Messages

121

Canon General / Re: Canada Post is literally giving me an Ulcer - Ed Mika

« on: September 28, 2011, 05:57:49 PM »

Hey thanks Harley, thats a really good tip I never thought of.  I figured the manual/auto switch was going to be the vestigial appendix like carryover from the previous camera system but this makes it really useful.

A tip for anyone using the converted FL 55mm f/1.2 lens... 

You probably already know the switch for automatic / manual focusing has to be set to "M" for the aperture ring setting to engage.  With narrow apertures the viewfinder can darken significantly.  I have had some success using the A / M switch to open up the lens for composing and focusing, then quickly switching back to the aperture I want for metering and taking the shot.

122

Canon General / Re: Canada Post is literally giving me an Ulcer - Ed Mika

« on: September 23, 2011, 09:19:19 PM »

The machine shop we were using told us they were not interested in our business because of the small volumes and low prices.  We found a new one at a higher piece price for now and have just bought a small but accurate CNC machine (delivery 4-6 weeks).  I also found a new supplier for Dandelion AF-reporting chips with hopefully more reliable shipping.  We raised our price 12% to compensate.  Also we found if we packaged the adapters in a thinner envelope we could get a more reasonably priced shipping option that was actually tracked so shipping went from 11 to 19.

I understand we may lose a few sales from the higher price but for most people I think the really nice shooting solution will still be worth it.  Perhaps when the new CNC vertical mill is paid off we will be able to bring our prices down a bit, to be honest I expect some lower quality knockoff competition at some point in the future though the volumes are still probably too low to justify corporate interests.  My father in law is more serious about this venture but I'm really only doing it for the love of the gear.

123

Canon General / Re: Canada Post is literally giving me an Ulcer - Ed Mika

« on: September 23, 2011, 06:56:18 PM »

Nice results Harley, glad you are having as much fun with the lens as I am. -Ed

124

Canon General / Re: Canada Post is literally giving me an Ulcer - Ed Mika

« on: September 23, 2011, 02:07:00 AM »

These 14 beauties are going out to my 13 patient buyers in the morning.

BB8D3436 by Ontarian, on Flickr

125

Canon General / Re: Canada Post is literally giving me an Ulcer - Ed Mika

« on: September 23, 2011, 02:01:01 AM »

You are welcome Bigdaddio, congrats on finding more treasure.

126

Canon General / Re: Canada Post is literally giving me an Ulcer - Ed Mika

« on: September 22, 2011, 03:23:31 PM »

Will do Lance.

For those interested in instructions on how to make your FD 200mm 1.8L, FD 300mm 2.8L, FD 400 2.8L, FD 500 4.5L, FD 600mm 4.5, FD 800mm 5.6L white super telephoto lenses fully work with infinity focus on EOS bodies without distortion adding and light robbing additional optics, check out the two below videos I made of the lens calibration with use of the EdMika EF-FD 0.75mm brass adapter.  My apologies for the amateur presentation. - Ed Mika

Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ytgt1d1Ts8I
	Small | Large

Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJ3_jG7LqM8
	Small | Large

127

Canon General / Re: Canada Post is literally giving me an Ulcer - Ed Mika

« on: September 22, 2011, 02:37:45 PM »

THE CHIPS FINALLY ARRIVED!!!!!!!!

I'm so excited I could vomit.

The 14 adapters I've pre-sold are going out the door tomorrow morning using some other better service than Small Packet Airmail.  I'm also going to be offering those 14 very patient buyers some ridiculously good discounts on future EdMika product releases.

Also once that is taken care of the Ebay listings should go up again soon too.

128

Canon General / Re: Canada Post is literally giving me an Ulcer - Ed Mika

« on: September 22, 2011, 02:14:37 PM »

Thanks for suggestion rumourmonger, I'll definitely look into it.

129

Canon General / Re: Canada Post is literally giving me an Ulcer - Ed Mika

« on: September 22, 2011, 02:13:08 PM »

It appears that there was a version 1 and 2 of the lens.  Other than not providing a flat head screwdriver with the conversion kit I think it should still work fine. We evaluated using two very similar screws types imported from Japan and went with the narrower one since the thicker one was difficult to fully tighten and we were afraid users would strip the phillips screw head.  We may have to migrate to the slightly thicker thread if the version 1 of the FL55 1.2 has stripping issues or we will send out both types with each kit going forward so the version2s are not too tight.

I'm sending you a set of the thicker screws to the address you provided me now, thanks for offering to do the beta testing.

130

Canon General / Re: Canada Post is literally giving me an Ulcer - Ed Mika

« on: September 22, 2011, 10:49:48 AM »

Flat head screw is news to me.  We bought 3 of the lenses, on in the 30k serial numbers, one in the 50k and one in the 70k and all where phillips.  I do have same pitch but longer and with a hair larger diameter prototype screws that we are considering going with in the future that I could send you with maybe a slightly better chance for bite.  Looks like someone had taken your lens apart in the past perhaps.  email me at edmikapics@gmail.com to remind me of your address and I will send the screws (by some other way than bloody Canada Post Small Packet Air Mail).

131

Canon General / Re: Canada Post is literally giving me an Ulcer - Ed Mika

« on: September 22, 2011, 09:09:13 AM »

Harley, make sure you tighten the 3 screws evenly.  If you tighten one fully with the others not in it can have an effect on the exact final positioning.  Before peeling shims of which you have 6 stacks of 3 I would suggest loosening the 3 screws, pressing hard and evenly down on the adapter, and retightening them at first fairly tight all the way around and then again final tight all the way around.  Take care not to strip the heads though or you'll have to use the spares.  A really good test for infinity is stars I find btw.  By dropping shims down to 2 layers thick you will note that infinity is surpassed by a large margin.  I don't think this is very useful because it just means nothing is in focus at focus ring rotation stop and because the rear glass element of the lens goes even farther into your camera than it needs to and will likely hit on a 1D series body where right now with 3 shims it does not.

132

Canon General / Re: Canada Post is literally giving me an Ulcer - Ed Mika

« on: September 21, 2011, 08:48:49 PM »

Thats certainly a relief Harley, thanks for letting us know.  Hope you like it.

133

Canon General / Re: Canada Post is literally giving me an Ulcer - Ed Mika

« on: September 21, 2011, 04:17:43 PM »

I really have to evaluate if I want to use small packet air mail ever again.  With the next up pricing Canada Post or UPS or Fedex offers worldwide I expect see a real slowdown in demand for my adapters when the new much higher cost of shipping is factored in. 

I got word that another September eBay sale has arrived in Japan so more and more are trickling in today. 

No reporting chips for me though still and tracking has them still sitting in Mississauga.  Canada Post Customer Service was not helpful at all though they tried sounding like they felt my pain.  If anyone reading this knows any high ups at Canada Post please ask them for help with tracking number RR657160363BY, it arrived in Canada a week ago, passed customs immediately, took 4 days to get from Montreal to Mississauga(really part of Toronto) and has been sitting there since Sunday morning.

134

Canon General / Re: Canada Post is literally giving me an Ulcer - Ed Mika

« on: September 21, 2011, 11:58:17 AM »

Just this email from Andy in the UK so they are finally starting to trickle in:

Hi Ontarian,
 
Saw your woes on the Canonrumours forum, hang in there man! Just wanted to report that my adapter arrived in the UK today purchased 5th September from Ebay, you posted it the next day, Thank you!
 
Can't wait to try it out .

Kind Regards,
 
Andy.

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Canon General / Re: Canada Post is literally giving me an Ulcer - Ed Mika

« on: September 21, 2011, 09:28:32 AM »

Thanks for the supportive comments Maui5150,

I've yet to really make it official but if the FD lens is white, you can most likely make it focus to infinity using my glassless adapter with fairly easy and reversible lens calibration that you can do yourself with my instructions.  I've got an FD 300 2.8L and FD 400 2.8L both I was able to make work with my 0.75mm EF-FD adapter within 2 hours of getting them in the mail without having instructions on how to.  I'm working on a youtube video of the conversions soon.  The 500 and 200 are the only white lenses left that I have not yet proven the approach works on.

So in short, if you want a super telephoto but don't have 8,000-14,000 dollars to spend on it, take a good look at the FD line.  Other than lack of autofocus or IS (both of which are helpful but can be worked around especially with just taking more pictures for free with digital) The IQ is just as breathtaking.