Poll / Best Cheap adapters / Tested

ROCKMORE

ROCKMORE

Veteran
I know this has been gone over, but I think a side by side testing would be useful. I need a stack of these adapters without a stack of cash, but don't want to get stuck with sloppy fits or adapters I can't get off my vintage lenses.

Maybe users with hands on experience with various adapters can list the brand name or ebay link and give the product a grade from 1 to 10. This would save a lot of headaches for me and many others.
Thanks in advance.
 
I've been using Fotodiox.com adaptors. I have one of their pro ones for my 600mm that is an example of perfect machining. I also have a few of their cheap ones for my Olympus Zuiko's and other Nikkor F mount lenses. They also work perfectly, but can occationally have a loose fit.

They are very easy to to make them as tight or lose as you want on your lens. There is a little tiny slit in each of the ears that attach to the lens. These can be pried open ever so slightly to tighten up the tollerance. It works incredibly and is a very novel concept.

I've attached a pic of the slit that you wedge open just a smidge at a time until you get the fit you want. The tip of a pocket knife or steak knife works great by very gently twisting in the slit until it bends open a few thousandths of an inch at a time.

Make sure walk away from your lenses and cams when working on these things. We don't need any scratches in your arsenel :)

fotodiox adaptor adjustment.jpg

Cheers,
Pete
 
I've only used a 50mm f1.8 and a push/pull 35-105mm f3.5-4.5 on my T3i. Their color rendition is as good as any lens I've seen. Sharpness is great with both. For your colorful racing type work the Zuiko's would rank way up there in my book.

In the end of the day I'm lazy and setting focus with my auto focus L lenses is really convenient. The image stabilizer on my 70-200 L f4 is so good that it's now my go to lens most of the time. My second is a 17-35L f2.8 for work on a steadycam at 17mm. It's perfect on the APS-C crop for that type of thing and is somewhat fast enough.

If I could find a reasonably priced Zuiko 21mm f2 I'd be all over it. I might even go for a 24mm f2. They appear to be much sharper than just about any other vintage lens in that wide angle catagory and they also have a color that is great. The Nikkors have a muddy feel to their colors that I don't like vs. the modern Canon glass or the Zuiko's I've tried and seen.

In any case back to the original question, the adaptors work perfectly with them. With the double button attachment of the OM mount it's super easy to put on and take off the lens. You don't have to buy one for each lens if you don't want to up front. The Nikon mount ones are much more fiddly to get on and off the lens IMHO. With those it's worth it to buy one for each lens and just leave it on there.

Cheers,
Pete
 
I'm using this adapter from this seller on my T2i and it works well. Took a certain time to arrive due to international shipping. Worth it, bought it in 2009 and never had any trouble since.
 
c3hammer said:
I've only used a 50mm f1.8 and a push/pull 35-105mm f3.5-4.5 on my T3i. Their color rendition is as good as any lens I've seen. Sharpness is great with both. For your colorful racing type work the Zuiko's would rank way up there in my book.

In the end of the day I'm lazy and setting focus with my auto focus L lenses is really convenient. The image stabilizer on my 70-200 L f4 is so good that it's now my go to lens most of the time. My second is a 17-35L f2.8 for work on a steadycam at 17mm. It's perfect on the APS-C crop for that type of thing and is somewhat fast enough.

If I could find a reasonably priced Zuiko 21mm f2 I'd be all over it. I might even go for a 24mm f2. They appear to be much sharper than just about any other vintage lens in that wide angle catagory and they also have a color that is great. The Nikkors have a muddy feel to their colors that I don't like vs. the modern Canon glass or the Zuiko's I've tried and seen.

In any case back to the original question, the adaptors work perfectly with them. With the double button attachment of the OM mount it's super easy to put on and take off the lens. You don't have to buy one for each lens if you don't want to up front. The Nikon mount ones are much more fiddly to get on and off the lens IMHO. With those it's worth it to buy one for each lens and just leave it on there.



Cheers,
Pete
Click to expand...

Good to hear about the Zuikos which is what I want the adapter for. I have a lot of them all excellent
24mm2.8 / 28mm2.8 / 35mm2.8 / 50mm1.4 / 35-70mmf4 / 135mm2.8 / 85-250mmf5


Since starting with auto focus lenses on the DSLR cameras I have to agree it is really a better way to go most of the time.
It's difficult or all but impossible to focus in daylight with a small or even large monitor as compared to hitting the quick focus on a target and trusting the camera which is 99% right on. The 70-200 f4L is an amazing lens along with the rest of the Canon L glass. So while the adapted lenses are a good 2nd choice I think the first choice will always go to the L.

I would say one thing about adapter though. The Fotodiox have been rated very high and are still on the low price end. I haven't used one yet, but have exchanged a number of emails with the company out of Chicago which is good customer service even before I bought their product. Try getting an answer from a company in China let alone return a product you are unhappy with.
 
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Here's a little sample of the EF70-200mm L F4 vs the OM Zuiko 50mm F1.8 with the fotodiox adaptor.

http://youtu.be/SkfEdLiDMSw?hd=1

These adaptors sure can make life much more affordable. The first half of the vid is with a $1300 lens and the second is a $30 lens and $15 adaptor.

To me it's a no brainer for video to get those Zuiko's in action. For stills the L lenses with IS are tough to beat even at their rediculous prices.

Cheers,
Pete
 
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c3hammer said:
Here's a little sample of the EF70-200mm L F4 vs the OM Zuiko 50mm F1.8 with the fotodiox adaptor.

http://youtu.be/SkfEdLiDMSw?hd=1

These adaptors sure can make life much more affordable. The first half of the vid is with a $1300 lens and the second is a $30 lens and $15 adaptor.

To me it's a no brainer for video to get those Zuiko's in action. For stills the L lenses with IS are tough to beat even at their rediculous prices.

Cheers,
Pete
Click to expand...

Nice shots. Let me know if you post anymore Zuiko tests.
 
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