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Archive 2013 · Lens Turbo (MD to Fuji) Impressions

  
 
Jman13
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Lens Turbo (MD to Fuji) Impressions


Picked up a Minolta MD to Fuji Lens Turbo for $130, and it came today. Did some quick testing...here are my initial thoughts.

http://www.jordansteele.com/2013/lensturbo.jpg

1) Definitely does what it is supposed to do - gives full frame lenses the full-frame look on APS-C with regards to depth of field and AOV.

2) Is sharp in the center on my MC Rokkor 50/1.4 wide open at closer focus distances. Unfortunately, very quickly softens the rest, which appears to be from the introduction of rather pronounced field curvature or spherical aberration or both. Interestingly enough, at a little further focus distances, it performs just fine across the frame. Not quite as good as the bare lens, but pretty close. It seems to perform fine with the 135/2.8 at relatively close distances...not quite sure what's going on there, but there you have it. Perhaps it works better on longer glass...don't have an MD wide angle to test out.

3) Also introduces a fair amount of barrel distortion

4) At smaller apertures on the 50mm, it's able to produce very nice results across the frame...it's very sharp across the entire frame except for the very extreme corners, which drop from sharp to mush in about 40 pixels. Though I don't think I'd use it stopped down much - I have the Fuji 35/1.4 for anything smaller than f/2 on the Minolta. Works well on my MD 135/2.8, though I use an FD 85/1.8 for the same general look, and it's a little smaller.

Overall, looks like it's not quite as good as something like the SpeedBooster, but since I don't any lenses that are in the SpeedBooster mounts, this'll do, especially for the price. For $130, you can do some nice things. I'm hoping they start making all the mounts they have for NEX for the Fuji, as I'd love to pick up an FD one.

Some samples.

DOF comparison: First, X-E1 with Fuji 35mm f/1.4 @ f/1.4:
http://www.jordansteele.com/2013/eagle_fuji.jpg

Now X-E1 with Rokkor 50/1.4 + Lens Turbo at 35mm f/1.0:
http://www.jordansteele.com/2013/eagle_lt.jpg

And a shot with the MD Rokkor 135/2.8 wide open:
http://www.jordansteele.com/2013/chloe_135lt.jpg

Rokkor 50/1.4 wide open on LT:
http://www.jordansteele.com/2013/kristel_lt.jpg



Sep 24, 2013 at 06:48 PM
Jman13
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Lens Turbo (MD to Fuji) Impressions


Some interesting observations - for some reason it seems to perform better with the 50mm on my X-M1. It might just be that it's easier to focus on the X-M1 (which is the case for all adapted lenses), or it could be something else. Not sure, but it performs fairly well on the X-M1.

Quick grab shot wide open:
http://www.jordansteele.com/2013/chloe_brush.jpg



Sep 24, 2013 at 07:50 PM
leo11877
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Lens Turbo (MD to Fuji) Impressions


Thanks for the review.


Sep 24, 2013 at 07:51 PM
michael49
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Lens Turbo (MD to Fuji) Impressions


Nice review Jordan.

Jman13 wrote:
Some interesting observations - for some reason it seems to perform better with the 50mm on my X-M1. It might just be that it's easier to focus on the X-M1 (which is the case for all adapted lenses)


Is this due to better peaking on the x-m1?



Sep 26, 2013 at 07:52 PM





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