For MBF Filmtechnik, I developed an adaptor that allow the use of PL-mounted lenses on Canon EOS cameras.
MBF PL-Canon EF Adapter
Since the flange focal distance of the EOS (44 mm) and the PL-mount (52 mm) only leave 8 mm space to fit an adaptor in, the choice of lenses is quite limited.
Successfully tested lenses:
Angenieux Optimo 24-290
Arri Shift & Tilt Set
Canon Century 200 / 300 mm
Here’s a small tutorial how to mount an 24-290 Optimo on a 7 D:
You need:
1x 24-290 Optimo
1x Canon EOS 7 D
1x PL-Mount Adaptor
1x 19 mm Lens support
2x 640 mm 19 mm rods
1x Arri Bridgeplate BP-6
1x Arri MBP-1 Bridgeplate for EOS DSLR
1. Put the lens face down on the table.
2. Put the adaptor on the camera (the location pin should be at about 5 to twelve), rotate to the right until it snaps into place.
3. Put the camera face down on the lens.
4.Screw the BP-6 to the MBP-1.
5. Fix the 19 mm lens support on the zoom lens.
6. Now attach the MBP-1/BP-6 Combo to the camera and support it with your hand while sticking the 19 mm rods through the holes in the BP-6 and the lens support. Tighten everything cautiously.
7. Now you can put the camera on a sliding baseplate to mount it on a head or similar.
8.Check the flange by verifying wether the index on the lens is in focus for a given distance. Electronically zoom into the frame for better focus judgement. Make sure you check the tele and wide focal lenghts.
Jon Fauer hat den PL Mount mit den Angenieux Optimos 15-40 und 28-76 erfolgreich getestet.
Jon Fauer successfully tested the PL Mount with Angenieux Optimos 15-40 und 28-76 zoom lenses.
So much for the naysayers that said it was not possible to create a PL to Canon adapter!
Thanks!!!
The “Checking the Flange Depth” check in instruction no. 8 is a bit weak …
Hello Mako,
if you have access to a decent collimator, you might as well use it…
) it should not make a difference. Some people say you cannot check digital sensors on a Chrosziel collimator or similar, but in my experience, it works perfectly well.
What you can do with the Canon PL Adaptor is that you shoot a test frame (still, no video). With 18 Megapixels on the 7D, you know for sure, if your your PL-mount is collimated all right. The electronic zooming of the 7D came in very handy while checking the back focus of the adaptors during assembly.
Again, as you know, it is vitally important to check both the tele and the wide focal lengths of the zoom. And it would be a good idea to check the lens’ back focus on a collimator before…
I strongly believe in testing “by eye” more than in just using measuring equipment. In the past ten years, that has proofed to be a good practice.
There will be an article on digital camera back focus measurement in one of the next issues of Film & Digital Times…
Best regards,
Matthias
Matthias, how much area will vigneting on the 5D M2? the adaptor works on it?
tks
Rubens/Brazil
Of course, but I would suggest that you carefully measure out to say 2 meters, zoom in and confirm that your distance scale on your lens matches your measured distance. Flange depth being not critical at the long end of that zoom. Then widen out, zoom in on the LCD display and check focus at the wide end. Adjust flange depth as needed. Flange depth is critical at the wide end. Repeat until the focus marks at the wide end match the taped distance … which is the correct distance for the long end of the zoom.
My point being that you can’t typically adjust flange depth by checking the tight end of the lens.
How DOES one adjust flange depth with this adapter?
I’m use to having to match different 2X extenders to our 10:1 zoom and Arri3 or 435. With the extenders one can loosen set screws and rotate the element set in and out until wide and tight distances match, ie. focus holds when one zooms.
Hello Mako,
you are perfectly right. That’s what I meant when writing about checking the tele and the wide end of the zoom… (I expected people to know how to do this…my mistake)
. The shims are the same ones you use for the Arri 3.
To adjust this adaptor, you have to have patience and shim it until the tele and the wide end match. Takes a while
Be careful with the screws, they are made of brass…
Matthias
Hello Rubens,
it depends on the lens. The 24-290 Optimo is safe from about 200 mm, but not on the wide end. It’s vignetting a lot at 24 mm, I would say, maybe 50%. Hard to say actually but it’s round
…
The Century 200/300 are safe.
The Arri Shift & Tilt should be safe, but probably not able to tilt & shift a lot.
Matthias
Matthias, Howdy from the West Coast!
I’ve been dying for a PL mount 7D, particularly to use Cooke S4s and Lomo Anamorphics.
Could you please, if you have the time, tell why these lenses won’t work with your PL mount? Is it strictly because of the mirror?
Or quite literally won’t fit without modification?
As well, what about the Cooke 5:1? 18-100 T3.1? What are your thoughts?
Hi,
I have written a short tutorial about this:
Please have a look here: http://www.matthias-uhlig.de/?p=502&lang=en .
Matthias
Hi Matthias
can I use the Red zoom 18-50 on the PL adapter in the Canon 7D, without vignetting?
thanks
best regards
federico Bruno/Rome
Hello Federico,
the vignetting will not be a problem in this case, but I’m not sure if it will fit mechanically. I have written a short tutorial about this:
Please have a look here: http://www.matthias-uhlig.de/?p=502&lang=en .
Matthias
Hi, I am interested in purchasing the canon 7d adaptor. How do we proceed?
Best, Peter Strietmann DP, California
Hello Peter,
you can purchase the adaptor at http://www.mbfshop.de. Due to the high demand, it’s on backorder for a couple of weeks. We are currently making more, but since there is a lot of manual high precision work involved, it will take some time.
Best regards,
Matthias
hi, did You have a dealer in US or in south america? I’d like to purchase one of that to use with my 5DMK2. another question, You can do some modification in the depth of that to make the use with ultraprimes or cooke S4 lenses? thank’s for your atention, regards, Leone.
Hello Claudio,
we do not have a dealer in the US or South America yet. If you want to be put on the backorder list, send an email to Peter Schulz (ps@mbf.de) or Joerg Dollinger (jd@mbf.de).
There is no way to modify the adaptor to work with UP or S4 unless you really mess up the back focus. I doubt the UP or S4 will cover the 5D sensor anyway, since it is 35 mm STILL format (about 24×36 mm), the 35 mm CINE format is about 18×24 mm (18.7 x24.9 mm ANSI S35, to be exact).
Matthias
Hi Again …. Iwant to buy one pl mount to canon 7d adpter, How much is it and where can I get one from.
Thanks a lot.
Surender Bhardwaj
Please Visit us @ http://www.templeoftunes.com Digital Recording Studio, India & Australia,
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Hi, what is the price for this? How long time does it take to fix it after order?
Best regards
Michel
Hello Michel,
all units are sold out and I don’t think MBF will make more at the moment (unless you needed ten
).
Matthias