I purchased this adapter to use with a Zeiss T* 50mm lens on a Canon 60D. The fit is snug without any wiggle and I found it easy to get the adapter on and off both the camera and the lens. It works and I am happy to be using this lens again after many years.
I have two complaints that dropped my rating to 4 stars. First, the instructions were at first almost incomprehensible. After several tries at understanding them, I did finally figure out what they were talking about, but at first they made no sense to me. I successfully programmed the chip for maximum aperture and focal length of the lens, but I did not have the patience to go through the trial-and-error process required to fine tune the focus sensor. Which is too bad, because my second complaint is that the focus chip is not accurate (not even close) in its default setting with this lens, so the focus alert is useless until I go through that somewhat daunting process.
So, I have 2 out of 3 of the programmable functions (maximum aperture and focal length), which basically allows the lens to be used in full manual mode with the light meter. The programming tells the camera what the maximum aperture value of the lens is, so it knows that, even when the camera aperture value is changed to match the shutter setting. This is what makes it possible for the internal light meter to give accurate readings as the shutter and aperture settings on the camera are changed in manual mode. Remember - the aperture settings on the camera and the lens are completely decoupled. The one does not know what the other is doing. The chip at least lets the camera know what the maximum (wide open) setting is on the lens (f1.7 in the case of my lens), and that allows the meter to take accurate readings.
If you do not program the chip, or if you buy an adapter without the chip, the camera must always remain set at its maximum aperture setting and must be used in Av mode for any automation of exposure. Of course, if you have an external light meter or are skilled at figuring correct shutter/aperture settings without a meter, then you can use manual mode just like you would on any manual exposure camera.
Because the lens will still work with the camera in aperture-priority mode and in manual mode without the light meter without any programming, the value of the chip - especially when the focus sensor isn't set right - is questionable. It depends on how important it is to you to be able to use the camera's meter in manual mode and to have the focus alert (and the patience to adjust it). I bought a second adapter without the chip, but for me having a fully functioning meter in manual mode is useful, so in future I think I will continue to buy the adapter with the chip.
For those who are completely unfamiliar with this sort of adapter, it should be obvious, but might not be, that an old lens with a manual aperture ring is never going to be as simple to use as an electronically operated lens. The camera is unable to read the aperture setting on the lens and the lens cannot be controlled by the aperture setting on the camera. So there is always going to be an extra step of manually setting the aperture on the lens. Focusing and metering are done with the lens wide open, and then it must be manually stopped down before taking the shot. In Av mode the lens can be stopped down and the camera will set the correct shutter speed as long as the camera is set to its maximum aperture setting. In manual mode, assuming the chip has been programmed, the meter will give the correct aperture to use, but then the lens must be manually stopped down to match that reading. This was all much easier on my film cameras, because the aperture, shutter and meter readings were all visible in the viewfinder. And the lens stayed wide open for focusing until the shutter was released. With this adapter (or any adapter), the lens aperture closes if you close down the aperture ring, so focusing and metering have to be done with the lens wide open, and then the lens must be closed down, which means taking your eye away from the viewfinder to see the setting on the lens.
So this is never going to be as quick and easy as an electronically controlled lens, nor as quick and easy as it was on a film camera with mechanical aperture control, but if you are willing to slow down, and shoot only in manual or Av modes, it works, and gives new life to some fine old lenses.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2017
Style: Focus ConfirmationSize: Contax/YashicaVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2010
Pros:
*The converter looked just fine. Very cleanly made.
*The converter mounted on my lens with a smooth and tight click. The resultant assembly mounted on the body of my 40d with no slop and a nice smooth turn. Some reviewers have complained about sloppiness in the mount. Mine is perfect.
*The focus confirmation works OK. You partially depress the shutter button as if you were pre-focusing one of the Canon autofocus lenses. You then turn the focus ring on the Photodiox converter until one or more of the focus points lights up in the viewfinder. When you can get this to stay lit most or a lot of the time, you are focused. The light will NOT stay on in a steady fashion. You just do the best you can. Optionally, I found it was better to use "live view" on the LCD on the back of the camera, zoom up the image and manually focus. In any case, the price difference between the "focus confirmation chip" and the one without it were actually negative. All else being equal, just get it.
*I had no issue with focus at infinity, but I did not do a rigorous test.
**** The converter works just as promised, but .....
The old OM lenses just don't measure up anymore in this installation. I think it's because the lens coatings and overall geometry of these lenses were set up for film and the geometry was set up for a full frame instead of the "crop frame" of the Canon. Lastly, the Canon lens is designed to fully collimate (make parallel) the rays of light coming to the sensor. The old Zuiko didn't have to deal with this issue because film doesn't require the same level of collimation as digital sensors do. This is just a guess to explain the crummy performance I witnessed using the Zuiko plus converter versus the modern zoom. The Zuiko created really bad color fringing of all sorts. I have uploaded some sample photographs. they were shot at ISO800 because they were hand-held. The Zuiko f1.4 50mm was shot at a full f1.4. The Canon 17-55 f2.8 was shot at half the shutter speed (1/25 vs 1/60 on the Z). I should have used a tripod, but I don't think this would have made a lot of difference. The photos show that the Olympus Zuiko, mounted on the Canon 40d, produce color shifts and fringes while the Canon Zoom does not. I messed with other settings and attempted to minimize this, but in the end it is clear that the lens just doesn't cut it mounted here rather than on the old OM-1 with a belly full of Kodachrome ... (Happy days of my youth!).
And, in case you were wondering:
The lenses were both spotless.
I shot the OM with and without a filter in front.
The Canon 17-55 does have very good IS, but the results didn't differ when I shut it off.
I did micro focus using the live view mode.
Conclusion
The Fotodiox appears to absolutely do what it says it does. So, I am giving it a 4 star review. The lack of a star is not so much because they don't deserve a five star rating, but to say that the old Olympus Zuiko doesn't really cut it mounted on your new Canon, in my opinion. You would be better served by getting a used Canon lens that fits your need if you need to save the cash.
Style: Focus ConfirmationSize: Olympus 35mmVerified Purchase
Works very well, too bad about 35 year old lenses...
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2010
I got a super deal on this adapter. It allows me to mount my Olympus OM-1 compatible lenses on my Canon 40d. Why would I want to do this? I thought it would be neat to see if I could use my old f1.4 50mm, f2.8 24mm and f2.8 100mm fixed length Zuiko lenses again. I remembered them as being really great glass with great contrast, sharpness, color fidelity, etc. So, after spending a mere #$29.95 on the Fotodiox with focus confirmation, I set out to check it out. For comparison, I used a Canon 17-55mm f2.8 zoom. This is the EF-S that performs close to the L series lenses. The conclusion is, there is no particularly good reason to use this converter. The pics are not as good as my zoom in any respect - none!Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2010
Pros:
*The converter looked just fine. Very cleanly made.
*The converter mounted on my lens with a smooth and tight click. The resultant assembly mounted on the body of my 40d with no slop and a nice smooth turn. Some reviewers have complained about sloppiness in the mount. Mine is perfect.
*The focus confirmation works OK. You partially depress the shutter button as if you were pre-focusing one of the Canon autofocus lenses. You then turn the focus ring on the Photodiox converter until one or more of the focus points lights up in the viewfinder. When you can get this to stay lit most or a lot of the time, you are focused. The light will NOT stay on in a steady fashion. You just do the best you can. Optionally, I found it was better to use "live view" on the LCD on the back of the camera, zoom up the image and manually focus. In any case, the price difference between the "focus confirmation chip" and the one without it were actually negative. All else being equal, just get it.
*I had no issue with focus at infinity, but I did not do a rigorous test.
**** The converter works just as promised, but .....
The old OM lenses just don't measure up anymore in this installation. I think it's because the lens coatings and overall geometry of these lenses were set up for film and the geometry was set up for a full frame instead of the "crop frame" of the Canon. Lastly, the Canon lens is designed to fully collimate (make parallel) the rays of light coming to the sensor. The old Zuiko didn't have to deal with this issue because film doesn't require the same level of collimation as digital sensors do. This is just a guess to explain the crummy performance I witnessed using the Zuiko plus converter versus the modern zoom. The Zuiko created really bad color fringing of all sorts. I have uploaded some sample photographs. they were shot at ISO800 because they were hand-held. The Zuiko f1.4 50mm was shot at a full f1.4. The Canon 17-55 f2.8 was shot at half the shutter speed (1/25 vs 1/60 on the Z). I should have used a tripod, but I don't think this would have made a lot of difference. The photos show that the Olympus Zuiko, mounted on the Canon 40d, produce color shifts and fringes while the Canon Zoom does not. I messed with other settings and attempted to minimize this, but in the end it is clear that the lens just doesn't cut it mounted here rather than on the old OM-1 with a belly full of Kodachrome ... (Happy days of my youth!).
And, in case you were wondering:
The lenses were both spotless.
I shot the OM with and without a filter in front.
The Canon 17-55 does have very good IS, but the results didn't differ when I shut it off.
I did micro focus using the live view mode.
Conclusion
The Fotodiox appears to absolutely do what it says it does. So, I am giving it a 4 star review. The lack of a star is not so much because they don't deserve a five star rating, but to say that the old Olympus Zuiko doesn't really cut it mounted on your new Canon, in my opinion. You would be better served by getting a used Canon lens that fits your need if you need to save the cash.
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Top reviews from other countries
Barry E.
Works well but room for improvement.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 3, 2022Style: Focus ConfirmationSize: Olympus 35mmVerified Purchase
David Spencer
A useful adapter if you can work around the shortcomings
Reviewed in Canada on March 5, 2018Style: Focus ConfirmationSize: Olympus 35mmVerified Purchase
One Bad Wolf
It's a project. Not a soloution.
Reviewed in Canada on October 17, 2022SEUNG JUN SON
Avoid this seller - AWFUL
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 6, 2014Style: Focus ConfirmationSize: Contax/YashicaVerified Purchase
