Broken lens from eBay :( at DVinfo.net

Patrick Janka · April 1st, 2011, 03:08 PM

I bought a Canon FDn 50mm f/1.4 lens from eBay advertised in MINT condition. Today I received my adapter so I could finally use the lens. Turns out the aperture won't open past f/4.0. It closes down to 22, but from f/4.0 to f/1.4 it doesn't move. I just emailed the seller. Any reason why this is so? Should I take it to a camera shop? A non-working aperture ring is hardly "mint".

Jeff Harper · April 1st, 2011, 04:36 PM

Check on photo.net for specifics if you come up with nothing here. I've not heard of this issue, could it be the adapter? Don't know. There is an FD lens forum at photo.net, someone there may have had the same issue.

The single best thing is to find an old FD mount camera and test it. If you have a used camera store in the area call them to see.

Bummer.

Patrick Janka · April 1st, 2011, 05:44 PM

Jeff, it has nothing to do with the adapter. The adapter seems fine. I was turning the aperture in my hand sans adapter, and it wouldn't budge past f/4.0.

Patrick Janka · April 1st, 2011, 09:52 PM

Okay, it DID have to do with the adapter. The adapter has an aperture lock mechanism that has to be in the open position before attaching the lens. Then you switch to lock and then you can adjust the aperture. I'm not sure what I did before, but I got it working now. btw, I don't understand the point of buying expensive adapters. I got this for $20 from a distributor in the U.S., and it works fine. I don't see what you get with the $200 adapters that I'm not getting.

Jeff Harper · April 1st, 2011, 09:56 PM

I have three cheap adapters, and there is play and they don't focus properly for inifinity. One cheap one was a Kipon that was $100, and it is no better than the $29 ones.

I have a fourth ordered from Poland which guarantees infinity focus, we'll see how that goes.

Mark Slade · April 1st, 2011, 10:17 PM

Patrick....what adapter are you using??

Mark

Jeff Harper · April 1st, 2011, 10:35 PM

Another complaint with adapters, certain ones that won't lock is that the lens will fall off. What people don't realize is you must be careful when working to not accidentally turn the adapter ring instead of the aperture ring, or focus ring. Or you must first install the adapter correctly. It can be tricky.

Patrick Janka · April 2nd, 2011, 12:19 AM

Hey, Mark, this is the one I got:

Canon FD FL Lens To Micro M 4/3 G10 GF1 G2 EPL1 Adapter - eBay (item 250655070680 end time Apr-17-11 20:29:57 PDT)

It's actually $27. Most of the adapters are from China, but I didn't want to wait the 3 weeks most of them ship in. This one came from NJ, and I got it pretty fast. The lens fits perfectly, there's no play, and it snaps onto the GH2 no problem.

Nigel Barker · April 2nd, 2011, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick Janka

Okay, it DID have to do with the adapter. The adapter has an aperture lock mechanism that has to be in the open position before attaching the lens. Then you switch to lock and then you can adjust the aperture.

With the cheap adaptors I have you can use the Open/Lock ring to smoothly & continuously adjust aperture in a step-less fashion.

David Grinnell · April 2nd, 2011, 06:51 AM

Patrick...

Nice lens now that you figured it out ?

Brian Luce · April 2nd, 2011, 07:51 PM

I use the cheapies. I just got a Pixco to use with my new 135mm f2.5 Canon FD. These adapters seem to work just fine. It's true though, beware of accidentally unlocking the lock. I'm going to gaffer tape mine open. Looks ugly right? who cares, it's a $75 lens.
Btw, the FD 135mm 2.5 is fast and sharp, but dang thing is heavy as sin.

April 1st, 2011, 03:08 PM	#1
Patrick Janka Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 623	Broken lens from eBay :( I bought a Canon FDn 50mm f/1.4 lens from eBay advertised in MINT condition. Today I received my adapter so I could finally use the lens. Turns out the aperture won't open past f/4.0. It closes down to 22, but from f/4.0 to f/1.4 it doesn't move. I just emailed the seller. Any reason why this is so? Should I take it to a camera shop? A non-working aperture ring is hardly "mint".

April 1st, 2011, 04:36 PM	#2
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Broken lens from eBay :( Check on photo.net for specifics if you come up with nothing here. I've not heard of this issue, could it be the adapter? Don't know. There is an FD lens forum at photo.net, someone there may have had the same issue. The single best thing is to find an old FD mount camera and test it. If you have a used camera store in the area call them to see. Bummer. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

April 1st, 2011, 05:44 PM	#3
Patrick Janka Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 623	Re: Broken lens from eBay :( Jeff, it has nothing to do with the adapter. The adapter seems fine. I was turning the aperture in my hand sans adapter, and it wouldn't budge past f/4.0.

April 1st, 2011, 09:52 PM	#4
Patrick Janka Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 623	Re: Broken lens from eBay :( Okay, it DID have to do with the adapter. The adapter has an aperture lock mechanism that has to be in the open position before attaching the lens. Then you switch to lock and then you can adjust the aperture. I'm not sure what I did before, but I got it working now. btw, I don't understand the point of buying expensive adapters. I got this for $20 from a distributor in the U.S., and it works fine. I don't see what you get with the $200 adapters that I'm not getting.

April 1st, 2011, 09:56 PM	#5
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Broken lens from eBay :( I have three cheap adapters, and there is play and they don't focus properly for inifinity. One cheap one was a Kipon that was $100, and it is no better than the $29 ones. I have a fourth ordered from Poland which guarantees infinity focus, we'll see how that goes. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

April 1st, 2011, 10:17 PM	#6
Mark Slade Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 121	Re: Broken lens from eBay :( Patrick....what adapter are you using?? Mark

April 1st, 2011, 10:35 PM	#7
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Broken lens from eBay :( Another complaint with adapters, certain ones that won't lock is that the lens will fall off. What people don't realize is you must be careful when working to not accidentally turn the adapter ring instead of the aperture ring, or focus ring. Or you must first install the adapter correctly. It can be tricky. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

April 2nd, 2011, 12:19 AM	#8
Patrick Janka Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 623	Re: Broken lens from eBay :( Hey, Mark, this is the one I got: Canon FD FL Lens To Micro M 4/3 G10 GF1 G2 EPL1 Adapter - eBay (item 250655070680 end time Apr-17-11 20:29:57 PDT) It's actually $27. Most of the adapters are from China, but I didn't want to wait the 3 weeks most of them ship in. This one came from NJ, and I got it pretty fast. The lens fits perfectly, there's no play, and it snaps onto the GH2 no problem.

April 2nd, 2011, 06:51 AM	#10
David Grinnell Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Owensboro, ky Posts: 96	Re: Broken lens from eBay :( Patrick... Nice lens now that you figured it out ?

April 2nd, 2011, 07:51 PM	#11
Brian Luce Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,290	Re: Broken lens from eBay :( I use the cheapies. I just got a Pixco to use with my new 135mm f2.5 Canon FD. These adapters seem to work just fine. It's true though, beware of accidentally unlocking the lock. I'm going to gaffer tape mine open. Looks ugly right? who cares, it's a $75 lens. Btw, the FD 135mm 2.5 is fast and sharp, but dang thing is heavy as sin.