Archive 2015 · EOS-Nex helicoid adapter

mcbroomf
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · EOS-Nex helicoid adapter

I noticed a while ago that there are a few adapters for SLR lens to Sony E that offer a helicoid to allow for closer focusing. I bought a fairly cheap one from Roxen to try and thought I'd post some early findings.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/181302816854

In general SLR lenses can focus a lot closer than Leica M RF lenses so one of these isn't necessarily needed if you like getting up close, but there are some pretty good short tele's that have MFD around 1 meter, one that I particularly like is the C/Y 100/3.5 Sonnar.

I bought the Canon EF-Sony version of the adapter because I have a lot of lenses that I used to adapt to my Canon 1ds bodies when I started this insanity, so the 100mm Sonnar has a C/Y EOS adapter on it, then the Roxen. Over some time I'll be able to try out a lot of other lenses that I have EOS adapters. I think there's an Fd version and there may be others.

My calipers need a new battery but a rough measurement with a ruler show that the adapter is 30.5mm at infinity (ie closed) and 42mm extended, so 11.5mm or so of extension, something like twice the Leica M-Sony helicoid adapters. With the Sonnar the MFD drops to ~18" from 1M. just for the hell of it I put it on a 24mm 1.4 FD that had been modified to EOS and I was only a few inches away for the MFD ... I don't think this will be too useful (for me) for WA lenses. The only one I know has a pretty long MFD is the 21-35 Leica and I have that attached to a Leica R-M adapter and a helicoid M adapter.

So a few snaps .. good news is that it gives quite pleasing results. Time will tell if it could take away the OM 90/2 macro that I usually carry (I don't really do macro, just close focus as you see below). The bad news is that the opening isn't quite big enough for FF A7r and you can see a small amount of corner vignetting. The listing does say EOS-Nex, but it also says "7 a6000" which I took to mean A7 series. It could have meant Nex 7 (although why just that model I don't know).

As it was pretty cheap I'll likely keep it. I found another model by Kipon at a much higher price.. but it does specifically list A7 series bodies.

Mike

1st 2 at MFD, all ~5.6
Edit : Added a couple of extras, including 1 far away to show the corner vignetting

http://m5.i.pbase.com/o9/63/551663/1/160041005.QwP1mHOj.20150512-_DSC8010.jpg
http://m8.i.pbase.com/o9/63/551663/1/160040998.szN1i0UW.20150512-_DSC7977.jpg
http://m0.i.pbase.com/o9/63/551663/1/160041000.NONvPeI0.20150512-_DSC7987.jpg
http://m2.i.pbase.com/o9/63/551663/1/160041002.zSo1BHWm.20150512-_DSC7997.jpg
http://m1.i.pbase.com/o9/63/551663/1/160041001.EUY5TKMP.20150512-_DSC7993.jpg

May 12, 2015 at 06:26 PM

Aaron D
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · EOS-Nex helicoid adapter

mcbroomf wrote:
My calipers need a new battery...

I learned a long time ago, as a machinist, to never trust digi-cals. I guard my analog Browne & Sharpe's with my life.

Otherwise.....lookin very nice!

Aaron

May 12, 2015 at 08:11 PM

ZoneV
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · EOS-Nex helicoid adapter

I have a M42 helicoid adapter from that company - it mounts very hard to my Sony Alpha 7 II.
For close ups I use my DIY 8mm E-mount extension tube for other lenses. But probably such a EF mount helicoid could help me too.

May 20, 2015 at 04:34 AM

lenticular11
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · EOS-Nex helicoid adapter

Aaron D wrote:
I learned a long time ago, as a machinist, to never trust digi-cals. I guard my analog Browne & Sharpe's with my life.

Otherwise.....lookin very nice!

Aaron

Yes indeed - I ordered some cam-bucket shims for my motorbike and when installed clearances were way too large. Turned out my budget CF-jawed calipers had introduced a measurement bias, not something that was present at the start of the exercise.

May 20, 2015 at 05:30 AM

mcbroomf
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · EOS-Nex helicoid adapter

Just an update that I finally broke down and bought the Kipon version of the EOS-Sony E helicoid macro adapter. Kipon let me know that it would be OK on FF, nevertheless I bought it from Adorama in case I had to return it.

It has a good tight fit on both the A7r2 and the EOS adapter I put on the 100/3.5 c/y I tested it with this morning. It's a little shorter when extended than the cheap one, only ~38mm, but still gives a good extension to the close focus on the c/y lens. It's short when retracted too, ie focuses past infinity. There doesn't seem to be any noticeable sag when fully extended and the adjustment is pretty firm. I think that's due to the lube in the helicoid. It was ~28F when I was out this morning and it seemed to get a little stiffer over the 2 hours or so I was out. Right now it turns much easier (but is far from loose) having warmed up. No vignetting either at close focus or infinity settings.

Some examples below, although they show off the lens (which so far as I know has no floating elements) rather than the adapter. I'll get out more later in the week after we have 2 days of rain starting tonight and try a couple more lenses. I particularly want to put it on a Trioplan. All images tweaked and capture sharpened in LR.

Close focus
http://m9.i.pbase.com/o9/63/551663/1/162635349.r92qgAfz.20160223-_DSC0718.jpg
Crop
http://m5.i.pbase.com/o9/63/551663/1/162637055.1lyXziKS.crop3.jpg

Close
http://m2.i.pbase.com/o9/63/551663/1/162635352.YGRitx3O.20160223-_DSC0765.jpg
Crop
http://m3.i.pbase.com/o9/63/551663/1/162637053.XbncobBw.crop1.jpg

Close
http://m1.i.pbase.com/o9/63/551663/1/162635361.SSHeVcqR.20160223-_DSC0843.jpg
crop
http://m4.i.pbase.com/o9/63/551663/1/162637054.FO2wWT72.crop2.jpg

Infinity-ish
http://m0.i.pbase.com/o9/63/551663/1/162635350.plOr80iO.20160223-_DSC0729.jpg

Feb 23, 2016 at 05:17 PM

LightShow
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · EOS-Nex helicoid adapter

That Sonnar seems to perform quite well.

Feb 23, 2016 at 10:08 PM

mcbroomf
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · EOS-Nex helicoid adapter

Yes, it's a terrific lens. I typically carry a 90mm/2 macro but wanted to see how the Sonnar would do against it. It won't focus as close but it may be good enough for me.

Feb 24, 2016 at 05:05 AM


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