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    Metabones Smart Expander Ensures Every EF Mount Lens Work on Fujifilm GFX

    By 10 Comments5 Mins Read Industry News
    eftogfx - Metabones Smart Expander Ensures Every EF Mount Lens Work on Fujifilm GFX

    Vancouver, Canada, November 16, 2020 – Will this full-frame EF mount lens sufficiently cover the medium format sensor of Fujifilm GFX cameras? With Metabones® EF-GFX Smart Expander™, the answer is always “yes”.

    Multiplying the focal length by 1.26x and the F-number by the same amount, Metabones EF-GFX Smart Expander perfectly matches the image circle of full-frame EF mount lenses to the medium-format sensor of the GFX series cameras, with the diagonal field-of-view (FoV) remaining exactly the same.

    The optical design consists of 5 elements in 3 groups, incorporating ultra-high index Lanthanum-based optical glass as well as one element made of fused silica, resulting in extremely good performances with professional-grade zoom lenses. For example, a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens becomes a 30-88mm f/3.5 zoom, and a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens becomes an 88-252mm f/3.5 zoom.  And perhaps most exciting of all, the 11-24mm f/4 Canon becomes an extremely sharp 13.8-30.2mm f/5 without any disturbing vignetting or corner aberrations. Due to the nature of focal extenders, the aperture values decrease by 2/3 of a stop; f/2.8 becomes f/3.5 and f/2 becomes f/2.5. High-speed fixed focal length lenses such as the 50mm f/1.4 will be transformed into a very fast 63mm f/1.8 standard lens for the GFX system.

    Electronic Features

    The EF GFX mount Smart Expander features Metabones’ electronic integration, including phase-detection autofocus (PDAF) and in-body image stabilization (IBIS) on GFX 100, optical image stabilization (called IS/OS/VC by various lens manufacturers), and smooth iris.

    To the best of our knowledge, Metabones makes the only Fujifilm adapters, which support IBIS with every EF mount lens, including long telephotos and zoom lenses. There is no need to wait or hope for other adapter vendors to add IBIS support for your lenses at their next firmware update. With Metabones, IBIS support is general and across-the-board.

    When a recent lens that supports smooth iris is used, Metabones makes aperture changes quiet and creates smooth transitions by slowing down the electronically-controlled aperture diaphragm. The button on the Smart Expander toggles between auto aperture (programmed exposure or shutter priority) and manual aperture (aperture priority or manual exposure). If a manual lens with no electronics is attached, the button brings up the manual lens selection on the camera body so that focal length can be chosen for correct IBIS operation and EXIF.

    EF-GFX Smart Adapter™

    Without Caldwell Photographic's optics but otherwise, with the same electronic integration, EF-GFX Smart Adapter™ is an alternative for the adventurous. In many cases, there will be vignetting and degradation in corner performance. However, tilt-shift lenses will work perfectly fine from corner to corner, and most zoom lenses will nicely cover the large sensor in the middle and long end of the zoom range. A nifty feature is added where the user may configure the Smart Adapter and it will remember which lenses need to be in 35mm crop mode and which ones cover medium format. This saves time by not having to navigate the camera's menus for a 35mm crop after a lens change.

    Limitations and Issues

    Disclosure of known limitations and issues with the initial release:

    1.  In some rare cases, lens hoods designed for 3:2 may need to be removed for 4:3 use with Smart Expander.
    2. Each lens needs to go through a calibration procedure when first used. Refer to the online user manual on Metabones' web site for instructions.
    3. Autofocus may have unsatisfactory performance and may not work at all with some lenses
    4. For video autofocus, increasing FOCUS SENSITIVITY and decreasing AF SPEED are required under the AF-C CUSTOM SETTING (MOVIE) menu.
    5. AF+MF and lens aberration correction are not supported.
    6. Some film-era lenses may not be able to achieve the sufficient AF accuracy required for digital cameras. Worn lenses with faulty sensors may lead to AF problems on a mirrorless camera even though the lens may appear to function normally on a DSLR.
    7. Aperture diaphragm makes frequent noises with older lenses. Use aperture priority and manual exposure modes, or use a lens that supports smooth iris.
    8. With IS/OS/VC lenses the IS MODE setting is ignored and both SHOOTING ONLY and CONTINUOUS modes behave in the same way which is similar to a Canon camera but different from what Fujifilm OIS lenses do. This is done to maximize IS effectiveness. A negative consequence of this is that there may be no OIS during focus check.
    9. MF Distance Display does not work (although AF Distance Display does if the lens transmits distance information).

    Since Metabones has a track record of releasing new firmware updates that significantly improve the features, performance, compatibility, and reliability of existing products, these limitations are subject to change in the future. Please refer to the product pages on Metabones' web site for the most up-to-date disclosure. To update firmware, download Metabones App™ from Metabones' web site on a Mac or a Windows PC and connect the Metabones product to the computer with a micro-USB cable. The same Metabones App upgrades firmware for all Metabones products.

    Availability

    Metabones® Canon EF-GFX Smart Expander 1.26x is available right now from the Metabones website and its worldwide dealer network for US$729, plus shipping, applicable taxes and duties.

    The optic-free version, EF-GFX Smart Adapter will be available shortly afterward for US$439, plus applicable taxes, duties and shipping.

    Specifications:

    • Product name: Canon EF-mount Lens to Fujifilm GFX (G-mount) Smart Expander 1.26x
    • Model Code: MB_EPEF-FG-BT1
    • Color: Black Satin exterior; Black Matte interior
    • Magnification:  1.26x
    • Crop Factor with Fuji GFX camera:  1.0x
    • Maximum Output Aperture:  f/1.8 (with f/1.4 lens attached)
    • Rectilinear Distortion:  < 0.5%
    • Lens Elements/Groups:  5/3
    • Camera Mount:  Fujifilm G Mount
    • Lens Mounts:  Canon EF
    • Tripod Mount:  Robust removable type with Arca Swiss compatibility
    • Dimensions: 91.6mm x 80.1mm x 38.5mm (incl. tripod mount)
    • Weight: 346 grams
    • Retail Price: USD 729.00
    • Product Page: http://www.metabones.com/products/details/MB_EPEF-FG-BT1
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    10 comments

    5. I tried a bunch of EF lenses with adapters and found most covered the sensor well but even with native lenses the contrast detect AF sucks. 100mm f2.8L IS, 85mm f1.4 L IS, 85mm f1.2L II, 100mm f2, 400mm f4 DO IS II and 200mm f2L IS all covered the sensor well. The 400mm f4 DO IS and 400mm f4 DO IS II with converters had a strong vignette.
      The GFX50R is very buggy it will lockup and do all sorts of strange stuff. It overheats shooting stills and the auto focus is the worst out of any camera I have ever used. The battery life is worse than even the first gen Sony full frames. Be sure to turn eye af off if you are not using it because it has no idea what an eye looks like and will randomly find eyes everywhere and for forget about af-c. Suposedly there is a budget friendly body with the phase detect and the 100MP sensor so I have kept the 50mm f3.5, 250mm f4 and 1.4X TC. I am still dissapointed every time I shoot with the GFX50R even though it was only $3500. The EVF and rear display are so poor you have no idea if somethign is sharp or if the contrast detect AF worked till you get home. The IQ is amazing and that is why I didn't sell it all my GF gear but there is no way I can trust Fuji enough to spend $10k on body if there is any chance the user experiance on the GFX100 is anywhere near the same. There are tons of reports of it having bugs and locking up and battery life even with two batteries is confirmed to still be poor.
    6. If you can use so many EF lenses on the Fuji GFX then it kinda reinforces my opinion that there's little point in going for a more expensive and restrictive format that's only slightly larger than FF.
    7. If you can use so many EF lenses on the Fuji GFX then it kinda reinforces my opinion that there's little point in going for a more expensive and restrictive format that's only slightly larger than FF.
      For the most part I would agree.

      The sensor really is much larger looking at it but I am not sure how the advantage of the larger senor is actually realized at least for me and what I shoot. I ultimately don't feel like I get better results with the GFX system as a whole compared to what I get with my Canon and Sony Systems. I am sure I am not Fuji's target audience but I did really try to give it chance. The issues with the system negate the IQ advantage for me. I am sure there are people that can make use of it but for me I haven't figured out how at least not yet. There is an IQ advantages in crop ability and also the esthetic roll off to the out of focus areas that appear to be a characteristic of the larger sensor. When pixel peeping these are noticeable but they doesn't translate to IG well. ISO 12800 on the GFX50R surprisingly good and you can crop still at that ISO and still haven surprising detail if it's in focus. Also the 50MP GFX50R at ISO 100 has way more corp ability than my a7rIV for macro like work. The Fuji lenses are all fantastic from what I have seen. I had or have the 50mm f3.5, 63mm f2.8, 100-200mm f5.6, 120mm f4 macro 250mm f4 and 1.4 TC. The only one that I didn't like was the 63 since it has horribly slow auto focus. The issue for me is the GFX50R with the 250mm f4 and 1.4x TC in perfect light do not stand a chance against the A7rIV, MC-11, 400mm f4 DO IS II and 2X TC III for shooting birds. I don't think even doubling the resolution with a GFX100 would even make it slightly competitive. Maybe a GF 2X TC so I would have a 100MP at 500mm f8 against 61MP at 800mm f8 but whats the point when already exists.
      I don't see a point in comparing the R5 since its AF can run circles around the A7RIV and AF at 1600mm f22.
    8. So, it's a medium format sensor with a .79 crop and we are putting 35mm ef lenses on it with a 1.26x extender to make the equivalent field of view the same as it would be on a 35mm sensor. This nullifies the depth of field advantage that medium format offers...but allows super bright Canon L lenses like 24mm f1.4, 35mm f1.4, 85mm f1.2 to be fitted. So what we are saying here is that we are buying a Fuji body and then putting Canon lenses on there because Fuji haven't properly supported their MF format with beneficial lenses. A great sensor, mediocre camera...poor native lens options. All to get 100mp images. Hmm I think that's a bizarre choice.
    9. So, it's a medium format sensor with a .79 crop and we are putting 35mm ef lenses on it with a 1.26x extender to make the equivalent field of view the same as it would be on a 35mm sensor. This nullifies the depth of field advantage that medium format offers...but allows super bright Canon L lenses like 24mm f1.4, 35mm f1.4, 85mm f1.2 to be fitted. So what we are saying here is that we are buying a Fuji body and then putting Canon lenses on there because Fuji haven't properly supported their MF format with beneficial lenses. A great sensor, mediocre camera...poor native lens options. All to get 100mp images. Hmm I think that's a bizarre choice.
      No. Because there are some people that can't afford to purchase a native lens. Simple. No sense in trying to twist it any other way.

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