Custom Fix to Shifting Lens Adapter- Image Shift in Shot

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danielc

Well-known member
Hello!

I am not too sure if anyone has encountered this, though i have at a severe measure. my tighter nikons have shown very bad image shift and image movement, though i knew it couldnt be the lenses. upon trial and error, i found that the reason for the image shift was infact the lens adapter to the M4/3 mount on the camera from the torque of the FF unit. the FF was pushing the lens and the adapter wasnt tight in the camera.

below are photos of the rig my dad and i came up with, though the engineering is all my dad so thanks to him. now the adapter is completely tight and a fixated to the camera like it was "ONE" with the camera. now i can confidently rack focus my 85 and 105 with no worries of image shift. it is easy to make if anyone wants to take on the project, i can supply what we used for the rig. check it out!_MG_8264.jpg_MG_8261.jpg_MG_8259.jpg_MG_8260.jpg_MG_8265.jpg_MG_8258.jpg_MG_8263.jpg
 

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Really great stuff no doubt, I commend your work. However I suspect your problems are with the adapter itself. I have the Novoflex w/ aperture ring and it's rock solid. It's most definitely "one" with the camera. It's actually tough to get it off, I just leave it on there. Yeah, it cost about $300 bucks but it's perfect. What adapter is that?
 
thanks jarek, its the voightlander, should have mentioned that. this one shifts in the camera mount, though the actual F mount on the voightlander does have some shift, i eliminated about 80% id say with this.
 
Interesting as Id heard the voigtlander was rock solid. ALso have a novaflex.

Good job on the re engineering.
 
danielc said:
thanks jarek, its the voightlander, should have mentioned that. this one shifts in the camera mount, though the actual F mount on the voightlander does have some shift, i eliminated about 80% id say with this.
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Hmm...maybe your adapter is defective. I thought the Voightlander was one of the good ones too. It really shouldn't be moving, something is definitely wrong.
 
how about a cheap 10$ adapter and a varizoom or bebob focus controller ? ;-) oops wont work with nikon glass...so yes: that fixture is a good workaround.
 
Looks elaborate! And like a nice solution.

If needed, I use a small piece of paper tape or a sliver of paper to shim an adapter or lens...works like a charm :)
 
thanks taylor, i will have to try that. the little rig fixed the flex in the M4/3 mount, though the voightlander has a small pin for lens lock so the lens moves slightly still.

i dont think the voightlander is defective, it is a great adapter and well made. but these are still lens photography equipment, if i were to focus with my hand, its fine. but its the torque on the FF which twists a bit too hard. i never realized the importance of PL until now. racks need to be precise and seamless or the effect is just jarring.
 
You may also have those cinevate focus gears on too tight. They can add too much friction when focusing.
 
since i know your so active on the forums, wanna tell me what you used for the copper ring? was it just flat stock copper?
 
Gary Senda said:
Good adapters don't have any play. Buy a Novoflex: mine is solid rock with the camera

Regards

Gary
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Al these adapters were made for still cameras- they all have play. You can bend the ears/springs, etc. and make them be tighter but since they were never engineered for motion imaging the image shift was never considered in the design process. I'm very surprised Pana did not put a B4 mount on the AF100. I think it's very irresponsible of them.
If your adapter is tight it means that it's out of tolerance and will wear out the camera mount or damage it at some point. So no this is not a proper solution that the adapter is tight. It's a fluke and very irresponsible or even dangerous for the camera mount at that.
And please don't try to tell me that the B4 is for 3chip, back focus difference blah, blah- it's just a way to mount a lens securely that's all...
If you don't want to fit a 3 chip B4 lens on it make a pilot diameter bigger or something- no big deal.
Anyway- back to the topic- loose and properly fitting mount adapters will have play. You can make them tight if you want. Tight adapters may not have play but they will quickly wear out your camera mount and/or damage it. If you read the "interchangeable mount" in the camera description that means you can exchange lenses/adapters on the camera. A lot. So no- leaving adapter on the camera permanently is not a solution either.
Proper solution is a positive locking, bayonet B4 style mount for the camera. Like Sony F3 base mount. Or EX3 mount. And no the camera should not be $15K because of that.
It is getting really old to see these half ass solutions from camera manufacturers. Than guys like the OP have to jerry rig the camera just so it works like it should out of the box.
rant over, now back to the regularly scheduled programming....
 
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I havent had this problem with my Voightlander Nikkor adapter when using my FF but I have seen it happen with my OLY 14-35 2.0 and Panny adapter. Even though the lens weight is in spec with the camera, it does ever so slightly "droop" or flex at the adapter/camera connection. My solution was to use my Redrock lens support that I use with my 80-200 on the front of the 14-35 as well. This keeps the FF from lifting the lens on racks. I have way more faith in my Voightlander then the plastic'y Panny adapter.
 
Couldnt have said it better myself..... but unfortunately we are still stuck with this shitty system and need to find a way around it.....


optitek said:
Al these adapters were made for still cameras- they all have play. You can bend the ears/springs, etc. and make them be tighter but since they were never engineered for motion imaging the image shift was never considered in the design process. I'm very surprised Pana did not put a B4 mount on the AF100. I think it's very irresponsible of them.
If your adapter is tight it means that it's out of tolerance and will wear out the camera mount or damage it at some point. So no this is not a proper solution that the adapter is tight. It's a fluke and very irresponsible or even dangerous for the camera mount at that.
And please don't try to tell me that the B4 is for 3chip, back focus difference blah, blah- it's just a way to mount a lens securely that's all...
If you don't want to fit a 3 chip B4 lens on it make a pilot diameter bigger or something- no big deal.
Anyway- back to the topic- loose and properly fitting mount adapters will have play. You can make them tight if you want. Tight adapters may not have play but they will quickly wear out your camera mount and/or damage it. If you read the "interchangeable mount" in the camera description that means you can exchange lenses/adapters on the camera. A lot. So no- leaving adapter on the camera permanently is not a solution either.
Proper solution is a positive locking, bayonet B4 style mount for the camera. Like Sony F3 base mount. Or EX mount. And no the camera should not be $15K because of that.
It is getting really old to see these half ass solutions from camera manufacturers. Than guys like the OP have to jerry rig the camera just so it works like it should out of the box.
rant over, now back to the regularly scheduled programming....
Click to expand...
 
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