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Archive 2009 · FD85L conversion to EOS
  
 
Paul Yi
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p.1 #1 · FD85L conversion to EOS


Can anyone refer me to someone who can do the conversion in US, for a nominal fee?
I'd appreciate very much.

Mar 31, 2009 at 11:00 PM
mMontag
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p.1 #2 · FD85L conversion to EOS


You may have heard of S.K. Grimes - www.skgrimes.com

I have talked to them on other FD / EOS lenses and I believe they have converted an 85 L for an FM'er to Nikon recently - try a search - however the cost is not what I would call nominal.

Apr 01, 2009 at 01:03 AM
mMontag
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p.1 #3 · FD85L conversion to EOS


Paul,
I have just received a Canon FD 85 L that was converted to EOS that I won on ebay a couple of weeks ago. I felt it was a big risk not knowing the quality of the conversion other than the online photos of the lens and the sellers comments.

Lo & behold the darn thing has a very professional conversion complete with a very accurate chip and - ready for this - infinity with no 5D mirror issues. The glass & body are near mint. I've only had it a few hours but everything seems to check and the images from the lens are just stellar. Wow, an 85/1.2 manual focus!!! This lens feels really great on a 5D - powerful! Cheaper than the Zeiss, easier to manual focus than the AF 85.

I have in my inventory two Canon FD 85/1.2 Asphericals that I'm going to learn how to convert. I have converted an FD 50/1.4 & 55/1.2 - (the 55 needs a few hours to complete) they are much easier than the "L"'s. I can use this pre-converted lens to help with the learning curve.

You should stay on your quest to get that 85 L converted.

Apr 02, 2009 at 05:10 AM
ovredal73
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p.1 #4 · FD85L conversion to EOS


mMontag wrote:

infinity with no 5D mirror issues.


Mine hits the 5d2 mirror. Should be the same as on 5d. Can you notice if anything unusual been done to your EOS converted mount? Like some kind of shaving etc?




Apr 03, 2009 at 06:49 AM
Paul Yi
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p.1 #5 · FD85L conversion to EOS


Thank you for the inputs.
It seems that it's pretty hard to convert it at this moment.
I really don't want to pay what SK Grime is charging...

Apr 03, 2009 at 12:18 PM
ovredal73
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p.1 #6 · FD85L conversion to EOS


Well, Dmitry did a beautiful job on mine. Looks factory made and quite a decent price. Highly recommended if he wants to take more on. The only issue is of course the inf focus. That´s why I was so curious what mMontag´s lens looked like...



Apr 03, 2009 at 12:22 PM
mMontag
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p.1 #7 · FD85L conversion to EOS


Hey Guys,

I had the same reservation before purchasing this lens online and just assumed it would have mirror issues on a 5D and I would have to be OK with that condition & went ahead with the purchase. My 58 Rokkor is shaved & polished to the rear glass & epoxy'd - I'm very, very close to infinity without mirror strike. I never use this type of lens at infinity anyway.

However, to the best of my knowledge this 85 L lens has true infinity without mirror strike. I'm on a tough schedule at the moment and will take some distant shoots later today or this weekend and review. I also have the 85 Asph & will examine & compare to see if I can see a registration difference. Whoever performed this conversion did a very professional job - it has a new brass precision machined back end tracking the rear opt. Maybe there is something to learn from this. I asked the seller for some background information on the conversion but have not had a response as of yet. Gotta go.

Apr 03, 2009 at 02:22 PM
ovredal73
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p.1 #8 · FD85L conversion to EOS


Thanks for the post. I think maybe you have a very "good" 5D as well. To achieve something close to inf on the rokkor is also quite impressive. All my rokkors have had max 10-15m focus without hitting mirror.

Actually if there is any chance you could post a shot of the rear of the lens when you have a moment, that would be very helpful...

Apr 03, 2009 at 02:28 PM
 



Dim.ka_
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p.1 #9 · FD85L conversion to EOS


Just for information - I am afraid you could not have infinity on 5D without mirror modification wideopen, due to few facts

1. if you place the last lense element in position when the mirror will not hit this last lense element then you face the fact that the lense element before the last one will touch it in the center zone (because these two lense surfaces are convex shape) and even in this case there is no true infinity wideopen.
2. You need to place the last element a bit deeper into mirror box aprox. by 1.5-2mm

Apr 03, 2009 at 07:41 PM
ovredal73
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p.1 #10 · FD85L conversion to EOS


Dim.ka_ wrote:
Just for information - I am afraid you could not have infinity on 5D without mirror modification wideopen, due to few facts

1. if you place the last lense element in position when the mirror will not hit this last lense element then you face the fact that the lense element before the last one will touch it in the center zone (because these two lense surfaces are convex shape) and even in this case there is no true infinity wideopen.
2. You need to place the last element a bit deeper into mirror box aprox. by 1.5-2mm


Dear Dmitry, yes I am very curious about mMontag´s second test on his lens, because the facts you mention prevent the inf focus completely. I was just hoping he had found a magic solution


Apr 03, 2009 at 07:47 PM
Dim.ka_
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p.1 #11 · FD85L conversion to EOS


I believe it could be done if you could completely replace the last element with another one with different optical parameters (like used in adapters with the lense in it - fd to eos , minolta md to eos)

Apr 03, 2009 at 07:55 PM
AlexTokyo
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p.1 #12 · FD85L conversion to EOS


Dim.ka_ wrote:
I believe it could be done if you could completely replace the last element with another one with different optical parameters (like used in adapters with the lense in it - fd to eos , minolta md to eos)


Another way could be to adjust the infinity setting of the lens (typically moving the entire lens block). It is possible w/ Rokkor and some OM lenses, just don't know if we can do it on the 85L.

If anybody has or know how to get a 85L service manual, it would be a fantastic help!

Apr 04, 2009 at 05:03 AM
JimBuchanan
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p.1 #13 · FD85L conversion to EOS


Dim.ka_ wrote:
Just for information - I am afraid you could not have infinity on 5D without mirror modification wideopen, due to few facts

1. if you place the last lense element in position when the mirror will not hit this last lense element then you face the fact that the lense element before the last one will touch it in the center zone (because these two lense surfaces are convex shape) and even in this case there is no true infinity wideopen.
2. You need to place the last element a bit deeper into mirror box aprox. by 1.5-2mm


Based on my experience so far on the FD 50 and 85L lenses, I have to agree with Dmitry. It seems the rear element serves some field flattening purpose, as the position relative to the sensor is similiar between these 2 L lenses, even when the longer 85mm focal length moves the lens assembly away from the sensor and the mirror.

In (re) placing the lens assembly and rear element of these L lenses, the rear element has to be positioned correctly, and the main lens assembly can be dialed in for infinity focus. On my EOS/FD50L, it was an iterative process.

It would be very interesting to know more about the 85L conversion in this case.

Apr 04, 2009 at 03:52 PM
mMontag
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p.1 #14 · FD85L conversion to EOS


OK - The now lens in question - it does have infinity focus without mirror strike on a stock 5D. It was converted by someone in Beijing who was know to have done others.

I certainly respect Dmitry's and Jim's experience and assessment of the optical placement. I would have to say that an optical alteration is part of the equation in this case. Now begs the question - has the IQ been altered? I've done a few comparisons next to a Canon 85/1.8 and they are really close at 1.8 & didn't try others. Then there is testing/peeping for CA and etc. I like the results of lens comparisons - not necessarily the process. I'm elbows deep in dealing with a couple of houses right now & will do some posts as time is available, but it's going to be next week. Thanks for every bodies comments on the mystery lens. I will back my initial intent on my first post - The FD 85 L is a great lens - get one converted if you can!


Apr 04, 2009 at 07:51 PM
ovredal73
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p.1 #15 · FD85L conversion to EOS


Thanks for checking, very interesting

Apr 04, 2009 at 07:59 PM




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