Messages

16

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: EdMika Launches the FDn to EOS Adaptor

« on: September 21, 2012, 04:10:58 PM »

Thanks for the great exposure Craig, its much appreciated.

I'm Ed Mika and I developed these adapters (and continue to do so).  My conversion kits are not like the traditional adapters that just screw on apart from my original low profile FD-EOS adapter.  That adapter is the thinnest on the market and with my lens focus calibration instructions makes all the white super telephoto FD mount lenses focus to infinity and most importantly without corrective light robbing and distortion adding glass elements.

All of these other adapters are mount swaps that take the old FL FD and FDn mounts off and put EF/EOS mounts on.  We machine them out of solid chunks of brass on a pair of computer controlled mills in our garage in Ontario Canada.  It takes over an hour of machining and assembly work on each adapter before it is ready to be shipped out.

I can honestly say that these are the best EOS adapters on the market in terms of performance and craftsmanship.  Feel free to look through my eBay feedback profile to see this fact reinforced over and over by my clearly happy customers.

17

Software & Accessories / Re: New EdMika FDn-EOS mount swap kit launch. It fits more than one lens!

« on: September 21, 2012, 03:58:56 PM »

I'm working on the EdTraveller for the 85 1.2 L and 50 1.2 L and 85 1.2 Aspherical lenses this weekend actually.  They may launch sooner than later.

18

Software & Accessories / Re: New EdMika FDn-EOS mount swap kit launch. It fits more than one lens!

« on: September 20, 2012, 01:49:00 AM »

EdMika FDn-EOS near universal mount swap kit by Ontarian, on Flickr


Screen Shot 2012-09-18 at 9.57.55 PM by Ontarian, on Flickr

19

Software & Accessories / Re: New EdMika FDn-EOS mount swap kit launch. It fits more than one lens!

« on: September 17, 2012, 12:40:02 AM »

Woo, personalised suggestions, now that's customer service

135/2.0 is probably my most-wanted lens (in 35mm format, at least). There's one left on fleabay, $150 and rising.
Then 24/2.0 would be a very nice addition, it's probably the only 'hole' in my lineup

For reference, I've got primes at:
17/3.5 Tokina, 20/2.5 Mir, 28/2.8 (2 in OM mount), 35/1.4 Samyang, 50/1.8 II, 50/1.4 Takumar, 85/1.8, 100/2.0, then 120/2.8 in P6 mount (but it's not too big or heavy).

I'm not sure what else would fit in here. A 15mm Fisheye makes 'most' sense from a focal-length view (more than a 17mm or 18mm fisheye, those Takumars go for $300). But then that's only useful on my eos 3 because I don't have FF Digital. But then if i'm shooting film, I may as well put the Zodiak 30mm on 6x6 and get square fishies (i reckon they look better that way), at higher scanned-resolution. For digital fisheye, it's the Samyang 8mm (or, more likely, nothing) for me for a few years.

How does the 50/1.4 compare to the FL 55/1.2? (on one of your other adapters).
Both the FL 55/1.2 and Takumar 50/1.4 are not so much 'soft', but 'low contrast' fully wide-open, same as the Samyang 35mm. Stop any of those three down to f/1.6-2.0, and they're sharp as anything (whereas the EF 50/1.8 II doesn't get there until f/2.8 or even 4.0). If the 50/1.4 is actually useable wide-open, it might be tempting to get my 7th lens in the 50-55mm length...

I'd buy this $275 FDn 135/2 bargain grade lens copy from keh.com http://www.keh.com/camera/Canon-Manual-Focus-Fixed-Focal-Length-Lenses/1/sku-CA06009002820N?r=FE I've had good experiences with bargain grade from them.

I'd take the FD 55mm 1.2 SSC over the FDn 50 1.4 because it doesn't hit my 5D3 mirror at infinity (may be important to you if you upgrade to ff) and lets face it 1.2 is 1.2.  The FDn 50mm 1.4 however is great because its so tiny and easy to pocket when juggling a few lenses on a day trip.  The 50mm 1.4 is cleaner/sharper/more contrasty at the pixel level than any of the 1.2's apart from the much more expensive FDn 50mm 1.2L and FD 55mm 1.2 Aspherical (and FDn 85mm 1.2L).

Also to consider, even though I don't have the production EdLink developed yet (just a hand ground prototype one) the lens that has spent the most time on my 5D3 for over a month now is the FDn 50-300 4.5L.  Soooo sharp wide open, amazing colours, contrast and the really wide range is handier than expected.

20

Software & Accessories / Re: New EdMika FDn-EOS mount swap kit launch. It fits more than one lens!

« on: September 17, 2012, 12:28:13 AM »

Ed,  how does the FDn 50mm 1.2 compare to the FDn 50mm 1.4 in sharpness and contrast?
[/quote]

I haven't done a whole lot of shooting with either yet but a quick and dirty back and fourth comparison on a bright scene with high contrast edges really impressed me on the 1.4's CA performance and contrast.  The non L FDn 50mm 1.2 wide open was expectedly sharp for a prime lens but it had the most purple fringing I've seen out of any f/1.2 lens (more than the FD and FL 55mm 1.2's I developed earlier kits for too).  The prototype still in development FDn 50 1.2L on the other hand has the CA issue tamed very well though. 

Its not to say the FD 50mm 1.2 non L is a dog or anything, in low light it does a fine job getting the shot but in bright light you are going to want to step it down a bit to keep the fringing in check.

We intend to develop a hopefully decent optical test lab in my father-in-law's basement in the next year so we can get real performance numbers beyond these qualitative feelings.

21

Software & Accessories / Re: New EdMika FDn-EOS mount swap kit launch. It fits more than one lens!

« on: September 16, 2012, 10:33:54 PM »

Well, i'm definitely more excited about a guy in canada carving hunks of brass in his back shed than I am about a multinational corporation releasing something years in the making (that will still sell in the millions and make more money than Ed could dream of).
More credit to Ed, I've got a few camera accessory ideas that I could sell, it's definitely inspiring me to take them more serisouly (even if in my case, it'd take China a few weeks to copy them before all the fun's over).

I'm almost tempted to buy one even though i don't have any FD lenses to convert (yet). But seeing as i'm definitely staying out of (digital) FF until 5D4 or 6D2, i've got more cash to blow on lenses...

With that in mind my personal recommendation where value meets amazing imaging is

135mm f/2 - about $350, amazingly sharp, great bokeh even though it has a bit more CA than modern L version.
50mm 1.4 - about $100 bucks, great CA control (less at 1.4 than 1.2 non L set at 1.4) tiny, worthy of "reference lens" title.
24mm f/2 - about $300, also very sharp, shockingly compact and widest distortion free you can get
15mm fisheye - about $500 build quality that even exceeds the TS 35mm 2.8 + 4 very cool internal built in filters

22

Software & Accessories / Re: New EdMika FDn-EOS mount swap kit launch. It fits more than one lens!

« on: September 16, 2012, 10:02:06 PM »

Yeah, the 6D is a bit of a yawner.  Still it does bring full frame in Canon closer to affordable.  Just not sure if its a worthy upgrade from the price of a new 5D2.

23

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS 6D Official Specs

« on: September 16, 2012, 09:59:42 PM »

I'm getting one but not because I'm impressed but rather I need it for adapter testing (mirror interference determination). 


What I would have liked:

pop up flash
articulated screen
sub 1600 price tag
no touchscreen

What is kind of cool though:

built in wifi
GPS

24

Software & Accessories / New EdMika FDn-EOS mount swap kit launch. It fits more than one lens!

« on: September 16, 2012, 08:29:06 PM »

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/170911278282?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_1814wt_1413

This fully reversible and non damaging mount swap kit gives infinity focus and aperture control on all these lenses:

FDn 14mm 2.8L
FDn 15mm 2.8 fisheye   
FDn 17mm 4
FDn 24mm 1.4L
FDn 24mm 2
FDn 28mm 2
FDn 35mm 2
FDn 50mm 1.2
FDn 50mm 1.4 
FDn 100mm 2
FDn 100mm 2.8
FDn 135mm 2

More lenses will be added soon using this base adapter with the development of more linkages (EdLinks) that connect the aperture control ring to the diaphragm.

Its taken a long time to get to this point but things are really starting to come together. -Ed

25

Lenses / Re: Lenses that inspire you?

« on: July 21, 2012, 09:47:13 AM »

For me it changes quite often but the most consistently awe inspiring lenses I seem to keep going back to are

EF 300mm 2.8 L IS

Canon EF 300mm 2.8L IS USM with lenscoat by Ontarian, on Flickr

EF 135mm 2L (and the new EOS mount prototype FD 135/2)

Magic Pipe Sr. - The  Canon FDn 135mm f/2 remastered EOS style by EdMika by Ontarian, on Flickr

FD 55mm 1.2 Aspherical made EF by EdMika EOS kit

EdMika FD 55mm 1.2 Aspherical EOS adapter kit by Ontarian, on Flickr

26

Software & Accessories / Re: new EdMika FD 55mm 1.2 Aspherical EOS kit finally ready!

« on: June 09, 2012, 11:32:20 PM »

Yes you could paint the brass, I tried painting a flat non-reflective black most of one adapter's surfaces and tested it in high direct light shooting situations and could not find any measurable difference in pictures from a standard unpainted one.  Brass also naturally becomes less shiny within a few months that helps reduce internal reflections.  The aspherical kit I just launched at least has much of the brass shielded by the flat black Delrin material EdTraveller.

I finally made a quick youtube video showing the conversion process needed for the Aspherical FD 55 1.2, forgive the sensor dust, hit and miss focus and really loud birds, one day I'll get around to remaking all these properly and professionally.

EdMika FD 55mm 1.2 Aspherical Conversion kit instructions	Small | Large

27

Software & Accessories / Re: new EdMika FD 55mm 1.2 Aspherical EOS kit finally ready!

« on: June 04, 2012, 01:52:27 AM »

Pics or it didn't happen, I know I know.  These were all taken tonight on my 5D3 using this exact EOS kit on my FD 55mm 1.2 Aspherical lens.

2C9C8373.jpg by Ontarian, on Flickr


2C9C8395.jpg by Ontarian, on Flickr


2C9C8409.jpg by Ontarian, on Flickr

28

Software & Accessories / new EdMika FD 55mm 1.2 Aspherical EOS kit finally ready!

« on: June 04, 2012, 12:26:16 AM »

I put a (really rough draft) listing up on eBay with a better one and instructional video going up in the next day or so.  I have been asked regularly by many if the kit was ready yet so I'm putting the listing up rough and dirty. http://www.ebay.com/itm/180898801729?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_853wt_1274

Also I'm feeding a baby deer that is just learning how to walk that we found on beside the highway from a baby bottle right exactly now.  Strange times.

Ed

29

Lenses / Re: 50mm 1.2

« on: May 21, 2012, 11:06:35 AM »

Get the FD 55mm 1.2 Aspherical for a grand for equivalent IQ performance as the 50L or the FD 55mm 1.2 SSC or chrome nose (or FL 55mm 1.2) for a 300 dollar budget option that is nearly as nice.  Obviously you'd need one of my adapters to make them work but I would go for this over the zeiss if you can handle the manual focus.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/180855493584?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_1255wt_1385

30

Lenses / Re: FL 55mm 1.2 or FD 50mm 1.2L?

« on: May 15, 2012, 05:41:04 PM »

Hmmm...I need some more convincing words to push the button Anyone, please?

STRONG BUY

If you decide against, please PM me the link, One of my two lens copies was destroyed during testing by a careless drop.