Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

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Archive 2005 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

kidigital
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p.2 #1 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

Xavier,

It really wasn't too difficult to modify the mirror. It is easier to do it on the 5D as opposed to the 1ds and 1dsii because the mirror frame is plastic on the 5D as opposed to metal on the 1ds/1dsii.

I prefer to do the modification to the mirror while the mirror is in the body as this is fast and efficient. The key is to minimize any debris that could enter the mirror chamber and potentially land on the sensor. To that end, all you need to do is mask off the open chamber as well as you can before you grind away at the edge of the mirror. I have found some masking materials that I use that minimizes potential issues with debris.

For anyone that is seriously looking to do this to their 5D, remember that this will permanently alter your camera. You certainly may have warranty issues.

The altered mirror does not, however, interfere with the operation of the 5D with third party or Canon lenses. Also, with the lenses I used, I did not see the altered mirror in the viewfinder of the 5D.

And, of course, the up-side is that you get to use any of Leica's fabulous lenses with an adapter on the 5D without harming the lenses.

Kurt

Edited by kidigital on Oct 14, 2005 at 04:33 AM GMT

Oct 13, 2005 at 07:23 PM

Graham Mitchell
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p.2 #2 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

Kurt, did you have to remove 2-3mm from side to side? Wouldn't the central section have been sufficient to provide clearance?

Oct 13, 2005 at 07:25 PM

kidigital
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p.2 #3 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

Graham, possibly.

Here's my rationale for doing it like I did. I used more of an arc on my 1ds but then found that I had to do the procedure twice because I later purchased a Leica 35 summilux and a Leica 28-90 zoom. These lenses have a wide base to their rear elements and interfered with the mirror after the first go-around. To eliminate any potential conflicts, I went side to side with the 5D since it doesn't have any affect on the operation of the camera anyway.

Kurt

Oct 13, 2005 at 07:35 PM

Beni
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p.2 #4 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

Interesting point, without the cushioning will the mirror flap create sharpness issues in the danger zone (1/15-1/2)?

Oct 13, 2005 at 08:18 PM

kidigital
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p.2 #5 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

Beni, that will be something to experiment with over time. I do know that the 1ds did not have the little cushioning strip on the back edge of the mirror.

I'm not certain why it has been placed on the 5D. Would it really cushion anything since the padded strip does not hit anything on its return? Vibration? Could it have been placed there to protect the mirror/lens in the event that the mirror frame comes into contact with a lens?

Kurt

Oct 13, 2005 at 08:39 PM

frontosa
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p.2 #6 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

Kurt:

Looks like a successful surgery on the 5D mirror. I remember sending a pic of my "altered" 1Ds to Guy and did not hear back from him. I would assume he was horrified with the way the way was cut. But like what you have said, the shaved mirrior does not alter the ability to take pictures with the camera. To me, altering the mirror makes more sense that modifying the leica lenses because the lenses do hold their value better than the bodies itself.

Gerry

Oct 13, 2005 at 08:59 PM

John Power
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p.2 #7 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

Kurt, the mirror in my bathroom is also little too big. Shows too much of my stomach when I shave. Do you do those also

Good job. I wish I could mirror your efforts but I'd just end up making a $3000 mistake. I think I'll stick to taking snapshots and keeping criminals on the street.

Oct 13, 2005 at 09:07 PM

kidigital
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p.2 #8 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

John, I charge extra for the "fun house mirror bending treatment" that'll make you look taller and thinner. I just haven't gotten around to putting on a cheap suit and advertising it on TV yet.

Kurt

Oct 13, 2005 at 09:23 PM

Mr Joe
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p.2 #9 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

John, that's freakin' hilarious.

Oct 13, 2005 at 09:27 PM

kidigital
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p.2 #10 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

Gerry, you are right. If you make an investment in quality lenses that hold their value, then it is much easier to cut the mirror. For those that like to experiment/work with Zeiss/Leica lenses it seems like a good solution for combining Zeiss/Leica lenses and Canon bodies.

Kurt

Oct 13, 2005 at 09:29 PM

John Power
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p.2 #11 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

Mr Joe wrote:
John, that's freakin' hilarious.

Glad you got a chuckle from it. Since I don't know that much about photography and come here to learn, I have appointed myself the "resident lawyer" and "color commentator"

Kurt's reply was much funnier. As for the mirror edges, well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I see beauty in that beast.

Oct 13, 2005 at 09:36 PM

John Power
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p.2 #12 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

"Kurt once again thank you , great post and very informative to the forum ."

Yes, there are wonderful people on this forum. The bad apples don't last long. We may fight a little at times but that's what happens when you assemble a conglommeration (sp) of extremely intelligent (and in my case, rudely handsome) people.

Oct 13, 2005 at 10:22 PM

PSquared63
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p.2 #13 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

Guy, we expect a 5D/DMR comparison by the end of next week. You need to get banned at a few more forums.

Oct 13, 2005 at 10:26 PM

wheaton
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p.2 #14 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

I have to say I am confused by all this. Kurt said that removing part of the miror has no side effects - ie even with the mirror cut smaller you can still see all of the full frame image.

If this is the case, why did canon make the mirror so big in the first place?

Oct 13, 2005 at 10:51 PM

kidigital
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p.2 #15 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

Guy's the real hero here. He's the one that put his camera on the line for the sake of science. I was able to do the fun part...the cutting.

Oct 13, 2005 at 11:00 PM

kidigital
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p.2 #16 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

William...that is a good question. I'm certain others may have theories.

Oct 13, 2005 at 11:02 PM

Bob Parsons
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p.2 #17 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

Kurt, do you know if the modified mirror still forms a light seal at the front for light that comes in through the rear viewfinder?

I've just looked at the leading edge of the mirror in sensor cleaning mode and it extends out much further than I expected. I'm suprised.

Bob.

Oct 13, 2005 at 11:17 PM

kidigital
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p.2 #18 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

No I don't Bob. I just packed up the camera today to send it back to Guy. He'll get the camera on Monday. I'm certain he's going to have a few questions to answer once he gets a chance to spend some time with it.

Kurt

Oct 13, 2005 at 11:26 PM

Tom_W
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p.2 #19 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

wheaton wrote:
I have to say I am confused by all this. Kurt said that removing part of the miror has no side effects - ie even with the mirror cut smaller you can still see all of the full frame image.

If this is the case, why did canon make the mirror so big in the first place?

I'm thinking, and I could be way, way off, that the mirror has to be large enough to accomodate all Canon's lenses. Yes, the image circle (actually, the diagonal; it doesn't have to be a circle) has to be 43 mm (+/-) as projected on the sensor, but that projection can come from a smaller rear lens circle like my fisheye which has about a 22 mm diameter rearmost lens. Conversely, it can come from longer telephotos which project an image that is almost straight - that is, the corner-to-corner diameter of the rearward projection is close to the 43 mm necessary to cover the entire image circle.

If you drew a ray-trace of the various lenses, the longer telephotos would present long, parallel light rays, while many of the mid-range or shorter lenses would have rays that tend to fan out from a smaller-diameter rear lens. Those longer lenses may be the ones that require the most mirror coverage, and might be the only ones that would show the effects of a shaved mirror in the viewfinder.

Oct 13, 2005 at 11:58 PM

PSquared63
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p.2 #20 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

I don't think that's the case. If you don't see the shaved part of the mirror in the viewfinder with one lens (or even without one), you won't see it with any other lens. The area of the mirror covered in the viewfinder does not change with what lens is mounted.

Oct 14, 2005 at 12:21 AM

joeisayo
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p.2 #21 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

A quote from Edwin Putz

"It is slightly amazing to read at the Canon site that they seem to have rediscovered the classical Barnack format of 24 x 36mm as the new standard dor digital photography, in the same period where Leica seems to abandon its own classical format."

You guys keep mating your dogs and cats while I'm out shooting some nice pics. :-)

Josef

Oct 14, 2005 at 12:23 AM

Tom_W
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p.2 #22 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

PSquared63 wrote:
I don't think that's the case. If you don't see the shaved part of the mirror in the viewfinder with one lens (or even without one), you won't see it with any other lens. The area of the mirror covered in the viewfinder does not change with what lens is mounted.

That's true, and the more I think about it, the more I suspect that I wandered out a bit too far on that limb. But there's got to be a legit reason for the mirror being the size it is. Canon's too cheap to make it much bigger than necessary.

Oct 14, 2005 at 12:44 AM

gibson
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p.2 #23 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

10DFT wrote:
PSquared63 wrote:
I don't think that's the case. If you don't see the shaved part of the mirror in the viewfinder with one lens (or even without one), you won't see it with any other lens. The area of the mirror covered in the viewfinder does not change with what lens is mounted.

That's true, and the more I think about it, the more I suspect that I wandered out a bit too far on that limb. But there's got to be a legit reason for the mirror being the size it is. Canon's too cheap to make it much bigger than necessary.

Oct 14, 2005 at 01:08 AM

charles354
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p.2 #24 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

Hasselblad had an issue with the longer lens on the older bodies not showing all the image. The newer bodies have whats called a gliding mirror, its longer. Just a thought.
Thanks charles354

Oct 14, 2005 at 02:09 AM

JoeSchmoe007
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p.2 #25 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

Oct 14, 2005 at 03:14 AM


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