Lens Hacking: Canon FD to EOS!

Ha! Well ive just run into an issue- my shim/metal base I used on the 135mm isnt the right size for my 50mm... Guess I have to make another trip to ace hardware.
 
In the meantime, I got my 35-105 f3.5 macro opened up and added a new aperture linkage- just need those "shims"!
 

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Finished the 35-105mm f3.5 macro

Im finding out that longer focal lengths and zooms are MUCH easier to convert- I think I may have to start over on my 50mm aperture linkage- it works but it gets ruff in certain places : (

At least the 135 and 35-105 rock.
 

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Hunter I know that wides generally protrude much deeper into the lens mount area, which can cause problems with conversions.

A typical 135mm lens' rear element, by contrast, is usually way back down the barrel.

By the time you get to 28mm, it gets very close, and often if not usually a problem for 5D mirrors, but less problematic for 7D etc..

I even found that with an EOS converted 58mm Minolta, which had such a deep rear element it would "hang" on infinity focus shots on my 5D classic (Mk1), and I'd have to focus a tiny bit down to 10m to get the mirror to return, fortunately without scraping the lens (only the surround).

For 5D video work, where the mirror's locked up, it may not be an issue at all, if you can physically convert the wides in the first place.
 
Those adapters all have 1 of 2 flaws

1: they don't have a diopter and thus you lose infinity focus

2: they do have a diopter and you have infinity focus but you have added another glass element (usually a very low quality one) thus lowering the quality of your image.
 
+1 There's no substitute for swapping the mount.

Is it possible with 24mm and 28mm FD's - to convert to EOS? Can it be done?
 
Still waiting on new "shim" parts. The 50mm has turned out to really be difficult to make a proper linkage to control aperture.
 
Hi Hunter,

I have some FDs I want to convert, and wondered if you could advise me. I kind of feel like I want to keep them as a functional cine set for micro 4/3 and EOS cameras, so that if I can't convert them all, I'm not sure I will do any of them, and just use them with m43, if that makes sense.

I have 4 fast and excellent lenses in FD mount: nFD: 24/f2, 50/f1.4 and 85/f1.8 and a breechlock FD 35/f2.

Are they all convertible, do you know? Do you know any good web resources that might help?

Thanks ever so much

P.S. I just saw you "Rob Bell. Love Wins" Awesome piece of marketing there, and lovely shots you took. Much kudos to you!
 
Curious to see if there are any updates on this one... looking to get back into FD lenses, with the arrival of the a7s... also wanting to maintain compatibility w/EF mount systems... any progress reports on modding more FD lenses?
 
Haven't used FDtoEF, but am familiar with them - will be grabbing some adapters later this year - weighing options (FDtoEF or EdMika) - anyone else have experience with either?
 
The edmika have recently switched to a high grade engineering plastic, I haven't yet decided if this is good or not. I have a 35-105 f3.5 shipping in now that I'll need to do something to if the glass is in decent shape. The edmika for this zoom is $100, but I'm starting the weigh the idea of machining my own parts if I can find the mount somewhere.
 
I'd love to hear a review of the EdMika parts - saw that they were plastic and was a little less excited about it... FDtoEF is brass still. (Haven't actually got an FD lenses in the mail yet, so holding off on buying the adapters until I've actually got the right lenses coming...)
 
Got my 35-105 zoom, not thrilled with it. Resolution seems really low and there is some fungus right in the center of one of the lens elements down near the iris. Need to read the ebay listings more carefully!

Until I can get that clean out I won't be able to evaluate this lens and decide if I'll go the extra $100 for an adapter.

I can see that with my FD to Fuji X cheap adapter that the backfocus is off so either the adapter is off or the lens needs adjustment. But probably both of these factors are the problem. At least I'm not into it for too much money right now.
 
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Odd - I've heard only good things about the lens - never used it personally, but considering picking one up... really wanting to grab the 24/2, 50/1.4, & 85/1.8 to start with - used the 50/1.4 and 35/2.8 on my GH2 and loved them (the 35 wasn't anything super special, but the 50 was really nice.)
 
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