So finally, here it is! First seen at IBC over a year ago and eagerly awaited ever since, the Metabones Sony FZ to Canon EF lens adapter. This adapter fits the Sony PMW-F3, F5 and F55 cameras. It replaces the supplied PL mount with a very high quality, locking Canon EF mount that electronically controls the Canon lens aperture.
The adapter takes it’s power directly from the camera, to make it work correctly you need to go in to the camera menu and select the TypeA+12 or TypeC+12 lens adapter type. Once the menu has been set and the adapter fitted to the camera you will get a direct readout of the lenses aperture and focus distance in the viewfinder with the vast majority of electronically controlled Canon EF lenses.
In addition on the adapter itself there is a large aperture ring and a window where the aperture number is clearly displayed. The aperture ring has a standard 0.8 pitch gear so you can remotely drive it with a follow focus motor if you need remote aperture control. One point to note is that the aperture ring indications go all the way down to f1. If your lens has a largest aperture of say f4, if you turn the ring past f4 the aperture will not magically open any wider than it can, so it is possible to have f2.8 or even f1 indicated in the window on the aperture ring while the lens may be at it’s actual maximum aperture. However don’t worry too much as if you look in the viewfinder the correct actual aperture of the lens is displayed. Also remember that if you are using an entirely mechanical lens such as a Samyang prime that the aperture control on the adapter will have no effect on the lens, you would use the aperture ring on the lens to adjust the aperture and you may not get the aperture and focus information in the viewfinder.
Mounting lenses on the adapter is easy. To attach a lens simply align the red dot on the lens with the red mark on the adapter and insert the lens into the lens mount. Then, instead of twisting the lens as you would do on a Canon camera you twist the large silver locking ring anti-clockwise and this clamps the lens very securely in place. This system ensures the lens is very secure so it won’t twist or wobble. This is very important if you’re using a lens with pitch gears and a follow focus as it stops the lens shifting against the force of the follow focus.
If your lens has image stabilisation then this will work so you can benefit from this when shooting on the move or with very long focal lengths.
On the side of the adapter there are two push buttons marked as FN1 and FN2. These currently appear to have no effect. The lens adapter firmware can be updated by the end user via a micro USB port, so perhaps in the future there will be extra functions for these buttons. Just above the buttons is a 3 way switch. This switches the adapter between manual, locked and auto. In manual the aperture ring controls the lenses aperture. Switch the switch to lock and the aperture is locked at the last set position. In Auto the camera controls the aperture automatically. For auto aperture the camera must be in Custom Mode and not using S-Log. Auto Exposure must also be turned on in the cameras menu. Once activated you can include an exposure offset via the camera menu to help deal with different lighting situations. It is worth remembering though that electronic Canon lens apertures operate in 1/8th of a stop steps. So any exposure changes mid shot will often be seen as small stepped brightness changes. Also in some situations you may find that the exposure the camera wants is right between two steps and in this instance the aperture will flicker between the two steps. This isn’t a fault or problem with the camera or the adapter, it’s just a characteristic of the way Canon EF lenses work and there’s nothing that Sony or Metabones can do about this.
The build quality is very good. The adapter is made mainly from aluminium alloy, machined to a very high standard and nicely anodised. The internal parts of the adapter are flocked with a high quality black flocking material that looks like it should be very good at reducing any internal reflections.
I really do think this is one of, if not the best FZ to EF adapter on the market. There are no wires or cables. Aperture is control by an aperture ring just as on a cine lens and you have an aperture indication right on the side of the adapter as well as focus distance and aperture indications in the viewfinder. The lens locks in to place securely and the build quality is excellent. So just on the features alone I would recommend this adapter, but then when you consider that it’s also the cheapest electronic FZ to EF adapter on the market it becomes a real no-brainer. If you need or want to use Canon EF lenses on your PMW-F5 or PMW-F55 then this adapter ticks all the right boxes.
NORTHERN LIGHTS 2016.
Don’t forget I run storm chasing and Northern Lights expeditions every year. I still have some places on the second Northern Lights tour in Feb 2016. These are amazing expeditions by snowmobile up on to the Finnmarksvidda. We go ice fishing, dog sledding, exploring, cook a meal in a tent and enjoy traditional Norwegian saunas.
More information here.
