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Archive 2008 · Canon FD 500L converted
  
 
s23chang
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p.1 #1 · Canon FD 500L converted


I didn't have time to convert and mess around myself so I had SK Grimes did the conversion for me.
They did a very nice job.
This is a really nice lens
I am surprise how good this lens was back in the late 70s as it was the first Canon L lens ever made.

Canon FD 500L first generation

Edited on Nov 26, 2008 at 10:50 PM · View previous versions


Nov 26, 2008 at 02:08 PM
zzziippyyy
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p.1 #2 · Canon FD 500L converted


Hi, just curious what is the cost and turnaround time for the conversion?

Nov 26, 2008 at 09:26 PM
s23chang
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p.1 #3 · Canon FD 500L converted


Please contact them directly. I am not affiliate with them so I will not post information as this is not a commercial site. Turn around time is 6 weeks for me.

Nov 26, 2008 at 09:51 PM
Michael Tucker
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p.1 #4 · Canon FD 500L converted


I think it's SK Grimes.

Nov 26, 2008 at 10:33 PM
s23chang
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p.1 #5 · Canon FD 500L converted


yes. thx for correction.

Nov 26, 2008 at 10:50 PM
Kingfishphoto
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p.1 #6 · Canon FD 500L converted


I converted my Canon FD 600 F4.5-to auto focus, in 30 minutes, for about $50.00. I did it mating an elcheapo FD/EOS, adapter to C/Y T-mount. I used it in auto focus, on my Contax AX body. Of course that was film.
Cheers
Harry

Nov 28, 2008 at 12:45 AM
 



s23chang
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p.1 #7 · Canon FD 500L converted


Were you able to obtain infinity focus? How did it manage the apeture adjustment?
Do you have photo of your conversion?

How were you able to make autofocus from manual focus?
Kingfishphoto wrote:
I converted my Canon FD 600 F4.5-to auto focus, in 30 minutes, for about $50.00. I did it mating an elcheapo FD/EOS, adapter to C/Y T-mount. I used it in auto focus, on my Contax AX body. Of course that was film.
Cheers
Harry



Nov 28, 2008 at 05:33 AM
maxima302
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p.1 #8 · Canon FD 500L converted


s23chang wrote:
Were you able to obtain infinity focus? How did it manage the apeture adjustment?
Do you have photo of your conversion?

How were you able to make autofocus from manual focus?
Kingfishphoto wrote:
I converted my Canon FD 600 F4.5-to auto focus, in 30 minutes, for about $50.00. I did it mating an elcheapo FD/EOS, adapter to C/Y T-mount. I used it in auto focus, on my Contax AX body. Of course that was film.
Cheers
Harry



My guess is that his contax body moves the film plane for auto focus, rather than moving mechanisms in the lens.


Nov 28, 2008 at 05:46 AM
mawz
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p.1 #9 · Canon FD 500L converted


s23chang wrote:
Were you able to obtain infinity focus? How did it manage the apeture adjustment?
Do you have photo of your conversion?

How were you able to make autofocus from manual focus?


The Contax AX autofocuses by moving the film plane and thus is unique in being an AF camera that can AF with manual focus glass with no other items involved.

Nov 28, 2008 at 05:46 AM
Kingfishphoto
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p.1 #10 · Canon FD 500L converted


Hi everyone.
Thats correct, the AX body moved the film plane back and forth. It wasnt a completely new idea, it was used on at least one stereo camera from the past. The AX would A? any lens F5.6 or faster, that would fit the body. In Phoenix, i was able to use my 500 Tamron mirror-sometimes, also. My 600FD, lost inf. focus, it dropped to say 100 feet or so. I rolled up a piece of scotch tape, like a tooth-pic, and put that into the apature mechanism-fooling it-that gave me manual control of the F stops. How, of course i have sold it all. Wouldnt it be nice if someone came up with a digital module for the AX! I guess we would have a run on AX bodies.
Cheers
Harry

Nov 28, 2008 at 12:29 PM
Kingfishphoto
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p.1 #11 · Canon FD 500L converted


s23chang wrote:
Were you able to obtain infinity focus? How did it manage the apeture adjustment?
Do you have photo of your conversion?

How were you able to make autofocus from manual focus?
Kingfishphoto wrote:
I converted my Canon FD 600 F4.5-to auto focus, in 30 minutes, for about $50.00. I did it mating an elcheapo FD/EOS, adapter to C/Y T-mount. I used it in auto focus, on my Contax AX body. Of course that was film.
Cheers
Harry



Hi again.
I do not have any pictures of the home made adapter. Here is what id. I purchased one of those cheap FD/EOS adapters, you know the ones with a glass element. I wrapped that in a old towel, set it on a cement floor, and with a punch and hammer, broke the glass out. Saftey goggles are a must!!. I then remover the front Canon FD female part. It came out by removing the three set screws around the outer edge. I then took apart an C/Y T-mount adapter. This gave me the rear Contax male mount part that i needed. So the idea was to set the female Canon ring, into the C/Y male ring. However there was a very large, bit of metal, that was holding the glass element in. I removed that using various hand and machine tools. The principal one was my drum sander. One i got all that removed, i could then set the Canon ring into the Contax ring. It was a poor fit, so i made some tape shims to attempt to center and hold it in. I clamped them together , and on the rip-drilled and set in two metal cutting screws. I had hoped for three, but there were some metal goodies,parts, inside the Canon ring, that i had to stay away from. So i could only use two. An air compressor was necessary to remove ALL metal chips, filings, etc. Tried it on the camera, looked good. I then , the next day placed the Canon ring, inside the Contax ring, usung epoxy cement for metal, and od course my two large metal cutting screws. When everything was done, cement dry, i cleaned it up a bit, did some masking and spray painted it flat black. I showed pictures of the lens on AX and RTS 111 bodies, and photographs taken with it-to Contax employees, they wouldnt even talk to me.
Cheers
Harry

Nov 28, 2008 at 12:57 PM
EOS20
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p.1 #12 · Canon FD 500L converted


I just saw this thread over on the Canon board about the FD 500 f/4.5 that has been modified to AF!

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/798574



Jul 30, 2009 at 07:15 PM
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