Lens adapters and image quality

[lattesweden]

I wouldn't recommend it, a lot of black paints reflect a surprising amount of light and I'd be concerned about off-gassing damaging lens coatings. You can get the correct flocking materials from the likes of Edmund Optics or Thor Labs for about $30.

Use Acrylic paints in both the primer and the black matt paint and you don't get gasing. The primer needs to be for metal and you need to prep the surface. I use to build model railroad brass models and learned that there.

 

[isks]

One other problem I found with a cheap C/Y -> Fuji X adapter was that it had a light leak (due to the unlocking button on the C/Y end).

That resulted in low contrast images; I didn’t find the cause of it until I tried to take some some long-exposure pics and the image was clearly affected from one side.

 

[JimKasson]

an alternative would be to try Wine in a Linux distro.
By no means perfect, but it works pretty well on quite a variety of Win stuff.
Mint should be fine.
The beauty of this is you can experiment on a USB drive without disturbing anything.
If it works, you can just store the stick with the cam.

Thanks, but I'm selling the Linhof and the Betterlight in favor of an Actus.

 

[Joe_Taylor]

Yes! That's a big YES on the adapters with tolerances so tight that they grind the metals and those flakes get loose and find their way onto the sensor. I have the Metabones Canon EF to Sony and I cringe every time I change a lens and hear and feel and eventually find my images spotted with tiny metal shavings.

 

[Phil Photo]

Yes! That's a big YES on the adapters with tolerances so tight that they grind the metals and those flakes get loose and find their way onto the sensor. I have the Metabones Canon EF to Sony and I cringe every time I change a lens and hear and feel and eventually find my images spotted with tiny metal shavings.

So...it's between the adaptor and the lens, right?

so if you buy 1 adapter per lens, you're fine, sounds like?

 

[lattesweden]

Yes! That's a big YES on the adapters with tolerances so tight that they grind the metals and those flakes get loose and find their way onto the sensor. I have the Metabones Canon EF to Sony and I cringe every time I change a lens and hear and feel and eventually find my images spotted with tiny metal shavings.

So...it's between the adaptor and the lens, right?

so if you buy 1 adapter per lens, you're fine, sounds like?

Yes. That is how I use my Metabones nowadays. The tripod foot is rather nice with an Arca Swiss clamp base, so one thing they got right. And if I need that on a long lens I use the Metabones as a one lens adapter, blow the tube clean and then leave it there.

 

[lattesweden]

Yes! That's a big YES on the adapters with tolerances so tight that they grind the metals and those flakes get loose and find their way onto the sensor. I have the Metabones Canon EF to Sony and I cringe every time I change a lens and hear and feel and eventually find my images spotted with tiny metal shavings.

Is this a problem with just one (older) type of Metabones EF adapters or are they all like this still?

 

[lattesweden]

One other problem I found with a cheap C/Y -> Fuji X adapter was that it had a light leak (due to the unlocking button on the C/Y end).

That resulted in low contrast images; I didn’t find the cause of it until I tried to take some some long-exposure pics and the image was clearly affected from one side.

Yes, that is a known problem for several adapters with a release button on. Especially the cheaper ones. Sometimes one can fix it by adding some light shield construction on the inside (or around the button pin on the outside), everything from flocking, tape, small o-ring on the pin etc.

 

[captura]

Yes! That's a big YES on the adapters with tolerances so tight that they grind the metals and those flakes get loose and find their way onto the sensor. I have the Metabones Canon EF to Sony and I cringe every time I change a lens and hear and feel and eventually find my images spotted with tiny metal shavings.

Is this a problem with just one (older) type of Metabones EF adapters or are they all like this still?

Metabones IV updated, or Metabones V seem to handle all the Canon EF and EFS lenses that I have tried, so far.

 

[captura]

Yes! That's a big YES on the adapters with tolerances so tight that they grind the metals and those flakes get loose and find their way onto the sensor. I have the Metabones Canon EF to Sony and I cringe every time I change a lens and hear and feel and eventually find my images spotted with tiny metal shavings.

My Metabones IV was a bit tight so I rubbed some nose oil on to the mount and that worked just fine. An old trick from the M43 forum.

 

[NancyP]

May I add "fit"? I don't have any issues with M42 lens to Canon EF adapters - simple to mill, even the cheapest ones fit reasonably. I have about 4 of them from different vendors - 3 of 4 are great, the 4th is tight, but at USD6.00, I expect variation and pitch the unsatisfactory one. Nikon F lens to Canon EF adapters: adapter #1 turned out to fit the EF end securely, but there was *wobble* in the F end; adapter #2 fit well at both ends. Adapter #2 had an extra leaf spring in it for the F incoming bayonet. (#1 Fotodiox less expensive; #2 Fotodiox more expensive).

 

[JimKasson]

May I add "fit"? I don't have any issues with M42 lens to Canon EF adapters - simple to mill, even the cheapest ones fit reasonably. I have about 4 of them from different vendors - 3 of 4 are great, the 4th is tight, but at USD6.00, I expect variation and pitch the unsatisfactory one. Nikon F lens to Canon EF adapters: adapter #1 turned out to fit the EF end securely, but there was *wobble* in the F end; adapter #2 fit well at both ends. Adapter #2 had an extra leaf spring in it for the F incoming bayonet. (#1 Fotodiox less expensive; #2 Fotodiox more expensive).

I guess I've been lucky. I've got about 18 adapters of various description, and I've never encountered a fit issue, although I've encountered it with some lenses, including a Zeiss Loxia. But thanks to this thread, I've updated my blog to deal with that issue.

Jim

 

[Rol Lei Nut]

Yes! That's a big YES on the adapters with tolerances so tight that they grind the metals and those flakes get loose and find their way onto the sensor. I have the Metabones Canon EF to Sony and I cringe every time I change a lens and hear and feel and eventually find my images spotted with tiny metal shavings.

Is this a problem with just one (older) type of Metabones EF adapters or are they all like this still?

My "IV T" certainly mounts and unmounts smoothly...

 

[captura]

Yes! That's a big YES on the adapters with tolerances so tight that they grind the metals and those flakes get loose and find their way onto the sensor. I have the Metabones Canon EF to Sony and I cringe every time I change a lens and hear and feel and eventually find my images spotted with tiny metal shavings.

My Metabones IV was a bit tight so I rubbed some nose oil on to the mount and that worked just fine. An old trick from the M43 forum.

Yes, just don't tell anyone if you ever sell (also a known trick from the same forum). ;-)

Just in case, I assure you that the oil comes from the skin on the OUTSIDE of the nose.

:-D

 

[captura]

May I add "fit"? I don't have any issues with M42 lens to Canon EF adapters - simple to mill, even the cheapest ones fit reasonably. I have about 4 of them from different vendors - 3 of 4 are great, the 4th is tight, but at USD6.00, I expect variation and pitch the unsatisfactory one. Nikon F lens to Canon EF adapters: adapter #1 turned out to fit the EF end securely, but there was *wobble* in the F end; adapter #2 fit well at both ends. Adapter #2 had an extra leaf spring in it for the F incoming bayonet. (#1 Fotodiox less expensive; #2 Fotodiox more expensive).

I guess I've been lucky. I've got about 18 adapters of various description, and I've never encountered a fit issue, although I've encountered it with some lenses, including a Zeiss Loxia. But thanks to this thread, I've updated my blog to deal with that issue.

Jim

I purchased the better Fotodiox adapter for my A7, but discovered that it was absolutely useless. Any suggestions?

 

[captura]

Yes! That's a big YES on the adapters with tolerances so tight that they grind the metals and those flakes get loose and find their way onto the sensor. I have the Metabones Canon EF to Sony and I cringe every time I change a lens and hear and feel and eventually find my images spotted with tiny metal shavings.

My Metabones IV was a bit tight so I rubbed some nose oil on to the mount and that worked just fine. An old trick from the M43 forum.

Yes, just don't tell anyone if you ever sell (also a known trick from the same forum). ;-)

Just in case, I assure you that the oil comes from the skin on the OUTSIDE of the nose.

:-D

That is s'not as reassuring as you might think

People will surely remember this, now.

;-)

 

[Tons o Glass]

An M42 screw mount lens.



The same lens with a M42-SR mount adapter ring. Lots of shiny chrome. I have seen adapters like this that at least are black anodized but I haven't found a source. I could probably sand the top most chrome off that doesn't mate and move to anything else and find brass under and then metal prime and matt black paint over that and get a painting that can endure some wear. But I don't know if it is worth the work.

I see you have an SMC Takumar there with the extra bits (reference tab [near the threads], aperture metering lever [rotates along rear the lens element]) that were causing me some trouble in this exact situation (adapting M42 to Minolta SR/MC/MD).

For my adapters the reference tab could catch on the wall of the adapter ring, and the metering lever would interfere with the flange that presses the aperture pin, causing some binding between the flange, the aperture metering lever, and the rear element retaining ring of 50/1.4 SMC / S-M-C Taks.

Does this particular adapter work for you without any issues aside from potential flare from the chrome bits that may show when mounted on an adapter? Do you happen to know if it works with the later SMC / S-M-C 50/1.4s? If so, where can I get one? It would make my Minolta-flavored ZY LT II happy.

 

[captura]

May I add "fit"? I don't have any issues with M42 lens to Canon EF adapters - simple to mill, even the cheapest ones fit reasonably. I have about 4 of them from different vendors - 3 of 4 are great, the 4th is tight, but at USD6.00, I expect variation and pitch the unsatisfactory one. Nikon F lens to Canon EF adapters: adapter #1 turned out to fit the EF end securely, but there was *wobble* in the F end; adapter #2 fit well at both ends. Adapter #2 had an extra leaf spring in it for the F incoming bayonet. (#1 Fotodiox less expensive; #2 Fotodiox more expensive).

I guess I've been lucky. I've got about 18 adapters of various description, and I've never encountered a fit issue, although I've encountered it with some lenses, including a Zeiss Loxia. But thanks to this thread, I've updated my blog to deal with that issue.

Jim

I purchased the better Fotodiox adapter for my A7, but discovered that it was absolutely useless. Any suggestions?

For what adapted mount did you buy it and why is it useless?

Canon EF. It would not AF anything. Now I have the Metabones IV which focuses everything.

 

[lattesweden]

An M42 screw mount lens.



The same lens with a M42-SR mount adapter ring. Lots of shiny chrome. I have seen adapters like this that at least are black anodized but I haven't found a source. I could probably sand the top most chrome off that doesn't mate and move to anything else and find brass under and then metal prime and matt black paint over that and get a painting that can endure some wear. But I don't know if it is worth the work.

I see you have an SMC Takumar there with the extra bits (reference tab [near the threads], aperture metering lever [rotates along rear the lens element]) that were causing me some trouble in this exact situation (adapting M42 to Minolta SR/MC/MD).

For my adapters the reference tab could catch on the wall of the adapter ring, and the metering lever would interfere with the flange that presses the aperture pin, causing some binding between the flange, the aperture metering lever, and the rear element retaining ring of 50/1.4 SMC / S-M-C Taks.

Does this particular adapter work for you without any issues aside from potential flare from the chrome bits that may show when mounted on an adapter? Do you happen to know if it works with the later SMC / S-M-C 50/1.4s? If so, where can I get one? It would make my Minolta-flavored ZY LT II happy.

I have two sourced for my rings. Fotodiox and some noname one that I got from a Swedish importer that sells a lot of noname stuff.

The lens (an f2 version) is new to me, I have barely tested it. I have some other M42 lenses and the reason this one became the photo star yesterday was because it was on my desk already.

I will check the things you mention and come back later tomorrow. Need to sleep now, way past bed time in my time zone Sweden.

--
Best regards
/Anders
----------------------------------------------------
42 Megapixels is the answer to life, the universe and everything.
You don't have to like my pictures, but it would help: http://www.lattermann.com/gallery

 

[captura]

May I add "fit"? I don't have any issues with M42 lens to Canon EF adapters - simple to mill, even the cheapest ones fit reasonably. I have about 4 of them from different vendors - 3 of 4 are great, the 4th is tight, but at USD6.00, I expect variation and pitch the unsatisfactory one. Nikon F lens to Canon EF adapters: adapter #1 turned out to fit the EF end securely, but there was *wobble* in the F end; adapter #2 fit well at both ends. Adapter #2 had an extra leaf spring in it for the F incoming bayonet. (#1 Fotodiox less expensive; #2 Fotodiox more expensive).

I guess I've been lucky. I've got about 18 adapters of various description, and I've never encountered a fit issue, although I've encountered it with some lenses, including a Zeiss Loxia. But thanks to this thread, I've updated my blog to deal with that issue.

Jim

I purchased the better Fotodiox adapter for my A7, but discovered that it was absolutely useless. Any suggestions?

For what adapted mount did you buy it and why is it useless?

Canon EF. It would not AF anything. Now I have the Metabones IV which focuses everything.

For Canon EF and the AF lenses, the Metabones latest adapters and the Sigma MC-11 seems the best in that regards.

There are two things to keep separate, the physical (mechanical) quality of the adapter which is all that matters on a dumb adapter without any electronics for use with fully manual lenses.

Where on the other side the electronics in the adapter and how well it translates from the native side to the adapted side with AF commands and general communication protocol is also a very important point for a smart adapter.

And an adapter that is good on one thing doesn't have to be good at the other things of what it does.

I guess Fotodiox makes some good dumb adapters, I have two of those (SR+M42 mount) that I find good enough. But I have not read anyone that really raves about their smart adapter skills.

The only thing I can think of to do if it doesn't work well at the smart side for you is to see if it is upgradable in firmware or in hardware (meaning having to send it in to them for fix, check their homepage for support if they have anything like that), or use it as an dumb adapter with manual focus lenses if the dumb side is good on it (meaning the mechanical side), or sell it etc.

Thanks Anders. I couldn't find anything on the Fotodiox being up-gradable. But I did read a few false claims from owners about what a great adapter it was. Paid fanboys, perhaps.