HELP! Why Don't Canon EOS to Canon FD Adapters work?

D

Dangerpays

Well-known member
Hello All,

I recently purchased a Canon EOS to Canon FD adapter on Ebay without the teleconverter lens (I was told this was the best way to go). However, you can't focus worth a dran with the old Canon FD lenses using this system. I have a friend who bought a Canon EOS to Nikon lens adapter to use with his 7D and it works amazingly well, perfect focus. Anyone got any ideas on this?

Link to adapter: http://cgi.ebay.ca/New-adapter-Cano...855?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c5dc7469f

Thanks!
 
the distance from the sensor to the lens mount is to far on the eos system, fd lenses need to be closer to the sensor. you wont have this problem with nikon, m42, olympus om, C/Y, etc.
 
This isn't going to help but using FD lenses on the latest DSLR's is a bad idea. Besides the problems you are having you're going through more glass with those adapters.
 
You have bought an adapter without a glass element. With it you may be able to do only macro work because basically what you got is an extension tube. The lens won't focus past a couple of inches. If you really want to use an FD lens on EOS you should buy an adapter with a glass element. It softens your image but it is useable.
 
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The problem is that there are only cheap FD to EOS adaptors available & the lens in them is pretty poor quality. When Canon introduced EOS mount & killed FD they produced a high quality FD to EOS adaptor but that only works with the top of the line expensive FD mount telephoto lenses (I think that 200mm was the minimum). It is also possible to buy a glassless adaptor that does allow focus to infinity but only for the extreme telephoto 600mm & 800mm FD lenses http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...47834&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_611wt_1141
The sort of lens that you get in a $30 adaptor isn't going to give a very good image.
 
I'm glad now you posted this problem. Now people who buy FD lenses or are considering them can learn from this thread.

nigelbb thanks for replying and clearing all this up.
 
nigelbb said:
The problem is that there are only cheap FD to EOS adaptors available & the lens in them is pretty poor quality. When Canon introduced EOS mount & killed FD they produced a high quality FD to EOS adaptor but that only works with the top of the line expensive FD mount telephoto lenses (I think that 200mm was the minimum). It is also possible to buy a glassless adaptor that does allow focus to infinity but only for the extreme telephoto 600mm & 800mm FD lenses http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...47834&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_611wt_1141
The sort of lens that you get in a $30 adaptor isn't going to give a very good image.
Click to expand...

I have a found one good quality adapter - hand made, Hoya optical glass, focus confirmation chip installed. There's obviously a little light loss from the mere fact of there being an extra glass component, but that's more than compensated for by the fact that I can use my FD 35mm f/2, 50mm f/1.4 and f/1.8, 100mm f/2 and 135mm f/2, as well as other FD-fit lenses I have still from my 35mm film days. The 35mm, 50mm (both versions) and 100m are exceptional lenses and produce lovely video (and stills, come to that). The cost was £67, which is about $110-120 I guess.

Because they're put together by one guy, stock doesn't last long. He sells via eBay, and they go on in lots of 5 or so every couple of weeks. Here's a link to his eBay shop.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/thelensdoctors?_trksid=p4340.l2563

And here's a link to his website:

http://www.thelensdoctor.co.uk/

You'll see he also does refurbished lenses, and converts FD to EOS fit (still manual focus, but without an adapter needed). And you'll see he's got a decent pedigree.

Note: I'm not saying these adapters are perfect - but they're much better quality than the generic ones and, especially for video, I consider them to be excellent value. I'm also aware that shipping outside the UK (where he's based) will add to the cost.

These things are all about where you want to/can afford to spend the money, and where you get the value. Easy for me, because I already had the lenses.

Anyway, there's the info. Hope it helps
 
The FD lenses are superb, but canon all but killed them with EOS mount type. A few lenses can be modified to work, but most will need the glass adapter to get infinite focus, and in doing so really negate the IQ of the glass. The 50/1.4 or 55/1.4 is the only lens I hear really worth the work to use.
 
The key points seem to be:

1. Get an adapter with good quality optical glass.
2. Stop down one or 2 stops from maximum aperture to avoid flare. It's the flare that can make the images look unfocused

In critical stills work, you'll notice the effect of the glass in the adapter. In movie work, not so much, and maybe not at all
 
NickG, thanks very much for the information & links re a higher quality FD->EOS adaptor. I have a nice collection of Canon FD lenses (14mm F/2.8L, 24mm F/1.4L, 50mm F/1.2L etc) that I have been using with my Panasonic AG-AF101 but it must be worth trying this adaptor at just £69 (no stock at present though). It may even be worth getting the aperture rings de-clicked & having the FD mounts converted properly & permanently to EOS.
 
nigelbb said:
NickG, thanks very much for the information & links re a higher quality FD->EOS adaptor. I have a nice collection of Canon FD lenses (14mm F/2.8L, 24mm F/1.4L, 50mm F/1.2L etc) that I have been using with my Panasonic AG-AF101 but it must be worth trying this adaptor at just £69 (no stock at present though). It may even be worth getting the aperture rings de-clicked & having the FD mounts converted properly & permanently to EOS.
Click to expand...

Glad to help.

The main reason I haven't had my lenses converted to EOS is that I use them on my GH1 and GF1 too, and I'm not sure what effect the conversion wold have on that
 
I have just ordered a couple of the high quality FD->MFT adaptors from ciecio7 on eBay for use with my AF101 & GH2 as the cheap adaptors that I am using do have some play & focus is not as good as it could be. However I have the Birger mount on order & while the major attraction of thisis all the fancy electronics to talk to modern EF lenses it should work as a high quality passive EF-MFT adaptor so it could be worthwhile getting the FD lenses adapted so that I could use them on both Canon DSLRs & the MFT cameras.
 
Wow, this is why I have come to love and rely on this forum! Thank-you all for your input and the valuable information. Very informative and certainly worth me posting the original thread!
 
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