Fujica FX adapters for Fujinon lenses Sony NEX and Micro 4/3

[Fujinonuser]

Only recently adapters have become available to fit Fujinon lenses with FX mount, built between 1980 and 1985, to Sony NEX and Micro 4/3 digital cameras. I'm still waiting for Canon EOS adapters to become available.

There were some newly designed FX Fujinons like the 1.2 / 50mm, the 1.6 / 50mm, the 1.6 / 55mm or the 3.5 / 28mm, while the EBC lens coating was modified for some lenses, whereas it was retained for other focal lengths.

It would be nice if some users would share their experiences and sample shots taken digitally with FX lenses.

[cambug]

I am afraid that the wait could be very long...the registration of Fujica X cameras are shorter than most SLR's, including Canon EOS. So infinity focus would be a problem for adapters without optical compensation. Lens mount change may be a solution, the cost would be a serious consideration though.

[SXR_Mark]

I did buy an X-Fujinon 50mm f1.9 for the cheap lens challenge. I made my own adaptor to 4/3 for it. I did some basic test shots here and here and it seemed a very nice lens.

Realistically, the only DSLR that these lenses could be used with (and give infinity focus without an extra lens) is 4/3. It was quite a tight fit to get infinity focus on 4/3.

Just today I received a 50mm f1.6 EBC that looks in very nice condition (came with an AX-5 camera). I shall do some tests and report back.

I did not realise adaptors were available for m4/3. I shall have to look out for one of those.

Do you have any X-Fujinon lens that you particularly recommend or like? Having made the adaptor, I am willing to experiment.

Mark

[Fujinonuser]

Thanks, cambug and SXR_Mark, for your ideas and sample pics.

At http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flange_focal_distance, the FFD for Fujinon FX lenses is reported to be 43.50 mm, that's identical to Minolta MD lenses, whereas the Canon EF mount has a FFD of 44.0 mm. I wouldn't mind if infinity focussing wouldn't be possible as long as the maximum focussing distance is within reasonable dimensions, say up to ten or twenty meters. An extra lens element within the adapter would of course ruin the optical quality.

It is a good idea to try and see if one might exchang the FX mount against another mount. The FX lenses are not expensive to obtain and the plastic barrel might ease the job for a dilettante like myself.

I held an EBC Fujinon 1.6 / 50mm against the mount of my Canon EOS 500D for a close-up shot of a spray of flowers, and I felt that the tonal gradation is excellent, that is to say, even better than with an EBC Fujinon M42 lens that may tend to over-expose the lights in high-contrast subjects. Its sharpness is greater than for the 1.9 / 50mm lens, and that is a very sharp lens, isn't it?

All 50mm and 55mm FX lenses were newly designed and have exceptional coatings. Those are lenses manufactured exclusively by Fuji in their own glass foundry in Odawara and not OEM lenses produced by third parties. The 1.6 / 55mm is peculiar because of its long tube. The 1.2 is excellent. Little known outside Japan, Fuji built the first Japanese 1.2 / 50mm lens in November 1954. Other specialties are the short 135mm and 100mm lenses as well as the impressive 200mm.

It would be good to exchange ideas about ways to use these excellent lenses in digital photography.

[Pancolart]

That is valuable info Fujinonuser. Especially about the source of 1.2/50mm. There were rumors it's Cosina / PORST REFLEX copy, but you gave an alternative.

It is my wish for a while to adapt the above and 1.6/55mm to EOS. Nevertheless my F1.2 copies are so good looking i am afraid to work on them .

[SXR_Mark]

[cambug]

Thanks to Mark for his interesting graphical representation of focusing distance against the change in registration. Apart from the optical consideration, the mechanical aspect of the picture taking operation inside the camera can also cause problem. The major one would be the clearance of mirror movement, this is also the reason why some dedicated manual focus lens users would grind their digital EOS cameras ( mainly full frame ) mirror to achieve necessary clearance. Whether it is worthwhile to do it is a matter of individual choice. Have fun on this anyway...

[Fujinonuser]

Thank you, Mark, for this interesting chart. I was afraid that the optical laws involved would lead to those results that are clearly visible in your chart.

We can be happy, then, that there is the possibility at least to use FX Fujinon lenses on Sony NEX and Micro 4/3 DSLR cameras. I wonder, though, if the peculiar optical qualities of the Fujinons will be retained. I not only look for sharpness and flatness of field in a lens, but also for the color transmission and color gradation. I never got to like some high-priced lenses because their green colors looked unnatural (too light) for me.

I was not very impressed by the few sample pictures from Fujinons taken with a Sony Nex camera that have been uploaded to the WWW, although Mark's samples from the 1.9 / 50mm are truly impressive. I wonder if there are great differences in the color interpretation between a Canon EOS and an Olympus DSLR or if those can be overridden by Picture Styles in PP.

As to the 1.2 / 50mm Fujinon lens: this information comes from the Japanese history of Fuji company that can be found at the Japanese Fuji website. New lanthan glasses were used for that 1.2 / 50mm lens and it seems quite likely that the early non-EBC 1.4 / 50mm lens was derived from that formula. Other Fuji specialties of the early 1950s was a 1.9 / 35mm and a short-barrelled 3.5 / 135mm tele lens. I have that 135mm lens and I like it very much because of its sharpness even at 3.5 and its unsurpassed color rendition.

I like this discussion and thank you for your contributions.

[RDM]

[jclaude]

Hi every one,

I'm still struggling on the fact to modify Fujinon X lenses. I just did the same adaptation on a Tokura 28mm in Minolta MC, the mounting ring was thick enough so that I can reduce it 2 millimeters and add a M42 to Pentax K adapter, to fit to my K5. The results are quite encouraging.
That is true that Fujinon X are cheap, we can get 50mm 1.9 or 1.6 for 10 to 15 Euros. Does someone know if the mounting rings of those two are thick enough to be reduced?

Jean Claude

[iangreenhalgh1]

I have X-Fujinons 2.2/55, 1.6/50, 1.6/55, 1.9/50.

Honestly, not worth the hassle of conversion. The 1.6/50 is crap on digital, soft wide open and with the worst CA I've ever seen from a 50mm lens. The 1.6/55 is a little better, but I found all four to be inferior on my NEX,

[Pancolart]

I think you gave up on Fujica-X system to easily Ian. I quite liked those:
http://forum.mflenses.com/x-fujinon-50mm-1-6-fujica-x-to-eos-t27649.html
http://forum.mflenses.com/fujinon-x-55mm-1-6-t41692.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dull_life/sets/72157628253180585/detail

[Excalibur]