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Manual Focus Lenses Forum

Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.

Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.
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Conversion of Canon FL lenses
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Is it possible to hardware-convert Canon FL (not FD) lenses to Canon EF mount?


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Yes it is. I believe member trifox ? does it.


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Yes, i've tested a Canon FL 135/2.5 on my 5DII. I'm not sure whether the modification my be done for all the FL line of lenses, nevertheless ...


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i'm interested in the 1.2/55 FL, I have found one at a super good price.
Is that lens as good as the FD?


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Orio wrote:
i'm interested in the 1.2/55 FL, I have found one at a super good price.
Is that lens as good as the FD?

I've tested both,
FL is little bit sharper wide open, while FD SSC tend soft focus wide open.
I still have FD now, if there's cheap FL I'll grab it without doubt


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I have the FL 58mm f1.2:
http://forum.mflenses.com/canon-fl-58mm-f1-2-and-panny-g1-t35277,highlight,%2Bfl+%2B58mm.html

It seems to be quiet sharp at closer focusing distances.


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I have the FL 55/1.2 as shown HERE. I have got two thirds of the way through converting it, but I am currently stalled through sheer laziness and so have no other samples of it mounted directly on my 5D.


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I converted an FL 2.5/35, took a lot of work however.





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Ed Mika sells a conversion kit, there are pictures on his F***kr. Judging from the pictures looks like an excellent craftsmanship. You could try to PM him here on the forum. Also member ZoneV (or is it VI?) has details on his website regarding his DIY conversion jobs, he posted something about even here on the forum.

Cheers, M.


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Unfortunately, while I was waiting for your feedback someone was faster than me and bought it. Rolling Eyes
But thanks the same, I have learned new things that I did not know.
By the way, the price was 110 Euros.


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FL lenses consist of an optical block and helicoid, therefore you can remove the optical block and then trim the remaining helicoid/mount so they can be converted to EF, it did require a lot of metal cutting and grinding with the 2.5/35, but I expect that was due to it's retrofocal design and other FLs wouldn't need so much of the lens metal removing.


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To convert the FL 55mm f1.2 to EF mount and/or SA mount you have to remove 2mm thickness of metal from the mounting boss (the bit the FL mounting plate normally screws onto) then screw on an EF or SA mounting plate in place of the FL plate. The quickest, easist, neatest and most accurate way to do this is to turn the metal off with a lathe...I did this with my one as I just happen to have a LeBlonde 10" centre lathe. Wink


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DSG wrote:
...I did this with my one as I just happen to have a LeBlonde 10" centre lathe. Wink


I'm quite convinced that every photographer needs a lathe, and a mill.

JJ


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So far I've done alright with a hacksaw and a grinder, but I definitely need a lathe sometime! lol


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I can put some pics from the fl 1.2/55 which i got from Suat.
It has been converted to EF already (not by me) so might be interesting for other members here.

Btw it hits the mirror if focused past 5 meters on my eos 650 and i guess it will hit it on 5d too.


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jjphoto wrote:
DSG wrote:
...I did this with my one as I just happen to have a LeBlonde 10" centre lathe. Wink


I'm quite convinced that every photographer needs a lathe, and a mill.

JJ


Yes, at least every photographer who like to convert lenses Wink
No, much can be done without a lathe, but I am very happy to have one, with my small mill I am not that happy.

On my Photo DIY Directory:
http://www.4photos.de/camera-diy/index-en.html
are at the moment 4 FL conversions mentioned:

FL 55/1.2 - best images missing I think: http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/686892/0#6172079

FL 300/5.6 - not about how to make it:
http://picasaweb.google.com/RossBeckerNZ/FLF300?authkey=Gv1sRgCOD0t7nHkY3egwE#

FL 55/1.2
http://tbr.posterous.com/adapting-a-canon-fl-55mm-f12-to-eos-ef-camera

FL 35/3.5
http://forum.manualfocus.org/viewtopic.php?id=9092


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ZoneV wrote:
...Yes, at least every photographer who like to convert lenses Wink
...


The only one's that matter Wink

JJ


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I've finally managed to get the back off my FD 1.4/50 SSC, had to drill the screws out, they were jammed solid. The problem now is how to connect the inner aperture ring to the outer aperture ring, anyone managed to do this and has pictures of how they did it?