PL lenses on EF cameras: hard mods unnecessary

ydgmdlu

ydgmdlu

Veteran
So even though the flange focal distance permits PL lenses to adapt to the EF mount without focus issues, the remaining problem is how far the rear elements protrude behind the flange. Smart people here have proposed removing the mirror box, but I've recently realized that this is unnecessary.

I have a lens with a protrusion that interferes with the mirror. Slow-witted that I am, I didn't discover it until a few days ago, even though I had observed an issue for months. When I mounted the lens with the camera off and then switched to live view, the mirror would get stuck halfway down. While still having live view active, I could dismount the lens and remount it, and the mirror would go to its proper place, and I could resume shooting. I found that if I deactivated live view afterwards, the camera would try to move the mirror back down into place, but the mirror would not move at all. There have been no ill effects with using the lens in this way.

So the simple solution for PL lenses is to just activate live view BEFORE mounting the lens. Why didn't anyone think of this sooner? I just saved y'all a bunch of time, money, effort, and anxiety.
 
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Here is a major downside (for the 7D at least):

When LV is activated for a long period of time, or in a heated scenario, the camera will overheat, and want to shut down LV. With the PL lens mounted, this means the mirror will get stuck halfway down, requiring you to remove the lens, let the mirror close, wait till you are ready to shoot again, then turn on LV, remount the lens, cut, repeat.

No thanks.
 
What happens if:

1) Live view is turned off.
2) The power to the camera is removed (i.e. battery dies, AC adapter pulled out)
3) Mode is switched from "movie" to "stills".
4) Monitoring externally.

Just want to make sure that something won't get damaged should an accident happen or someone fiddles with the camera. It'd be a shame to hurt a $1600 camera, but a real shame to hurt a $7000 lens.
 
Michael Olsen said:
What happens if:

1) Live view is turned off.
2) The power to the camera is removed (i.e. battery dies, AC adapter pulled out)
3) Mode is switched from "movie" to "stills".
4) Monitoring externally.
Click to expand...
The answer to all four is this:
1) The mirror pops down.
2) The shutter snaps closed.

That's all. I just did a test with my 5D in which I activated live view, lightly held my finger under the mirror while it was in the "up" position, and then deactivated live view. The mirror was held "up" with virtually no force at all. I really don't think that the mirror would strike any sensitive part of a PL lens at all. I can upload demonstration video later, if you want.
 
ydgmdlu said:
The answer to all four is this:
1) The mirror pops down.
2) The shutter snaps closed.

That's all. I just did a test with my 5D in which I activated live view, lightly held my finger under the mirror while it was in the "up" position, and then deactivated live view. The mirror was held "up" with virtually no force at all. I really don't think that the mirror would strike any sensitive part of a PL lens at all. I can upload demonstration video later, if you want.
Click to expand...

A couple of things:

1) These lists are kind of fun.
2) That's good news.
3) I'm still kinda hesitant, but would definitely like to try it!
4) Thanks for pointing this out and putting your finger in peril to test it out!
 
ydgmdlu said:
Just to clarify: Are you saying this from firsthand experience, or is it conjecture?
Click to expand...

Just reread your OP, you mention that turning off LV causes the mirror to just stay open, because of the protrusion of the PL lens. I'm not sure if this will damage the camera, but I was speaking in regards to the mirror moving upwards, with most PL lenses it will hit the rear element.

Looking forward to Kholi's "mirror extracted" 7D, seems that will solve the PL mount issues.
 
Andrew Brinkhaus said:
I was speaking in regards to the mirror moving upwards, with most PL lenses it will hit the rear element.
Click to expand...
Well, obviously. That's the whole reason why I suggested mounting the lens after the mirror is already "up." The protrusion should hold up the mirror, so there should be no problem with the mirror getting stuck mid-shoot.

Looking forward to Kholi's "mirror extracted" 7D, seems that will solve the PL mount issues.
Click to expand...
I don't see how that solution is any better than mine. At most, the motor that moves the mirror might get stuck or burned out, but how's that any different from removing the mirror box in terms of impairment to functionality?
 
What about getting a PL mount on the camera? I'd like to see a viable solution for that, unless there is one already that I don't know about?
 
Some PL mount lenses will not work on the Canon bodies, especially the wides. Most of the longer ones and the zooms have the back element within a safe zone, and are not interfering with the mirror.
 
Well, yes, I understand that the rear of the PL lenses are the issue but what I meant was where are the straight up PL to EOS lens adapters? All that I've been seeing are custom made mounts and usually on modified cameras. If someone would just make a PL to EOS mount or design a simply DIY replacement kit then ydgmdlu's method would be testable.
 
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