Adaptor Compatibility

Many professional and amateur photographers have abandoned Canon lenses in favour of Olympus, Leica, Zeiss (and even Nikon!) lenses for their Canon digital cameras. Given the fact that a (frequently expensive) adaptor is required, and that the user is robbed of autofocus and required to deploy stop-down metering, some have rightly wondered: is it worth it? Is it just a fad; or is it plain snobbery?

In a nutshell: it depends. It depends on whether your subject matter stays still long enough to compose a shot wide open, then stop down to the required aperture and shoot. If you cut your teeth on view cameras, this discipline is second nature; if not, the procedure may seem hellishly protracted.

It also depends on how you feel about autofocus: for sports photographers, life without AF is unthinkable. For architectural photographers and f1.2 portrait shooters, AF is a potentially hazardous irrelevance.

And again it depends on your preferred focal length: Canon’s 85mm f1.2, 135mm f2 and 200mm f1.8 L series lenses are as close to perfection as matters. On the other hand, until the launch of the 16-35mm Mark II, you wouldn’t find a Canon lens below 35mm worth using as anything but a paperweight (unless you stumbled across a rare nominal 24mm f1.4 L).

Furthermore, it also depends on the demands made by your camera. A 300D couldn’t care less about the edge performance of your Zeiss 35-70mm f3.4; ditto a 20D – despite its much more demanding 9.9ü pixel pitch. For Canon’s full frame sensors, however, it very much matters. Your 1Ds Mark I, 5D, 1Ds Mark II or even III (in increasing order of fussiness) want lots of lpmm – they want it across the frame, and they’re not going to get in sub 35mm focal lengths from Canon lenses. Adapted enlarger lenses, for instance, offer a unique range of tilt and shift movements combined with perfectly flat-field rendition and extremely high resolution that makes them peerlessly useful in many fields of technical and creative image-making.

There’s also the question of brand loyalty: many have a legacy of superb lenses left over from the demise of support for the Contax and Olympus OM systems. It’s cheaper to use them than to invest in new Canon glass.

Finally, there are aesthetic considerations: there is no doubt that certain lenses just have a bit of unaccountable magic and sparkle that suits our personal style of shooting. There are Olympus 90/2, Nikon 24 AIS and Zeiss 28/2 users, for instance, who have become inseparably attached to their glass over the years – and there’s a certain glow produced by Summicrons and fast Takumars that no Canon lens quite duplicates . . . . That metal ring grants acces to a world of optics with unique characteristics: from oscilloscope lenses like the charming Helios 85mm f1.5, to the largely uncharted delights of the Pentacon Six range: the Sonnar 180mm f2.8, for instance, is a budget-minded astrophotographer’s dream.

Fortunately – and I’m sure Canon didn’t design it purposefully to boost used Distagon sales – the EF mount has a larger throat than almost any other 35mm system, and has a focal-plane-to lens-mount (register) distance that is very short, which handily means that many other manufacturer’s lenses can be mounted with an appropriate adaptor that adapts down to the third party lens, and pushes it away from the focal plane by just the right amount. This tends to be in the 0.5-2.5mm range.

It cannot be stressed too strongly that all the arguments in favour of adapted lenses are nullified by using a badly matched adaptor (or adapter). Symptoms of bad matching include blurring in one half of the image circle, atypical colour fringing, failure to acquire infinity focus, and overall resolution loss. The jury is still out on whether adaptors of different thicknesses should be used for lenses in the same system with different focal lengths – for instance, demanding a thinner Contax-mount adaptor for the 15mm Distagon than the 35mm Distagon. Sample variation affects adaptors, too. If you’re suffering any of the above symptoms, try a different lens on the same adaptor – then a different adaptor on the same lens. When you find a match that works, stick with it!

35mm Mount Compatibility and Adapter Suppliers

35mm
LENS BRAND
CANON EF ADAPTABLE ADAPTOR SUPPLIERS LOCATION PRICE
CANON FD YES
Requires adaptor with glass element(s)
DVD Technik Ukraine $45
Elefoto Hong Kong $140
SRB England $180
CONTAX /
YASHICA
YES Bob Shell USA $160
Cameraquest USA $160
DSLR Exchange USA $90
DVD Technik Ukraine $45
Elefoto Hong Kong $80
Fotodiox USA / China $90 / $30
FotoHuppert France $90
HappyPage HK
Auto focus confirm chip
Hong Kong $70
Kindai Japan $160
Novoflex Germany $180
Pham Minh Son USA $100
Roxsen Hong Kong $20
Zörk Germany $160
CONTAX N YES
Original mount and electronic components are replaced with donor Sigma parts. Uniquely, auto-focus is retained.
Conurus Canada From $339
to $749
LEICA M NO
LEICA R YES Cameraquest USA $160
DVD Technik Ukraine $35
Elefoto Hong Kong $80
Fotodiox USA $90
Novoflex Germany $180
Zörk Germany $160
MINOLTA MD NO
NIKON F (NIKKOR) YES Arax Russia $45
Cameraquest USA $160
DVD Technik Ukraine $35
Elefoto Hong Kong $90
Fotodiox USA / China $90/30
HappyPage HK
Auto focus confirm chip
Hong Kong $80
Novoflex Germany $150
NIKON G NO
OLYMPUS OM (Zuiko) YES Cameraquest USA $160
Elefoto Hong Kong $90
Kindai Japan $160
Mr. Rolfo Germany $70
PENTAX / M42 screw mount YES Cirrus Hong Kong $60
DVD Technik Ukraine $18
Cameraquest USA $160
Elefoto Hong Kong $90
Fotodiox USA / China $90/30
Jolos / RU Gift
Auto focus confirm chip
Russia $100
SRB England $40
Zörk Germany $90
PENTAX K YES
Some claim that K lenses can only be used on EF-S Canon bodies. In fact, most work fine after the protruding aperture lever or mounting fin has been filed down.
Cirrus Hong Kong $90
HappyPage HK
Auto focus confirm chip
Hong Kong $80
La Bague France $100
ROLLEI QBM YES
Caveat emptor: registration is very similar to the EF mount: many adaptors are not thin enough for nfinity focus.
Fotodiox US $40
Kindai Japan $150
Roxsen Hong Kong $30
In addition to these established, reputable suppliers, it is also possible to find knock-offs on eBay worldwide. Some perform well; some do not: the results achievable depend on machining accuracy – partially explaining the wide variation in pricing – and quality.

Medium Format Lenses on 35mm bodies

It isn’t widely known that the large image circle of medium format lenses can be deployed for shifting and stitching with Canon digital bodies: up to 35mm movements are possible with some configurations. Why would you do that when Canon already has a highly regarded range of L series TS lenses? Several reasons:
• Price: the cost of a Carl Zeiss Jena Biometar 80m f2.8 + Arax adaptor, for instance, is about one third the cost of a 90TS, and the performance is very similar. Many of the older Pentacon Six lenses are deservedly legendary, and available cheaply.
• Versatility: some systems allow medium format lenses to be mounted in such a way that parallax-free stitching is possible: a feat no Canon lens can accomplish. Also, bigger movements are possible without degrading image quality.

• Wider range of focal lengths: Hasselblad, Pentax and Mamiya have a wide range of lenses that can be used as EF shift lenses in wacky focal lengths: from the 30mm Arsat Fisheye to the 600mm Pentax FA.

LENS BRAND CANON EF ADAPTABLE ADAPTOR SUPPLIERS
Bronica ETRS Impossible
Bronica GSA Impossible
Hasselblad YES (also via Pentax 645 adaptor) Arax | Fotodiox | Zörk | Elefoto
Kiev 88 YES (via Pentacon 6) Arax
Mamiya 645 YES Zörk (PSA)
Mamiya 67 YES Cameraquest | Novoflex | Zörk
Mamiya 7 Impossible
Pentax 645 YES Elefoto | Zörk (PSA)
Pentax 67 YES (via Pentax 645) Novoflex | Zörk | Elefoto
Pentacon Six YES Arax | Zörk | Novoflex | Elefoto

Canon 5D adaptor compatibility

Thanks to the small sensor, and correspondingly small mirror, deeply recessed into the body, the vast majority of adapted lenses work on EF-S mount bodies like the 400D. Most of those continue to work well on the 1Ds Mark I and II. However, the Canon 5D has a slightly taller mirror that requires correspondingly more clearance at the rear of the lens. For whatever reason (mirror size variation, adaptor thickness variation, undocumented alterations to the design of the rear of the lens between production runs), some 5D users report being able to mount and use some lenses that give trouble to others. The tolerances are very tight back there, and if the 5D detects any impedance to the movement of its mirror it will Err99 and lock up.

In rear-focusing lenses (like the Pentax 50mm f1.4 Super Takumar) the problem may only occur at infinity focus. A common workaround is simply to set the lens at, say, 10m, pre-fire the mirror, nudge to the focus to infinity, then release the shutter. A more permanent solution – indeed the only way to use the peerless Leica wide angles – is to modify the 5D’s mirror. Here ‘modify’ is understood to mean ‘hack a chunk out of’. Watch this space for reports from 5D owners who had performed the mod without regret.

Here, then is the most recently updated compatibility list for the 5D. Particularly because of the number of unpredictable variables arising from using adapted lenses on the 5D we cannot be held responsible for damage incurred to bodies or lenses as a result of referring to this list, which is provided for information only. Naturally modifying any body or lens will invalidate the warranty.

LENS MOUNT LENS MODEL COMPATIBLE NOTES & CAVEATS
CONTAX /
YASHICA
15mm Distagon f3.5 AE YES
15mm Distagon f3.5 MM YES
16mm Distagon Fisheye YES
18mm Distagon f4 AE YES
18mm Distagon f4 MM NO Most 5D users find that the rear element protrudes beyond the lens mount and fouls the mirror. Mirror surgery required.
21mm Distagon f2.8 YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
LEICA R YES YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
OLYMPUS OM (ZUIKO) YES YES
YES
YES
YES
PENTAX M42 SCREW FIT YES YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
ROLLEI QBM YES YES
YES
YES

LENS BRAND LENS MODEL COMPATIBILTY Notes, caveats and modifications
Contax/Zeiss Primes 15mm f3.5 AE/MM Needs mod. Rear element housing requires adjustment
16mm f2.8 Fisheye OK
  18mm f4 AE OK
18mm f4 MM Doubtful The rear element protrudes above the housing on most MM lenses by just enough to graze the 5D mirror. Mirror surgery is the only possible mod.
21mm f2.8 MM OK
25mm f2.8 AE/MM OK
28mm f2 MM Needs mod. May have difficulty clearing mirror
28mm f2.8 AE/MM OK
35mm f2.8 AE/MM OK
35mm f3.5 PC OK
45mm f2.8 Pancake AE OK
50mm f1.4 AE/MM OK
50mm f1.7 AE/MM Needs mod. Aperture fin requires trimming by approximately 2mm
60mm Makro AE (1:1) OK
60mm Makro MM (1:2) OK
85mm f1.2 Anniversary OK
85mm f1.4 AE/MM OK
85mm f2.8 AE/MM OK
100mm f2 AE/MM OK
100mm f3.5 AE/MM OK
135mm f2.8 AE/MM OK
300mm f4 AE/MM OK
28-85mm AE/MM OK
35-70mm AE/MM OK
35-135mm AE/MM OK
100-300mm AE/MM OK
OLYMPUS Zuiko 18mm f2.8 OK
21mm f2 OK
21mm f3.5 OK
24mm f2 OK
24mm f2.8 OK
24mm f3.5 PC/Shift OK
28mm f2 OK
35mm f2.8 OK
35mm f3.5 Pc/Shift OK
40mm f2 Pancake Unknown
50mm f1.2 OK
50mm f1.8 OK
55mm f1.2 OK
90mm f2 OK
35-70mm f3.3 OK
Leica Primes 15mm f3.5 Elmarit Needs mod. None of the wide Leica lenses fit the 5D without modification. The 19mm requires the least surgery: removing 1.5mm from the rear element housing does the trick (see here for instructions and pictures). Some have found it worthwhile to permanently modify their 5D mirrors to use what is probably the finest range of ultrawides available. For details of the 2mm mirror shave mod (sometimes known as the Mancuso Manoeuvre) please see here . . . .
15mm f2.8 Super-Elmarit Needs mod.
19mm f2.8 Needs mod.
24mm f2.8 Needs mod.
28mm f2.8 Needs mod.
28mm f2.8 PC OK The same lens is available from Schneider with a dedicated Canon EF mount. If the lens is branded Schneider, the rear mount is removable.
35mm f1.4 OK
35mm f2 OK
50mm f1.4 OK
50mm f2 OK
60mm f2.8 Macro OK
80mm f1.4 OK
90mm f2 OK
100mm f2.8 Macro
180mm f2 OK
Leica Zooms 21-35mm Needs mod. Rear element shroud needs removing for mirror clearance. Easy mod – see here for details.
35-70mm OK
Leica Extenders

This list is possible thanks to Emanuelle C, Cinstance, PSquared, Jack Flesher, John Black, MarkSaperstein, Foto-z and other FMers that are trying off-brand lenses with the 5D. Thanks also to: Guy Mancuso for his efforts w/ Leica glass and kidigital for 5D mirror mod.

Canon 1Ds Mk 1 and 2 adaptor compatibility

Canon EOS 1Ds (I and II) Lens Compatibility

Adaptor Suppliers | Canon 5D | Canon 1Ds Mark I and II

LENS BRAND LENS MODEL COMPATIBILTY Notes, caveats and modifications
Contax/Zeiss Primes 15mm f3.5 AE/MM Needs mod. Rear element housing requires adjustment
16mm f2.8 Fisheye OK
  18mm f4 AE OK
18mm f4 MM OK
21mm f2.8 MM OK
25mm f2.8 AE/MM OK
28mm f2 MM Maybe May have difficulty clearing mirror
28mm f2.8 AE/MM OK
35mm f2.8 AE/MM OK
35mm f3.5 PC OK
45mm f2.8 Pancake AE OK
50mm f1.4 AE/MM OK
50mm f1.7 AE/MM OK
60mm Makro AE (1:1) OK
60mm Makro MM (1:2) OK
85mm f1.2 Anniversary OK
85mm f1.4 AE/MM OK
85mm f2.8 AE/MM OK
100mm f2 AE/MM OK
100mm f3.5 AE/MM OK
135mm f2.8 AE/MM OK
300mm f4 AE/MM OK
Contax/Zeiss Zooms 28-85mm AE/MM OK
35-70mm AE/MM OK
35-135mm AE/MM OK
100-300mm AE/MM OK
Olympus Zuiko 18mm f2.8 OK
21mm f2 OK
21mm f3.5 OK
24mm f2 OK
24mm f2.8 OK
24mm f3.5 PC/Shift OK
28mm f2 OK
35mm f2.8 OK
35mm f3.5 Pc/Shift OK
40mm f2 Pancake Unknown
50mm f1.2 OK
50mm f1.8 OK
55mm f1.2 OK
90mm f2 OK
35-70mm f3.3 OK
Leica Primes 15mm f3.5 Elmarit Maybe Optically identical to Zeiss and Pentax 15mm. Some report mirror clearance difficulties: problems often fixed by use of thicker adaptor or simply by removing plastic shroud on rear element.
15mm f2.8 Elmarit-R Needs mod. Remove 2mm from the lower portion of the 1Ds mirror.
19mm f2.8 Needs mod. Metal retaining ring on lens’ rear element has to be filed down by approximately 1.5mm. For details see here. There’s alway the mirror mod . . .
21mm f3.4 Needs mod. Remove 2mm from the lower portion of the 1Ds mirror.
21mm f4 OK
24mm f2.8 Needs mod. Remove 2mm from the lower portion of the 1Ds mirror.
28mm f2.8 OK
28mm f2.8 PC OK The same lens is available from Schneider with a dedicated Canon EF mount. If the lens is branded Schneider, the rear mount is removable.
35mm f1.4 Needs mod. Remove 2mm from the lower portion of the 1Ds mirror.
35mm f2 OK
50mm f1.4 OK
50mm f2 OK
60mm f2.8 Macro OK
80mm f1.4 OK
90mm f2 OK
100mm f2.8 Macro
180mm f2 OK
Leica Zooms 21-35mm
f3.5-4.0
Needs mod. Remove plastic shroud from lens element rear housing. Very simple mod. See here for instructions . . .
28-90mm
f2.8-f4.5
Needs mod. Remove 2mm from the lower portion of the 1Ds mirror.
35-70mm
(all types)
OK
Leica Extenders 1.4x APO OK
2x APO OK

This list is possible thanks to Emanuelle C, Cinstance, JohnBlack, PSquared, MarkSaperstein, Foto-z and other FMers that are trying their CZ lenses w/ the 5D. Thanks also to: Guy Mancuso for his efforts w/ Leica glass and kidigital for 5D mirror mod.

 

 

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