Lens Turbo II Adapter with C mount and FD lenses can't focus at all on GH4

[IslandMan123]

Hey guys, long time reader first time poster.

I recently bought a GH4 and quite frankly can't stand the small sensor since I've gotten used to shooting with the 5D and RED the last several years. Anyways, I bought a Lens Turbo II Focal Reducer but unfortunately all of my favorite lenses are unable to focus with it.

The issues I think is that the Lens Turbo II adapter is a EF to M43 Adapter. But the lenses I'm using are the Canon FD 28-90 and the Navitar 18-180, neither is EF mount, so I have to use another adapter, So I'm going FD to EF and EF to M43. Doing the same for the Navitar lens, going C-mount to EF to M43.

With this combination neither of the lenses are able to focus at all. There is only at the very small space somewhere in the focal length where I am able to focus, but it is a very small depth of field and as I move in close or further away it goes.

Now I'm guessing the adapters combination is what is throwing everything off and causing the problem. Questions is, if so, is there anything I can do to fix this?

 

[Tom Caldwell]

Hey guys, long time reader first time poster.

I recently bought a GH4 and quite frankly can't stand the small sensor since I've gotten used to shooting with the 5D and RED the last several years. Anyways, I bought a Lens Turbo II Focal Reducer but unfortunately all of my favorite lenses are unable to focus with it.

The issues I think is that the Lens Turbo II adapter is a EF to M43 Adapter. But the lenses I'm using are the Canon FD 28-90 and the Navitar 18-180, neither is EF mount, so I have to use another adapter, So I'm going FD to EF and EF to M43. Doing the same for the Navitar lens, going C-mount to EF to M43.

With this combination neither of the lenses are able to focus at all. There is only at the very small space somewhere in the focal length where I am able to focus, but it is a very small depth of field and as I move in close or further away it goes.

Now I'm guessing the adapters combination is what is throwing everything off and causing the problem. Questions is, if so, is there anything I can do to fix this?

I have used many focal reduction adapters and they generally work well, but the ones I have used have not been double banked. Some others have done this and they can probably answer your query better.

I do have a FD to EOS adapter and it requires a lens to operate properly - this one has a lens but I have never been particularly happy with its results - and this is without the added complication of a focal reduction adapter thrown in to the mix. I have never tried a C to EF adapter.

I have found the Metabones EF to M4/3 electronic adapters work well and give good accurate usefully quick AF for EF lenses. Neil Holmes also reports that the Kipon EF to M4/3 adapters are satisfying his needs.

I only have Lens Turbo adapters (MkI) for FD to Sony E/FE lenses and they work fine except that FL aperture rods need to be modified so that these lenses can properly mount.

 

[IslandMan123]

This is what I got somewhere else. The FD-EF adapter that I have, does not have a glass/lens element in it, which is why it might not be working.

Maybe I will try and see if with an adapter with glass element on it it might work.

 

[Tom Caldwell]

This is what I got somewhere else. The FD-EF adapter that I have, does not have a glass/lens element in it, which is why it might not be working.
Maybe I will try and see if with an adapter with glass element on it it might work.

The one I have is branded "Zykkor Canon (AF)/FD Made in Japan" - seems well enough made and has a single internal lens.

 

[IslandMan123]

The combination works, just got and FD to EF adapter with the glass element and it works. Everything focuses. Not sure how the image is effected. I will do some tests tomorrow and see what it turns out.

 

[ProfHankD]

The combination works, just got and FD to EF adapter with the glass element and it works. Everything focuses. Not sure how the image is effected. I will do some tests tomorrow and see what it turns out.

It is affected badly, as far as IQ is concerned.

This is all about rear focus (sometimes called flange distance). C mount lenses have a very short rear focus, and there's no room for a focal reducer behind them even on the shortest mirrorless. FD is also quite short, but can be used on most mirrorless with/without a focal reducer. Neither C nor FD will work on an EF mount, because that's longer -- and for the same reason they will not work stuck on mirrorless via an adapter to an EF adapter or EF focal reducer either. All the "non-working" combos will only give you extreme macro focusing, not focus to infinity.

The glass converter for FD to EF is basically a low-magnification teleconverter, which increases focal length a bit (also adding various aberrations) and thus also increases rear focus. It's usually around 1.2X. Yes, that can be undone (and more) on a mirrorless using a typical 0.72x focal reducer, but the 1.2X magnification is only hurting you... don't do it. Basically, although people seem to think that Canon EF mount is a good "universal" mount, it can't take lenses in most other mounts. EF can use M42 or Nikon F lenses with a glassless adapter, but not C, Canon FL/FD/FDn, Minolta AF nor SR/MC/MD, Leica M39, etc. BTW, the PL mount often seen on RED bodies has even longer rear focus, which prevents use of EF lenses (and all that were too short rear focus for EF).

If you want a FF body that can shoot good video with just about any potentially viable lens ever made, you should get one of the Sony A7 series models....