Anyone using speed booster?

Is anyone using a speed booster to make old glass same as it would be on FF? If I understand correctly a 50 1.4 on FF on a speed booster is the same normal length and speed on an apsc. Saw some samples. Seems pretty neat. They make them for ef lenses which is cool because I have a bunch, but that seems pointless since my canon lenses are huge and I think this is really more for m42 or Minolta etc. legacy stuff. I am curious to see how much I get along with manual and what the focus peaking is about with this new rig, but I can see myself getting this...

I have a tele-reducer (i.e., Speed Booster) for mounting EF lenses on my Sony a6000. It does two things (advertised) and two more things that are not advertised.

As I think you know, it ends up reducing the image circle from one that's big enough for a full frame sensor to one that's just covering an APS-C sensor.

Good #1) This changes (restores?) the angle of view to what it would be on a full frame body.

Good #2) The concentration of light makes the light brighter by 1 stop. More light means a faster shutter, hence the "speed". Also, the adapter is a "reporting" adapter. So a 50mm f/1.4 lens will register in the EXIF data as an f/1.0. Kinda fun for photo nerds.

Bad #1) The concentration of light is bending light waves and there's some geometric distortion.

Bad #2) The reduction in (image circle) coverage causes vignetting at various apertures and zoom positions.

Quirk #1) The auto-focus performance is ... different. Some lenses focus faster with this adapter and others focus faster with the "normal" (non-reducing) adapter.

Overall, I prefer the normal adapter. The bad items for me are worse than the good items are good. But it's not terrible. I can use any lens on a full frame or Sony body. The only combination I can't do is Canon EF-S to Canon full frame.

Thanks for the feedback.

I really like vignetting so that won't bother me, nor would soft corners since I would only see this purpose as for isolation shots. I would also be using manual so I think for $150 I am going to give the lens turbo a try. The real bummer is how expensive m42 lenses are now, like i am wondering if it is even worth the expense or just out adaptor and 1 lens toward a new fuji x lens.

I have a Zhonghi lens turbo ii, which does the same thing for a lot less money. I think it performs very well. I will post some examples when I'm home.

That is the one I was looking to get. Does it make lenses "normal" both focal and basically same bokeh I am used to on FF?

Nick3434 wrote in post #18240494
That is the one I was looking to get. Does it make lenses "normal" both focal and basically same bokeh I am used to on FF?

Yes, absolutely. That said, I'm so happy with my XF glass that I rarely use it, to me the difference in look between an FF shot and an APS-C shot is marginal at best in terms of "look". The only lens I regularly use it on is my Rokinon 85mm, but I'll likely be replacing that setup with the Rokinon 50mm f1.2 soon (which will give virtually the same result at a much smaller size).

Rokinon 85mm via Lens Turbo ii on my X-Pro2

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Thanks for the effort man, really appreaciate it and I like the last shot a lot, to me it has that "feel".

What I did was just get a cheap regular adaptor. I am going to get this thing in hand, and I will have essentially a really fast 77mm lens without speed boost, and I will sorta go from there. I am finding that the m42 glass online is just so overpriced, I think I should be smart and take your experience and slowly pick away at good Fuji glass. But always keep my eyes out for m42 deals and I can always get the turbo in the future and know that it will yield those results. I wish this camera wasn't coming from Japan, I think I have zero chance of having it for the weekend, but Mes has surprised me before....

To be clear, my experience and research has been with the Nikon to Fuji version. There are some very good deals to be had in excellent Nikon lenses. Not all Nikon lenses are excellent, but some are.

There is no question that Fuji lenses have significant advantages--autofocus, EXIF data, small size relaticpve to capability, etc. And Fuji is a consistently solid lens designer. If I am doing serious work where I need to produce results under pressure, I reach for Fuji lenses.

But I do have fun with converted Nikon lenses and get excellent results with them.

A couple important issues. The first generation Speed Booster for Nikon to Fuji was soft and so was the first generation of Lens Turbo. The second generation Lens Turbo II and speed booster were both significant improvements.

I use the Nikon Lens Turbo II and have not had issues with softness in corners: the lenses I have used are as good in the corners as they are in FF. The cases where folks have reported soft corners in second generation boosters that I have tracked down were due to the original lens not being good in the corners and that flaw being revealed by the speed booster.

It is important to pay attention to which converter is being discussed, because there are significant differences. If Nikon to Fuji interests you, my comments matter. But for the m42, not so much. Also, the interface to some camera systems was handled differently, so beware of that, too.

Nick3434 wrote in post #18240820
Thanks for the effort man, really appreaciate it and I like the last shot a lot, to me it has that "feel".

What I did was just get a cheap regular adaptor. I am going to get this thing in hand, and I will have essentially a really fast 77mm lens without speed boost, and I will sorta go from there. I am finding that the m42 glass online is just so overpriced, I think I should be smart and take your experience and slowly pick away at good Fuji glass. But always keep my eyes out for m42 deals and I can always get the turbo in the future and know that it will yield those results. I wish this camera wasn't coming from Japan, I think I have zero chance of having it for the weekend, but Mes has surprised me before....

Don't buy a speed booster in any mount other than EF if your interested in manual glass. The reason being that most of the vintage mounts (m42, K, C/Y, Nikon) adapt cheaply and easily to EF mount so with one speed booster you can use several different mounts of lenses.

WOW, that is SUPER smart idea!!!!!!!

Yes and I already have M42-EF adapter, obviously. I really can't imagine hanging my big EF prime Glass on the fuji, but, what you said is TOTALLY logical in the sense that "if" I wanted to, I could in theory at no detriment to IQ since the m42/ef adapters have no glass.

Bro, that is such a simple, yet brilliant comment for what I am looking to do. Thank you!

I am already regretting spending the money on the camera with the kit lens and I haven't even got it yet. I need to just chill out and enjoy simplicity of photography, that was the point of this fuji venture. I think especially on these forums, people over focus on gear to the point that it isn't even photography as an expressive and fun hobby. When I went to primes and not spending a penny on gear for 3 years is when I have enjoyed my photography the most.

Nick3434 wrote in post #18241321
WOW, that is SUPER smart idea!!!!!!!

Yes and I already have M42-EF adapter, obviously. I really can't imagine hanging my big EF prime Glass on the fuji, but, what you said is TOTALLY logical in the sense that "if" I wanted to, I could in theory at no detriment to IQ since the m42/ef adapters have no glass.

Bro, that is such a simple, yet brilliant comment for what I am looking to do. Thank you!

I am already regretting spending the money on the camera with the kit lens and I haven't even got it yet. I need to just chill out and enjoy simplicity of photography, that was the point of this fuji venture. I think especially on these forums, people over focus on gear to the point that it isn't even photography as an expressive and fun hobby. When I went to primes and not spending a penny on gear for 3 years is when I have enjoyed my photography the most.

Both of the focal reducers that I've had have been in EF mount for the same reason, I have never used an actual EVF lens on either of them (other than the Rokinon 85mm which is in EF mount, but it's a manual lens). I use various mounts on mine and all work perfectly.

As for the kit lens, you shouldn't regret it. I'm not a fan of zooms at all, sold my EF 24-105L when I was shooting with my 6D, but my XF 18-55mm continues to get use. It's small, light, relatively fast and performs amazingly well. That lens surprises me every time I use it.

A quick couple of examples from the XF 18-55mm

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Ok, good to hear you like it and sold your 24-105, that actually makes me feel a lot better.

If you like zoom lenses, I can't imagine you won't like the Fuji 18-55/2.8 kit lens. Phenomenally good for a kit. Perfect focal range. Compact, handy lens. Great for almost all general uses. Hard to go wrong.

Also a good "reference" lens for figuring out what you want. It covers all the standard lengths (28-85 in full frame terms), which makes clear what works for you.