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Archive 2008 · Best EOS adapter for a Contax/Yashica mount lens?

Cableaddict
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Best EOS adapter for a Contax/Yashica mount lens?

I just got my first Zeiss.

Just a Zeiss T* Planar 50mm 1:1.4 (not the new ZF) but the price was great, and I'm dying to see how it compares to my Canon 50 1.4.

It has a Contax/Yashica mount.

What is the "best" (most reliable, consistent quality, etc) adapter for my 5D? I would of course prefer focus-confirm if possible, but total build quality is most important.

-Thanks

Edited by Cableaddict on Jul 07, 2008 at 03:50 PM GMT

Edited on Jul 07, 2008 at 03:50 PM

Jul 07, 2008 at 03:33 PM

cogitech
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Best EOS adapter for a Contax/Yashica mount lens?

Kindai.

Jul 07, 2008 at 03:47 PM

DocsPics
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Best EOS adapter for a Contax/Yashica mount lens?

I don't know much about anything anymore. That being said, I do know that cogitech really knows his stuff, so I would go with whatever he recommends (and that goes for just about anything related to alternative lenses).

I'm Doc...and I approved this message. (I think this long and drawn out presidential campaign is getting to me)

Jul 07, 2008 at 04:10 PM

Cableaddict
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Best EOS adapter for a Contax/Yashica mount lens?

Thanks, Cogitech. I researched Kindai and it does seem everuone agrees on the build quality.

However, they don't seem to have focus-confirm chips. I'd rather not live without that, even if not a necessity. I see them for sale on Ebay, but only in bulk.

How would I get a chip installed on the Kindai? Does someone offer that service?
(I did a search, but can't find this)

Haoda has one for a middle price with the chip, but it's probably the same quality as the non-chipped $20 ones everyone sells. Should I / can I buy a cheapo adapter, rip the chip off and install it onto the Kindai?

Jul 07, 2008 at 08:14 PM

StevenPA
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Best EOS adapter for a Contax/Yashica mount lens?

You could have it chipped by happypagehk on eBay. I think it costs $50 + shipping both ways. They'll even custom code the EXIF data for you, which is a bonus. But for a 50/1.4, it might be better just to start with a cheaper adapter. I had a Haoda adpater before, and wasn't too fussed with it, but it's a much cheaper (and faster) solution if you want a focus confirm chip.

Jul 07, 2008 at 08:21 PM

cogitech
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Best EOS adapter for a Contax/Yashica mount lens?

Cableaddict wrote:
Thanks, Cogitech. I researched Kindai and it does seem everuone agrees on the build quality.

However, they don't seem to have focus-confirm chips. I'd rather not live without that, even if not a necessity. I see them for sale on Ebay, but only in bulk.

How would I get a chip installed on the Kindai? Does someone offer that service?
(I did a search, but can't find this)

Haoda has one for a middle price with the chip, but it's probably the same quality as the non-chipped $20 ones everyone sells. Should I / can I buy a cheapo adapter, rip the chip...Show more →

Technically? Yes.

Practically? It depends.

As Steven suggested, it might be better to try the lower-cost solution first, if you have your heart set on AF-confirm. If it doesn't work out, you can get a better adapter and try the transplant.

Edited on Jul 07, 2008 at 08:25 PM

Jul 07, 2008 at 08:24 PM

edwardkaraa
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Best EOS adapter for a Contax/Yashica mount lens?

IMHO, if you want to use AF confirm, you loose half of the advantage of manual focusing, to be able to compose an image, and then focus. In this case, staying with AF lenses would be more logical.

Jul 08, 2008 at 08:06 AM

davidearls
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Best EOS adapter for a Contax/Yashica mount lens?

I would encourage you to read Pham Minh Son's post in this thread:

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/658111

My experience with a thin adapter from Pham wasn't positive at first. The adapter was too thin and caused my Distagon 28 f2.8 to foul on my camera's mirror box. I sacrificed the future saleability of the lens by removing the protrusions from the rear of the lens (solved fouling) and then did infinity focus adjustment per shirozina's instructions, and voila! I have acquired a full stop of aperture on the small side - the greater depth of field Pham refers to, which translates into better corner performance on the 28.

I've also had excellent experience with Haodas for my Distagon 18 and my Zeiss fish - but infinity focus is much less of an issue when you get that wide.

Obviously, you have other considerations with your 5D, but you should read Pham's post no matter what. He clarifies a lot of the mystery.

Jul 08, 2008 at 08:26 AM

PeaktoPeek
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Best EOS adapter for a Contax/Yashica mount lens?

I use 3 from Haoda, and they have worked great so far. I tried a cheaper adapter from an ebay seller which ended up being too thin and causing problems with my 5D's mirror -- same lens w/ Haoda = no problem!

Paul

Jul 08, 2008 at 08:32 AM

Grant808
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Best EOS adapter for a Contax/Yashica mount lens?

edwardkaraa wrote:
IMHO, if you want to use AF confirm, you loose half of the advantage of manual focusing, to be able to compose an image, and then focus. In this case, staying with AF lenses would be more logical.

One's ability to manual focus doesn't disappear because an AF confirm adapter is used...

Jul 08, 2008 at 08:50 AM

cogitech
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Best EOS adapter for a Contax/Yashica mount lens?

Grant808 wrote:
One's ability to manual focus doesn't disappear because an AF confirm adapter is used...

No. But they can be inaccurate, annoying/distracting, etc.

One's attention is still fixed inside the VF, rather than out in front of the camera. I much prefer the latter.

Jul 08, 2008 at 08:59 AM

Cableaddict
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Best EOS adapter for a Contax/Yashica mount lens?

My thought is, why not have the chip, just in case? I don't know if I want to change my focussing screen, so there may be times when that chip could be a life-saver. I use my canon lenses in manual mode more than 50% of the time. I just LIKE manual focussing, even with the stock 5D screen, but in low-light it's difficult.

I have no experience yet with alt lenses, but it seem one could easily ignore the chip when not needed.

Edited on Jul 08, 2008 at 11:11 AM

Jul 08, 2008 at 11:09 AM

cogitech
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Best EOS adapter for a Contax/Yashica mount lens?

I found I could not ignore it, but others really like it. Maybe you will too.

Jul 08, 2008 at 11:25 AM

edwardkaraa
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Best EOS adapter for a Contax/Yashica mount lens?

I've tried many adapters and I can tell you the Kindai are something else. They're the Rolls Royce of adapters, the way they fit to the lens and the smooth action when you change lenses. The precision is the best among all adapters, I'm getting infinity exactly where it is supposed to be. They are pricey (I've got 7 of them and they cost the price of a new ZF lens) but they're worth it.

Jul 08, 2008 at 12:05 PM

Cableaddict
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Best EOS adapter for a Contax/Yashica mount lens?

cogitech wrote:
I found I could not ignore it, but others really like it. Maybe you will too.

Paul, I'm certainly leaning towards the Kindai (all but definite at this point) but the chip issue is curious.

Are there never times when you wish you had a chip?

What focussing screen are you using on your 5D?

Edited on Jul 08, 2008 at 02:42 PM

Jul 08, 2008 at 02:42 PM

cogitech
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Best EOS adapter for a Contax/Yashica mount lens?

Cableaddict wrote:
Are there never times when you wish you had a chip?

Never. If I could, I would remove the AF points completely.

What focussing screen are you using on your 5D?

Ee-S.

(But I am certainly not representative of the majority and this may ultimately be irrelevant to you)

Get a happypagehk or haoda chipped adapter first and try it out. Then you'll know if AF-confirm is up your alley and you may get lucky and get bang-on infinity. They are only 70 bucks and you should be able to move the chip to the Kindai if you decide to get one later. Kindai is the shit, but it isn't a reason to forgo trying AF-confirm. I hate it, others love it.

Edited on Jul 08, 2008 at 03:16 PM

Jul 08, 2008 at 03:09 PM

Jman13
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Best EOS adapter for a Contax/Yashica mount lens?

I just can't imagine spending $165 for an adapter when the $25 consumer grade Fotodiox adapter works just fine. I can understand on lenses that are very finicky about perfect register distance, but unless it's one of those, why spend so much more money?

Jul 08, 2008 at 03:23 PM

Cableaddict
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Best EOS adapter for a Contax/Yashica mount lens?

jman,

I think the answer is "consistency." Some folks love those adapters. Others have reported problems, (looseness, edge-to-edge alignment, etc) either right away or over time.

Brass wears differently from aluminum, and there's certainly differences in machining & QC to consider. Price is not ALWAYS an indicator, of course, but the more I read the more I realize that $165 buys me peace-of-mind.

Jul 08, 2008 at 09:02 PM

StevenPA
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Best EOS adapter for a Contax/Yashica mount lens?

cogitech wrote:

I've always had both feet planted firmly in the modified Ec-L or modified Nikon FM3a K3 split screen, but I think I'm going to give the Ee-S another try because it's a readily available and comparatively cheap screen. I recommend that the OP give it a shot as well.

And Paul, I agree, come on Canon, get those etched focus confirm boxes off of the viewfinder! Nikon doesn't etch and hasn't etched for ages.

Edited on Jul 08, 2008 at 10:09 PM

Jul 08, 2008 at 10:07 PM

edwardkaraa
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Best EOS adapter for a Contax/Yashica mount lens?

Jman13 wrote:
I just can't imagine spending $165 for an adapter when the $25 consumer grade Fotodiox adapter works just fine. I can understand on lenses that are very finicky about perfect register distance, but unless it's one of those, why spend so much more money?

It depends on how critical you are about your photography. I bought last year 13 fotodiox consumer grade adapters to use with my CZ lenses. The adapters are just very slightly thinner than they're supposed to be and the thickness is not even. One of the (expensive) lenses fell down from the camera while focusing because the adapter got loose. My lenses gave me infinity at 8-10 meters and even at 5 meters for some. I tried first one kindai adapter and that was it. I reordered 6 more for my better lenses. The rest I'm using an almost exact copy of the kindai made for Elefoto in China. They also get me infinity where it should be, but I find a great difference in precision, something that is visible even when I'm just swapping lenses, I can know if it's the Kindai or the other.

Jul 08, 2008 at 11:17 PM

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