Adapter for certain Canon FL lenses

WithOpenedEyes · Joined: 08 Apr 2016 Posts: 9

I want to adapt some of the Canon FL lenses that have the raised portion at the rear. There usually isn't enough clearance inside the adapter for this, as the aperture actuating control on the adapter is in the way. Is there a certain brand of adapters that clears this or do they all need to be modified? Pretty much all adapters just put a pin in place for the control. Is it just a matter of removing about half the thickness of the pin? Thanks in advance...there doesn't seem to be much info about getting these to work.

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7553 Location: Hong Kong

I want to know too as I bought some FD lenses recently.

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

All five of my Canon FL lenses work fine with all my adapters, never seen this problem.

LifesShort · Joined: 01 Feb 2016 Posts: 71 Location: Forsyth, GA, USA

What kind of camera are you mounting to? I have 4 FD lenses (basically the same as FL) and I use K&F Concept adapters to mount them to my Sony A7II. They work very well.

sceptic · Joined: 01 Jun 2013 Posts: 255

LifesShort · Joined: 01 Feb 2016 Posts: 71 Location: Forsyth, GA, USA

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

I have the FL 2.5/35, it mounts perfect on a NEX adapter. Not sure of the brands, I've had at least 3 and it fit all of them.

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9098 Location: Houston, Texas

I also own the FL 35/2.5. To mount to my NEX 7, I use a Fotasy brand FD-NEX adapter I bought on eBay.

I tried it on my FL 35mm just now, just to be sure I was remembering things correctly. The breechlock ring turns, but it does turn with some resistance. There is no evidence of metal to metal grinding or scratching, it just takes a bit of effort to turn the breechlock ring to a lock position. Same goes for the adapter's "Lock - Open" ring. It requires a bit of effort as well. But all works as it should, including the operation of the FL 35's diaphragm.

This might be a different story with the highly regarded FL 19mm f/3.5. I've read before that it has the same problem with adapters due to its hump. But I don''t know if its hump is the same as the 35's (in terms of height) or different.

Jeff Zen · Joined: 17 Jun 2009 Posts: 262 Location: Northwest USA

I had to take the pin out of the adapter to mount my Canon FL 58mm f1.2 to my NEX. The lens has the dreaded hump. I'm only able to stop down using the preset-like ring. It has a very short turn to it but I've gotten used to it.

The only workable adapter is this one I think. I could be wrong.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-FD-FL-lens-mount-to-Sony-NEX-E-mount-A7II-FS7-camera-ciecio7-adapter-/261484584849?hash=item3ce1b21f91:m:mpAsLtIF_eWUE0CRgIThkAw

I'm very budget minded, and have only one Canon FL lens with the hump, so I would never buy a 45 dollar adapter when I could buy another lens with that money! If there is a cheaper adapter that works with FL hump lenses I would like to know about it.

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7553 Location: Hong Kong

Jeff Zen · Joined: 17 Jun 2009 Posts: 262 Location: Northwest USA

WithOpenedEyes · Joined: 08 Apr 2016 Posts: 9

I knew I was posting this in the right place...you picked right up on the problem. The lens hump is right where the adapter pin is and they interfere. Don't know how many of the FL's have the same hump. I'm trying to adapt this to m4/3. This is not a problem for FD users, in case anyone becomes alarmed after reading this thread. So I gather the pin really isn't necessary to stop the lens down..is that what I'm reading here? I run manual lenses in stop down mode anyway, so the fix would be to just have one adapter dedicated to this lens and remove the pin. If I'm not reading this right and the pin is needed, I'll have to find a way to bend the pin or modify it for clearance. I just wasn't sure if there were any adapters that might have placed the pin closer to the back and would clear the hump. BTW, the above pics show the exact problem. Wonder why Canon used the hump only on certain lenses.

pavko · Joined: 31 Jan 2011 Posts: 216 Location: PL

Jeff Zen · Joined: 17 Jun 2009 Posts: 262 Location: Northwest USA

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

There's mine, it just fit the adapter without any modifying of pins or anything else.

No brand name on the adapter, it will be whatever was cheapest on ebay last year when I bought it.

mo · Expire: 2016-07-30

I have the FL58/1.2 that has the hump and simply removed the pin(unscrewed),and that was from a M4/3 adapter...also, its easy that it is a preset lens.

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7553 Location: Hong Kong

Jeff Zen · Joined: 17 Jun 2009 Posts: 262 Location: Northwest USA

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

Cheers Jeff.

I wasn't aware of this issue before because mine simply worked. Good luck to everyone else in sorting this problem out.

WithOpenedEyes · Joined: 08 Apr 2016 Posts: 9

OK...It looks like removing the pin will be the way to go. On the Fotasy FD/FL adapter I have, the pin simply unscrews. If this goes according to plan, I'll run over to the hardware store and find a small metric screw to plug the hole. While the Ciecio7 adapter looks nicely made, I'm somewhat reluctant to spend $50 for the FD/FL to m4/3 model.

bcostin · Joined: 12 Oct 2008 Posts: 9

[quote="Jeff Zen"]I had to take the pin out of the adapter to mount my Canon FL 58mm f1.2 to my NEX. The lens has the dreaded hump. I'm only able to stop down using the preset-like ring. It has a very short turn to it but I've gotten used to it.

Same here. My FOTGA brand FD-NEX adapter (purchased through Amazon) uses a screw as its pin to actuate the aperture. This is handy in that it can be easily screwed out of the way to clear the hump when using the FL 58mm, and then screwed back in to work as it should when using a non-humped lens.

I've considered replacing the screw with bit of very stiff wire that could be bent in such a way as to accommodate both types of lenses, but it has hasn't annoyed me enough to try it. I've gotten accustomed to using the lens ring to stop down, as well.

Lightshow · Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 3666 Location: Calgary

I removed the pin in my adapter for my 35/2.5, I never replaced it, no real need to, since most all my FD lenses are pre-nFD, and they can all be set to a manual aperture mode, just push the aperture lever to the end of its slot and it will become held there.