Run&Gun
Veteran
I just wanted to give a quick little review on the AbelCine/IBE Optics eUMS mount conversion that Abel can do to the Canon Cine-Servo 17-120, in-case anyone has been considering it to make their lens more versatile. To my knowledge, AbelCine is the only company doing this conversion.
If you don't know what the UMS mount system is, it was developed/is a collaboration with IBE Optics and Abel Cine that allows end-users to quickly and easily swap lens mounts for compatibility with different camera mounts(PL, EF, etc.). This system is employed in several of their optical adapters(like the HDx35) and available for installation on some other zoom lenses(like Canon compact zooms). The eUMS system differs in that it has electrical contacts to pass data, power and communication between the lens and camera mount. The backbone of the system, if you will, is the PL mount, which is the base mount for all the other adapters. When using any UMS adapter, other than PL, you remove the inner collar of the PL mount that is held on with 4 small screws and simply set the other UMS mount of choice on it and twist the adapter collar about a 1/4 turn to lock it into place. It's that simple.
Back in December I purchased a PL mount 17-120 to use primarily on my F55 and have been loving it ever since. But, I still shoot with my C300 and was disappointed that I could not use this beautiful $30K+ lens on all of my s35 cams. I knew there was a swappable mount system out there, but I would lose "LDS", because the mounts were simple "dumb" mounts(physical only, no electronics). I wasn't willing to give LDS up as it had too many advantages on the F55. All I had to do was lock the lens into the PL mount and power, control and data were all there, with no cables needed. Well, finally last month my sales rep confirms that they were able to get the eUMS version II system fully functioning so that LDS worked with BOTH PL and eUMS EF mounts.
So after getting this confirmed, I got an appointment set-up with the service department to get the conversion done. The purchase price(list $2950) includes the kit(parts) and installation. While the adapters are swappable by the end user in the field, the base mount of the system is not and must be done by a qualified lens tech. Don't worry, your warranty is not voided. It's my understanding that his conversion has been blessed and approved by Canon. They remove the factory Canon PL mount and replace it with the eUMS mount that is PL, also. It has two sets of electronic contacts on it, one for PL LDS and the other that make contact with the eUMS EF adapter.
When they return your lens, you'll receive it with the new IBE eUMS PL mount installed(and a new PL cap), the original Canon PL mount in a hard plastic case(those that have used IBE adapters know what they look like) and the eUMS EF mount in a matching container along with a set of simple instructions and small screwdriver for removing the four screws the hold the inner PL collar on.
Since the lens was set and ready to go as PL, I slapped it onto my F55 to make sure everything was as it should be. As stated above, with my F55, there are no extra cables necessary to power the lens or send the record command to the camera. It's literally plug-n-play. Just make sure the camera itself is set to the proper lens type. I installed the lens, fired up the camera and ran it through it's paces. The lens passed aperture and zoom data, record command, obviously received power, performed quick zoom/shuttle shot and I have it set to switch to slo-mo from the AUX button on the lens itself.
Then it was Canon time. It's very simple to go from PL to EF. Just stand the lens "ass up", loosen the four screws that hold on the inner PL collar and then drop the EF mount on, making sure to line up the electronic contacts and then turn the adapter collar. It takes maybe 40 seconds. Just take care not to lose the screws. I have an original C300, so you have to twist the lens on just like any other EF lens. This is actually a slight pain, because the servo grip hits the support rods and you can not line it up. You have to remove the rods to mount the lens which makes it a little bit of a juggling act, because now you have to mount the lens, keep it supported with one hand, install your rods, put the lens support on and then get it all tightened down to properly support the lens so that you don't stress the C300's EF mount, with one hand. Not impossible, but still a hassle. Now here comes the big difference between this lens in PL and EF: the EF mount only passes data, AND this is the case if you had bought the lens as native EF from Canon. The EF mount doesn't have enough juice to power this lens and also doesn't accept the record command. So you must use the power/record cable that Abel makes, period. I already have one, because it's the same that is used with B4 ENG lenses on the 300, as well. Unplug the lens cable from the lens and then plug it into the power/record cable. Mine has a power tap cable and LANC connector that plugs into the C300. Once the lens was powered and the camera was on, I could run it through it's paces. Focal length data and aperture are passed to the camera, just like any other Canon lens and I can trigger record from the lens grip. Quick Zoom/Shuttle Shot was functioning and for some weird reason, when I hit the AUX button, it brought up the menu. Auto iris does not appear to function, at least not with the (probably really old)version of firmware that I'm running on my 300. When you push the iris switch on the lens, it just closes down. The iris functions in the menu were also greyed out. I don't use auto iris, but just wanted to check. Not having a 300 that has the DPAF upgrade or a 300 mkII, I can't comment on the auto focus functionality, either. I know a guy in town with one, so maybe I can get together with him and test it out. And for reference, it took about a 1:15 secs to swap back from EF to PL.
One other thing that I'm waiting for verification on, is if you can use the regular "dumb" UMS adapters on it(don't want to take a chance on damaging the electronic contacts). Obviously you wouldn't get power, data and communication, but IF you wanted/needed to put it on an E, FZ, MFT or Nikon mount, it'd be nice to have that option, as well. I've actually suggested making an electronic FZ mount.
I told a few people today that I had it done and one of my friends with one has pretty much made up his mind to get it done, as well. If you own this lens and have PL and EF cameras and/or rent your lens out, too, it seems like a great option to make it useable on more cameras.
If you don't know what the UMS mount system is, it was developed/is a collaboration with IBE Optics and Abel Cine that allows end-users to quickly and easily swap lens mounts for compatibility with different camera mounts(PL, EF, etc.). This system is employed in several of their optical adapters(like the HDx35) and available for installation on some other zoom lenses(like Canon compact zooms). The eUMS system differs in that it has electrical contacts to pass data, power and communication between the lens and camera mount. The backbone of the system, if you will, is the PL mount, which is the base mount for all the other adapters. When using any UMS adapter, other than PL, you remove the inner collar of the PL mount that is held on with 4 small screws and simply set the other UMS mount of choice on it and twist the adapter collar about a 1/4 turn to lock it into place. It's that simple.
Back in December I purchased a PL mount 17-120 to use primarily on my F55 and have been loving it ever since. But, I still shoot with my C300 and was disappointed that I could not use this beautiful $30K+ lens on all of my s35 cams. I knew there was a swappable mount system out there, but I would lose "LDS", because the mounts were simple "dumb" mounts(physical only, no electronics). I wasn't willing to give LDS up as it had too many advantages on the F55. All I had to do was lock the lens into the PL mount and power, control and data were all there, with no cables needed. Well, finally last month my sales rep confirms that they were able to get the eUMS version II system fully functioning so that LDS worked with BOTH PL and eUMS EF mounts.
So after getting this confirmed, I got an appointment set-up with the service department to get the conversion done. The purchase price(list $2950) includes the kit(parts) and installation. While the adapters are swappable by the end user in the field, the base mount of the system is not and must be done by a qualified lens tech. Don't worry, your warranty is not voided. It's my understanding that his conversion has been blessed and approved by Canon. They remove the factory Canon PL mount and replace it with the eUMS mount that is PL, also. It has two sets of electronic contacts on it, one for PL LDS and the other that make contact with the eUMS EF adapter.
When they return your lens, you'll receive it with the new IBE eUMS PL mount installed(and a new PL cap), the original Canon PL mount in a hard plastic case(those that have used IBE adapters know what they look like) and the eUMS EF mount in a matching container along with a set of simple instructions and small screwdriver for removing the four screws the hold the inner PL collar on.
Since the lens was set and ready to go as PL, I slapped it onto my F55 to make sure everything was as it should be. As stated above, with my F55, there are no extra cables necessary to power the lens or send the record command to the camera. It's literally plug-n-play. Just make sure the camera itself is set to the proper lens type. I installed the lens, fired up the camera and ran it through it's paces. The lens passed aperture and zoom data, record command, obviously received power, performed quick zoom/shuttle shot and I have it set to switch to slo-mo from the AUX button on the lens itself.
Then it was Canon time. It's very simple to go from PL to EF. Just stand the lens "ass up", loosen the four screws that hold on the inner PL collar and then drop the EF mount on, making sure to line up the electronic contacts and then turn the adapter collar. It takes maybe 40 seconds. Just take care not to lose the screws. I have an original C300, so you have to twist the lens on just like any other EF lens. This is actually a slight pain, because the servo grip hits the support rods and you can not line it up. You have to remove the rods to mount the lens which makes it a little bit of a juggling act, because now you have to mount the lens, keep it supported with one hand, install your rods, put the lens support on and then get it all tightened down to properly support the lens so that you don't stress the C300's EF mount, with one hand. Not impossible, but still a hassle. Now here comes the big difference between this lens in PL and EF: the EF mount only passes data, AND this is the case if you had bought the lens as native EF from Canon. The EF mount doesn't have enough juice to power this lens and also doesn't accept the record command. So you must use the power/record cable that Abel makes, period. I already have one, because it's the same that is used with B4 ENG lenses on the 300, as well. Unplug the lens cable from the lens and then plug it into the power/record cable. Mine has a power tap cable and LANC connector that plugs into the C300. Once the lens was powered and the camera was on, I could run it through it's paces. Focal length data and aperture are passed to the camera, just like any other Canon lens and I can trigger record from the lens grip. Quick Zoom/Shuttle Shot was functioning and for some weird reason, when I hit the AUX button, it brought up the menu. Auto iris does not appear to function, at least not with the (probably really old)version of firmware that I'm running on my 300. When you push the iris switch on the lens, it just closes down. The iris functions in the menu were also greyed out. I don't use auto iris, but just wanted to check. Not having a 300 that has the DPAF upgrade or a 300 mkII, I can't comment on the auto focus functionality, either. I know a guy in town with one, so maybe I can get together with him and test it out. And for reference, it took about a 1:15 secs to swap back from EF to PL.
One other thing that I'm waiting for verification on, is if you can use the regular "dumb" UMS adapters on it(don't want to take a chance on damaging the electronic contacts). Obviously you wouldn't get power, data and communication, but IF you wanted/needed to put it on an E, FZ, MFT or Nikon mount, it'd be nice to have that option, as well. I've actually suggested making an electronic FZ mount.
I told a few people today that I had it done and one of my friends with one has pretty much made up his mind to get it done, as well. If you own this lens and have PL and EF cameras and/or rent your lens out, too, it seems like a great option to make it useable on more cameras.
