Speedbooster or MK II/III
- Thread starter Fader8
- Start date
Erik Wittbusch
Well-known member
Hi,
the speedbooster is more than just a mechanical adapter.
It sports an optical construction that
a) changes the effective focal length of your lens (factor x0,71)
b) changes the effective t-stop of your lens (approx. 2/3 stop gain)
This alone males it a very special element in your equipment.
You can now use FF lenses in their focal length natively meant for FF
and you win 2/3 stop light. That's a great benefit in my eyes.
The downside: The optical elements don't introduce optical problems
but they maximise existing ones, especially in the corners of your lens.
The Canon 24-105 flares very easily on the speedbooster that you'll
like some sort of french flag for example.
Nevertheless I used lenses on the speedbooster for whole productions,
mostly documentaries and some corporate stuff without problems.
But with Canon EF lenses, even if IS and f-top adjustments works
just fine, there are sometimes strange behaviours.
On the Canon 24-70/2,8L II I saw a change of focus when powering
down the camera and switching it on again.
If you want to use the speedbooster for serious production you definitely
need to check the function and behaviour of your lenses before.
I succesfully used:
- Canon 24-105/4 L
- Canon 24-70/2,8 L II
- Canon 50/1,8 II
- Tokina 28-70/2,8 ATX-Pro
- Canon 80-200/2,8 L
- Tokina 17/2,8 ATX-Pro
Hope that helps!
the speedbooster is more than just a mechanical adapter.
It sports an optical construction that
a) changes the effective focal length of your lens (factor x0,71)
b) changes the effective t-stop of your lens (approx. 2/3 stop gain)
This alone males it a very special element in your equipment.
You can now use FF lenses in their focal length natively meant for FF
and you win 2/3 stop light. That's a great benefit in my eyes.
The downside: The optical elements don't introduce optical problems
but they maximise existing ones, especially in the corners of your lens.
The Canon 24-105 flares very easily on the speedbooster that you'll
like some sort of french flag for example.
Nevertheless I used lenses on the speedbooster for whole productions,
mostly documentaries and some corporate stuff without problems.
But with Canon EF lenses, even if IS and f-top adjustments works
just fine, there are sometimes strange behaviours.
On the Canon 24-70/2,8L II I saw a change of focus when powering
down the camera and switching it on again.
If you want to use the speedbooster for serious production you definitely
need to check the function and behaviour of your lenses before.
I succesfully used:
- Canon 24-105/4 L
- Canon 24-70/2,8 L II
- Canon 50/1,8 II
- Tokina 28-70/2,8 ATX-Pro
- Canon 80-200/2,8 L
- Tokina 17/2,8 ATX-Pro
Hope that helps!
Erik Wittbusch
Well-known member
Thats the simple answer - -but it doesn't give you anything if you don't have 35mm (aka FF) lenses.
And you definitely need to test your lenses on the speedbooster before.
I asked my local dealer here in germany if I can check it with my lenses before I buy and that's what
I did rather than just to buy it somewhere online.
Beware of nasty surprises!
And you definitely need to test your lenses on the speedbooster before.
I asked my local dealer here in germany if I can check it with my lenses before I buy and that's what
I did rather than just to buy it somewhere online.
Beware of nasty surprises!
Thanks for the answers and explanations.
I knew about the Crop Factor and the F Stop which lowers.
I didn't know about that you have to test out the lenses...
Personally I don't see an atvantage to have a FF equivalent, because:
1)its harder to focus
2)i rather like the APSC Crop factor
Mor Light sensitivity is great by the 1 Stop were gaining, though
with a native ISO 2000 with the FS 700 (SLOG2) it an be rather
"painful"..
Is there also the compatibility problem with the MK versions?
@ Erik: I had nasty suprises with the Rokinon 85mm --> I will upload a clip with the artifacts
I knew about the Crop Factor and the F Stop which lowers.
I didn't know about that you have to test out the lenses...
Personally I don't see an atvantage to have a FF equivalent, because:
1)its harder to focus
2)i rather like the APSC Crop factor
Mor Light sensitivity is great by the 1 Stop were gaining, though
with a native ISO 2000 with the FS 700 (SLOG2) it an be rather
"painful"..
Is there also the compatibility problem with the MK versions?
@ Erik: I had nasty suprises with the Rokinon 85mm --> I will upload a clip with the artifacts
Samuel H
Major Contributor
It depends on your needs. In my case, my lens set is designed for full frame, so, when my camera was APS-C, I bought a speedbooster and made it FF. It's not any harder to focus, I just close the aperture ring by one stop and get exactly the same DoF (e.g. 35mm f/2.8 on APSC vs 50mm f/4.0 on FF, or on APSC+speedbooster). That way I get an equivalent picture (same FoV and DoF) which is actually sharper (not sharper than what you'd have with a true FF sensor, but sharper than what you'd have with the APSC combination... with my lenses, see test above), plus I have the option of getting shallower DoF and more light into the sensor if I need that. And my 24mm becomes ultra-wide-angle, as it's supposed to be, instead of just moderately-wide-angle.
Now that I upgraded to the a7s, I use a regular adapter when I shoot 24p, and the speedbooster in order to switch to APS-C mode when I shoot 60p or 120p.
Now that I upgraded to the a7s, I use a regular adapter when I shoot 24p, and the speedbooster in order to switch to APS-C mode when I shoot 60p or 120p.
The main difference is aesthetic. Speed Booster makes your lens wider (on a Super 35mm FOV, a 50mm becomes a 35mm) and 1 stop fast so you can get a shallower DOF if needed.
I have both and for more crew / set stuff, I use the Regular Metabones more because people on set usually understand Super 35mm format better and it's just how movies have looked for a really long time. Plus, you can get plenty of shallow DOF without Speed Booster.
I mainly use the Speed Booster for my Canon 24-105 F4, which becomes a 17-75 f2.8 on a Super 35mm FOV, a very useful range and f stop for doc and run-and-gun type stuff.
Overall, I use the regular Metabones more. If I had to just choose 1, I would take the regular version over Speed Booster.
Hope that helps.
Edit: I want to add that I mainly prefer the regular Metabones because I like a more compressed look and I tend to shoot with longer focal lengths. So yeah, it's up to your aesthetic - do you like a wider look? or a more compressed look?
I have both and for more crew / set stuff, I use the Regular Metabones more because people on set usually understand Super 35mm format better and it's just how movies have looked for a really long time. Plus, you can get plenty of shallow DOF without Speed Booster.
I mainly use the Speed Booster for my Canon 24-105 F4, which becomes a 17-75 f2.8 on a Super 35mm FOV, a very useful range and f stop for doc and run-and-gun type stuff.
Overall, I use the regular Metabones more. If I had to just choose 1, I would take the regular version over Speed Booster.
Hope that helps.
Edit: I want to add that I mainly prefer the regular Metabones because I like a more compressed look and I tend to shoot with longer focal lengths. So yeah, it's up to your aesthetic - do you like a wider look? or a more compressed look?
Last edited: