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DIY converted M42 Canon FL Zoom 55-135mm f/3.5 used on 50D
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PostPosted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 12:46 pm    Post subject: DIY converted M42 Canon FL Zoom 55-135mm f/3.5 used on 50D Reply with quote
Registration distance of Canon FL lenses is too short to be used on DSLR cameras. Since this lens was purchased at very low price, I therefore ventured to DIY converting it into a M42 lens.

The method is simple. I used a saw to cut away approx 1cm rear metal part of the lens. Then I removed the levers that control the aperture blades (it does not affect the functioning of the aperture ring). Thereafter, I fixed a M42 extension tube into the rear of the lens by using a suitable size rubber ring (originally for use by water pipes). It's done! Very Happy Very Happy

The only issue is the nearest focusing distance of the lens was 2M. I unscrewed the screw that limited the turning of the focusing ring. Now the focusing ring can turn half more round, allowing the lens to focus at a shorter distance of 80cm.

Let's see how a FL lens performs on a mordern Canon 50D DSLR camera! Very Happy Very Happy



























































PostPosted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 4:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
that was an accurate cut with the hacksaw! great job, and some lovely pictures. I guess the price of FL lenses is about to rocket up ? Laughing


PostPosted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 12:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Lloydy wrote:
that was an accurate cut with the hacksaw! great job, and some lovely pictures. I guess the price of FL lenses is about to rocket up ? Laughing


thank you for viewig and the appreciation! Smile Smile


PostPosted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 1:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
It worked out great for you. Nice.

I have this lens also and love it on my FD cameras.


PostPosted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 2:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
do you have pictures of the conversion? this sounds very cool.


PostPosted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 2:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Please post a pictorial. It would be interesting to see some before and after images of the mount.


PostPosted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 2:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Schnauzer wrote:
It worked out great for you. Nice.

I have this lens also and love it on my FD cameras.


Thank you!


PostPosted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 2:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
clockwork247 wrote:
do you have pictures of the conversion? this sounds very cool.


This is what it looks like after conversion. Since I had not pictured the lens before the conversion, so I cannot show you waht it looked like beforehand.







PostPosted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 2:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
drjs wrote:
Please post a pictorial. It would be interesting to see some before and after images of the mount.


This is what it looks like after conversion. Since I had not pictured the lens before the conversion, so I cannot show you waht it looked like beforehand.







PostPosted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 2:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Ouch Sad


PostPosted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 5:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
ferrick wrote:
clockwork247 wrote:
do you have pictures of the conversion? this sounds very cool.


This is what it looks like after conversion. Since I had not pictured the lens before the conversion, so I cannot show you waht it looked like beforehand.







i see what you did there, literally just hack off the old mount and glue on the new one lol, but it worked, so no problem there.

I think this can be done with other mounts too, the only issue i see is mirror hitting on lens that when focus to infinity moves back too much.


PostPosted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 10:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
[quote="clockwork247"]
ferrick wrote:
clockwork247 wrote:
do you have pictures of the conversion? this sounds very cool.



i see what you did there, literally just hack off the old mount and glue on the new one lol, but it worked, so no problem there.

I think this can be done with other mounts too, the only issue i see is mirror hitting on lens that when focus to infinity moves back too much.


No mirror hitting problem at inifinty focus since the flange of the lens was moved back several mm (i.e. lenghten the flange distance).


PostPosted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 10:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
ManualFocus-G wrote:
Ouch Sad


I know it looks ugly but I just did what I have to do in order to make this old lens works on modern DSLR camera. Embarassed Embarassed


PostPosted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 1:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Does it focus on infinity? as I dont see any long distance shots


PostPosted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 12:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
philslizzy wrote:
Does it focus on infinity? as I dont see any long distance shots


Yes, it does, and well beyond infinity! It 's my habit that I like taking macro instead of landscape pictures. Here is a picture at medium range. Smile



PostPosted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 11:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
so well done on your conversion.


PostPosted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 1:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
philslizzy wrote:
so well done on your conversion.


Thanks! Very Happy Very Happy


PostPosted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 3:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
ferrick wrote:

Yes, it does, and well beyond infinity! It 's my habit that I like taking macro instead of landscape pictures.


Not sure about what you are saying... Did you really expand the focusing range?


PostPosted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 3:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
ferrick wrote:



Terrible conversion.


PostPosted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 3:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Bille wrote:
ferrick wrote:

Yes, it does, and well beyond infinity! It 's my habit that I like taking macro instead of landscape pictures.


Not sure about what you are saying... Did you really expand the focusing range?


Yes! With old Canon FD/FL mount lens, one can only achieve macro but cannot achieve infinity focus on all non-mirrorless cameras due to the shorter flange to sensor distance of the lens. If you want to achieve inifinity focus, you either use an adapter with glass element (but it will reduce image quality) or cut away a portion of the rear part of the lens (effectively increasing the flange to sensor distance of the lens) as I did. Sure my conversion looks very ugly. However, I don't care as long as it works and takes good pictures. Very Happy Very Happy
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