Review and Grabs: Metabones Speedbooster Nikon F to M4/3 on AF100

Ed Kishel

Ed Kishel

Veteran
Just received the Metabones SpeedBooster adapter for my Nikkor lenses today, and thought I would do a brief write-up of my first impressions and post some grabs. I have the AF100 and a GH2, and also own a few Nikkor lenses- hence why I bought it. However the grabs below are from the AF100.

Packed very well, with very thick foam padding around the adapter. Has some heft to it- and feels fairly well made, however this is a first impression and only time will tell with more use. The built in aperture ring is a nice feature, and gives more control over the iris, but I prefer a clickless aperture. I can understand why MB chose to use clicks- it gives finer control (there are 16 positions vs. the 8 that are on the lens itself) and it's repeatable. However I prefer the way my MTF adapter works: if you want repeatable/clicked iris positions- use the one on the lens. If you want a smooth clickless aperture- use the one on the adapter. You get both. Not a deal breaker though.

The removable tripod collar- nice addition, however it's useless on the AF100 as you cannot attach the adapter to the AF with the collar on. It has to be removed before it will fit on the camera. Not too good if you have some heavy glass and want the extra support. You will have to go with some other lens support options if this is the case. I luckily don't have any heavy telephotos.

This adapter fits on the AF100 TIGHT. Let me just say this again: T.I.G.H.T- a little too tight for my taste actually. Luckily it doesn't seem to interfere with the AF100's lens contacts, but I was nervous there for a bit. My MTF adapter has a nice secure and snug fit- and removing it is easy. The Metabones however, well getting it on and off take some force. And it's more difficult as the adapter is narrow- so there's not much to grab on to. I guess the plus side to this is that when you attach your Nikon mount lens- it feels VERY secure, as if it's attached to the camera natively. There is definitely no slop here. And no light leaks, as I checked by first putting the lens cap on and then shining a brigh flashlight all around where the adapter meets the lens. I could find no leakage.

As far as image performance goes- well I'm still evaluating that. It's only been a few hours, but so far so good. Sharpenss seems to be the same. But I can tell you I LOVE that with this adapter I'm getting closer to what the original FOV is on the lens. Now that each lens is a bit wider- my 28mm "looks" more like what I remember it's supposed to. The m4/3 crop factor is now not so much of an issue with my old Nikkor primes. And of course the extra stop of light never hurts!! All in all pretty happy- but I would perfer that they remove the lens collar option and go with a clickless iris ring. I think these two adjustments would bring the price down. I don't own heavy glass, but if I did I could go with other lens support options.

Construction materials seem solid, although not as nice as the MTF- the Metabones looks to be CNC milled aluminum that's powder coated. My MTF was anodized stainless steel. The Speedbooster doesn't show up fingerprints, and the text seems to be laser etched and not simply printed on, which is nice. The mount sides are plated brass.

Thanks for reading :)

Below are stills taken on the camera. The 1st and 3rd are with the Speedbooster, the 2nd and 4th are using a standard Nikon to m4/3 adapter. Very un-scientific of course, but I did try to keep everything the same for each shot. They are a bit underexposed, but this was done to make the f/stop differences more obvious. As you can see, f/5.6 using the Speedbooster is a bright as f/4 on the regular adapter- NICE!!
S1000009.jpg

Nikkor 28mm via MBSB- iris on lens set to f/4

S1000012.jpg

Nikkor 28mm via standard adapter- iris on lens set to f/4

S1000010.jpg

Nikkor 28mm via MBSB- iris on lens set to f/5.6

S1000011.jpg

Nikkor 28mm via standard adaptor- iris on lens set to f/5.6


here are links to the original photos (for full screen viewing). Same order as above:
http://www.edwardkishel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/S1000009.jpg
http://www.edwardkishel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/S1000012.jpg
http://www.edwardkishel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/S1000010.jpg
http://www.edwardkishel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/S1000011.jpg
 
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Apart from no FOV difference... I cant even see his claim regarding exposure "brightness".

2 & 4 are darker than 1 & 3 and as I would expect considering they are stopped down 1 stop.
 
Shooter said:
Was something supposed to have a wider FOV here?
Click to expand...

Yes, the 28mm using the MB adapter results in a wider FOV than using just a regular m4/3 adapter. Remember, these grabs are not all from the MBSB- the 2nd and 3rd are using a regular m4/3 adapter with no optical element.
 
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here is a split screen that makes it easier to see. And yes they are all from the same 28mm lens.

SB-Splitscreen.jpg


To my eye (and to my waveform monitor's) there is 1stop difference when the lens is set (and kept) at f/4- and then used with and without the optical reducer element found in the SB. That's why when using the MBSB, setting the lens to f5/6 is as bright as f/4 with the regular adapter. It's just one stop so it's not a night and day difference- but it helps.

full frame link:
http://www.edwardkishel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/SB-Splitscreen.jpg

 
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Fabulous. Though great pity you don't have any dx lenses, because I have my eye on the new Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 zoom in a Nikon mount... but unfortunately it's a dx... would've been nice to see if you gain anything on a dx, given the size disparity between aps-c and m4/3. I'll take a f/1.4 for $800, Alex!
 
Got mine last night, so far it works exactly as I'd hoped. There seemed to be an initial "break in" period where it fit very tight to any camera, but loosened quickly. Also, all of my Sigma lenses needed a little extra torque at first for the mount lock to engage correctly, but now they click in happily. For some reason I'd thought the adapter should decrease minimum focus distances, but at first feel it hasn't... I guess that's not in the physics at play.

Lenses checked so far, with initial observations:
Sigma 50-150/2.8 non-OS - (35-105/2) full coverage throughout the range of a lens that was already a favorite... sharp, parfocal, internal, non-extending, 35-105/2 that doesn't need a lens support... almost worth it for this alone. If Olympus ever puts in a decent video mode or Panasonic ever matches Oly's IBIS system, watch out!
Sigma 50-500/4-6.3 - (35-350/2.8-4.5) full-frame lens obviously covers completely; bringing up the speed now makes this an occasional viable indoor/dusk lens.
Micro-Nikkor 55/3.5 - (40/2.4) the old macro gets a little more flexibility - needs more analysis, unsure if anything could really make this lens sharper
Nikkor 70-210/4-5.6 - (50-150/2.8-4) Focuses a little closer than my Sigma tele, but not as nice to use and otherwise redundant
SMC Macro-Takumar 100/4, M42-adapted - (70/2.8) fits, works
Vivitar 50/1.7, M42 adapted - (35/1.2) Already a nice little lens albeit with sloppy focus ring, becomes a $5 (ok, well, $434) fast 35.

Also tested a Rexanon 28/2.8 in M42 mount, this one didn't work because the auto-function-engaging pin that protrudes from the back was long enough to interfere with the adapter's iris mechanism. The Vivitar 50/1.7 has such a pin as well, but it's much much shorter and doesn't interfere.

Planning a trip to a local camera store/museum soon to test a whole mess of stuff. We'll see.
 
Amazing! This little adapter is a must have for 35mm lenses on a MFT system. Hows sharpnes? did you look at 100% crops to compare?
 
Erik Naso said:
Amazing! This little adapter is a must have for 35mm lenses on a MFT system. Hows sharpnes? did you look at 100% crops to compare?
Click to expand...

No kidding... feels like I effectively have a full-manual Nikon-mount S35 camcorder. Some of my pricier MFT and glitchier 4/3 glass is looking a little scared at the moment. I've ordered Nikon bayonet conversions for my Leica R primes and am eyeing a Tokina 11-16 and Sigma 18-35/1.8, maybe a Sigma 17-70/2.8-4 for GP use - I'm already set for tele and macro. While I don't shoot many stage performances any more, I'm feeling very very good about the boosted Bigma in this role now - it worked OK before, but was a little too long and a little too slow.

Studies n' comparisons are in the works, busy busy busy weekend ahead though. Technical macro stuff looks good so far, and that's probably the least forgiving scenario (who cares if an interview is a little soft?).
 
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My initial impressions where that sharpness was the same- but that was just a brief test with one lens. Metabones claims increased MTF with the adapter, which is nice if true. My main concern was that adding additional glass between the lens and sensor would decrease sharpness.
 
mcbob said:
Attachments to two quick desk snaps... GH2, identical manual settings, one taken with Leica Summicron-R 50 @f2 + Nikon Speedbooster, one taken from (just about) the same position with Leica Summilux-R 35 @f1.4
Click to expand...

So, which one is which? P1040923 is the cleaner picture.
 
Ralph B said:
So, which one is which?
Click to expand...

Exactly.

Side note... my Elmarit-R 28 and Summicron-R 50 were on the "incompatible" list with the Leica-MFT Speedbooster... I bought a few Nikon mount flange replacement adapters and non-destructively converted them all to Nikon mount. There seems to be more clearance on the Nikon SB, as these two lenses work without removing the rear protrusions on either lens.

###3 is the Summicron-50
 
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