Fringer Contax 645 to Fuji GFX AF Adapter

[biggles3]

Let's face it, top end medium format gear is never going to be cheap, even second-hand. So, what do to with legacy lenses and can they be used effectively on today's digital cameras?

I have a number of Contax 645s and a nice collection of their lenses. To use them digitally, I have been using various Ixpress digital backs via their C645 adapter plates and the images produced have been superb though with individual images files being up to 528Mb in size, post-production work required a PC upgrade. But is there a way to use the Zeiss glass in AF mode on one of the current digital medium format models? Well, yes there is - and here we can see an example: the Fringer Contax 645-GFX AF Adapter.

It's pictured between the stunning Zeiss 35mm f3.5 Distagon and a Fuji GFX 50S. It allows full AF control of the Zeiss lenses on any Fuji GFX model. The AF is a little slower than when using the glass on a Contax 645 or the Fuji with its own lenses but unless you're shooting sport or birds in flight or the like, it's not going to be an issue. I was initially disappointed when I tried to use my Zeiss 45-90 Vario-Sonnar on the Fuji - it just would not work. But then I remembered that the Fringer had an update facility and after hooking it into my PC (the USB connector is cunningly hidden inside the tripod mount), I found that I was using outdated firmware and with the update, it worked perfectly.

The adapter is definitely not an inexpensive purchase but if you have AF legacy glass, it provides a superb means of filling in gaps in the Fuji lens range - and it saves having to buy new lenses as the limited number of Zeiss C645 lenses can cover most needs.
#1

[stevemark]

Thank you for sharing this information! I actually thought about buying a GFX around 2020, but after testing and comparing it with my A7RII I decided against it. While a slight (very slight indeed) advantage in resolution was visible when using it with the Mamyia Sekor A 4/120 Macro (vs old MinAF 2.8/100mm Macro), the resulting weight of a medium format set of lenses simply was too much.

Nevertheless the Distagon mut be beauty, and if would own one, i might lust for a 100MP GFX indeed

S

[biggles3]

[calvin83]

Nice collection!

[Vintage_Photographer]

Thanks for posting this.
I am currently thinking very seriously about a GFX100s II which seems a real steal at the moment. LCE in the UK are offering them at under £5k with the Fuji GFX 35-70 lense.
I noted with interest that Fringer do an adapter to use full frame Nikon lenses and some lenses not only support AF but also VR and will correct in camera for pincushion/barrel distortion, fringing and vignetting and will also correctly update the Exif Information.

As Nikon lenses are a lot more numerous than the Fuji ones and cheaper and some are well regarded it's an intriguing thought.

[biggles3]

[Vintage_Photographer]

[Vintage_Photographer]

As I currently have a Fuji X-T4 and have just bought a 300mm AF-S f/4 Nikon lens I've ordered an NF-FX II adapter so I can share the lens with the GFX when I get it (yes I know it means two adapters)..
That will be due some time end of next week or week after so I'll post an update when it arrives.

[Vintage_Photographer]

So the Fringer NF-FX II finally arrived today and frankly I'm blown away.
Tried it on the 300 f/4 IF and whilst a little sluggish it locks on perfectly. Then tried it with a newly acquired 50mm f/1.8 G lens and focus is near instantaneous and perfect lock.
It arrived with the latest firmware and turns the Nikon lens into a 'native' Fuji lens.

More testing required but so far very impressed. I'll definitely be getting the GFX version too.

I can also (having seen the price of some Contax 645 lenses) see a Contax version coming too.

[Vintage_Photographer]

Today the Fringer Nikon to GFX arrived. As with the Fuji X version it seems to work perfectly. Snappy AF, reports lens details back to the camera correctly, aperture control functions as it should.

Tested with a 300 f/4 AF-S lens (small amount of vignetting in the corners) and 50mm f/1.8G AF-S (which works perfectly). I'm planning to test further with a 105mm Sigma Macro lens tomorrow.

[Vintage_Photographer]

So after a weekend of testing here are my observations.

1. It works perfectly in reporting EXIF information,
2. AF works well though can occasionally hunt with longer lenses.
3. Some lenses vignette to a larger or smaller extent however most of the time cropping to between 80 and 90MP resolves the issue.
4. Aperture control works perfectly.
5. Battery consumption is increased noticeably. This is due to the adapter having to keep the aperture motor operated the whole time it's powered on as the default position on Nikon lenses is closed.

Vignetting has been tested with the following lenses.
Nikon 24mm f/1.8G - adapter switches camera to 35mm mode if auto 35mm is enabled. If not heavy vignette on full frame.

Nikon 50mm f/1.8G - negligible vignetting apparent. A great lens with excellent optics and shallow DoF.

Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM OS - small amount of vignette at all apertures but most pronounced at f/2.8. Cropping to 90MP makes the result acceptable and correctable.

Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-S (non VR) - more vignetting than the 105 Sigma requiring a more severe crop down to 80MP or so.

Even in 35mm mode the image is 60MP which is no different to the best full frame cameras.

All tested on GFX100s II with latest firmware in camera and Fringer.