GH4 Lens Turbo II Adapter with C mount and FD lenses can't focus at all on GH4

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sonofcuba

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Hey guys, long time reader first time poster.
I recently bought a GH4 and quite frankly can't stand the small sensor since I've gotten used to shooting with the 5D and RED the last several years. Anyways, I bought a Lens Turbo II Focal Reducer but unfortunately all of my favorite lenses are unable to focus with it.
The issues I think is that the Lens Turbo II adapter is a EF to M43 Adapter. But the lenses I'm using are the Canon FD 28-90 and the Navitar 18-180, neither is EF mount, so I have to use another adapter, So I'm going FD to EF and EF to M43. Doing the same for the Navitar lens, going C-mount to EF to M43.
With this combination neither of the lenses are able to focus at all. There is only at the very small space somewhere in the focal length where I am able to focus, but it is a very small depth of field and as I move in close or further away it goes.
Now I'm guessing the adapters combination is what is throwing everything off and causing the problem. Questions is, if so, is there anything I can do to fix this?


 
FD mount has a shorter flange focal distance (42mm) than EF mount (44mm) so unless your FD-EF adapter has optical components in it, it will never allow your FD lenses to work on any EF mount as anything other than a macro-only lens. They make optical adapters for FD to EF that I think incorporate something like a 1.2x focal extender to compensate for the FFD difference but then you end up half defeating your focal reducer... Basically FD lenses aren't good to use on an EF mount camera.

C-mount?? That has a wayyy shorter FFD than even FD mount so there is pretty much no way youd ever get one to work with any EF camera or adapter. Even on a regular C-mount to M43 adapter the c-mount has to be basically deeper and inside of the m43 mount so the lens can be the correct distance from the sensor, which only works because the c-mount is so small it can sort of fit inside of a m43 mount. Not to mention why would you want to try if pretty much no C-mount lenses will cover M43 with a focal reducer and few even cover M43 without a reducer.
 
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Thanks for all the info NYVZ. I figured that might have been the issue. Great to have confirmation. But actually, the Navitar 18-180 fixed F2.5 lens that I have actually works on my MFT GH4 without an issue. On the 4K mode there is no vignetting at all at any focal length, which is great and an option to anyone out there looking for a good overall zoom lens. At regular 1080p mode on the GH4, you do get a little bit of vignetting at a certain focal length but it is very minimal. A aspect ratio black matt on your export fixes this issues as well.

ANYWAYS, the FD-EF adapter that I have doesn't have an optical component on it, which might be what's causing the issues of not being able to focus. I'm really trying to go super wide on the GH4 which is what is causing all this problems. I think the best solution for me would be to return the Lens Turbo and get a refund because even if I got it to work with my FD lens (28-90), the widest focal length it would give me would be like a 40MM. I already have a 36MM equivalent without the focal reducer on my Navitar 18-180.

The only reason for me to keep the this Lens Turbo would be if I could find some cheap EF lenses to go with it, but I doubt there are many out there like there are for FD and C mount lenses.

I am a little intrigue to get a FD to EF adapter with an optical component on it and see it does in fact work, that way I can instead by cheap FD lenses if the combination does actually work.
 
nyvz said:
FD mount has a shorter flange focal distance (42mm) than EF mount (44mm) so unless your FD-EF adapter has optical components in it, it will never allow your FD lenses to work on any EF mount as anything other than a macro-only lens. They make optical adapters for FD to EF that I think incorporate something like a 1.2x focal extender to compensate for the FFD difference but then you end up half defeating your focal reducer... Basically FD lenses aren't good to use on an EF mount camera.

C-mount?? That has a wayyy shorter FFD than even FD mount so there is pretty much no way youd ever get one to work with any EF camera or adapter. Even on a regular C-mount to M43 adapter the c-mount has to be basically deeper and inside of the m43 mount so the lens can be the correct distance from the sensor, which only works because the c-mount is so small it can sort of fit inside of a m43 mount. Not to mention why would you want to try if pretty much no C-mount lenses will cover M43 with a focal reducer and few even cover M43 without a reducer.
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In another message board I'm hearing that using a right FD-EF adapter (one with the glass element on it) will allow this combination to work. Might try it out.
 
Metabones sells a Speedbooster specifically for Canon FD lenses to mount on Micro 4/3. That will get you the focal reduction you want, with the ability to set focus properly and no light loss.
 
sonofcuba said:
In another message board I'm hearing that using a right FD-EF adapter (one with the glass element on it) will allow this combination to work. Might try it out.
Click to expand...

Sometime back when I was considering adapted lenses for my Canon 7D and T2i, I read many reports of folks trying the FD to EF/EF-S adapters with the optical components necessary for normal focus visibly reducing image quality. So I didn't even try that route and paid the price for lenses made in EF or EF-S mount.

OK, you've paid the price for a GH4, why "fool around" with near junk quality lenses. If you want to go ultra wide look into used Olympus m.Zuiko 9-18mm f4.0 to f5.6 ultra wide zoom. Normally $699 new at B&H (on sale now for $499!) I see them in the "buy/sell" forum on mu-43.com for around $450 or slightly lower sometimes.

I got mine there used but in new shape for $460 a couple years ago and it is one NICE ultra wide. Sharp and crisp with no noticeable distortion. For normal perspective and low light the Panasonic Lumix 25mm f1.7 is priced at $247 at B&H but is backordered because B&H ran a Christmas sale on it for $99!.
 
Bruce Foreman said:
Sometime back when I was considering adapted lenses for my Canon 7D and T2i, I read many reports of folks trying the FD to EF/EF-S adapters with the optical components necessary for normal focus visibly reducing image quality. So I didn't even try that route and paid the price for lenses made in EF or EF-S mount.

OK, you've paid the price for a GH4, why "fool around" with near junk quality lenses. If you want to go ultra wide look into used Olympus m.Zuiko 9-18mm f4.0 to f5.6 ultra wide zoom. Normally $699 new at B&H (on sale now for $499!) I see them in the "buy/sell" forum on mu-43.com for around $450 or slightly lower sometimes.

I got mine there used but in new shape for $460 a couple years ago and it is one NICE ultra wide. Sharp and crisp with no noticeable distortion. For normal perspective and low light the Panasonic Lumix 25mm f1.7 is priced at $247 at B&H but is backordered because B&H ran a Christmas sale on it for $99!.
Click to expand...


The combination works, just got and FD to EF adapter with the glass element and it works. Everything focuses. Not sure how the image is effected. I will do some tests tomorrow and see what it turns out.
 
Here's a guy selling his Oly 9-18mm ultrawide zoom for $400.

https://www.mu-43.com/threads/for-sale-olympus-9-18mm-location-usa-ships.82094/

Makes a great "walkaround" lens in daylight conditions. From a rectilinear (not a medical term...) correct non distorted ultrawide (18mm full frame film equivalent) with no curvilinear distortion out to a 36mm equivalent which was a lens focal length photojournalists used to love back in the film days and before zooms became popular.
 
sonofcuba said:
Hey guys, long time reader first time poster.
I recently bought a GH4 and quite frankly can't stand the small sensor since I've gotten used to shooting with the 5D and RED the last several years.

(...)
Click to expand...
Why don't you simply use fast glass?

A bargain

A bargain part II

And another one...
 
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