View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
dan_
Joined: 05 Dec 2012 Posts: 1052 Location: Romania
Expire: 2016-12-19
|
Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 11:30 am Post subject: Auto-focus adapter for old MF lenses - IT WORKS ! |
|
|
dan_ wrote:
I know, it sounds crazy, but it actually works!!!
I thought about it long time ago but I've never considered it really feasible. Few weeks ago someone on this forum posted a link to some old Russian lenses remounted in Minolta AF lens bodies and they seemed to work in AF mode. That made me think that my old project has a chance to actually work and I decided to try it. I have a 35-70 Minolta AF lens that I didn't use and intended to sell but the prices are so low that it's not really worth selling. So, I've dismantled it, took out all its glass parts and the diaphragm, re-mounted the remaining parts and tried it on my MEX-7 with the LA-EA4 adapter. At first it didn't work - the camera didn't recognize it. But the next day, when cleaning my working space, I've discovered that I forgot to mount a thin spacer beneath the lens mount. I fixed it in place and...BINGO! - the camera recognizes the lens and the AF mechanism works snappy.
That's the AF adapter made from my 35-70 Minolta AF lens:
And here I'm presenting you the first ~80 years old Auto-focus TT&H 5 inches anastigmat lens on my NEX-7:
And here are the first AF tests with the old lens:
Exceeding my expectations the AF is working well and is quite snappy.
The work is not finished, I still have to make adjustments and better mounts for the old lenses I want to use with it, but I can already draw some conclusions:
- Only lenses with a FL >~95 mm can be adapted with the adapter I made from the 35-70 Minolta AF lens. I've tried the 101 mm Ektar with it and it focuses to infinity.
- Adapted lenses shouldn't weight to much because half of the Minolta AF helicoid is made of plastic.
- Lenses with a longer than 135 mm FL shouldn't be used because of the same reason above. I've tried my 135 mm Hektor lens and it works well.
- The lens shouldn't be used in low interior light with the lens diaphragm closed more than f/8 - not sufficient light for AF.
- The zoom mechanism extension of the Minolta AF lens can be, very convenient, used for close up, as in the tests above.
My conclusion so far is that this adapter does a fairly good job in auto-focusing old MF lenses but it is not a complete AF solution. That's because the AF extension of the lens is not long enough for closer focusing.
The best way to use it is to make a quick draft manual focus using its zoom ring first and then let the adapter do the precise AF. It's quite quick and precise this way - as snappy as the initial Minolta AF lens was.
I'll further develop and tune it up, add other lenses and continue to post here my conclusions. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
kds315*
Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 16541 Location: Weinheim, Germany
Expire: 2021-03-09
|
Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 12:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
kds315* wrote:
Genius Dan!! I'm impressed, VERY well done! _________________ Klaus - Admin
"S'il vient a point, me souviendra" [Thomas Bohier (1460-1523)]
http://www.macrolenses.de for macro and special lens info
http://www.pbase.com/kds315/uv_photos for UV Images and lens/filter info
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kds315/albums my albums using various lenses
http://photographyoftheinvisibleworld.blogspot.com/ my UV BLOG
http://www.travelmeetsfood.com/blog Food + Travel BLOG
https://galeriafotografia.com Architecture + Drone photography
Currently most FAV lens(es):
X80QF f3.2/80mm
Hypergon f11/26mm
ELCAN UV f5.6/52mm
Zeiss UV-Planar f4/60mm
Zeiss UV-Planar f2/62mm
Lomo Уфар-12 f2.5/41mm
Lomo Зуфар-2 f4.0/350mm
Lomo ZIKAR-1A f1.2/100mm
Nikon UV Nikkor f4.5/105mm
Zeiss UV-Sonnar f4.3/105mm
CERCO UV-VIS-NIR f1.8/45mm
CERCO UV-VIS-NIR f4.1/94mm
CERCO UV-VIS-NIR f2.8/100mm
Steinheil Quarzobjektiv f1.8/50mm
Pentax Quartz Takumar f3.5/85mm
Carl Zeiss Jena UV-Objektiv f4/60mm
NYE OPTICAL Lyman-Alpha II f1.1/90mm
NYE OPTICAL Lyman-Alpha I f2.8/200mm
COASTAL OPTICS f4/60mm UV-VIS-IR Apo
COASTAL OPTICS f4.5/105mm UV-Micro-Apo
Pentax Ultra-Achromatic Takumar f4.5/85mm
Pentax Ultra-Achromatic Takumar f5.6/300mm
Rodenstock UV-Rodagon f5.6/60mm + 105mm + 150mm
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Rick1779
Joined: 17 May 2013 Posts: 1207 Location: Italy
Expire: 2014-06-06
|
Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 2:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Rick1779 wrote:
Amazing work! _________________ TELLTALE
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
my_photography
Joined: 03 Nov 2008 Posts: 2772 Location: Pearl of the Orient
Expire: 2016-12-25
|
Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 3:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
my_photography wrote:
Great idea you have there and nice result. _________________
Zeiss: CJZ Flektogon 20/2.8, CJZ Flektogon 20/4, , CJZ Pentacon 29/2.8, CJZ Flektogon 35/2.4, CJZ Pancolar 50/1.8, Tessar 50/2.8, Biotar 7.5cm/1.5, CJZ Pancolar 80/1.8, CJZ Sonnar 135/3.5, CJZ Pentacon 135/2.8 CJZ Sonnar 200/2.8
Other Germany: Meyer Primoplan 50/1.8, Meyer Trioplan 100/2.8
Takumar: SMC 50/1.4 Super Tak 55/2, Super Tak 85/1.9, S-M-C 135/3.5, Super Tak 150/4
Russian: Zenith 16/2.8, Mir-24M 2/35, Volna-9 50/2.8, Helios 44M (58/2), Helios 44M-3 MC (58/2), Helios 40 (85/1.5), Tair 11A (135/2.8 )
Others: Sears 28/2.8, Sankor 35/2.8, Enna M�nchen Tele-Ennalyt 135/3.5
Zoom Sigma Zoom 28-85/3.5-4.5
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
LucisPictor
Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 17633 Location: Oberhessen, Germany / Maidstone ('95-'96)
Expire: 2013-12-03
|
Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 7:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
LucisPictor wrote:
Yes! Well done indeed! _________________ Personal forum activity on pause every now and again (due to job obligations)!
Carsten, former Moderator
Things ON SALE
Carsten = "KAPCTEH" = "Karusutenu" | T-shirt?.........................My photos from Emilia: http://www.schouler.net/emilia/emilia2011.html
My gear: http://retrocameracs.wordpress.com/ausrustung/
Old list: http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic.php?t=65 (Not up-to-date, sorry!) | http://www.lucispictor.de | http://www.alensaweek.wordpress.com |
http://www.retrocamera.de |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Nordentro
Joined: 24 Jun 2010 Posts: 4713 Location: Lillehammer, Norway
Expire: 2015-01-29
|
Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 7:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Nordentro wrote:
Very cool
IQ on the TayHob is fantastic too! _________________ Lars | Manuellfokus.no |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Tedat
Joined: 08 Nov 2011 Posts: 800 Location: Berlin/Germany
|
Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 6:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
Tedat wrote:
wow _________________ Regards
Jan
flickr
Sony A7RM2
Contax T*: Distagon 4/18, Distagon 2/28, Distagon 1.4/35, PC-Distagon 2.8/35, Planar 1.4/50, Planar 1.4/85, Planar 2/100, Planar 2/135, S-Planar 2.8/60, Tessar 2.8/45, Mirotar 8/500, Vario Sonnar 3.4/35-70, Vario Sonnar 4.5-5.6/100-300
Carl Zeiss for Rollei QBM: F-Distagon 2.8/16 HFT, Distagon 2.8/25, Planar 1.4/50 HFT, Sonnar 2.8/85
Konica Hexanon AR: 2.8/21, 1.2/57
Other: Minolta F2.8 [T4.5] 135mm STF, Meopta Meostigmat 1.4/70, Tokina AT-X 2.5/90.. and lots of early M42 Yashinon, Rikenon and Mamiya lenses |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Olivier
Joined: 18 Feb 2009 Posts: 5077 Location: France
Expire: 2015-08-06
|
Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 10:59 am Post subject: |
|
|
Olivier wrote:
Great job and inventivity !
Congrats Dan. _________________ Olivier - Moderator
Dslr : Olympus Pen E-P2 - Fujifilm X-Pro2 - Canon 5D MkII.
SLr and MF lenses : for feedback and helping people, cameras and lenses I own : full list here http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic,p,1442740.html#1442740 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
RTI
Joined: 15 Jul 2011 Posts: 282 Location: Moldova, Chisinau
|
Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 1:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
RTI wrote:
There was a topic on the sony-club.ru about a similar concept. That guy used a minolta AF 50/1.7 and the J-9 lens block, it actually worked and focused well on his a-mount cameras. I can't find the topic now, since it was posted a few years ago, anyway very nice ideas.
PS
Found a video of the J-9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71KMNO4PWjk _________________ Cameras: Canon 5DIII, Zorki-4, Canon AE-1
MF:Rokkor 58/1.2, Rokkor MC 58/1.4, Yashica ML 50/1.7, M39 Jupiter-9 (silver 1955), Zuiko 35-70/3.6
AF: Sigma Art 35/1.4, Tamron 24-70/2.8 VC, |
|
Back to top |
|
|
dan_
Joined: 05 Dec 2012 Posts: 1052 Location: Romania
Expire: 2016-12-19
|
Posted: Sat May 23, 2015 4:52 am Post subject: |
|
|
dan_ wrote:
Thank you gentlemen for the kind words.
RTI
Yes, a link to that video posted on this forum few weeks ago made me think that such an adapter might actually work. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
CuriousOne
Joined: 31 Dec 2013 Posts: 669 Location: Home
|
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 6:14 am Post subject: |
|
|
CuriousOne wrote:
I've also done some tests in that area, but never finished, since too much mechanical work would be needed.
Minolta 35-70/3.5-4.5 was used as donor, and it was focusing 500mm/F8 preset lens. In bright sunlight it worked just fine. _________________ I have nothing to compensate with lens |
|
Back to top |
|
|
dan_
Joined: 05 Dec 2012 Posts: 1052 Location: Romania
Expire: 2016-12-19
|
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 8:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
dan_ wrote:
CuriousOne wrote: |
In bright sunlight it worked just fine. |
I've noticed that too - f/8 is just about the limit for using the auto-focus.
Wasn't the 500mm too heavy?
I was surprised to see that the AF mechanism of the 35-70 did focus my 150mm f/2.8 Elmaron, a quite heavy lens, but I was afraid to try heavier lenses. For heavier lenses (in fact for any lens) with longer flange distance is better to use some AF A-mount macro rings as spacers to make the AF mechanism stay closer to the lens.
I am now at the mk4 AF adapter - 2 with 35-70 as donor and 2 with 50/1.7.
The 50/1.7 AF mechanism is better because it's all-metal. Lighter lenses, like the projection Elmaron 120mm and Diaplan 80mm, do auto-focus quite quick and precise with the 50/1.7 AF mechanism.
The Mk4 project is a Helios 44-2 preset completely remounted in the body of a Minolta AF 50/17. It is not yet completed, it needs some more lathe work to be done, but it seams that it can be made to focus infinity.
IMO, other M42 preset lenses could be nicely adapted, too - the preset mechanism is placed at the front side of the lens and therefor the diaphragm ring is accessible. But I don't have much experience with preset lenses (I usually avoided them).
Which preset lenses do you think would be worth remounting in an AF body? It would be nice to have a small set of AF M42 lenses.
The main requirement is that the lens body shouldn't be shorter than the body of the Minolta AF 50mm f/1.7. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
buerokratiehasser
Joined: 12 Jun 2011 Posts: 470
|
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2015 4:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
buerokratiehasser wrote:
Now that's a nice hack. Joining three generations of equipment. Only a nice 35-70 had to die for it.
You may not even need AF, the focus dot and A mode can be useful too (glorified chip adaptor)
If I understand correctly you can't use M42 lenses (except for macro) since their rear would have to fit the A mount rear to reach infinity? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
dan_
Joined: 05 Dec 2012 Posts: 1052 Location: Romania
Expire: 2016-12-19
|
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2015 8:07 pm Post subject: |
|
|
dan_ wrote:
buerokratiehasser wrote: |
You may not even need AF, the focus dot and A mode can be useful too (glorified chip adaptor)
|
You are right, in most cases you may not need AF. It was(is) more a kind of a challenge. But in the cases you need to be quick the AF is very convenient.
buerokratiehasser wrote: |
If I understand correctly you can't use M42 lenses (except for macro) since their rear would have to fit the A mount rear to reach infinity? |
The flange distance of the M42 mount is 45.46mm and for Minolta AF it is 44.5mm. There is no moving mirror on my LA-EA4 and the difference could be sufficient for infinity focus if the lens is not mounted with an adapter but instead it is "transferred" in the body of the Minolta AF lens. Not simple to do it but, IMO, possible. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Attila
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 57849 Location: Hungary
Expire: 2025-11-18
|
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2015 8:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Attila wrote:
Congrats!! _________________ -------------------------------
Items on sale on Ebay
Sony NEX-7 Carl Zeiss Planar 85mm f1.4, Minolta MD 35mm f1.8, Konica 135mm f2.5, Minolta MD 50mm f1.2, Minolta MD 250mm f5.6, Carl Zeiss Sonnar 180mm f2.8
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
buerokratiehasser
Joined: 12 Jun 2011 Posts: 470
|
Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 7:01 am Post subject: |
|
|
buerokratiehasser wrote:
Yes, that's what I thought, you'd have to rebuild the lens in the victim, not sure whether changing the rear plate with A mount one would be less hassle.
Not only is the focus dot and A-mode useful, it also means the poor plastic shell and AF gear isn't stressed (you could perhaps even mount the shell to a large lens and turn the shell not the lens body) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
CuriousOne
Joined: 31 Dec 2013 Posts: 669 Location: Home
|
Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 11:33 am Post subject: |
|
|
CuriousOne wrote:
You might don't know, but Minolta's and Sony's AF motors are so powerful, that a lot of sigma lenses get stripped gears when used with them. _________________ I have nothing to compensate with lens |
|
Back to top |
|
|
dan_
Joined: 05 Dec 2012 Posts: 1052 Location: Romania
Expire: 2016-12-19
|
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2015 7:51 am Post subject: |
|
|
dan_ wrote:
Thaks Attila. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
bernhardas
Joined: 01 Jan 2013 Posts: 1437
Expire: 2017-05-23
|
Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 2:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
bernhardas wrote:
Edited
Last edited by bernhardas on Sat Apr 02, 2016 8:12 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
Back to top |
|
|
iangreenhalgh1
Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15685
Expire: 2014-01-07
|
Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2015 8:43 am Post subject: |
|
|
iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
The Jupiter-11 would fit nicely.
I have been trying this for a while with a Minolta 35-80, it works but all the lenses I wanted to use are too heavy as they are all-metal projection lenses.
Nice work Dan. _________________ I don't care who designed it, who made it or what country it comes from - I just enjoy using it! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
bluecoast
Joined: 26 Mar 2015 Posts: 41 Location: USA
Expire: 2016-08-26
|
Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2015 1:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
bluecoast wrote:
amazing, dan. _________________ "one cat just leads to another" e.h. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
dan_
Joined: 05 Dec 2012 Posts: 1052 Location: Romania
Expire: 2016-12-19
|
Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2015 1:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
dan_ wrote:
Thank you bernhardas, bluecoast and Ian.
The housing of the 50mm f/1.7 is much better in handling heavier lenses. But only the older 50/1.7 lenses have an all metal helicoid. The latter 50/1.7 and 50/1.7 RS have half metal - half plastic helicoids, like all non-G zooms.
My all metal helicoid from the 50/1.7 can handle well (even it's not very happy with it) my 200 f4 Visoflex Telyt head even the big 150/2.8 Elmaron. But it really shines with old Folder or Larger Format not-too-heavy lenses and with projection lenses like THE 80mm Diaplan or the 120mm Elmaron.
I've finished the re-housing of the 58/2 Helios 44-2 in the Minolta AF body of the 50/1.7 and it auto-focuses just as quick and accurate as the initial Minolta 50/1.7. I'm quite pleased with it. I'll try to make a small film showing the auto-focus speed and accuracy.
The other contenders for rehousing are the Jupiter 9 lens and, as you suggested Ian, the Jupiter-11.
How about wider M42 preset lenses lenses? which one you suggest, Ian?
The contenders must have a good enough IQ to deserve the expense. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
iangreenhalgh1
Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 15685
Expire: 2014-01-07
|
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 9:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
I'm not sure what to suggest Dan, most presets wider than 35mm are not very good as it was the early days of wide angle lens design.
You can look for the wider Schneider Cinelux and Cine Xenon projector lenses, awesome IQ but wider than 45mm (they go down to 24mm) the back focus is too short for A mount. I have 30 and 37.5mm Cineluxes and have to use them on my NEX. The 45 and longer ones I use on the A850. _________________ I don't care who designed it, who made it or what country it comes from - I just enjoy using it! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|