Your experience with EOS adapters

[casualcollector]

I'm looking at ebay vendors for adapters to mount various lenses to my EOS 5D MkII. I see Roxsen and Big_Is are attractively priced...

I'd like to hear of your experience with these and others. I have lenses in T2, M-42, Nikon F, Contax-Yashica, Olympus OM, Topcon RE Auto and Leicaflex SL mount.

[fuzzywuzzy]

[cooltouch]

These days I look at two things: the adapter itself, to see if it is made the way I want, and whether or not the vendor is in the USA. I'm tired of having to wait a month for my adapter, or whatever the cheap Chinese accessory happens to be. I realize that this latter point doesn't apply to folks in other countries, but still, if you can find a vendor who's local to you, you will sure get the part a lot faster than you will if you have to wait for it coming from China.

[RSalles]

Well, I use to buy from both of them. For bigger lenses, it's best to get the brass model: seems to be stronger than the alu version. If price is a concern or you have a certain quantity to buy, my bet would be to get the brass model from big_is and the alu from Roxsen.

[]s,

Renato

[calvin83]

This is a big topic if you want details into each types of adapters. To make it simple, the cheap EOS M42, OM adapter willworks fine except they will not give exact infinity focus. For Topcon RE(a variant of Exakta), you could try the Big_IS balck one they sell now but not all lens will mount securely. The Nikon F adapter varies but a good one is needed for large and heavy lens.

If you do not mind pay little bit more, I would recommend this render. No complain from any members here about the quality so far.
http://stores.ebay.com/yeenon-china

[visualopsins]

+1 for brass adapters

I like Big_IS M42-EOS brass adapter. Click here to see on Ebay I also like its AF Confirm chip features.

The AF Chip included is another factor to consider -- some chips have features that may be more suited to usage style than others.

[hexi]

Hi

bought 2 adapters lately from this seller, based in Germany. One for C/Y and the other for M42, all to work with a Canon 1Ds. Working great

Click here to see on Ebay

edit : link got screwed. seller shop is fotohobbyshop

[SonicScot]

Another vote for Big_Is, excellent adapters.

[spoilerhead]

+1 for the silver finish big_is brass M42 adapters.

I got some black finish brass from big_is, too, but they are slightly to thin, so the lenses will focus past infinity. (about 0.05-0.1mm missing)

[casualcollector]

Thanks, guys!

[cooltouch]

[calvin83]

The FL 1.2/55 one is more difficult convert and I even have a badly converted copy. You may know this site but it is a good start if you want to do the conversion: http://www.bigeye.url.tw/big5/d_ca55_12_3.htm

[cooltouch]

Hrm, maybe if I could read Chinese I could make sense out of why that guy felt he had to dismantle the lens. My wife's Chinese, maybe she'll help.

Actually, you don't need to go to that much trouble at all. There are basically two ways to do it. All you have to do is take off the breechlock mounting assembly (remove a small screw and the whole assembly just unscrews) and drop a M42 adapter in place where it used to be. Drill three holes in the adapter for the mounting screws and screw the adapter in place.

Way 1) On the adapter, you have to reduce its flange thickness by a certain amount -- about 0.025" as I recall (I need to look at my notes). The biggest problem with this method is the flange becomes rather thin. However, this is the method that Ed Mika uses, although his is designed to also replace the spacer I believe (see below).

Way 2) Instead of reducing the adapter's thicness, reposition the focusing stop for the lens group on the focusing helical. Here's a thread I found at another set of forums where the guy describes this procedure:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/686892/0

Depending on what all's involved in relocating the stop for the helical, this might be the least time consuming method.

I tried the first method a couple of weeks ago, and found out that my milling machine is out of tram. It was cutting more material off the item at the front of the vise than at the rear. I ruined the adapter. So before I try this again, I need to retram the mill's head. Hopefully that won't be too difficult.

The only other thing that needs to be done is to fit a spacer between the flange and the A-M ring. I believe one guy I read about used a body cap for this -- trimming away everything but just enough for a spacer. Basically, it's just a ring the same diameter as the lens barrel about 1mm thick. It keeps the A-M ring from moving around. I'm thinking that if I can find a thin O-ring -- thin enough so that it isn't binding against the A-M ring -- this would work as well.

[calvin83]

I see. Google translate works OK but you can let me know if you are not sure certain step(s). I think a mix of step one and two may be the best solution: You can adjust three focusing stop screws(mark the initial position first) after you trim the adapter.

P.S. This lens will hit the mirror of FF Canon DSLR.

[Ed Mika]

Way 1) On the adapter, you have to reduce its flange thickness by a certain amount -- about 0.025" as I recall (I need to look at my notes). The biggest problem with this method is the flange becomes rather thin. However, this is the method that Ed Mika uses, although his is designed to also replace the spacer I believe (see below).



Actually my trick is that I found the right kind of screws imported from Japan that have small enough heads that they do not have to sit below the main Camera/lens face plane. They are inside enough that they can hold the thicker inner ring portion which gives enough thickness for a solid hold. This way there is no messing around with any spacers or anything and the original lens is not modified in any way allowing for a reverse conversion in the future. The video in the listing shows just how easy the conversion is with my mount.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/EdMika-Canon-FL-55mm-1-2-EOS-brass-conversion-kit-/170785828179?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item27c3a0ed53&_uhb=1

I don't know about you but mucking around with generic adapters and a lathe for hours to end up with a probably not very clean looking converted lens solution vs. the 135 bucks my kit costs shipped worldwide seems a no-brainer. Also depending on focus stop calibration you can reach infinity and just clear the slightly lower profile 5D3 mirror with the converted FL55 as well as clear with all the 1D series bodies with the metal mirror frames.

cheers-Ed Mika

[cooltouch]

Ed, if I wasn't so dang poor all the time, I'd be first in line to buy one of your adapters. I only paid $50 for my FL 55/1.2.

[Ed Mika]