Cheap EF to E-Mount Adapter.

Tim Nitsch

Tim Nitsch

Well-known member
I just ordered a Fotga EF to E-Mount adapter off ebay for like $12.

I've seen a couple reviews and people generally seem to like it, does anyone here have one and if so is it worth anything?

I've heard of some of the cheap adapters (not necessarily the Fotga) getting stuck on the camera or lens or I'm not so much worried about it getting stuck on my lens (because it's a cheap-o lens) but the FS100 that I will be using it on isn't mine and the last thing I want is for it to get stuck on the camera.

I've also been told that some of these adapters can "break" the camera. (although they never go into detail about what actually "breaks") How can a dumb mount "break" a camera?

Is there any validity to these rumors?
 
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Well... a cheap adapter is a cheap adapter. The thing is that any adapter puts a little more stress on the not too strong mount on the FS100. I think we came to the conclusion that the FS100 mount is only capable of carrying a max of 1 kg since the manual states that you should never pick up the camera by the lens ( the weight of the body is roughly 1kg ).

But honestly, I don't understand how people could literally break their camera by using a specific adapter. If you are careful and treat gear like it should be treated then it should be just fine.

Having said that... I haven't tried the Fotoga, but I had the Fotodiox and another dumb adapter before that, and non of them ever broke my mount. Now I use the Speed Booster and that is rugged as hell.
But if you go as far as using heavier EF lenses, I would suggest you also add a lens support to take the weight off the mount a bit.
 
Weight isn't going to be an issue as the lens is pretty light, no where near 1kg.

Could a "dumb" adapter short out a camera some how?
I couldn't imagine that would be the case but I can't think of any other way an adapter can "break" a camera, short of physically ripping it off the mount.

The guy I heard it from isn't know for being the most truthful or knowledgeable person, so it could very well be that he has absolutely no idea what he's talking about. (wouldn't be the first time)

I just want to double check especially since like I said the FS100 isn't mine.
 
I suggest you rent a Metabones adapter. The cheap adapters will be useless since you won't have a way to control the aperture on the lenses.
 
While I use a Metabones adapter, I've got a pile of cheap dumb adapters for other mounts. I've never had an issue with the camera. Not really sure how you'd break the camera using one.

The only real issue is that many of the mounts don't fit the FS100 - the video E mount seems to require a slightly thinner flange than the stills cameras. I've had to take to almost all my cheap mounts with a Dremel tool and grind them down a little - which gives me nightmare visions of missing some stray bit of metal that ends up inside the camera but so far so good.
 
I've had to take to almost all my cheap mounts with a Dremel tool and grind them down a little - which gives me nightmare visions of missing some stray bit of metal that ends up inside the camera but so far so good.
Click to expand...

This makes me cringe considering the value of the camera. If those bad boys didn't go on effortlessly, I would just return or throw 'em in the trash!

I have a couple cheap FD mounts and an EF mount. Not thrilled about using them, but they do work. To the OP, who knows, maybe the guy meant what's been covered….getting stuck on the camera, stripping or stressing the mount.

I'm certainly guilty of the stupidity. "Hey, let me throw on this $23 adaptor from amazon.com on my 5K camera. Git-R-done!" :thumbsup:

EDIT: at the very least, get yourself some inexpensive rails to help support the weight of those bigger lenses.
 
Makes me cringe too but I've got no one to blame but myself if it all goes horribly wrong. There's actually just a whisker to take off the flange to get it to fit and first time, I was on my third Olympus adapter that didn't fit so out came the Dremel. Then the cheap Nikon adapter didn't fit so I figured "hey, been here before...". Soon it was a habit. Every non-cooperative adapter needed to visit Mr. Dremel before it got used.

I think I've got a full set now so the Dremel can rest quietly in the drawer but just a warning to the OP that there's a chance his cheap adapter won't fit if the seller didn't specifically mention that it worked with the FS100.

~Jeff K
 
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