Ciecio7 PL mount question.
- Thread starter Brian@202020
- Start date
Barry_Green
Moderator
Matt had a Zacuto lens support positioned under the adapter's lens foot.
Brian@202020
Veteran
Thanks Barry.
Taylor Rudd
Veteran
That was only on the Howitzer, though it should work with the Ciecio7. On "Verse" I slid the AF100 back on the Zacuto baseplate and put a small shim between the foot and the baseplate (it was a near perfect height).
I do recall using a Cavision lens support to support the mount, which is a faster option when changing lens adapters (IE going from PL to Nikon or 4/3).
The issue with the Ciecio on "Verse" was that the adapter's foot wasn't square to the rods, so we couldn't use a 1/4 20 lens support because the hole was tilted slightly off center. Forcing it would have torqued the AF100's lens mount (or prevented the lens from clicking in place), if it was even possible at all.
Brian@202020
Veteran
Thanks for this bit of info. So a lens support that moves side to side something like this would work best?
Taylor Rudd
Veteran
In this case, it was off center on a circular axis. If the a perfectly centered foot is 6 o'clock (pointing straight down and center like the hour hand), this particular adapter was a 5 or 10 minutes past 6.
Of course this depends on the adapter. Yours may be perfectly centered and the Zacuto support may work well (and I do say, it is a well built lens support).
heavyG
Underwater Giraffe Member
Just looked at my Ciecio7 sitting here on my desk, and there are three allen screws at the back of the mount that allow you to adjust / make sure that the mounting foot is at 6 o'clock.
In fact first thing I did when it arrived was to loosen these to find out what they did - you can remove the m4/3 mount from the PL mount completely.
Taylor Rudd
Veteran
Very interesting. What is the connection like between the PL adapter and m43 mount? Wonder if something can be put in there to shim it.
Barry_Green
Moderator
Interesting -- I've used this for a couple of months and never noticed that! All I'd seen was how the foot attaches to the ring, and there's no way to rotate or manipulate that, but yes there are three tiny microscopic allen holes there. I may have to fiddle around with those to see how much better it can get. Truthfully I'd accepted the off-canter foot as the price to pay when you get the cheapie ebay adapter, but maybe it's better than I've been giving it credit.
Jon Furtado
Well-known member
Brian@202020
Veteran
I saw this too, but haven't had much time today to play so I didn't take it apart. So it sounds like I made a good buy after all.
Barry_Green
Moderator
I am not overly thrilled with the Ciecio7. It does mount the lens to the camera, and it's cheaper than any other PL mount out there. But it's not shimmable and on my Compact Primes it definitely doesn't achieve proper focus. It is my understanding that some manufacturers of lens mount adapters make them slightly thinner than the exact standard, so that they can guarantee that you can reach infinity focus. For SLR lenses maybe that's fine, but not so desirable with PL lenses which have very precise focus scales.
If you just want something that can connect a PL lens to your camera, the Ciecio7 is fine. If you want a well-rounded robust solution, all the praise seems to be centered on the Hot Rod.
Jon Furtado
Well-known member
Hmm...dang. I thought I could save some money on the mount! I should probably just get the hot rod. I've hot my own rail system coming in. So i'll just get the mount. Plus side is I can rent heavy class if I have too and i'll have a robust mount that'll last I guess.
Barry_Green
Moderator
Well, again, it depends on what you want to do. I'll probably get a Hot Rod or one of the rumored new mounts soon enough, and pass the Ciecio7 over to the GH2 for b-camera purposes.
But seriously -- I mean, if you ignore the mounting foot and just get the mount itself, it's, like, $240 or something. It's far less expensive than any of the alternatives, so it really depends on what you're looking for. If you need accurate focus marks, don't be surprised that the very cheapest mount available doesn't deliver them. I mean, I was *hoping*, but I wasn't really surprised when I found out that the marks were off...
But seriously -- I mean, if you ignore the mounting foot and just get the mount itself, it's, like, $240 or something. It's far less expensive than any of the alternatives, so it really depends on what you're looking for. If you need accurate focus marks, don't be surprised that the very cheapest mount available doesn't deliver them. I mean, I was *hoping*, but I wasn't really surprised when I found out that the marks were off...
astigmatic
Well-known member
I ordered the Ciecio the other day and this thread brought me from regret, to elated, to unsure..lol. Oh yeah, it's no the cheapest out there anymore : the FunkyKoval
Jon Furtado
Well-known member
Could you please explain shimming and what it entails. I'm sure i'd figure this out when its in front me. I just wanna be prepared.
heavyG
Underwater Giraffe Member
There just may be enough space to shim - I can't adequately describe how the two pieces come together, but shimming may be possible. Of course I can't do any tests until the cameras arrive...
Brian@202020
Veteran
I just looked at mine and shimming is completely possible. Barry does this change your mind about the Ciecio7 PL mount? If your marks could line up would you still have anything negative to say? It seem very robust and very well built. If the only issue was the marks being off and that is now solved, does that change things?
Barry_Green
Moderator
If I could get the marks perfect, then I'd say it's fine, especially for the price.
heavyG
Underwater Giraffe Member
Sounds like a challenge! Sadly the latest rumour about AF100 deliveries through Panasonic Canada is Feb 25th - so it may be a while before I can try out the mounts and see if it lines up or can be shimmed.