Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda

New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site

New Feature: SMS Notification alert

New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist

FM Forums | Sony Forum | Join Upload & Sell

2 3 end

Archive 2019 · Sony A7 "thin filter" mod.

realVivek
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Sony A7 "thin filter" mod.

This was a long overdue project. Having the ability to open up sensors on the way to debayering and monochrome conversions, I finally took one A7 sensor without its cover glass and added a custom UV/IR cut filter. The total glass thickness in the optical path is now 0.7mm instead of the 2.5mm of the stock.

It was a miserable day with constant rain. A few test snaps. No sharpening applied in the post.

These two with a 50/1.1 7 Artisans lens, nearly wide open.

Untitled by Vivek Iyer, on Flickr

Untitled by Vivek Iyer, on Flickr

The next two from an Olympus OM 85/2 at ~f/2.8.

Untitled by Vivek Iyer, on Flickr

Untitled by Vivek Iyer, on Flickr

This one with a very tricky lens Russar 20mm f/5.6. Even on a Leica MM the corners are mushy.

Untitled by Vivek Iyer, on Flickr

I am quite pleased so far.

Oct 16, 2019 at 02:04 PM

naturephoto1
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Sony A7 "thin filter" mod.

How would this modification compare with my Kolari A7r V3 thin sensor modification or the even thinner UT modification in thickness? I know that your camera should have less color issue toward the edges and corners than my thin sensor modded A7r V3.

Rich

Oct 16, 2019 at 02:26 PM

realVivek
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Sony A7 "thin filter" mod.

Hey Rich,

AFAIK, Kolari UT mod will have a total thickness (0.7 cover glass plus 0.2mm “UT” filter) of 0.9mm. I do not know the nature of Kolari’s filter. I almost bought one a while ago.

Mine is 0.7mm total glass on the sensor. It is not possible to get a thinner than this glass of this type.
Color shifts are at a minimum as the filter used is an absorptive one. Added: yes, it is thinner than Kolari UT mod!

Your V3, as I mentioned before, is fairly thick. It is thinner than the stock.

Oct 16, 2019 at 02:35 PM

naturephoto1
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Sony A7 "thin filter" mod.

realVivek wrote:
Hey Rich,

AFAIK, Kolari UT mod will have a total thickness (0.5mm cover glass plus 0.2mm “UT” filter) of 0.7mm. I do not know the nature of Kolari’s filter. I almost bought one a while ago.

Mine is 0.7mm total glass on the sensor. It is not possible to get a thinner than this glass of this type.
Color shifts are at a minimum as the filter used is an absorptive one.

Your V3, as I mentioned before, is fairly thick. It is thinner than the stock.

As I recall the V3 which is the same thickness as the V2 but has UV coatings is 0.8mm. So, if I recall correctly it should be 0.5mm plus 0.8mm for a thickness of 1.3mm. That is substantially thinner than the stock 2.5mm. I am not sure at this point whether I should just live with this or send the camera back to Kolari to have them replace the cover glass with the UT version.

Rich

Oct 16, 2019 at 02:42 PM

realVivek
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Sony A7 "thin filter" mod.

Rich, See the addition/correction to the earlier post.

The cover glass on A7 series sensors is 0.7mm thick. That plus 0.8mm (in your A7R mod) makes it 1.5mm.

To get 0.7mm, the cover glass has to be removed completely and cleanly. I do not think Kolari have the capabilities. Only one person from Taiwan (NKIR) does it commercially (as posted here a while ago).

Daniel @ monochromeimaging did a mod removing the cover glass for Dan (“thrice”). Unfortunately, that was not clean and had some glass debris that comes from the glass cutting/grinding.

Oct 16, 2019 at 02:50 PM

Jonathan F
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Sony A7 "thin filter" mod.

Nice! Any chance you tried your A7 with wide angle lenses? Also how do the native AF lenses perform? Are they significantly worst or just the same? I wouldn't mind in the far future doing this to one my A7III bodies for the added benefit of silent shutter and IBIS!

Oct 16, 2019 at 03:05 PM

naturephoto1
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Sony A7 "thin filter" mod.

realVivek wrote:
Rich, See the addition/correction to the earlier post.

The cover glass on A7 series sensors is 0.7mm thick. That plus 0.8mm (in your A7R mod) makes it 1.5mm.

To get 0.7mm, the cover glass has to be removed completely and cleanly. I do not think Kolari have the capabilities. Only one person from Taiwan (NKIR) does it commercially (as posted here a while ago).

Daniel @ monochromeimaging did a mod removing the cover glass for Dan (“thrice”). Unfortunately, that was not clean and had some glass debris that comes from the glass cutting/grinding.

OK. Thanks for the correction. Even 1.5mm is 1mm thinner than the stock 2.5mm. I am not sure if that is correct about removing the thin sensor mod since they originally installed the V2 glass with the V3 glass as I recall. Kolari may well be able to replace the Thin sensor with the UT sensor, though it would not be as thin as what you have. I guess that if I live with what I have and just learn to live with stopping down my fast glass Zeiss 35mm f1.4 ZM to about f2.8 or so. My Minolta 28mm f2.8 M-Rokkor I have found that I can get by with f5.6 or better f8. My Minolta 40mm f2 M-Rokkor I think should be OK by around f4 but will do better still at f5.6 or f8. My Leica 24mm f3.8 Asph. I think I am OK at f4 or f5.6. My Leica M WATE does OK on my stock camera at or by f8 but should do better on the A7r V3 probably around f5.6. Both the 35mm ZM and the 24mm Asph lenses need to be corrected with Corner Fix so I use them less often, but...

Rich

Edited on Oct 16, 2019 at 03:19 PM · View previous versions

Oct 16, 2019 at 03:10 PM

realVivek
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Sony A7 "thin filter" mod.

Thanks!

I finished the conversion earlier this morning and made a few test snaps after that. These are early hours (not even days!)!

I posted one wide angle shot above. Russar 20mm f/5.6 (see Marco Cavina’s fabulous page on that here: http://www.marcocavina.com/articoli_fotografici/Soviet_and_wide_lenses_on_Leica_M/00_p.htm). This is one of the most difficult, symmetrical lenses to deal with on digital.

Jonathan F wrote:
Nice! Any chance you tried your A7 with wide angle lenses? Also how do the native AF lenses perform? Are they significantly worst or just the same? I wouldn't mind in the far future doing this to one my A7III bodies for the added benefit of silent shutter and IBIS!

Edited on Oct 16, 2019 at 03:20 PM · View previous versions

Oct 16, 2019 at 03:15 PM

realVivek
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Sony A7 "thin filter" mod.

I will take out my ZM 35 when there is no rain and check it out.

Rich, As I said (check with Kolari to confirm what I said), they can not remove the cover glass. Only NKIR will do it commercially.

naturephoto1 wrote:
OK. Thanks for the correction. Even 1.5mm is 1mm thinner than the stock 2.5mm. So, I guess that I live with what I have and just learn to live with stopping down my fast glass Zeiss 35mm f1.4 ZM to about f2.8 or so. My Minolta 28mm f2.8 M-Rokkor I have found that I can get by with f5.6 or better f8. My Minolta 40mm f2 M-Rokkor I think should be OK by around f4 but will do better still at f5.6 or f8. My Leica 24mm f3.8 Asph. I think I am OK at f4 or f5.6. My Leica...Show more →

Oct 16, 2019 at 03:17 PM

naturephoto1
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Sony A7 "thin filter" mod.

realVivek wrote:
I will take out my ZM 35 when there is no rain and check it out.

Rich, As I said (check with Kolari to confirm what I said), they can not remove the cover glass. Only NKIR will do it commercially.

I modified what I posted so you might review what I posted. It could be worth my having Kolari replace the Thin Sensor glass with the UT sensor glass in the future. I may want to talk with Ilija about this. It may not be as thin as yours, but it may be something to consider.

Rich

Oct 16, 2019 at 03:22 PM

freaklikeme
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Sony A7 "thin filter" mod.

SWEET! Who's filter glass did you use?

Oct 16, 2019 at 03:27 PM

naturephoto1
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Sony A7 "thin filter" mod.

naturephoto1 wrote:
I modified what I posted so you might review what I posted. It could be worth my having Kolari replace the Thin Sensor glass with the UT sensor glass in the future. I may want to talk with Ilija about this. It may not be as thin as yours, but it may be something to consider.

Rich

I just called Kolari but did not speak with Ilija since he was not in. But, they checked with the technician and they indicated since they installed the V3 cover they would have no problem in getting it out and replaced with the UT cover. It is just going to be expensive at $400 plus shipping. I think that I could get $10 off of the price. Color correction could either be done in camera or custom white balance.

Rich

Oct 16, 2019 at 03:38 PM

realVivek
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Sony A7 "thin filter" mod.

Thanks!

Schott VG 20.

See this for a sort of a review of all IR cut filters: https://www.slideshare.net/schott-advanced-optics/schott-glass-vg20-laser-munich-2013-25916906

freaklikeme wrote:
SWEET! Who's filter glass did you use?

Oct 16, 2019 at 05:49 PM

realVivek
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Sony A7 "thin filter" mod.

A couple of samples from old lenses on the modified camera.

Jupiter-3 5cm f/1.5

Untitled by Vivek Iyer, on Flickr

Nikkor P.C 10.5cm f/2.5

Untitled by Vivek Iyer, on Flickr

Oct 20, 2019 at 08:10 AM

naturephoto1
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Sony A7 "thin filter" mod.

Hi Vivek,

Have you had a chance yet to try the Zeiss 35mm f1.4 Distagon ZM lens?

Rich

Oct 20, 2019 at 08:13 AM

nampramos
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Sony A7 "thin filter" mod.

I still dream of getting an as7 mark i converted to bw only. No one with one here?

Oct 20, 2019 at 08:17 AM

realVivek
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Sony A7 "thin filter" mod.

Hi Rich, will post some samples soon. Took out earlier today.

Vivek.

naturephoto1 wrote:
Hi Vivek,

Have you had a chance yet to try the Zeiss 35mm f1.4 Distagon ZM lens?

Rich

Oct 20, 2019 at 12:23 PM

MAubrey
Online
• • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Sony A7 "thin filter" mod.

These are lookin' good, Vivek!

I have the A7rII with the cover glass removed (from the gentleman in Taiwan) and I love it with my Contax G lenses and Zeiss ZM lenses.

I haven't tried it yet with any of the more vintage stuff like what you're shooting!

Oct 20, 2019 at 01:25 PM

realVivek
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Sony A7 "thin filter" mod.

MAubrey wrote:
These are lookin' good, Vivek!

I have the A7rII with the cover glass removed (from the gentleman in Taiwan) and I love it with my Contax G lenses and Zeiss ZM lenses.

I haven't tried it yet with any of the more vintage stuff like what you're shooting!

Thank you!

You should try old classics on them as well. You will be pleasantly surprised.

Oct 20, 2019 at 02:05 PM

realVivek
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Sony A7 "thin filter" mod.

A few ZM 35/1.4 samples.

Nearly wide open:

Untitled by Vivek Iyer, on Flickr

Untitled by Vivek Iyer, on Flickr

At about f2.1:

Untitled by Vivek Iyer, on Flickr

despite soft back lighting, there is Moire!

100% crop:

Untitled by Vivek Iyer, on Flickr

With higher contrast light it will become worse.

Oct 21, 2019 at 12:12 PM

1 2 3 end
FM Forums \| Sony Forum \| Join Upload & Sell 1 2 3 end

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.