Metabones adapter & indiSYSTEM SNAP! Gear - Pulling Focus with Contax G Lenses

G

gmoe

Well-known member
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This has been a very good two weeks. Getting the B4 mount adapter from Bumkicho and testing out B4 lenses and figuring out a solution to pull focus manually with Contax G Lenses using a Metabones adapter and indiSYSTEM SNAP! Gear. Two great things for the GH1 in less than two weeks. :)

Here's just some quick test footage shot on the same day that I was testing the B4 lens with the new mount that Bumkicho sent to me. Some folks have been shooting with Contax G glass for still photography and a lesser extent moving images. With the Metabones and SNAP! Gear combo you are able to pull focus manually with excellent results. Very little play and smooth control. This is just some initial test footage. Tim Ovel will be sending me a few more SNAP! collars to see what will work best. For us GH1 users the biggest issue is really the body gets in the way of the SNAP! gear but I've outlined a simple process to make it work. I've written in more detail on my site but I'll post the basic info here.

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Here's what you'll need:

* Metabones Contax G to m4/3 adapter
* 75mm SNAP! Gear
* SNAP! Collar (I used a 66.5mm diameter- should be smaller)
* Follow focus
* Camera Rig (Mine is indiSYSTEMpro MP with indiFOCUS 20 follow focus)

Here are a few steps to getting your SNAP! Gears on the Metabones Adapter:

1) Secure your Contax G lens on the Metabones mount. (make sure you properly follow the instructions to lock the mount you do not want this lens to roll off.)

2) Take your SNAP! collar and place it around the middle of the Metabones focal ring. I used a 66.5mm diameter version but it does sometimes snap out of place. I believe it would be better if the collar were a smaller diameter that way it would flex and snap around the ring more tightly. The SNAP! Collar is flexible and my 66.5mm will open up to the larger 69mm diameter of the Metabones focal ring. I'm talking with Tim to test out smaller diameter SNAP! collars and will let you know a more ideal collar size.

3) Take your 75mm SNAP! Gear and snap it around the collar.
Spin the gear slowly and mold a path for the gear so that it does not touch the body of the camera. Use your fingers to edge up the SNAP! collar. The SNAP! Gear will be at a slight angle but that is fine. You will still be able to pull focus.

4) Once in gear is in place, spin the gear back and forth quickly and firmly to make sure it's in place and secure and that the SNAP! Collar does not pop out of place.

5) Place your camera with Contax G lens and SNAP! gear on your rig and make sure the follow focus comes close to the gear but not too close. You'll see what I mean, if you put the gear to close to the follow focus you will not be able to pull focus as smoothly. If you get it just right the focus will be feel light and smooth with no binding.

I've been talking to a few manufactures and trying to figure this out for a while over the past year. With the new Metabones Contax G adapter that was the final piece that got it working with the SNAP! Gears. This is currently a great solution to bring Contax G to the indie film side of life. I know some folks have already been using these mighty sharp lenses for filming but I'm sure folks are manually focusing by hand either through a small gear or a really rough focus ring. The Metabones adapter got it right this time and using the SNAP! Gear on the adapter allows for critical focus and control in the way we as filmmakers need. For my purposes as a doc filmmaker it streamlines my rig. The Contax G rangefinder lenses are small and compact and have always had a strong reputation in the still photography world. I hope that these little guys can have a new life of their own in the filmmaking world too now that we have a start at creating a system to make these lenses sing.

I hope many of you GH1 users who have Contax G glass can try this combo out. I'd be curious to hear your thoughts. I'm currently trying to talk to Lasjashk the ebay seller who sold me the Metabones adapter to see if there is any possibility to create a modification on their mount for our shooting purposes.

Here's some sample test footy:

Feel free to PM if you have any questions. If I get time I hope to put a quick video together to show the process of this setup. Looking forward to seeing other users play with the Metabones Snap! Gear combo.

 
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So another very interesting find with this new Metabones adapter is that it seems to keep the edge to edge sharpness on the 28mm and the 21mm.

It's been known that the 28mm and 21mm vignette heavily with other adapters. But I took a chance and chopped off the legs of my precious 28mm and 21mm Contax G lenses (took off 5mm off of each of the plastic legs which protect the lens).

When I put them on the Metabones adapter I do not see the heavy vignetting that I've seen with the other adapters. I just finished up my 21mm surgery this evening so I could not fully test the lens but here's just a few shots wide open.

Could this be true? Could this adapter give us edge to edge sharpness on the 21mm and 28mm lenses? I'll do more testing outdoors this weekend just to be sure.

Also, the 21mm and 28mm are super smooth with the Metabones and SNAP! gear combo.

I'm doing a shoot in Hawaii next week and the (21/28/35/45/90) are all coming along so I will have a chance to really put this setup to its paces. I know I'll never be able to afford Zeiss Super Speed lenses but for the price and compact rangefinder size of Contax G lenses these little guys are hella sharrrp lenses. :)

This is just a few quick pics of my messy desk shot with the 21mm to check for sharpness and any signs of vignetting.

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I don't know if is the lens or source of light, or AWB settings, but those pastel-toned colors look very good to my eyes. Looking forward to some of that Hawaii footage of yours :)

Also, would love to see a picture of the whole set in a row.

P.S. Those lenses look quite pricey on ebay ...
 
Also, would love to see a picture of the whole set in a row.

P.S. Those lenses look quite pricey on ebay ...
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Yes, will post pics with the complete set this weekend.

The 21mm has been definitely creeping up in price. Seems to be a little over $600.
The 28mm as well but the 35mm and 45mm seem to be more popular and well over $300.

KEH seems to have some pretty decent prices on the 28mm starting at $245

Also check your local camera shops, many still have Contax G lenses and some will sell them cheaper than on ebay.
 
So here's my whole set of Contax G rangefinder lenses (21mm/28mm/35mm/45mm/90mm) with the Metabones adapter.


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Here are a few sample pictures using the Contax G 21mm at f/8 just to test sharpness. Overall edge to edge sharpness is very good.
A little vignetting and softness at the edges but very sharp and usable.
I think it holds up very well. Probably my sharpest wide I have in a prime.

Just for kicks I attached my Raynox HD-6600PR055 wide angle adapter and I was pretty shocked at how well it held up too.

Philly Skyline & Schuylkill River Contax G 21mm f/8 & Raynox HD-660PRO55 & GH1
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Philly Skyline & Schuylkill River Contax G 21mm f/8
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I put the rig to the test on an exterior shoot in the woods using the Contax G 28mm and 90mm lens. There were a few issues but had nothing to do with the rig or adapter.
It's just difficult to see critical focus on the GH1 in the outdoors with out a field monitor especially with these very sharp lenses.
Overall, I really see a lot of potential for Contax G glass especially in narrative filmmaking where you have much more control over your shots.
I still want to see if I can get more comfortable and use them in more of a documentary run and gun style setting but for the second time at using these lenses I think this was not a bad effort.

 
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28mm G lens

28mm G lens

do you have an adapter problem with the 28mm g lens as the backend of the lens potrudes a little and I cannot seem to engage the adapter properly as the potrusion hits the base of the camera before it locks....is there a trick here so the 2 forks protecting the back potrusion rescedes? thanks
 
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How far can you turn the focus ring using the Metabones adapter? Does it turn one full rotation or less, or more? Thanks.

Marco
 
do you have an adapter problem with the 28mm g lens as the backend of the lens potrudes a little and I cannot seem to engage the adapter properly as the potrusion hits the base of the camera before it locks....is there a trick here so the 2 forks protecting the back potrusion rescedes? thanks
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The 28mm and the 21mm will need their legs cut off by 5mm.

I give a brief rundown on how to do it here:

http://www.componentgeek.com/archives/1301

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Why do you need an adapter for each lens?
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It's really a pain to mount these lenses. Once you figure it out it becomes a little easier but it took me a few hours of frustration initially to get the first one on. Basically some Contax G lenses mount more easily than others so it's really a pain in the butt to constantly have to unmount and mount these lenses and so I have an adapter on each lens. One of the tricky things is not only do you have to get the lens locked down on the mount but you also have to make sure you have the proper smoothness of the focal ring once it's locked on.

One thing I've noticed is that if you mount the lens and the focus is not smooth unmount it again and take a small flat head screw driver and turn the focus ring slot so it is not at the end of either close focus or infinity, it seems to help to be somewhere in the middle.

One of my Metabones adapters seems harder to mount lenses than my others so there's probably a slight inconsistency there with the mounts as well and rather than sending it back to China I just prefer to keep it on the lens.

Once you lock and set it and have smooth focus your really are good to go. I put a rear m43 lens cap on each of the mounts especially the 21mm and 28mm. You need that for sure because the rear glass can have the potential to be scratched.

How far can you turn the focus ring using the Metabones adapter? Does it turn one full rotation or less, or more? Thanks.
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One of the interesting things is you'd think you would have to do a couple rotations to go from infinity to close focus but you are really not even going a full rotation, maybe 3/4 of the way so if you were at a 12 noon position you'd be at a 9 position. I actually like that because you can pull focus from infinity to close focus from a smaller distance and I think it gives you greater control.

Thanks for your questions and look forward to seeing more guys try it out! I'm definitely getting more comfortable with using these lenses and it should be fun taking them to Hawaii at the end of the week.
 
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Can I still use the lens on my contax G1 and G2 even after cutting its legs by 5mm????

I still love to shoot and develop analog ocassionally.
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The legs are there to protect the rear glass, you can still use it on your G1 and G2. The "surgery" is really more like a haircut. If you take your time and have the right tools then it will still look aesthetically good and more importantly you will be able to use the lenses on the GH1. I'm really just having a blast. It's worth it. Just protect the rear of the lens and follow the simple steps I provided. I did my 28mm first and I knew the process to make the cuts better so the 21mm was done in less than 10 minutes.

Good Luck!
 
Thanks gmoe, now I am realy excited...thought will never be able to use my 28mm n 21mm...

I tested my 90mm g lenses and it is superb, very sharp and has that cinema look to it

and i fully agree to have 1 adapter for each lens, it is simpl;y too tedious to keep changing ....after looking for the lock and engaging the aperture dials, takes too much time....i need to get more adapters for sure next time i travel to hongkong,

or where do you get those meta adapters, i got the japanese shogun adapter
 
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Yes, it is exciting! I took a gamble and cut the legs on the 28mm and when I saw good results I did the same with the 21mm. For the quality and the size of these lenses it is unbelievable how well they work with the adapter and the GH1. These little Contax G lenses as cinema lenses for filmmaking purposes are to me sharper and smaller than my Contax Zeiss glass. I sold my Contax Zeiss in CY mount primes and I always regretted it. For sure I'm keeping these babies! :)

The ebay seller that goes by the name lasjashk is where I purchased my Metabones Contax G to m4/3 adpaters. He's a very reliable seller and communicates very well so if you have any issues with the adapter he'll take it back. I know if you purchase more than one he'll usually give you a little discount. He's also on getdpi forum as well.

Looking forward to more Contax G shooters.

http://myworld.ebay.com/lasjashk/
 
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gmoe said:
The legs are there to protect the rear glass, you can still use it on your G1 and G2. The "surgery" is really more like a haircut. If you take your time and have the right tools then it will still look aesthetically good and more importantly you will be able to use the lenses on the GH1. I'm really just having a blast. It's worth it. Just protect the rear of the lens and follow the simple steps I provided. I did my 28mm first and I knew the process to make the cuts better so the 21mm was done in less than 10 minutes.

Good Luck!
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I've done it ! I gave the 2 lenses a haircut. Thanks for the tip...now with the contax lenses and GH13, am ready to rock and roll!!
 
I've done it ! I gave the 2 lenses a haircut. Thanks for the tip...now with the contax lenses and GH13, am ready to rock and roll!!
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Great oneted looking forward to seeing how you like the 21mm and 28mm on the Metabones adapter. Please post some footage when you get a chance. :)
 
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