Infinity focus with 4/3 to m4/3 adapter

I did a search on this and didn't find any answers.

I just sold a good Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 lens because of how difficult it was to use in astrophotography (mainly no distance scale). Now that I have an Olympus 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 with 4/3 to m4/3 adapter (MMF-3), i cannot get any sharp images, day or night at infinity focus. when focusing about 5 feet at my dog, he comes in very sharp. I'm using a full spectrum Olympus e-pl6. is this lens too far away from the sensor for infinity focus?

darrinlingle wrote:

I did a search on this and didn't find any answers.

I just sold a good Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 lens because of how difficult it was to use in astrophotography (mainly no distance scale). Now that I have an Olympus 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 with 4/3 to m4/3 adapter (MMF-3), i cannot get any sharp images, day or night at infinity focus. when focusing about 5 feet at my dog, he comes in very sharp. I'm using a full spectrum Olympus e-pl6. is this lens too far away from the sensor for infinity focus?

The distance markings are approximate and it will focus beyond infinity (on FTs cameras as well).  It has mechanically linked focus, so you can correct focus in any focus mode.  It is true of many (most?) modern lenses.  One reason often given is to allow expansion/contraction with temperature changes and still allow infinity focus.

drj3 wrote:

darrinlingle wrote:

I did a search on this and didn't find any answers.

I just sold a good Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 lens because of how difficult it was to use in astrophotography (mainly no distance scale). Now that I have an Olympus 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 with 4/3 to m4/3 adapter (MMF-3), i cannot get any sharp images, day or night at infinity focus. when focusing about 5 feet at my dog, he comes in very sharp. I'm using a full spectrum Olympus e-pl6. is this lens too far away from the sensor for infinity focus?

The distance markings are approximate and it will focus beyond infinity (on FTs cameras as well). It has mechanically linked focus, so you can correct focus in any focus mode. It is true of many (most?) modern lenses. One reason often given is to allow expansion/contraction with temperature changes and still allow infinity focus.

i tried focusing, with manual focus magnification (setting) on. the best image i could get was when the focus ring was maxed out past infinity. i tried the whole range and anything far away (over about 30 feet) looked very blurry in the camera. i then put the files on the computer. the 5ft distance photos looked very very sharp. the best long distance subject looked terrible. a long time ago i heard that some brand lenses won't focus to infinity using an adapter because the lens is too far from the sensor. is that what i'm running into or am i way off?

Darrin, this sounds like the adapter is too thick to me.

Is it a generic adapter? Or a genuine OEM MMF-3?

JaKing wrote:

Darrin, this sounds like the adapter is too thick to me.

Is it a generic adapter? Or a genuine OEM MMF-3?

no, it's a genuine MMF-3 and was not cheap.

Does the MMF-3 + 12-60 work OK on your Panasonic body?

If it does, maybe the conversion done to your Olympus body is the problem.

If you have the same problem with your Panasonic body, chances are very high that there is something very wrong with your MMF-3.

Do you have the same problem with your f/2 50?

If not, there is something wrong with your 12-60.

Skeeterbytes wrote:

I'm using a full spectrum Olympus e-pl6.

Can you expand? Has the camera been modified e.g., IR filter removed? If so, I will speculate that the relevant wavelengths are resolving past infinity--beyond the sensor surface and the lens can't overshoot infinity sufficiently to compensate (even if AF lenses typically do so).

I can vouch for zero issues with the 12-60+MMF3 on any of my m4/3 cameras.

Good luck!

Rick

yes. it takes great sharp IR images with my epl6, previous lumix 12-32 kit lens, and previous 12-35 f/2.8 lens, all at infinity.

there's some good suggestions about testing the 12-60 my my other lenses and bodies. since the problem is at infinity, i'll wait until the day time tomorrow and test different combinations.

also, i don't think it matters, but i also had my alpha-H filter on. i don't think it matters because the close pictures look great with this filter on.

converted from raw with no sharpening, online color balance

converted from raw, the best manual focus shot i could take - past infinity, no sharpening, color balanced

Skeeterbytes wrote:

I'm using a full spectrum Olympus e-pl6.

Can you expand? Has the camera been modified e.g., IR filter removed? If so, I will speculate that the relevant wavelengths are resolving past infinity--beyond the sensor surface and the lens can't overshoot infinity sufficiently to compensate (even if AF lenses typically do so).

I can vouch for zero issues with the 12-60+MMF3 on any of my m4/3 cameras.

Good luck!

Rick

i just tested the 12-60 with mmf3 on my gx8 and it works great. it didn't even have to go past the infinity mark to focus on infinity.

i then tested the 50 f/2 with the mmf3 on the e-pl6 and i focused to infinity fine. i tried the 12-60 f/2.8-4.0 with the mmf3 in auto and manual and it would not focus clearly. it got closer and closer to sharp as i went past the infinity mark. i think if i could focus a little more past the infinity mark, it would be in focus.

either this lens-camera combo with or without the full spectrum doesn't work.

I use the MM3 with the 12-60 on both the E-M1 and E-M10 with no focus problems at any distance.

drj3 wrote:

I use the MM3 with the 12-60 on both the E-M1 and E-M10 with no focus problems at any distance.

the e-m1 is an awesome camera. i kick myself for selling it. i'm saving up for an e-m1 II.

drj3 wrote:

I use the MM3 with the 12-60 on both the E-M1 and E-M10 with no focus problems at any distance.

here's an update on the lens.

it turns out the focus marker is different based on what focal length is set.

at 12mm, infinity show as 1.2 ft.

at 60mm, infinity shows as the infinity mark.