Issues with K&F Pro adapter

[wastedimages]

I wanted an E mount -> M42 adapter for an Zeiss lens that arrived this week. As I think this lens will see a fair bit of use I thought Id step up to a nicer K&F Pro adapter. Turns out that wasn't such a good idea.
At first I thought my issue was because I was using 2 adapters, a Neewer Z->E and then this adapter for the E->M42 part as the lens wouldn't line up correctly.



As you can see, not alot of use to anyone!
After hunting around, I managed to find a cheap old fotodiox E->M42 adapter which reassured me that it wasn't me, I had connected everything up correctly and the adapter should work.



I am beginning to doubt K&F's QC as there is a discussion elsewhere where the edge smearing on adapted wide angle lenses is worse for K&F than other brands. Just throwing this out there as I usually buy K&F and was wondering have others had issues with them?

 

[SterlingBjorndahl]

Just throwing this out there as I usually buy K&F and was wondering have others had issues with them?

I would say they work 99% of the time, but I've had two issues:

1. Gaps in the release mechanism can leak light. For adapters that have a lever or button to release the lens, if the sun is coming from just the right angle, light can leak in through the small hole. A surprising amount of light. Ruins the shot, flares like mad. One needs to shade the side of the lens as well as the front element, and I don't have that many extra hands.

2. The Pentax 6x7 to Fuji GFX adapter - the original version had the lens release button not shaped/positioned to work with the "external bayonet" mount (breech lock-style); when one tightened the breech lock ring it depressed the lens release button just enough to make the mount unstable. I was lucky and nothing hit the floor. They clearly only tested their adapter with the more common "internal bayonet" mount, not with the larger lenses.

Other than that, though, I've found their price vs. performance ratio to be one of the best.

Regards,
Sterling
--
Lens Grit

 

[Heritage Cameras]

I wanted an E mount -> M42 adapter for an Zeiss lens that arrived this week. As I think this lens will see a fair bit of use I thought Id step up to a nicer K&F Pro adapter. Turns out that wasn't such a good idea.
At first I thought my issue was because I was using 2 adapters, a Neewer Z->E and then this adapter for the E->M42 part as the lens wouldn't line up correctly.

Is the problem that the lens scales are underneath? If so, just slacken the grub screws or hex bolts visible around the edge of the front mount of the adapter, rotate the lens until the scales are on top, then tighten the screws/bolts.

--
Dave, HCL

 

[wastedimages]

I wanted an E mount -> M42 adapter for an Zeiss lens that arrived this week. As I think this lens will see a fair bit of use I thought Id step up to a nicer K&F Pro adapter. Turns out that wasn't such a good idea.
At first I thought my issue was because I was using 2 adapters, a Neewer Z->E and then this adapter for the E->M42 part as the lens wouldn't line up correctly.

Is the problem that the lens scales are underneath? If so, just slacken the grub screws or hex bolts visible around the edge of the front mount of the adapter, rotate the lens until the scales are on top, then tighten the screws/bolts.

Thank you, I will try this and see how I get on. Im generally wary of taking anything apart as I don't have a great track record, but if it is as simple as you say then I will do it.

 

[Heritage Cameras]

Is the problem that the lens scales are underneath? If so, just slacken the grub screws or hex bolts visible around the edge of the front mount of the adapter, rotate the lens until the scales are on top, then tighten the screws/bolts.

Thank you, I will try this and see how I get on. Im generally wary of taking anything apart as I don't have a great track record, but if it is as simple as you say then I will do it.

These are the ones you need to loosen (not remove) and there's probably at least one more on the other side:



--
Dave, HCL

 

[sensiblename99]

SterlingBjorndahl wrote:...

1. Gaps in the release mechanism can leak light. For adapters that have a lever or button to release the lens, if the sun is coming from just the right angle, light can leak in through the small hole. A surprising amount of light. Ruins the shot, flares like mad. One needs to shade the side of the lens as well as the front element, and I don't have that many extra hands.

...

This is true of virtually any adapter which has a release mechanism of some kind, regardless of how much it cost. These light leaks vary quite a lot but yes, some adapters are certainly better than others. This is most noticeable with ND filters where any light leaks becomes more significant than the light coming from the front element of the lens itself. Very long exposures, using ND filters, benefit from a dark cloth draped over the adapter.

I think that the black non-reflecting surfaces inside the adapters are a bigger problem because they are more likely to have a noticeable effect. Poor internal reflection control has the effect of reducing contrast and sometimes even a weird flare effect from the upper (or brightest) corners of the frame. The K&F Gen1 adapter for Leica R to Sony is particularly bad in this respect. See the difference (upper corners of the frame) between the two adapters, using otherwise equal settings and lens. This shows up in normal shooting, you don't have to create a 'test' to show this effect with the Gen1 Leica R to Sony adapter.







The above image was shot with an R80 which has a largish image circle but I got the same with an R50Cron. I didn't see this effect with some other Leica R lenses, presumably with smaller image circles so less internal reflection.

Incidentally, the earlier K&F Concept Leica R to Sony Gen1 adapter (I have one from 2016) is mechanically quite nice whilst a second copy of the same (Gen1) adapter purchased last year is clearly slightly different and fits poorly in comparison to the older adapter. If I could be bothered I would have sent it back for a refund. It might be made by a different company but it is certainly a slightly different design.

I have Gen II/III adapters from K&F Concept and they are much better than the Gen1 versions. No complaints about them.

 

[SimonOL]

SterlingBjorndahl wrote:...

1. Gaps in the release mechanism can leak light. For adapters that have a lever or button to release the lens, if the sun is coming from just the right angle, light can leak in through the small hole. A surprising amount of light. Ruins the shot, flares like mad. One needs to shade the side of the lens as well as the front element, and I don't have that many extra hands.

...

This is true of virtually any adapter which has a release mechanism of some kind, regardless of how much it cost. These light leaks vary quite a lot but yes, some adapters are certainly better than others. This is most noticeable with ND filters where any light leaks becomes more significant than the light coming from the front element of the lens itself. Very long exposures, using ND filters, benefit from a dark cloth draped over the adapter.

I think that the black non-reflecting surfaces inside the adapters are a bigger problem because they are more likely to have a noticeable effect. Poor internal reflection control has the effect of reducing contrast and sometimes even a weird flare effect from the upper (or brightest) corners of the frame. The K&F Gen1 adapter for Leica R to Sony is particularly bad in this respect. See the difference (upper corners of the frame) between the two adapters, using otherwise equal settings and lens. This shows up in normal shooting, you don't have to create a 'test' to show this effect with the Gen1 Leica R to Sony adapter.





The above image was shot with an R80 which has a largish image circle but I got the same with an R50Cron. I didn't see this effect with some other Leica R lenses, presumably with smaller image circles so less internal reflection.

Incidentally, the earlier K&F Concept Leica R to Sony Gen1 adapter (I have one from 2016) is mechanically quite nice whilst a second copy of the same (Gen1) adapter purchased last year is clearly slightly different and fits poorly in comparison to the older adapter. If I could be bothered I would have sent it back for a refund. It might be made by a different company but it is certainly a slightly different design.

I have Gen II/III adapters from K&F Concept and they are much better than the Gen1 versions. No complaints about them.

I never noticed this problem with internal reflections until I shot a Konca 85mm f1.8 in bright sunny conditions with an A7ii, having used the same combo on an apsc-sized sensor without issues, the effected areas being outside the apsc sensor area. In this case, the adapter wasn't K&F brand but had a similarly shiny interior. As the adapter was relatively cheap, I thought I'd try painting the interior with some very generic (and also very cheap) water-based matt black paint. Problem solved.

I still have the same small pot of matt black paint which I've used on every Gen1 K&F adapter that I own (not sure how many, but it's quite a few!) and haven't had any issue with internal reflections since. The paint hasn't flaked-off and, years later, still looks as good as it did on day one. I remove the mount and any release mechanism before painting but it's still a quick and easy solution.

 

[wastedimages]

Is the problem that the lens scales are underneath? If so, just slacken the grub screws or hex bolts visible around the edge of the front mount of the adapter, rotate the lens until the scales are on top, then tighten the screws/bolts.

Thank you, I will try this and see how I get on. Im generally wary of taking anything apart as I don't have a great track record, but if it is as simple as you say then I will do it.

These are the ones you need to loosen (not remove) and there's probably at least one more on the other side:

Thank you - that worked a treat!

 

[Tom Caldwell]

This is a firm that sells better than average adapters. When one arrived with a faulty flange focus distance and I complained they refunded my full price immediately with no further ado.

Try "talking" to them.

 

[Rod McD]

Hi,

I see that Dave at HCL has resolved the orientation issue. I've posted to add a note of positivity about K&F adapters. I've got several and have had no issues at all. I regard them as a very reliable adapter. My only observation is that they are somewhat heavy compared to some alternative brands, which won't matter to everyone.

Cheers, Rod

 

[SimonOL]

Hi,

I see that Dave at HCL has resolved the orientation issue. I've posted to add a note of positivity about K&F adapters. I've got several and have had no issues at all. I regard them as a very reliable adapter. My only observation is that they are somewhat heavy compared to some alternative brands, which won't matter to everyone.

Cheers, Rod

I agree - they're my go-to adapter. They seem well made, fit securely and are nicely finished especially for the money.

The internal reflection 'issue' only seems to effect a small minority of lenses but it's annoying when it does happen so I decided to spend a small amount of time on each of them to matt the interior.

The most recent standard (not Pro) K&F adapter I bought already had a matt interior so maybe they've updated their design? That would be good to confirm.

Their Pro adapters have always had matt interiors. Not sure what other differences there are between their pro and standard adapters beyond the cosmetic.

 

[Tom Caldwell]

Hi,

I see that Dave at HCL has resolved the orientation issue. I've posted to add a note of positivity about K&F adapters. I've got several and have had no issues at all. I regard them as a very reliable adapter. My only observation is that they are somewhat heavy compared to some alternative brands, which won't matter to everyone.

Cheers, Rod

I agree - they're my go-to adapter. They seem well made, fit securely and are nicely finished especially for the money.

The internal reflection 'issue' only seems to effect a small minority of lenses but it's annoying when it does happen so I decided to spend a small amount of time on each of them to matt the interior.

The most recent standard (not Pro) K&F adapter I bought already had a matt interior so maybe they've updated their design? That would be good to confirm.

Their Pro adapters have always had matt interiors. Not sure what other differences there are between their pro and standard adapters beyond the cosmetic.

I have it in my head that they are a reseller with made to jobbing order stock that they design. They might use different manufacturers but I agree that they are a good middle of the road brand - a little more expensive than some. But some of their "manufacturers" QC systems might be better than others.

As noted - I have had some great product from them and one dud LTM- M4/3 adapter which they refunded in full no questions asked when I complained.