Canon FD -> EOS adapters

[cooltouch]

I recently read through a thread in which adapters with glass elements were discussed, and I thought I read through the thread here, but I can't find it now. I searched through a couple of other forums too. Driving me nuts.

Anyway, the conclusions were that the adapters with elements are not as bad as everybody says they are. Yes, they do seem to degrade image quality, but only slightly. Al least the ones discussed.

So anyway, I'm thinking about buying a couple of them for FD -> EOS so I can use my FD glass on something besides my AE-1s. I'm planning to buy one with and one without glass. I can use the one without for close-focusing work. But I'm interested in feedback from folks here who might have bought adapters with glass (doesn't have to be for EOS).

So firstly, what are your experiences with this type of adapter? Would you recommend it? And secondly, where did you get it? If eBay do you recall the seller?

Geez, I shoulda checked on eBay first. Here's one made by Hoya:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-FD-Lens-to-EOS-EF-Body-Mount-Adapter-Hoya-Japan_W0QQitemZ360192653517QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLens_Accessories?hash=item53dd27b8cd&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14



Michael

[koji]

My FD->EF adapter is exactly like eBay photo, thou it does not say Hoya
made. Anyway the combination of lens and adapter results sometime
acceptable really, but the other time not so. Although I only checked with
FD 55/1.2 S.S.C. and FD 35/2, 35mm with adapter works well surprisingly.

I am not an optical expert, but slower lens may work better since
bundle of light rays go through more or less central area ie. closer to
optical axis, so adapter lens can work effectively MAYBE....

These shots are with adapter, camera was 5D. If you use non FF dSLR the result may be better I guess.

click the photo to enlarge, colour is much better

@f4 or 5.6 about 1m to figure

@f4 close focus

@f8?


Generally you should close at least 2 stop from the wide open, otherwise you get busy/bad bokeh easily.
I am not sure about magnification factor, possibly around X1.3. Anyway my experiment was not bad,
however with FD 55/1.2 S.S.C. the result was disappointed or close to a disaster.

(I am not a good photog, but love tinkering. Hahaha)

[cooltouch]

Thanks for your feedback, Koji -- especially the pics.

So now I'm curious. What was it about the use of this adapter with your 55/1.2 that made the photos a disaster? Was it the bokeh?

[koji]

It was soft for 55/1.2 S.S.C. with the adapter, and centre of the image got
white circle just like a hot spot in IR/UV photography. The softness did not
improve remarkably AFAIK, so I did not investigate more.

I converted FD 55/1.2 to EF mount, so cannot test anymore.

[cooltouch]

Well I'm thinking about getting one of these Hoya adapters:

Click here to see on Ebay

So I thought I'd bump this thread. I'd really like to try some of my FD glass out on my XS (1000D).

Just thought I'd give the thread a bump in case anyone here (besides Koji, that is) has had experience with this adapter, either pro or con, before I pull the trigger. It's made by Hoya -- or at least has its name on it -- so I'm figuring it's probably one of the "good" ones.

Koji's results are encouraging, except for his experiences with his 55/1.2, and unfortunately I have both a 55/1.2 and an 85/1.2, so this is cause for some concern, but I'm still willing to give it a try -- since I just don't want to permanently convert my FD lenses to EF.