SL and Canon EOS 4/300 L IS with Novoflex adapter

[Ivar B]

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I just picked up på Novoflex SL-EOS adapter and tested the 4/300 briefly on the SL a little.

 

This did not work. It was not really a hit and miss but more a miss and no hits - the focusing module inside the lens moved a lot but failed to focus correctly.

 

I could perhaps test other autofocus settings, but if it does not get any better than this, the Canon lens will be up for sale (it is probably redundant anyway since I could not resist the temptation to buy the 90-280). I`ll keep the adapter though, for use with the Otus 55.

 

Has any other forum members by any chance tested out the same combination?

[ImmerDraussen]

Hi Ivor,

 

I agree the Canon 300mm f4 with the SL in not a great combination. Most Zooms from Canon are better. The Leica 90-280mm is far better.

 

One question:

 

Do you already use the Otus in combination with the SL and the Novoflex adaptor?

If I attach Zeiss lenses to the SL, there is a strange noise when the camera starts up (the aperture closing several times). Zeiss told me that is scaring, but the lens are not designed to work with Leica. Leica tells me that's not their problem. Novoflex tells me the adaptor is not specified for Zeiss ZE lenses.

 

Do you have the same issue?

[JeffWright]

Hi Ivor,

 

I agree the Canon 300mm f4 with the SL in not a great combination. Most Zooms from Canon are better. The Leica 90-280mm is far better.

 

One question:

 

Do you already use the Otus in combination with the SL and the Novoflex adaptor?

If I attach Zeiss lenses to the SL, there is a strange noise when the camera starts up (the aperture closing several times). Zeiss told me that is scaring, but the lens are not designed to work with Leica. Leica tells me that's not their problem. Novoflex tells me the adaptor is not specified for Zeiss ZE lenses.

 

Do you have the same issue?

 

 

That's universal with the Zeiss ZE, Otus, and Milvus lenses I've used. I've shot around 1500 frames with several Zeiss lenses now, and will certainly continue to use them, at least until there's a comparable or better native SL lens. With Zeiss and Canon lenses, particularly the Zeiss lenses, there can be a bit of shutter release delay or longer blackout than usual, but it doesn't affect exposure.

[FlashGordonPhotography]

It seem that the longer or slower a lens is the worse the AF performance is. So a 300mm at f4 isn't going to be great. OTOH the new 12-24 Sigma Art I bought this week is completely acceptable on the SL, AF wise.

 

So I think for AF it's better to aim for wider and faster, if possible and get ready to accept manual focus for the others.

 

Gordon

[Ivar B]

Hi Ivor,I agree the Canon 300mm f4 with the SL in not a great combination. Most Zooms from Canon are better. The Leica 90-280mm is far better.One question:Do you already use the Otus in combination with the SL and the Novoflex adaptor?If I attach Zeiss lenses to the SL, there is a strange noise when the camera starts up (the aperture closing several times). Zeiss told me that is scaring, but the lens are not designed to work with Leica. Leica tells me that's not their problem. Novoflex tells me the adaptor is not specified for Zeiss ZE lenses.Do you have the same issue?

I just got the adapter last week and I only tested with the Canon lens so far. I will test the Otus soon. I have the Zeiss 2/135 in Nikon mount and it performs superbly with the Novoflex adapter. It will be a disappointment if the Otus won't work.

[steppenw0lf]

Why did you choose the 4/300 ? 

The 2.8/70-200 works well with the Novoflex adapter.

And also the 100-400 is ok.

So if you are a little flexible you find many lenses for this range. (1.8/200, 2.8/300, 2.8/400).

[Ivar B]

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Why did you choose the 4/300 ? 

The 2.8/70-200 works well with the Novoflex adapter.

And also the 100-400 is ok.

So if you are a little flexible you find many lenses for this range. (1.8/200, 2.8/300, 2.8/400).

I needed at least 300mm for bird photography. The faster lenses are several times as expensive.

[meerec]

I needed at least 300mm for bird photography. The faster lenses are several times as expensive.

I've owned 300/4 300/2.8 and now own the 300/2.8 II

You need the faster lens for birds, f/4 never did it for me.

300/2.8 II and with 1.4x and 2x converters is very nice. Not on SL though for birds!! That is a waste of time. CDAF is just not cutting it with the Novoflex adapter. I've tried. Returned Novoflex. Kept my Canon 1D4 body just for wildlife especially birds.

[turbonetics]

Iam using Canon 500 F4 and the AF really sucks with the Novoflex(it kept hunting) that Iam using MF which can be more precise than any AF system out there.

[Ivar B]

Hi Ivor,

 

I agree the Canon 300mm f4 with the SL in not a great combination. Most Zooms from Canon are better. The Leica 90-280mm is far better.

 

One question:

 

Do you already use the Otus in combination with the SL and the Novoflex adaptor?

If I attach Zeiss lenses to the SL, there is a strange noise when the camera starts up (the aperture closing several times). Zeiss told me that is scaring, but the lens are not designed to work with Leica. Leica tells me that's not their problem. Novoflex tells me the adaptor is not specified for Zeiss ZE lenses.

 

Do you have the same issue?

 

I tried out the Otus 1.4/55 briefly on the SL. Yes, the diaphragm closed and opened once when I turned the camera on. This is something I can easily live with. I noted a definite delay in camera release (< 1 sec) compared to a native SL lens, but the exposures appear to be correct. This is not as good as one would have liked, but for now I am prepared to live wth this as well. Perhaps an update from Leica/Novoflex will correct this in the future. It should be in Novoflex best interest for its adapters to work wth all lenses with EOS mount, be they Canon Zeiss or Sigma lenses.

[ImmerDraussen]

Hi Ivor,

 

is the Otus shown correctly in the Exif-file?
(All my Zeiss lenses are Voigtländer Ultrons)

Regards

 

ImmerDrausssen

[Ivar B]

Hi Ivor,

 

is the Otus shown correctly in the Exif-file?

(All my Zeiss lenses are Voigtländer Ultrons)

 

Regards

 

ImmerDrausssen

 

 

Yes or rather no. The lens is listed as Canon EF 1.4/50mm which I guess has some bearing on reality as I have a Zeiss 1.4/55mm lens with Canon mount. Focal length is also listed as 55mm. I guess the recognition of the Canon lens must come from some Novoflex software.