Spottie and the Beast

Rusty · Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 1:21 pm Post subject: Spottie and the Beast

Fast long and sharp glass for the eos mount is way out of my budget
The obvious action ( to me) when i ran into the FL 300mm/2.8 SSC fluorite in mint condition was to convert
Decided m42 was the way to go, so that it can be used on the spottie and the 30D
This lens is very very easy to convert due to it being a pre set design, and the mount section can be split from the lens (for lathing)

an old cs/m42 converter and 20 minutes on the lathe and VOILA

tes tpics to follow as soon as the weather allows

patrickh · Expire: 2011-11-18

patrickh

Nesster · Expire: 2014-02-20

I see you're set up for a re-make of Rear Window Laughing

Rusty · Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 6:57 pm Post subject:

Rusty · Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 8:36 pm Post subject:

Managed some test shots today
I do not have very high standards, but this lens is truly amazing
Cape sugar bird was taken hand held iso 100/400th/sec @f5.6
and the cape Hyrax hand held wide open at f2.8

soikka · Joined: 11 Jun 2008 Posts: 534 Location: Finland

Must have one!! Superb results!

Rusty · Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 8:54 pm Post subject:

indianadinos · Expire: 2011-12-05

Excellent results ... What about sharing more details about the mount conversion Wink

?

Cheers

Rusty · Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 8:59 pm Post subject:

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

really great images.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Superb indeed!

Laurence · Expire: 2016-06-19

Not only an obviously fine lens, but you as a photographer show your patience and excellence in obtaining these wonderful images.

Farside · Expire: 2013-12-27

Nice work, great results.

Abbazz · Joined: 23 Jun 2007 Posts: 1098 Location: Jakarta

Congratulations Daniel on the conversion job and thanks for the fine pictures. This bird is amazing!

The quality of these vintage fluorite lenses is really outstanding. My FL-F 300/5.6 is superb even wide open. The next step is to get my hands on the FL 500/5.6...

Cheers!

Abbazz

Rusty · Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 5:50 am Post subject:

Thanks guys !
will post the results of the 400mm ssc soon
and some more planned and controlled shots of the 300mm, it has o lot of blades and perfectly round aperture at all stops and i am curious about the "bokeh" it may produce
Cheers

PaulC · Joined: 23 Dec 2008 Posts: 2318

Wow! Absolutely superb results. I wish I had the practical metal-working skills some of you guys have.

martinsmith99 · Expire: 2013-11-18

Good work. Both on the conversion and the results.

BTW - Where have you been?

Rusty · Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:16 pm Post subject:

patrickh · Expire: 2011-11-18

Wonderful - conversion amazing and fantastic bird shots. Obviously worth the effort

patrickh

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9097 Location: Houston, Texas

Amazing! I've heard it said more than once that the old 300/2.8 fluorites were superb optics, and I think you've proved that statement thoroughly.

Very clever, going from FL to M42 and then to EOS via an adapter. I like it.

kansalliskala · Expire: 2016-12-30

Rusty · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:27 pm Post subject:

Rusty · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 3:22 pm Post subject:

how to do it!
you need an old t mount/m42 or similar adapter like this and a cap

The outside diameter of this converter will be cut to have a tight fit to the inside diameter of the lens barrel and the bottom part will be shortened not to protrude into the drop in filter slot of the lens barrel (seen in the next image)

The tapered part of the lens barrel is taken of first (3 screws) and then the FL breech lock ring removed )and some small screws on the mount

Remember to mark the topside of the lens for correct alignment when re-assembling
the back part can then be put onto the lathe and measured from the mount surface, 3,4 mm must be removed (the red area in the image) for infinity focus)

inside the cut mount there will be some light trap material that can also be removed lightly with the lathe (between the filter slot and the new mount surface

measure the distance between the filter slot and the mount, then shorten the adapter to a bit less than that on the lathe

measure the inside diameter of the inside of the lens barrel and cut the adapter to fit very tight (you must NOT be able to push it in by hand, but the edge of the adapter must go in a bit and then bind (round the edge of the adapter a bit to help it to enter

Take the adapter and screw it into your m42/eos adapter and mark the topside when fitted to the camera

Put the adapter combination in the deep freezer for 1 hour
Boil some water and put the back part of the lens in the boiling water

Take both out and line up the topside marked on both , enter and quickly tap in with rubber mallet till the converter is flush with the new mount
surface

Take the converter off and it will look like this

when the temperature is normal ,no need for screws it is as good as welded in place but if you want then drill three holes around the outside, tap and secure with grub screws

indianadinos · Expire: 2011-12-05

Wow ... Impressive Shocked

...

Thanks for sharing the hint.

Cheers