior quality

I guess I prefer the way that the metabones focusses, but I am not sure I would buy it again given the frustration. I still expect my lens to fall off my camera at any time given the faulty tab locking mechanism.
 
Get a Kipon last version.

Very easy to get the lens on and off, unlike some of the the complaints on the Metabone. Focusing is smooth enough, although there might be a very small play in focusing when switching direction due to the lens design. Only disadvantage I can think of is the focusing ring is rather close to the body, but it's not a problem after getting used to it.
 
Thanks to all who contributed. I went for the champaign rainbow adapter (the one that I posted above), pretty much the cheapest one available. Got it today, shoot with it for about 2h non-stop. Here's a brief user report.

1) It matches the color of silver Contax G lenses very well. You wouldn't tell that the lens and adapter are 2 different pieces.

2) Get's on and off reasonably easily provided you know what you are doing. No instructions are provided with the adapter.

3) There is no play between lens and adapter.

4) Focusing is not smooth and does not compare to the real focus ring, but much better than I expected. I didn't have any trouble nailing the focus quickly. It helps that the lens is sharp. I even managed a couple of semi-action shots.

Overall, pretty happy, the lens is very usable with this adapter, the adapter costs $75 less than metabones and kipon. At $10-20 difference I would still consider the big ring adapters, but at $75 it just does not make sense IMO.

Some shots from today:

Flower & plant









Portrait





Scenery





Sort of action shot ( I think @ f4)



 
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