alundeb wrote:
The Metabones adapters come with a removable tripod mount in arca-swiss style. It is very rigid and since it doesn't need a plate, it is actually stiffer than using a plate attached to a large DSLR. The mount point is also closer to the lens, helping the balance considerably.
I agree. I just wanted to point this out since the majority of E-mount adapters out there don't feature tripod mounts.
I expect to be happy with the LAEA3 adapter with its removable tripod mount. Most high end adapter brands will quickly get their products sorted out. When you think about a heavy lens on a DSLR that looks like a lot of leverage around that point so far back from the lens centre of gravity.
I have never been happy about it using say a 1000 gram lens - so a good adapter should be better with roughly equal weight front and back of the anchor point. The 21mm will be one such lens. And it is very easy to use handheld, has plenty of hand purchase, nice gnurling and aperture ring. It'll be enjoyable.
Ron Pfister wrote:
If you combine the ZE with a Metabones MkIII Smart Adapter, you will get electronic aperture control and EXIF. I think that's a very nice solution (no need for stop-down metering and EXIF are both very handy, IMO). But you won't have an aperture ring to use with other mirrorless systems for which smart adapters don't exist. In addition, the ZE series is generally a bit bulkier and heavier than the ZF.2, as already pointed out. Plus they don't look as nice, IMO - but that's subjective. I chose to go with ZF.2 in order to ensure universal use of the lenses on any platform (Nikon, Canon and mirrorless) - at the price of convenience....Show more →
I agree about the advantages of ZF.2 lenses. For the most part, I use aperture priority or manual mode, so it is easy to live without electrical aperture. It is still possible to combine them with the Metabones smart adapter for EF, and get rough aperture control, with a Novoflex adapter stacked. Of course the potential for alignment problems increases. On the other hand, these adpaters are very stiff, and more stable than my copy of the Metabones adapter for Nikon F-mount.
Ron Pfister wrote:
...ZE with a Metabones MkIII Smart Adapter, you will get electronic aperture control...no need for stop-down metering...
Aren't mirrorless cameras always in "stop-down metering" or "DoF preview" mode? I've never used one that wasn't. If there's an option to turn that on, why would you? I've always thought of not having to give up accurate DoF to get enough light to the finder was the #1 advantage of EVF over OVF...
Lee Saxon wrote:
Aren't mirrorless cameras always in "stop-down metering" or "DoF preview" mode? I've never used one that wasn't. If there's an option to turn that on, why would you? I've always thought of not having to give up accurate DoF to get enough light to the finder was the #1 advantage of EVF over OVF...
I find that when focusing using magnified LV and/or peaking, it is often advantageous to do so with the aperture open. This decreases DOF and makes precise focusing much easier, particularly with WA lenses. If DOF is too deep, peaking ceases to be helpful. The advantage with the Metabones Smart Adapter is that it only stops down to the working aperture when you're triggering the shutter, just like a DSLR. As long as the lens doesn't exhibit significant focus shift, this is my preferred way of working.
Edit: a nice additional feature is that the Smart Adapter closes the lens aperture to the minimum value when you turn off the camera, thus protecting the sensor from light entering through the lens.
Ron Pfister wrote:
I find that when focusing using magnified LV and/or peaking, it is often advantageous to do so with the aperture open. This decreases DOF and makes precise focusing much easier, particularly with WA lenses. If DOF is too deep, peaking ceases to be helpful. The advantage with the Metabones Smart Adapter is that it only stops down to the working aperture when you're triggering the shutter, just like a DSLR. As long as the lens doesn't exhibit significant focus shift, this is my preferred way of working.
I would think that focusing is easiest with the aperture open, but after reading about the Metabones Smart Adapter MkII my understanding is that the camera/ adapter/lens works with a closed down aperture, but you can open the aperture with a wide open button (opposite of depth-of-field preview function) when focusing.
twoeye wrote:
I would think that focusing is easiest with the aperture open, but after reading about the Metabones Smart Adapter MkII my understanding is that the camera/ adapter/lens works with a closed down aperture, but you can open the aperture with a wide open button (opposite of depth-of-field preview function) when focusing.
Ron Pfister wrote:
I find that when focusing using magnified LV and/or peaking, it is often advantageous to do so with the aperture open. This decreases DOF and makes precise focusing much easier, particularly with WA lenses. If DOF is too deep, peaking ceases to be helpful. The advantage with the Metabones Smart Adapter is that it only stops down to the working aperture when you're triggering the shutter, just like a DSLR. As long as the lens doesn't exhibit significant focus shift, this is my preferred way of working.
If precise focusing is the point I'd say potential focus shift issues takes away the advantage depending on shooting style and lens lineup. 24MP is already a lot but 36MP takes the effort to new levels.
Besides, I dont want the metabones adapter, I prefer to use lenses au-naturel and the EVF makes that work well. And theyre pricey and a bit bulky too.
In the Zeiss lineup I have (mostly CYs) I am unfortunately stuck with one ZE (21). And as it is the one and only mighty 21/2.8 I will need to do something. The CY 21 is hard to find and very pricey, often more expensive than a new ZE/ZF (!). And if you're not happy enough to find a local copy - the price makes me not want to gamble at ebay if it turns out to be a bad copy.
Ron Pfister wrote:
I have adapted all my C/Y and Leica-R glass to Nikon F-mount, using Leitax bayonets. This way I can use them on Nikon, Canon and any mirrorless system with a minimum number of adapters. Not very economical, I admit, but very practical...
Leitax makes already bayonets for R-lenses to E-mount. I wonder if David Lladó will eventually release bayonets to E mount for other systems -C/Y, PK, Olympus, Nikon, etc.. It would be great to use all the alternative lenses on the A7(r) as if it were native glass; no wobble or play and tighter tolerances than most adapter rings.
Have you looked at the Olympus OM 21/3.5? Many here rate it almost as highly as the Zeiss 21/2.8 ZE and it is a lot smaller.
naturephoto1 wrote:
Philip,
The Contax 21mm Distagon is at or toward the top of my list if I have to go with a 21mm SLR lens. I still would prefer if possible a Leica 21mm f3.4 SEM. I will keep my fingers crossed. I already have the Phigment LEM to NEX adapter for my Minolta CLE MC 40mm f2 M-Rokkor lens that I expect to use with the camera as well as my Novoflex Leica R to NEX adapter for my R lenses. Unfortunately every time I add another manufacturer's lens to the system, I need to add another adapter that not only adds to the cost but it adds the extra weight and size of the adapter to the total package weight and size.
Ron Pfister wrote:
I have adapted all my C/Y and Leica-R glass to Nikon F-mount, using Leitax bayonets. This way I can use them on Nikon, Canon and any mirrorless system with a minimum number of adapters. Not very economical, I admit, but very practical...
But, in my case I have 16 Leica R lenses alone. And if I do change via Leitax mounts (which would be a substantial cost) I could not remount the lenses onto my Leica R cameras.
wfrank wrote:
If precise focusing is the point I'd say potential focus shift issues takes away the advantage depending on shooting style and lens lineup. 24MP is already a lot but 36MP takes the effort to new levels.
Besides, I dont want the metabones adapter, I prefer to use lenses au-naturel and the EVF makes that work well. And theyre pricey and a bit bulky too.
In the Zeiss lineup I have (mostly CYs) I am unfortunately stuck with one ZE (21). And as it is the one and only mighty 21/2.8 I will need to do something. The CY 21 is hard to find and very pricey, often more expensive than a new ZE/ZF (!). And if you're not happy enough to find a local copy - the price makes me not want to gamble at ebay if it turns out to be a bad copy....Show more →
I'm not trying to sound like a Metabones fan-boy. Far from it - I've had more than my fair share of issues with the early versions of their adapters. The reason I own one is because I own legacy Canon EF-glass that I don't intend to replace. For me, IS is the key feature for these lenses (and of course there has to be a way to control the aperture, too), both of which work well with the Smart Adapters.
For all manual lenses, I use 'dumb' adapters (currently Voigtländer, but I'm considering Novoflex with the tripod collar).
The reason I did mention the Smart Adapter functionality is that it is unique (AFAIK) and may be appreciated by some. And you can also use stop-down metering with the Metabones adapters, if you so desire.
naturephoto1 wrote:
But, in my case I have 16 Leica R lenses alone. And if I do change via Lietax mounts (which would be a substantial cost) I could not remount the lenses onto my Leica R cameras.
I don't have quite that many, and my first use of R-lenses was on Nikon DSLR-bodies, so it made perfect sense for me to do the Leitax conversions (including Dandelion chips - I like that little bit of EXIF info they provide). Also, I've left film behind for good, which means the R-mount is of no importance to me.
Edit: If I had that many R-lenses and if I was not going to use them on Canon or Nikon DSLRs, I would of course use R-mount adapters.
I saw here on fredmiranda a post in which focus problems with the hawk's helicoid adapter were discussed.
Basically extending the adapter changes the register distance that can lead to unintended consequences.
But I can't find that post anymore. Please help. Thanks.
k-h.a.w wrote:
I saw here on fredmiranda a post in which focus problems with the hawk's helicoid adapter were discussed.
Basically extending the adapter changes the register distance that can lead to unintended consequences.
But I can't find that post anymore. Please help. Thanks.
I'm not sure about the link, but the issues you're talking about have more of an effect with lenses that use floating elements, like the Leica M 35 Summilux FLE.
The other issue to consider is that a helicoid adapter may possible shift or lean a little, which could potentially cause some decentering.
douglasf13 wrote:
I'm not sure about the link, but the issues you're talking about have more of an effect with lenses that use floating elements, like the Leica M 35 Summilux FLE.
The other issue to consider is that a helicoid adapter may possible shift or lean a little, which could potentially cause some decentering.
Many thanks. Correct. I just would like to read that post again, this time more carefully...
I also remember there were two images demonstrating the effect.
But I can't recall in which thread that post was. Thanks again.
