Metabones alternatives?

A

AndrewTaran

Active member
The company I'm working for is getting FS100 and I'm stoked to finally work with proper video camera! I'm doing photography as well, so we have a good ballpark of Canon lenses. As far as I see, Metabones is the only way to go right now, but they're out of stock. I tried to write to Conurus, thinking they might get it faster, but I was told that there're no timetables for now - wait and you'll receive...So, are there any other alternatives?
 
Birns and sawyer have full of them in stock! MTF makes adapters too btw but the price is over 1100$ so...
 
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AndrewTaran said:
The only concern for me right now is cropped bokeh when going below F2...
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I've only tried my Metabones on the NEX 7, but I would imagine that it's a similar look. I mostly have f1.4 manual lenses (except the Canon 24m L2 f1.4), so it's a fairly easy fix to just use a dumb adapter when using those lenses if I need to shoot f1.4.

I guess if I wanted to shoot the Canon 24m at f1.4, I could set it to f1.4 using the Metabones, then take it off and put it on the Dumb adapter. Not the fastest solution, but it will work. I mainly noticed the clipping when shooting car lights at night.

I suppose for me, since I only have 1 electronic lens that goes to f1.4, it's not a huge issue, but if you have all electronic f 1.4 lenses it could be a pain.

Aside from that issue and the firmware update issue, it's a really great adapter.
 
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I have a good Canon glass as far as I'm doing photography too, so I really want to use it. I know that I won't go wider than 2 usually, but sometimes I'd need that. So now I have a dilemma...
 
Actually i'm curious about this now. I've been having a tough time getting a set of contax zeiss primes, so considering changing everything to modern zeiss primes. However i'm so not used to nikons reverse focus that it's putting me off.

I did have a metabones on order but there were some shipping issues which eventually got sorted thanks to the original designer (conurus) but it's kind of put me off - the send it back for firmware system. The cropped bokeh is also a deal breaker as i don't want to be swapping adapters in the field.

So there were some alternatives mentioned before, MTF services had something planned? And i thought there was a birger one floating around. Also solid camera i'm sure spoke of one too.

So is there anything out there now? I'm actually just looking for aperture control really...

thanks
paul
 
Honestly, the reverse direction on the Zeiss isn't really that much of an issue at least for me, and I have both Canon and Zeiss ZF lenses. It take me about a second to reverse my mind.

I think the MTF adapter is way to large and clunky. It has an extra cable and a box. Who knows when the Birger will come out, although from the picture I saw of it, it seems like the electronics are housed on the outside of the adapter. I think the reason for the Bokeh crop on the Metabones is because the electronics are housed on the inside of the adapter and the hole is a bit too small which crops the light.

I think at this point and time, the Metabones is the best one out.
 
I've mailed MTF to see what their plans are. The metabones is a neat size but i'm sure there's room underneath the adapter for the electronics, the LA-EA2 contains a mirror and phase detect electronics. Sony managed it okay.

Yeah, i'm sure i would get used to it however it's not always me and we'll have focus pullers and i don't want to make life more difficult for them for no good reason.

Shame Zeiss dumped the pentax/M42 versions... Protecting their CP.2 perhaps

thanks
paul
 
I've seen some images with the effect but i can't remember where. I'm pretty sure our own Rick on these boards also saw the effect too.

Unless they've changed the insides recently it makes sense that it would crop wide apertures.

Shame...

cheers
Paul
 
Initially we put our Canon active adapter on the back burner while we were working on our F65 system. Now that project is winding down and as we move down the road, most of our conversations indicated that very few were willing pay what it takes to get a really fantastic mount. Of course I am also hearing a lot of chatter about problems with the "affordable" options. I would be very interested in hearing that conversation now. We have developed what I believe is a solution that users would fall in love with - but may never see it because "saving" money is the primary goal. I don't want to come across too snarkey - but how many are interested in a no excuses solution to put Canon glass on E mount cameras?
 
Chris Johnston said:
I went googleing around and couldn't find anything. Wonder if it's just certain glass?
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It was aperture based, anything wider than f2 or f2.8, it makes sense bearing in mind the inside of the adapter. But you're right i was unable to find the example i remember which is pretty odd. Either they fixed it or have done a great PR job removing images (wouldn't have thought so...)

rx8pilot said:
- but how many are interested in a no excuses solution to put Canon glass on E mount cameras?
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Everything has a perceived price and as most adapters are dumb, so that starting point is low. The question is what would your adapter be able to offer 'no excuses' that would fit into the eco system of the FS100/Canon Glass?

I would need to switch between alpha glass with the LA-EA2 and Canon, so changing the mounts quickly and easily is important. I guess the no excuses is about how the mount protects the e mount underneath, which makes sense?

I'd love to hear more... But i think you'd need to start off with a market price that would work and see if it's possible. Sticking an Arri or Oconner follow focus on the FS is not proportional to the cost of the system.

I think metabones have done very well commercially with their adapter, which gives an example of a price that is working.

cheers
paul
 
rx8pilot said:
Initially we put our Canon active adapter on the back burner while we were working on our F65 system. Now that project is winding down and as we move down the road, most of our conversations indicated that very few were willing pay what it takes to get a really fantastic mount. Of course I am also hearing a lot of chatter about problems with the "affordable" options. I would be very interested in hearing that conversation now. We have developed what I believe is a solution that users would fall in love with - but may never see it because "saving" money is the primary goal. I don't want to come across too snarkey - but how many are interested in a no excuses solution to put Canon glass on E mount cameras?
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I'm sorry, but I don't quite understand; from everything I've read, people consider the Metabones adapter to be of very high quality, and it works as advertised. It's price point at $399 is not unreasonable.

What "excuses" is the currently-availabe Metabones mount making?

If you are going to make something to compete, how is yours going to be better? Lower price? (Doesn't sound like it). Higher quality? Is there really room for a lot of improvement in this area?

The only thing I can think of is elminating the issue with using faster-than-f/2.0 lenses wide upon (there's been talk of vignetting). For that you might get another $100.

Or are you talking about adding support for autofocus? Spot focus? Those would be worth more.

How about this: you tell us what you mean by "no excuses" and "a really fantastic mount" - and we'll tell you what we'd pay for it...
 
Just to add to my message as far as what's wrong with the metabones i feel (without having used one though)

- the clipped bokeh/vignetting is an issue if true and it certainly was true at one point as i saw images
- having to send back for firmware updates is a no no.
- mounting it to rails for extra strength seems difficult, it should follow the LA-EA2 example and put the electronics in a mount area underneath

I'm not sure AF will ever work for video in a way that would be useful. However an electronic follow focus capability might be very useful, especially if wireless. Of course i was just looking for basic aperture control for the Zeiss ZE lenses...

cheers
paul
 
paulcurtis said:
It was aperture based, anything wider than f2 or f2.8, it makes sense bearing in mind the inside of the adapter. But you're right i was unable to find the example i remember which is pretty odd. Either they fixed it or have done a great PR job removing images (wouldn't have thought so...)

paul
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Maybe they did fix it, but I've never seen it and I also found several (well, EVERY pic) pictures at wide open that didn't display any cropping that I could see. I'd just ask that anyone with the adapter try it out and post a few pics. Then we can see if there is an actual anomoly or is it just a rumor to slam what appears to be a fairly good (and appropriately priced) product.
 
+1 All i can find online now are references asking about clipping but no concrete proof.

The MTF version, is 3 times the cost and uses a separate box to control the adapter which is a shame. Seems a bit impractical really.

cheers
paul
 
Sorry I don't have any photos for concrete proof since I don't have my FS700 yet.

However, I did get my Metabones adapter last week and I used my friend's NEX 7 just to quickly make sure the adapter turned on, IS worked, etc... I remembered Rick Burnett and another poster mentioning the f1.4 clipping issue in another thread if the camera is pointed at a direct light source. So we turned on a light in a dark room and pointed the camera at the light. The shape of the Bokeh definitely changed from f2 to f1.4.

With that said, when not pointing the camera at a direct light source in a real world situation, it was hard to notice. I didn't take any pics because I mainly just wanted to make sure the Metabones worked / turned on, and it does work really well overall.
 
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