genji wrote:
I recently purchased an MC-11 to use with Tamron SP 35/1.8 and 45/1.8 lenses on an A7R III. To my surprise and delight, Eye AF works with both lenses. The MC-11 is running firmware 1.11. I'm wondering if it's worth updating to version 1.13 or whether I'm better off leaving well alone. In other words, is a newer version of the firmware likely to break existing functionality?
I cant say for the 7Riii body. I have used 6500 and 7Rii. the latest FW seems hunting everytime using AF-S mode, but the AF-C is very good. (I am using AF-C most of the time now)
If you happy with the perfomance from now stay with it.
Tested these two combinations:
Camera: a6300
Adapter: MC-11 firmware 1.13
Lens1: Canon 135 f/2.0
LED on MC-11 = off.
It works, but only in a very good light/contrast situations. It's very fast when it works.
As soon as light or subject contrast is not perfect - it starts hunting through the whole range in short bursts and never catches focus.
When set to MF on the lens, a6300 does not do Focus Magnification during focusing.
Conclusion: Unuseable.
Some people report this lens to work fine with MC-11 and A7ii, but that could possibly be on older MC11 firmware versions.
Lens 2: Sigma 35 1.4
LED on MC-11 = blinks three times and goes off.
Barely works. Somewhat better, than 135 in low light, but still unusable.
Conclusion: Need to update the lens firmware and re-test. Didn't take my USB lens adapter with me - will do when I get back home from my trip.
I've not read this whole thread, but the parts I have read haven't explained how to go about doing the updates on Sony and Sigma -- not to my poor technical level anyway!
I've been pretty shy about updating firmware on my MC-11s (2). Both behave slightly differently 1) on the same camera, and 2) on different cameras -- a7R2s, with different Sony firmware, (I think) v.1.03 and one is v.1.07.
Overall, I quite happy with Sigma MC-11, but I wonder if I might be missing something by not updating. Same goes for cameras. I've done updates with Canon, and that is pretty straightforward -- USB cable from computer, get to the Canon website and upload new firmware.
Either I'm simply intimidated, or the Sony and Sigma sites and connections are a little more complex than I can unravel. I've checked a few times and get baffled. I have a Sigma dock for Nikon (I know it won't work for Canon or Sony stuff) and successfully did the full procedure dialing in a Sigma 24-105/4 Art at all distances for a D800e, but can't tell if I need to buy a Sigma/Canon USB Dock, or can I straight plug in MC-11 to USB on computer?
It doesn't seem I can use the simple Canon approach with the Sony bodies, which is more like regular computer updates, can I?
Can anyone point me to a step-by-step procedure for updating Sony bodies and Sigma MC-11?
Okay! I deleted my previous downloads from Spring, downloaded fresh, and all went well! My two MC-11s are on the same page now, as are my two a7R2s. Happy camper! Great timing before I head back up to Washington soon. Thanks for the help!
Hey everyone. I am debating whether to keep a couple of my Canon lenses and buy the MC-11 adapter. I have a few questions though. The lenses I am considering keeping are the 85 1.8 and the 35 f32. My questions:
Is the IS on the 35 supported?
How do you adjust the aperture if there isn't a dedicated ring for it.
Is continuous AF supported
die_kruzen wrote:
Hey everyone. I am debating whether to keep a couple of my Canon lenses and buy the MC-11 adapter. I have a few questions though. The lenses I am considering keeping are the 85 1.8 and the 35 f32. My questions:
Is the IS on the 35 supported?
How do you adjust the aperture if there isn't a dedicated ring for it.
Is continuous AF supported
Thanks in advance.
In general, newer Canon lenses work almost like native FE lenses. How well it works also depends on the camera Sometimes, it is less responsive but the IS in the case of the 35mm lens works fine. You can even get the Eye-AF to work even in continuous AF. You just have to bit the bullet, get the MC-11 and try your lenses on it. By so doing you can evaluate yourself whether it works out for you or not.
You can change the aperture on the body, just like a native FE lens.
die_kruzen wrote:
Hey everyone. I am debating whether to keep a couple of my Canon lenses and buy the MC-11 adapter. I have a few questions though. The lenses I am considering keeping are the 85 1.8 and the 35 f32. My questions:
Is the IS on the 35 supported?
How do you adjust the aperture if there isn't a dedicated ring for it.
Is continuous AF supported
Thanks in advance.
The MC-11 permanently disables IBIS when a Canon IS lens is attached. So, IS lenses can only use the lens IS, and IBIS is only available on lenses with no IS. No matter if you disable the IS in the lens, IBIS can not be enabled when a IS lens is attached. This includes the latest Canon 35 F2 "IS" (you don't mention which 35 F2 you are referring to).
And here comes an ugly annoyance when using a Canon lens with IS in the MC-11: when the image is magnified the IS is not engaged (unlike when using IBIS). Once the IS stops (e.g. a couple of seconds after releasing the shutter half press) you need to half-press again the shutter, which will exit the magnified view if was enabled for manual focusing. You still can magnify while keeping the shutter half-press for a long time (to keep the IS running) but pressing a button in the back at the same time sometimes ends in an unvoluntary shot. In general I prefer non-IS Canon lenses for this simple reason. For a lens where IS is not critical for comfortable manual focusing this may no be a critical stopper anyway.
The lens aperture can be adjusted with the camera dials (as any Sony lens lacking the aperture ring).
Continuous AF is supported, but the AF in general is not well supported. With the MC-11 and Canon lenses you have two options: Phase AF (fast but only works in the center or close enough to the center) and Contrast AF (slow but works at any point). You can't micro adjust Phase AF with the Canons, but the lenses I have tested (35 F2 IS, 24-70 F4L and 70-200 F4L) are accurate. When using Sigma lenses you can't select between contrast or phase AF, but the camera uses a hybrid combination and is fast enough at any area and very accurate.
So for the MC-11 Canon lenses in Sony are second-class citizens. They are only first-class when manual focus and lacking IS, e.g. the Canon TSE lenses rock in Sony (still, some features are not available, like auto magnification upon moving the focus ring, or the ability to select stop down or wide open focusing with the trick of enabling/disabling the live view).
Thank you both for your informative responses! Looks like I will be giving some of the comforts of native lenses and thank you for detailing them cgaracia, but it's certain worth a try.
The MC-11 permanently disables IBIS when a Canon IS lens is attached. So, IS lenses can only use the lens IS, and IBIS is only available on lenses with no IS. No matter if you disable the IS in the lens, IBIS can not be enabled when a IS lens is attached. This includes the latest Canon 35 F2 "IS" (you don't mention which 35 F2 you are referring to).
cgarcia,
I did not know that the MC-11 disables IBIS for an IS lenses. Can you post the reference?
cgarcia wrote:
The MC-11 permanently disables IBIS when a Canon IS lens is attached. So, IS lenses can only use the lens IS, and IBIS is only available on lenses with no IS. No matter if you disable the IS in the lens, IBIS can not be enabled when a IS lens is attached. This includes the latest Canon 35 F2 "IS" (you don't mention which 35 F2 you are referring to).
And here comes an ugly annoyance when using a Canon lens with IS in the MC-11: when the image is magnified the IS is not engaged (unlike when using IBIS). Once the IS stops (e.g. a couple of seconds after releasing the shutter half press) you need to half-press again the shutter, which will exit the magnified view if was enabled for manual focusing. You still can magnify while keeping the shutter half-press for a long time (to keep the IS running) but pressing a button in the back at the same time sometimes ends in an unvoluntary shot. In general I prefer non-IS Canon lenses for this simple reason. For a lens where IS is not critical for comfortable manual focusing this may no be a critical stopper anyway.
The lens aperture can be adjusted with the camera dials (as any Sony lens lacking the aperture ring).
Continuous AF is supported, but the AF in general is not well supported. With the MC-11 and Canon lenses you have two options: Phase AF (fast but only works in the center or close enough to the center) and Contrast AF (slow but works at any point). You can't micro adjust Phase AF with the Canons, but the lenses I have tested (35 F2 IS, 24-70 F4L and 70-200 F4L) are accurate. When using Sigma lenses you can't select between contrast or phase AF, but the camera uses a hybrid combination and is fast enough at any area and very accurate.
So for the MC-11 Canon lenses in Sony are second-class citizens. They are only first-class when manual focus and lacking IS, e.g. the Canon TSE lenses rock in Sony (still, some features are not available, like auto magnification upon moving the focus ring, or the ability to select stop down or wide open focusing with the trick of enabling/disabling the live view). ...Show more →
I respectfully disagree.
I use all sorts of Canon lenses, with and without IS, and have no difficulty for semi-stationary general photography. Functions are nearly identical to use on Canon bodies, and at times even better with some of the Sony features such as magnified view when switched to manual focus (or using MF lenses such as TS-E). I opted to buy a lightly used copy of the EF 24-70/2.8L II rather than native GM model -- IQ is basically a toss-up, but the savings were tremendous. I'm also extremely happy with my choice to purchase the 16-35/4L IS after I was already investing in the Sony system -- much rather own than the Sony 16-35/4.
I own two MC-11 and use them often on two separate a7R2 bodies without any trouble. Plus, since I've kept my Canon DSLR bodies, I have full versatility there to use lenses on multi-platform and look forward to eventually buying Canon's newest R body and its EF to R adapter.
Of course I own some excellent Sony (e.g. 12-24/4 G, which are not comparatively available in other brands) and Zeiss Loxia lenses -- just so you don't think I'm looking down on Sony lenses.
Just trying to cover all bases at the most reasonable financial outlay and obtain highest IQ from the lens investment.
Enjoy exploring your Canon lenses on Sony bodies via Sigma MC-11!
I did not know that the MC-11 disables IBIS for an IS lenses. Can you post the reference?
Thanks.
This is standard Sony procedure to use the lens' built-in IS (IIRC, it is done on 3-axis, not 5 as some Sony lenses). This is true for Canon EF lenses on either Sigma MC-11 or Metabones IV and V, and Nikon lenses via Commlite Pro AF adapters.
This doesn't seem to inhibit IS use with large telephotos such as Canon 400/2.8L IS version for handheld work, as seen on the Sony Images thread.
