GH13 with Canon FD/FL Lens Thread.

I'm using an ISCO Widescreen 2000 anamorphic adapter, with a lens mount that looks like it orginally connected the adapter to a small projector. This type of ISCO was marketed as a projector lens to mate with the Iscorama 36, 42, & 56mm 1.5x anamorphics. However, its actual squeeze factor is close to 1.4x and I use it as a 1.33x adapter (no harm in making the actors look a bit more slender ;-) I can use it with prime lens as wide as 28mm, but unlike the Iscorama's, the ISCO 2000 has no focus adjustment. To get in close with this lens, I have to use a +0.4 diopter in front, which I found on Ebay, along with a filter mount. As you can probably tell, anamorphics require quite a bit of ingenuity to make them work well in practice.
 
I just mounted Canon FD 50mm f1.4 on Rainbowimaging adapter onto my GH1 and I can't focus beyond 5 feet. Anyone knows what could be wrong?
 
Try removing the Canon FD and reinstalling it, making sure that the slider on the back of the lens is installed correctly. Sometimes you have to start an inch clockwise of the push on position, move anticlockwise an inch, which engages the slider arm correctly, and then push on and twist clockwise again until the click. I hope that makes sense.
 
Thanks. I kept reinstalling the lens in a way that I think correctly engages the aperture slider. Everything fits perfectly, and I can open and lock the aperture with the adapter ring, but at f1.4 and lens focus ring at infinity, I'm still getting 5 feet of focus max. I'm perplexed as other people reported no problems with the same adapter. Could it be that the adapter is just too long?
 
I guess it could be that. Certainly an overly long adapter would preclude infinity focus ability (as infinity focus is nearest to the sensor).

It could also be an out of adjustment lens.

My suggestion is to try another FD lens, or test the same lens on an FD body. Either method will help to determine whether it's the lens or the adapter.
 
Unfortunately, that 50mm is my first FD lens and I have no way of testing the lens on other body. The Rainbowimaging adapter I received was all black without the silver front seen in the ad pictures, so I'm thinking it's probably the adapter that's bad as the lens itself seems ok. I even tried positioning the lens with my hand over the camera sensor and could see that infinity focus was possible by adjusting the space between the sensor and the lens--don't know if that proves that lens isn't bad, though. I bought another adapter and if the same issue repeats, it's probably the lens that needs to go back. Thanks.
 
Last edited:
Lenses are adjustable for infinity focus. Just so you know. It's not such a great idea to ty unless you're competent with lenses, but it's not that hard either.
 
Does anyone know of a FD to Micro 4/3 adapter that is less "tight." I have the Fotodiox adapter. Let me explain:

I have a Tokina 90mm macro that instead of twisting the lens on, there is a locking ring on the barrel you twist instead. This ring twists, tripping a switch (not the normal aperture switch that is triggered by the lock/open function of the adapter) that allows the aperture ring to fully operate. Given the way it fits now, the locking ring only turns far enough to trip the switch to the f/11~ point. This is due to the adapter fitting so tightly and not allowing the locking ring to turn to the fully locked position The lens goes to f/32. I've found that if I just twist the locking ring off the adapter, I can get it to stop down to f/32 no problem....else the aperture ring just does nothing when clicked past f/11.

So long story short.....I'm thinking a cheaper/looser adapter would allow the locking ring to turn fully?
 
For those interested, I fixed the above issue by sanding down the FD side of the Fotodiox adapter with medium grit sandpaper until the ring on the lens could fully twist and lock on the adapter.

From what I could tell, the Fotodiox adapter did not have an even distribution of chrome plating (brass underneath) on the metal FD mount side. This caused an uneven mounting surface.
 
Yes, his FD to M4/3 adapters sell out pretty quickly. It seems it usually takes him about a month to get more in stock on ebay. I've been tracking his FD adapter on ebay, and he sold out about 2 weeks ago, so probably another 2 weeks or so before he gets more listed, is my totally uneducated guess.
 
Just got a 135mm F2 fD Canon for $375...Saw the 2.5 as cheap as fifty bucks and contemplated the 2.3...really wanted the fastest and the sharpest sans glare...so how good is the Vivitar 2.3 135 - got confused because there's so many versions.
 
I found a clean copy of the Vivitar Series 1 135mm f2.3 and compared it to the Canon 135mm f2. Both lenses are solid and well-built, with 72mm front filter rings, but the Canon is a bit lighter and easier to handle. The Vivitar has an unusual cone-shaped focus ring which I found not to my liking. As I expected, both lenses are somewhat soft at wide-open apertures, but are plenty sharp enough for FHD video resolution. The Canon's f2.0 speed definitely beats the Vivitar's f2.3.
 
Thanks Lpowell - didn't expect to find someone who used both. Just had a hard time trusting Vivitar with their various versions etc, the extra half stop and all.
 
i have a fd 28mm f2.8 , so i ordered an adapter. I ordered one like one of the guys above said that they were all black and now im worried i could get the same problem. Has anyone else had that problem?
 
I´m using the Rainbow Imaging Canon FD to Micro Four thirds for two years with my seven FD lens, one of then is the 200mm f2.8 a big and heavy guy, no problem at all.
 
Back
Top