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Archive 2009 · Mirex adapter experience

Astragony
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Mirex adapter experience

Hello, so I am here to drop a few words on my mirex adapter experience and thoughts.

About a month ago I purchased the mirex tilt shift adapter for mamiya 645 (eos mount) from the site, customer service and communication are great. Once they got my payment via bank transfer it took them 4 days to get the adapter to my door (Italy).
The adapter comes in a nice little box with instructions and a little tool.
It's built really well: all metal construction with visible mounting point on both ends, the movement is nice and smooth (and it only got smoother with time).

Once mounted to the camera in it's standard position the adapter can only tilt down 10° and shift left or right.
To get it to tilt up or sideway you have to rotate the whole thing (so for example if you want an upward tilt you have to rotate the adapter 180°).
Tilt and shift movements are not indipendent, it's impossible to have a downward/upward tilt and a vertical shift together (I would use this setup mostly in landscape).
In practice though it works really quite well.

Here are the things I don't really like about it:
- The rotating levers are REALLY hard to reach and not easy to operate.
- At smaller apertures when using either extreme tilt or shift you get viewfinder vignetting (that does not affect the picture).
- I would have been nice if tilt and shift were indipendent.

Overall I am very glad I purchased this adapter, and while not cheap (350ish euros) it's a good value considering that all the lens you mount on it work as tilt shift.

The lens:
I only have a Mamiya 80mm 1.9 N and a 35mm 3.5 N.
The 80 is a FANTASTIC lens, the resolution and sharpness across are exceptional from wide open while the bokeh and the rendering is ultrasmooth and soft. It really gives me an "analog" feel.
It's about the size and weight as the EF 85 f1.8 with the adapter.

The 35 is a mixed bag: I really like the focal lenght and the rendering is wonderful but the viewfinder is extremely dark (using the EG-S screen on my 5DmkII) already at max aperture making it almost useless in dim light.
The lens is massive for a slow 35mm... and most of all the corner sharpness is dissapointing (maybe I made some mistakes or maybe I was expecting the quality of the 80), considering it's the most expensive mamiya N lens you can get I am dissapointed.

Both lens have very very smooth focusing rings and are a pleasure to use.
Note: both are REALLY flare prone, it's not really a problem, I'm just pointing it out.

Here are some pics I took with my 5DmkII and the lenses mounted to the adapter:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2573/4096859580_ae595d1dbc_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2498/4095372888_3075cdc413_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3534/4046321578_1f56cf7777_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2525/4051745217_45d8c2c7fa_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2664/4057505261_2f25eda2f8_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2508/4010594683_40f550518e_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3469/3975648166_e6b04597f5_o.jpg

Feel free to ask more specific questions

Nov 12, 2009 at 04:51 AM

thrice
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Mirex adapter experience

Let me just say awesome pictures, every one a wall-hanger.

Other than that, any device regardless of cost that allows you the control to achieve such unique images is worth it I believe. If I weren't getting out of SLR's I'd jump on this.

Nov 12, 2009 at 04:58 AM

pdmphoto
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Mirex adapter experience

Great pictures. I read somewhere else that there is an exposed part in the adapter that often causes the flare, not the lenses themsleves.

Nov 12, 2009 at 05:44 AM

Astragony
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Mirex adapter experience

pdmphoto wrote:
Great pictures. I read somewhere else that there is an exposed part in the adapter that often causes the flare, not the lenses themsleves.

Is there anyway to fix it?
More details on the subject?

Thanks.

Nov 12, 2009 at 05:50 AM

jcolwell
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Mirex adapter experience

Thanks for the great hands-on review, and the remarkable photos. I agree with the many positive points you mention, and I also agree with your short list of things not to like:

Astragony wrote:
Here are the things I don't really like about it:
- The rotating levers are REALLY hard to reach and not easy to operate.
- At smaller apertures when using either extreme tilt or shift you get viewfinder vignetting (that does not affect the picture).
- I would have been nice if tilt and shift were indipendent.

1. It should be possible to make the rotating levers a bit thicker where you grab them, without changing the rest of this mechanism, but it might affect cost.

2. The second problem with vignetting is common to all (or at least most) T-S lenses. I usually shoot in manual mode to set exposure with zero movements, and then compose and take the shot with movements. The DSLR histogram is definitely worth checking, because a shifted image can easily have different lighting than the no-shift image.

3. There's not much space on top of the tilt mechanism to make a shift mechanism that also rotates, but I bet that the smart folks at Mirex could do something if they really work on it. Again, it would probably affect cost.

I find that the C 35/3.5N gives the best results when the image is underexposed a bit.

Ciao, Jim

Nov 12, 2009 at 05:51 AM

jcolwell
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Mirex adapter experience

At large tilt angles, there is an exposed internal curved surface with a very viscous and highly-reflective lubricant on its surface. Also, at large shift, you get a fairly large but less-reflective, exposed internal flat surface that could light up, with the right (or wrong) circumstances. OTOH, I don't think I've noticed flare problems with adapter movements that aren't also present with no movements, but most of the subjects I shoot with the Mirex aren't backlit.

I've had serious internal reflection problems from bright steel adapters that I use with my Auto Bellow N system - a few pieces of adhesive-backed flocked paper does the trick there, but it wouldn't help with the moving internals of the Mirex.

I get my flocked paper from Kendrick Astro Instruments: http://www.kendrickastro.com/astro/protostar.html it's a bargain at twice the price (assuming you want a 30" wide piece of it).

Edited on Nov 12, 2009 at 11:17 AM · View previous versions

Nov 12, 2009 at 06:03 AM

Anden
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Mirex adapter experience

Very nice photos. The Mirex is worth a serious thought.

Maybe santa will bring me one?

Nov 12, 2009 at 07:11 AM

Astragony
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Mirex adapter experience

jcolwell wrote:
At large tilt angles, there is an exposed internal curved surface with a very viscous and highly-reflective lubricant on its surface. Also, at large shift, you get a fairly large but less-reflective, exposed internal flat surface that could light up, with the right (or wrong) circumstances. OTOH, I don't think I've noticed flare problems with adapter movements that aren't also present with no movements, but most of the subjects I shoot with the Mirex aren't backlit.

I've had serious internal reflection problems from bright steel adapters that I use with my Auto Bellow N system - a few pieces of adhesive-backed...Show more →

Ah thanks, that makes sense now

Nov 13, 2009 at 05:21 AM

atufte
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Mirex adapter experience

Superb pictures, restechhpahhh....

Nov 13, 2009 at 05:39 AM

Anden
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Mirex adapter experience

The waterfall is just amazing. Truly amazing.

Nov 13, 2009 at 07:51 AM

wayne seltzer
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Mirex adapter experience

Great shots!
Were you using any strobes on the outdoor female portraits?
Love the lighting on the first two. What kind of lighting setup?
That 80 1.9 bokeh is ultra smooth and I like the sharpness wideopen too. Very nice!

Nov 13, 2009 at 01:59 PM

Astragony
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Mirex adapter experience

I use strobes on pretty much all my portraits, most often a single hot shoe flash triggered by elinchrom skyport.
Sometimes I use an umbrella for diffusion and some other (like in the first 2) a ringflash adapter (always off camera).

Yeah the bokeh really is smooth!

Nov 13, 2009 at 02:02 PM

sirimiri
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Mirex adapter experience

I'll be upfront in saying I am not a fan of the dynamic range/tones in 1 & 2, but that's a personal taste thing. However the pose in the latter is agreeable.

All else I like quite a bit - it's a very nice, smooth dropoff. The background does looks a smidge "busy" in that last waterfall shot but that's probably par for the course given the subject. By the way, that is my favorite shot - placement, tone, contrast, subject. Really pretty.

For us in the US, Mirex is a bit pricey - they only ship DHL express and with the low dollar, it comes out to over $550 or so. But it's a great tool - I should use it more often, and effectively, like you have.

Thanks for sharing.

Nov 13, 2009 at 02:26 PM

Anden
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Mirex adapter experience

I did not get the mirex just now but I bought me a Mamiya 45/2.8 and made me a franken-tilt lens. Very fun to use. Had forgotten how useful tilt can be.

A

Nov 17, 2009 at 03:51 AM

Yakim Peled
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Mirex adapter experience

Astragony wrote:
Here are the things I don't really like about it:
- The rotating levers are REALLY hard to reach and not easy to operate.
- At smaller apertures when using either extreme tilt or shift you get viewfinder vignetting (that does not affect the picture).
- I would have been nice if tilt and shift were indipendent.

I wholeheartedly agree with the first. Extremely annoying. I can also add another: Max tilt in horizontal position is not possible with 40D. It bums into the build in flash.

Astragony wrote:
The 35 is a mixed bag: I really like the focal lenght and the rendering is wonderful but the viewfinder is extremely dark (using the EG-S screen on my 5DmkII) already at max aperture making it almost useless in dim light.
The lens is massive for a slow 35mm... and most of all the corner sharpness is dissapointing (maybe I made some mistakes or maybe I was expecting the quality of the 80), considering it's the most expensive mamiya N lens you can get I am dissapointed.

Corner sharpness is excellent on the 40D.

OTOH, I envy you that you get a wider AoV with your lenses.

WRT viewfinder, I mostly use LV with my lenses (35/3.5 and 120/4).

Also, it is may be the most expensive Mamiya N lens you can get but it's not the most expensive Mamiya lens you can get.

The 24/4 is more expensive.

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/831742/

Astragony wrote:
Both lens have very very smooth focusing rings and are a pleasure to use.
Note: both are REALLY flare prone, it's not really a problem, I'm just pointing it out.

Use a lens hood. I actually bought two for my 35/3.5 from e-bay.A short metal one and a longer rubber one.

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/803637/

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Nov 17, 2009 at 06:59 AM

Astragony
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Mirex adapter experience

Yakim Peled wrote:
I wholeheartedly agree with the first. Extremely annoying. I can also add another: Max tilt in horizontal position is not possible with 40D. It bums into the build in flash.

Corner sharpness is excellent on the 40D.

The 24/4 is more expensive.

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/831742/

Use a lens hood. I actually bought...Show more →

Well the conversion from a medium format to 35mm is already painful, imagine going to APS

Nov 17, 2009 at 03:48 PM

Yakim Peled
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Mirex adapter experience

I don't need to.

However, truth must be said that as I have lenses from 10mm to 300mm, I can't say I feel limited by this in any non-TS way. It's just that M645 issue....

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Nov 18, 2009 at 04:26 AM

jcolwell
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Mirex adapter experience

Astragony wrote:
Well the conversion from a medium format to 35mm is already painful, imagine going to APS

...or from large format to micro Four Thirds.

Nov 18, 2009 at 07:53 PM

prashant
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Mirex adapter experience

shame, can't see the images.

Mar 11, 2010 at 07:06 AM


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