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Metabones Speed Booster


k-hawinkler

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The way I look at this matter is that smaller than full frame sensors give long lenses the extra reach one typically desires.

So, in that case an adapter and not the Speed Booster is the tool of choice.

It doesn't make much sense to use the Speed Booster on long tele-lenses.

 

However, I think the situation is completely different for short tele, normal, and wide angle lenses.

Here the Speed Booster allows an APS-C size sensor to capture an image with a crop factor of a smidge less than 1.1x, much smaller than the 1.5x factor otherwise.

 

This image was taken with NEX-7 + Speed Booster + Leitz Elmarit 1:2.8/90.

 

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Thanks for your tests! You got an answer directly form Brian on Nikon Gear, the converter is designed for fast lenses with short focal lengths mainly since that is what is desirable for NEX and 4/3 etc. :)

 

 

Hi Erik,

 

Thank you so much.

On page Speed up your lens? - APS-C Mirrorless Systems - Nikongear.com - Page 6 Brian also explains well the issues with ultra teles.

Very interesting discussion indeed.

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Upon reflection, for available light situations it might make sense to use the Metabones Speed Booster with the APO-R 280/4 if the gain in one stop of exposure outweighs the degradation of image quality in the extreme corners.

 

An interesting thought, to have almost the equivalent of an APO 280/2.8 methinks. :D :D :D

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I investigated a little bit the question of corner sharpness with the Tele-Elmar 135/4 lens.

So, I displayed a bunch of characters on my 30" Apple Cinema Display and took images of them with these systems:

 

Sony NEX-7 + Metabones E mount - L/R Speed Booster + Leitz Bellows II + Leitz 16558 Ring + Leitz Tele-Elmar 135/4 lens head and

Nikon D800E + Nikon F- Leica M Adapter + Leitz OUFRO/16469 Ring + Leitz Bellows II + Leitz 16558 Ring + Leitz Tele-Elmar 135/4 lens head

 

Wide open the two images look like this:

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As one can see in the first image, there is still some vignetting caused by the Speed Booster for the Tele-Elmar 135/4.

 

I have posted full resolution JPGs for f=4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, and 22.

The results for the APS-C size sensor NEX-7 with Speed Booster can be found here: 2013-01-20 NEX-7 SpB TE135f4 - winklers' Photos

The results for the FF sensor D800E ........................................... can be found here: 2013-01-20 D800E TE135f4 - winklers' Photos

 

What can one conclude from these tests?

I always appreciate feedback from all sides. Thanks.

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From the review "Full frame look – wider field of view, shallower DOF, attractive vignette and light fall off towards corners"

 

The later becomes a negative later in the article.

 

I point to the positive because I worked in digital video where we found that people liked a bit of vignette, and did not like high definition, even though they did not explicitly express just those points, probably because they were not photographers familiar with the terms. For video the SB might be a big hit. Not so sure about stills yet.

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The later becomes a negative later in the article.

 

I point to the positive because I worked in digital video where we found that people liked a bit of vignette, and did not like high definition, even though they did not explicitly express just those points, probably because they were not photographers familiar with the terms. For video the SB might be a big hit. Not so sure about stills yet.

 

 

Hi pico,

 

I think it's a useful product with some pros and cons and I plan on getting the Nikon version when it comes out for my Nikkor wide angles.

The Canon version permits AF for some lenses on a NEX - but according to these reviews it seems really slow.

 

This guy Metabones Speed Booster adapter – full review | EOSHD.com is exaggerating a bit little things without a need to do so.

But the gist of his findings seems to be correct.

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If we combine the APO-Telyt-R 280/4 with the Metabones Speed Booster for NEX and m4/3 (available later) and with these cameras M240, NEX, and m4/3 we obtain the following set of virtual FoV or virtual FL:

 

280/4 mm on Leica M240

298/2.8 mm on NEX w Speed Booster

398/2.8 mm on m4/3 w Speed Booster

420/4 mm on NEX

560/4 mm on m4/3

 

Considering the cost for the M240 and the APO-Telyt-R 280/4, the other components, namely NEX, m4/3, NEX Speed Booster, and m4/3 Speed Booster are fairly modest cost-wise in comparison and therefore are an attractive option.

 

The following image I took today with APO-Telyt-R 280/4 on Olympus OM-D E-M5 with some support but In-Body-Image-Stabilization IBIS left switched on.

 

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Also, I had set the EVF to operate at 120 Hz.

No problem achieving focus with 14x magnification.

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Sorry about the last picture.

This one reflects better the potential of both camera and lens, I hope.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I posted more full resolution images for this configuration:

 

Sony NEX-5N with EVF + METABONES L/R-E mount Speed Booster + Leitz Ring 14127 + Short Focus Mount 16464 + Tele-Elmar lens head 135/4 + Hood 12575

 

here: Metabones Speed Booster - Vignetting with Tele-Lenses: Sony NEX Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

 

Stopping down seems to improve image quality in the corners somewhat but not completely.

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Here is an interesting tidbit, quote:

 

"BTW it is interesting that in Khaw samples, there is no heavy vignetting in the extreme corners. My EF/NEX version shows vignetting at all lenses above 35mm and it is getting worse as the lens is stopped down."

 

Re: to jpr2: Sony NEX Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

 

Of course, khaw that's me. :D

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The following images are from this configuration:

 

Sony NEX-7 + METABONES L/R - E mount Speed Booster + Leica APO-Telyt-R 1:3.4/180

 

Shot wide open at nominally f/3.4 but effectively at f/2.4, ISO=800, and at 1/320s.

 

In the first image vignetting has been corrected, in the second image vignetting is uncorrected.

 

Vignetting has been corrected

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Vignetting is uncorrected

 

 

Full resolution images are here: Re: Metabones Speed Booster - Vignetting with Tele-Lenses: Sony NEX Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

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Here is another shot with the same configuration:

 

Sony NEX-7 + METABONES L/R - E mount Speed Booster + Leica APO-Telyt-R 1:3.4/180

 

Again, shot wide open at nominally f/3.4 but effectively at f/2.4, ISO=4000, and at 1/60s.

 

I used Hand-held Twilight mode. In this mode the camera takes 5 or 6 shots in rapid succession with high ISO and averages out the noise.

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A full resolution image is here: Re: Metabones Speed Booster - Vignetting with Tele-Lenses: Sony NEX Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

 

One can still detect some vignetting and image degradation in the extreme corners.

But to me the image certainly appears to be usable.

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