GH5 Metabones Speed Booster XL and wide angle lenses

Erik Naso

Erik Naso

Veteran
I've recently picked up a few Contax lenses to use with the GH5. I have the 35mm 2.8, 50 f1.4, and 85mm f1.4 . So far I like them a lot on the C300 with adapters they are very nice. On the GH5 with EF Mount adapters and a EF to MFT Speed Booster XL the infinity focus is off. The 35mm is really bad. and the 50mm is fair. Longer lenses tend to work better with adapters from what I understand. The 85mm is very usable but I still can tell it's not hitting infinity. I pulled out a Canon 35mm L to test and it's not as bad as the Contax but again I can tell it's off. I have to assume the Leitax permanent EF adapters
 are not helping with the issue on the Contax/Speed Booster combo.
I then put the Duclos Tokina EF 11-16 on the Speed Booster and it's very soft and unusable. Wide open at 2.8 it's just plain unusable.

Is this common? I attempted to adjust the infinity focus on the adapter but was only able to adjust the element less than a 1/4 turn. Probably 1/8 is more like it. Seems to be at it's end of adjustment setting.

I have to admit i'm very disappointed. Metabones recommends the XL over the ULTRA for the GH5. I figured it would be compatible with more than a 50mm lens. The other bummer is Metabones customer service is very bad. I emailed them a few days ago and havent heard back. I wish another company would make these focal reducers. At $650 you would expect a little more.

So is it broken? Are you experiencing Speed Booster XL heaven with your GH5?
 
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Wish I could help, but I rarely use my Ultras on the GH5, or FS7, & mostly have them as backup, or for access to specialty lenses.
 
Erik Naso said:
I've recently picked up a few Contax lenses to use with the GH5. I have the 35mm 2.8, 50 f1.4, and 85mm f1.4 . So far I like them a lot on the C300 with adapters they are very nice. On the GH5 with EF Mount adapters and a EF to MFT Speed Booster XL the infinity focus is off. The 35mm is really bad. and the 50mm is fair. Longer lenses tend to work better with adapters from what I understand. The 85mm is very usable but I still can tell it's not hitting infinity. I pulled out a Canon 35mm L to test and it's not as bad as the Contax but again I can tell it's off. I have to assume the Leitax permanent EF adapters
 are not helping with the issue on the Contax/Speed Booster combo.
I then put the Duclos Tokina EF 11-16 on the Speed Booster and it's very soft and unusable. Wide open at 2.8 it's just plain unusable.

Is this common? I attempted to adjust the infinity focus on the adapter but was only able to adjust the element less than a 1/4 turn. Probably 1/8 is more like it. Seems to be at it's end of adjustment setting.

I have to admit i'm very disappointed. Metabones recommends the XL over the ULTRA for the GH5. I figured it would be compatible with more than a 50mm lens. The other bummer is Metabones customer service is very bad. I emailed them a few days ago and havent heard back. I wish another company would make these focal reducers. At $650 you would expect a little more.

So is it broken? Are you experiencing Speed Booster XL heaven with your GH5?
Click to expand...
It seems that both the MB and your contax lenses with adapters are off. And their error compounds. Unfortunately that points to having the lenses collimated and having the adapter collimated. You need someone with test equipment- collimator and/or projector. Check out this video I made that explains the process:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtBJbawy1ls&t=200s
 
TheDingo said:
Can you use a Contax ---> m4/3 adapter on the GH5 and bypass the EF adapter entirely ?
Click to expand...

Yes. That's how I figured out the Leitax with the Metabones XL was causing issues. However the feild of view is a little rough. but it acts like a doubler so I have that. :-D
 
Okay. I just got a C/Y to MFT ULTRA Speed Booster and wow was it way off infinity. The good news is I was able to adjust it and the 50mm is spot on now. Tonight i'll take the Leitax EF adapter off the 35mm and 85mm and see how well it works with the new C/Y version. It should be spot on as well but I keep running into problems with this little project. It's also getting expensive!

Contax and Speed Booster.jpg

The new plan is to use removable EF adapters on the C300 when needed. They seem to work pretty well and hit infinity close enough. They are a little loose on the camera with some wiggle but I can live with it.
 
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Erik Naso said:
I've recently picked up a few Contax lenses to use with the GH5. I have the 35mm 2.8, 50 f1.4, and 85mm f1.4 . So far I like them a lot on the C300 with adapters they are very nice. On the GH5 with EF Mount adapters and a EF to MFT Speed Booster XL the infinity focus is off. The 35mm is really bad. and the 50mm is fair. Longer lenses tend to work better with adapters from what I understand. The 85mm is very usable but I still can tell it's not hitting infinity. I pulled out a Canon 35mm L to test and it's not as bad as the Contax but again I can tell it's off. I have to assume the Leitax permanent EF adapters
 are not helping with the issue on the Contax/Speed Booster combo.
I then put the Duclos Tokina EF 11-16 on the Speed Booster and it's very soft and unusable. Wide open at 2.8 it's just plain unusable.

Is this common? I attempted to adjust the infinity focus on the adapter but was only able to adjust the element less than a 1/4 turn. Probably 1/8 is more like it. Seems to be at it's end of adjustment setting.

I have to admit i'm very disappointed. Metabones recommends the XL over the ULTRA for the GH5. I figured it would be compatible with more than a 50mm lens. The other bummer is Metabones customer service is very bad. I emailed them a few days ago and havent heard back. I wish another company would make these focal reducers. At $650 you would expect a little more.

So is it broken? Are you experiencing Speed Booster XL heaven with your GH5?
Click to expand...
Mine are fine...I use a XL Nikon mount and Ultra FD mount...apparently they can be off and can be adjusted...I'll post a link below...hopefully it's helpful!
Both on a GH5
http://www.metabones.com/article/of/infinity-adjustment-speed-booster-only
 
fboonzaier said:
Mine are fine...I use a XL Nikon mount and Ultra FD mount...apparently they can be off and can be adjusted...I'll post a link below...hopefully it's helpful!
Both on a GH5
http://www.metabones.com/article/of/infinity-adjustment-speed-booster-only
Click to expand...

With the XL I couldn't do a adjustment that fixed the issue. The optic wouldn't rotate more than a 1/8 of a turn. Maybe mine is defective?

The C/Y Speed Booster is perfection! All my Contax lenses focus to infinity now after adjusting the optic for infinity focus. It's not full frame but at least I have a working S35 set of Contax Zeiss on my GH5.
 
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