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

Rathman, I'm certain we could come to some kind of arrangement...

Just email me if you are interested.

Kurt

Oct 13, 2005 at 06:48 PM

Xavier Rival
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p.2 #2 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

kidigital wrote:
Only 2-3mm of the bottom of the mirror have been removed.

What impresses me is not how large the part you removed is; it is that you removed it.

How did you do ? I assume you had to take the mirror out, cut it, and then reposition it (but this requires being very precise, no ?). Or did you cut the mirror while mounted (but this raises other questions: what about the debrits, how to access it and cut it nicely...). Well, any way I am impressed.

I assume that Guy will have no warranty on his 5D

Oct 13, 2005 at 07:00 PM

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

Good job Kurt! Guess Guy will now have a small backup to his DMR.

Since part part of the mirror is shaved off, is that portion then "missing" from the viewfinder?

Oct 13, 2005 at 07:14 PM

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

That photo of the 5D with the cut mirror....pretty scary.

That's one way to "cut" down on mirror slap and noise :0)

d~

Oct 13, 2005 at 07:16 PM

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

I have been planning to do this too, but I want to get a spare mirror so that I can swap a pristine one back in for any warranty service.

1) Does the mirror come out easily?
2) How much is a replacement mirror? Anyone know?

Oct 13, 2005 at 07:23 PM

kidigital
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p.2 #6 · 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 #7 · 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 #8 · 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 #9 · 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 #10 · 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 #11 · 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 #12 · 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 #13 · 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 #14 · Modded 5D and Leica Lenses

John, that's freakin' hilarious.

Oct 13, 2005 at 09:27 PM

kidigital
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p.2 #15 · 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 #16 · 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 #17 · 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 #18 · 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 #19 · 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 #20 · 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

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