Novoflex Canon EF Lens to Leica SL Adapter: list of compatible/tested lenses

[AlexP]

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Trond,

 

Have you update your 20 art firmware to the lattest version yet?

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[trond]

Dear Alex,

 

The lens is brad new, so I would assume it has the latest FW.

 

However, I do not yet have the USB-dock, so it is possible that the lens has the previous FW.

 

I was surprised the ART 50mm works well, but only with manual focus.

 

Best regards

 

Trond

[AlexP]

Both 35 and 50 ART are not working with auto focus.

[BJN]

Sigma 85 f/1.4 Art with Novoflex Canon adapter.

 

On an «old» Canon 1D mk3 the autofocus is superb and completely silent, the lens moves to the focus point in a single move.

 

On the SL the lens moves from min focus to infinity before hitting the focus point, the focus is quick and accurate but not silent, the lens stops at the focus point with a distinct «klunk».

 

Low light focusing is Ok but nowhere near as quick and accurate as on the Canon 1D mk3

 

The lens is recognised on the SL as a Canon EF 24 f/1.4 mk2

 

Lightroom does have a lens profile for the 85 Art.

 

 

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[caissa]

The Sigma 2/24-35 works very well with the EOS adapter, AF is quite fast with little noise and precise. One of the best lenses with this adapter. (optically excellent !)

While the Canon EF 4.0/24-70L IS does not work at all (well, only for 2 seconds). It does also not work manually.

The EF 1.8/50 STM  (please notice carefully the details, this is the third version of the lens) works well with the AF. Well (quite fast and precise) during daylight with some noise, but only very badly in poor light. (almost unusable, because of AF misses).

(The EF 100-400L IS Version II is also working with AF, but it needs more testing.) 

Sigma 1.4/85 ART  (not the older one) is another very well working lens, AF is fast, quiet and precise. A very nice lens with this adapter, one of the best. (optically excellent !)  fast and precise in daylight, but not half as good in bad light.

Sigma 1.4/50 Art is not working with AF, but manually. A nice lens, despite the lack of AF. (optically excellent !)

Sigma 1.4/35 Art is not working at all. (can you please verify this, my tested lens is maybe damaged ?). (optically excellent ! but if it is not working at all .....) Can somebody maybe try this lens with a dumb EOS adapter ? Maybe it works then manually.

 

If you add this to your list, please make it clear which version of the lens has been tested. Often there are at least two versions. Novoflex was too lazy to do this, so their list is not very useful.

Maybe you could also make three "grades" of working: Working with AF (slow, fast), not working with AF, but manually, and not working at all.

Edited April 6, 2017 by caissa

[AlexP]

Since i can't edit the original thread. Here is the latest list of lenses that had been tested/confirmed by me and other members here.

 

Canon Lens:

 

EF 1.8/50 STM: AF work. Fast speed. Poor performance under low light.
11-24mm f/4 IS: AF work. OK speed.
16-35mm f/4 IS: AF work. Fast speed
24-70mm f/2.8 mkii: AF work. Ok speed
24-105L : AF work. OK speed
14L mkii: AF NOT working.
35L mkii: AF work. OK speed. *Have to switch AF/MF once in awhile for the lens to communicate with the camera*.
50L: AF work. Fast and snappy speed.
85L mkii: AF work.  Very slow speed
100L : AF work.  Slow speed. *it hunts quite a bit sometime for no reason*.
135L:  AF work. Fast speed
400/5.6L: AF work. Ok speed.
70-200mm f/2.8 mkii: AF work. OK speed
70-300mm DO: AF NOT working.

100-400L IS Version II: AF work. Ok speed

BIG WHITE LENS:
Canon 300mm f/2.8 IS II: AF work. OK speed.
Canon 400DO mkii : AF work but VERY VERY SLOW.
Canon 600mm f/4L IS II: AF work but Slow.

Sigma lenses:

8-16mm: AF work. Super fast speed
20mm ART: AF work. Super fast speed.
24mm ART: AF work. Super fast speed
35mm ART: AF not working at all.
50mm ART: AF not working at all.
85mm ART: AF work. Super fast speed
12-24mm ART: AF work. Ok speed.
24-35mm ART: AF work. Ok speed
18-35mm ART: AF work.  Ok speed
50-100mm ART: AF work. Fast speed. *However, sometime the camera stop communicate with the lens. I have to turn off the camera, turn back on then AF works fast again.*

[trond]

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Dear Alex,

 

You state that the 50mm ART is "not working at all", I find that it works just fine, but with manual focus.

 

The 20mm ART and 35mm ART is in my case "is not working at all" as the shutter on the SL will not fire, and the SL is completely brain dead with these lenses, so impossible to take picture.

 

The ART 50mm I find to be a great lens on the SL with "Otus quality", the only culprit being that you need to use manual focus (as with the Otus).

 

So in my case the ART 50mm is just fine, but with manual focus.

 

ART 20mm and ART 35mm is "not working at all".

 

Best regards

 

Trond

[AlexP]

Trond,

 

I said AF not working at all. The key word is AF. The whole point for you to buy this adapter is for auto focus. I don't need to report on the manual side.

 

 

Seem like your 20 art has issue. Few others member here and myself have no problem with 20 art. It has super fast AF.

 

And have you update your firmware yet? Try it.

[AlexP]

Also, my Canon 24-70 f/2.8 mkii stop working on the SL. No AF whatsoever. Scratching my head now.

[FlashGordonPhotography]

Also, my Canon 24-70 f/2.8 mkii stop working on the SL. No AF whatsoever. Scratching my head now.

I got that with the 12-24 Art. It stopped focusing and fstop got locked at f22. I saved my profiles and then reset the camera. Reloaded profiles and all has been well since.

 

No idea why. But worth a try.

 

Gordon

[AlexP]

when you say you save the profile, how do you do it? I just reset my camera. Can you explain a bit more please? thanks

 

Sigma 135 ART come in tomorrow. I'll update the info on the lens.

Edited April 10, 2017 by AlexP

[FlashGordonPhotography]

Well, my Sigma 12-24 Art crapped out again during a job (yes I had a backup just in case so no hassle for the job). Just stopped working and locked down to f22. Other lenses still fine.

 

Next week I'll go into my dealer and do some testing. I'm not sure if it's a dodgy adapter, lens, firmware or a combination. It's the same on both my SL cameras so it's not that.

 

Dissapointed. I like this lens but can't trust it. May have to go to the Canon (at great expense).

 

Gordon

[AlexP]

11-24 canon is not that good either when pair up. Got froze up few times for me too. Don't spend money on that canon version yet.

[JamesBarry]

Well, my Sigma 12-24 Art crapped out again during a job (yes I had a backup just in case so no hassle for the job). Just stopped working and locked down to f22. Other lenses still fine.

 

Next week I'll go into my dealer and do some testing. I'm not sure if it's a dodgy adapter, lens, firmware or a combination. It's the same on both my SL cameras so it's not that.

 

Dissapointed. I like this lens but can't trust it. May have to go to the Canon (at great expense).

 

Gordon

 

 

Gordon, I've just bought the 12-24 Art... arrived yesterday.  

 

Sold my Canon 16-35mm L II which worked fine with the adaptor, producing some great results, but sometimes just not wide enough.

 

As you say, it dovetails in with 24-90 SL; focal overlaps are just not necessary. 

 

Potentially loads of property work coming up as we're about to be 'in season' here in UK...  really hope I do not share your experience as the Canon is many more £'s!!  

 

All best, James 

[Ron Weissman]

I tried the new Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 G2. On the fifth try to mount the lens (mounting lens on adapter, then turning on camera) the Tamron suddenly worked, autofocuses and produced excellent images but did not interpret the lens or F stop correctly. Was reported as a Canon 300, and the F stop was a constant .7. I couldn't vary the aperture at all. Unfortunately, in addition to these problems I could not get it to work again after many attempts---the lens is not recognized and the viewfinder remains black. Has anyone had success with this lens?

 

Several other lenses reported by others not to work, work just fine on my SL/Novoflex:  Sigma 12-24, Sigma 35mm ART.  My only hypothesis is that the SL/Novoflex require much higher manufacturing tolerances for electrical contacts than Novoflex's design called for and it is purely the luck of the draw if one has an adapter/lens combo that actually works. There is way too much inconsistency between testers in this thread and one suspects that this has something to do with manufacturing variability.

[blacksinner]

better buy canon body like 7d ii or even 80d for wildlife. it just doesn't work with SL. autofocus is not reliable. for portrait af speed is still acceptable if you are a patient person. its even faster and precise to just manual focus. i have tried 70-200mm usm ii with teleconverter tc2x iii and 400mm f5.6

 

70-200mm ii + tc2x iii seems to work but not reliable. manual focus is better

 

400mm f5.6 af seems ok but the AF on my copy seems not accurate. it always front focused. manual focus is better

 

my conclusion, i better use manual lens with every lens. or i better buy cheap second hand canon body. its faster even with lower end canon body. 

 

for birding and wildlife, i choose 80d. i can use it for backup camera. 

 

now what do i do with the adapter? sell it? hmm... i think it still have some uses

what other lens do you think is filling the SL lens gap? 

 

- i see sigma 12-24 for wide angle. i think this worth a try (novoflex)

- leica 24-90mm absolutely.

- zeiss 100mm f2 macro. excellent lens. this is 1:2 ratio (novoflex)

- canon 100mm f2.8 macro, maybe this is better choice (novoflex)

- for street shooting, summilux 35mm FLE / 50mm (your choice) absolutely 

 

any other idea?

 

i only see 3 lenses that really fill in the lens gap.

[AlexP]

i think you guy missing the point here. The reason to buy the adapter here is mostly for user that still have a large selection of Canon mount lenses (like me). Instead of being limited by the # of Sl lenses, we now can tap in the canon lenses. You just don't go out and buy the Canon lens and expect it to work perfectly with the SL.

 

I also agree with the "variable" adapter copy. My first one was not work well compare to the 2nd copy.

 

If you plan to use manual focus, there is absolutely no need to buy the AF adapter.

[Ron Weissman]

AlexP:

I agree. I bought the Novoflex because I still use/buy Canon lenses for my 5DIV (event shooting w Canon necessitated the Tamron 70-200 G2), but, since I have the adapter, I thought, why not try it on any new Canon lens--and this one, at least on my combo, failed.

 

Regarding my earlier comment on manufacturing tolerances being a possible culprit for the variability in reports we're seeing, I'm curious about who else has tried multiple copies of the Novoflex with different results for the same lens(es)?

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[Sandokan]

40mm f/2.8: AF work. Ok speed

[AlexP]

40mm f/2.8: AF work. Ok speed

thank you. Will add to the list.

 

Since i can't edit and keep the list clean, i posted it at other forum where i have full control of it. Here is the latest list:

 

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1476135/0?nc=1#13926323

Edited April 17, 2017 by AlexP