SL2: Sigma MC-21 vs Novoflex Adapters for Canon EF Lenses Test

[michali]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

2 hours ago, RBB said:

Would be happy to know you're results with the 90-280.

Will give it a try tomorrow & report back.

[RBB]

Just found a good deal in Berlin, a used 90-280 with some warranty left and ordered it. Yesterday used the Canon 135mm f/2 with the Novoflex adapter and it is barely useably. So can't wait to start using it.

[michali]

On 3/6/2021 at 5:13 PM, RBB said:

Would be happy to know you're results with the 90-280.

I tried some burst shooting over the weekend with the VE 90-280mm L, (I very rarely shoot in burst mode), the SL2 battery level got down to about 20% & there was no "insufficient power issue".  As others have stated, it's something that happens with 3rd party L mount lenses or adapters. 

21 hours ago, RBB said:

Just found a good deal in Berlin, a used 90-280 with some warranty left and ordered it. Yesterday used the Canon 135mm f/2 with the Novoflex adapter and it is barely useably. So can't wait to start using it.

As stated at the beginning of this thread, the Novoflex adapter is just about useless on the SL2. The Sigma MC-21 is the only decent option for non-L mount lenses. I continue to use this with my Canon 400mm f4 DO USMll with excellent results -only AFS no AFC which is not an issue for me.

[Michael Markey]

I can share a lot of the experiences mentioned here regarding  adapting Canon glass but on Sony cameras .

My favourites were 400 DO , 70 -200 2.8 . 100 - 400 and 85/1.2 .

Alas all have been sold because the focus was too either erratic or too slow through (in this case) the Voightlander) adapter .

I wasn`t going to repeat that on a Leica body and didn`t want to run two systems so sadly traded them in .

I have a SL2S on order and will be eventually looking for a native mount lens in the 70 -200 range  .... I`m done with adapted lenses ,I`m afraid .

 

 

[RBB]

42 minutes ago, michali said:

the SL2 battery level got down to about 20% & there was no "insufficient power issue".

Tnx Michali and great to hear 👍, that's makes me even happier with the (hope soon )arriving 90-280 on my doorstep.

[LEICAKS]

Hello, wanted to put my input on the matter in case it's helpful for anyone.

Using SL2 & MC-21 EF-L v1.3 with the Canon 400mm 5.6 L (2015) with great success.

Also 1.4x II connected to the setup works perfect!

AF-S, AF works and is decent, little less quick vs canon R&adapter combo, Aperture control works, IBIS engages correctly. Images are tack sharp on AF.

[malbooth]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi, I am a bit late to this, but have read the thread eagerly. I've recently purchased the SL2 and managed to sell almost all my old Canon L lenses. I kept only the one: the 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 L II as I intended to keep the old Canon 5D III for some surf photography, like the shot below with that lens (sorry, it isn't taken with a Leica, but under our current COVID lockdown rules I cannot get to the coast at all). Today I just tried the MC-21 and that lens on the SL-2 at home and to my surprise, I think AF-S, lens IS and IBIS all seem to work pretty well.

So, has anyone else had any similar experience with that combination (SL2 & MC-21 + Canon 100-400 L II)? If so, do you have any advice as I'd like to continue to make some more images like this one with the much better Leica sensor?

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[beewee]

With the MC-21, Canon lens IS works, and the SL2/SL2-S supports AF-S but not AF-C. IBIS definitely does not work and there’s no reason to expect it to work since it would conflict with the lens IS. Even Sigma and Panasonic L-mount lenses with OIS does not work with IBIS on the SL/SL2/SL2-S so there’s no reason to think otherwise with a Canon lens via MC-21. Moreover, the L-mount alliance does not include standards for adapters - it only covers native lenses.

Only Panasonic L-mount OIS lenses used on Panasonic S bodies will support combined OIS and IBIS. Likewise for Leica OIS lenses used on Leica SL bodies will also support combined OIS and IBIS.

Edited September 6, 2021 by beewee

[LEICAKS]

10 hours ago, malbooth said:

Hi, I am a bit late to this, but have read the thread eagerly. I've recently purchased the SL2 and managed to sell almost all my old Canon L lenses. I kept only the one: the 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 L II as I intended to keep the old Canon 5D III for some surf photography, like the shot below with that lens (sorry, it isn't taken with a Leica, but under our current COVID lockdown rules I cannot get to the coast at all). Today I just tried the MC-21 and that lens on the SL-2 at home and to my surprise, I think AF-S, lens IS and IBIS all seem to work pretty well.

So, has anyone else had any similar experience with that combination (SL2 & MC-21 + Canon 100-400 L II)? If so, do you have any advice as I'd like to continue to make some more images like this one with the much better Leica sensor?

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Version 1 of this lens won't work at all I heard, Version 2 that you have is both sharp and should work great bar the AF-C on Leica. If AF-c is vital for your type of work you might want to look at the new Sigma.

Edited September 6, 2021 by LEICAKS

[michali]

15 hours ago, beewee said:

.......Only Panasonic L-mount OIS lenses used on Panasonic S bodies will support combined OIS and IBIS. Likewise for Leica OIS lenses used on Leica SL bodies will also support combined OIS and IBIS.

The newly released Sigma 150-600mm L - I received mine a few days ago- & can confirm that  this lens works with both IBIS & Lens OIS on the SL2 & SL2-S.

[beewee]

2 minutes ago, michali said:

The newly released Sigma 150-600mm L - I received mine a few days ago- & can confirm that  this lens works with both IBIS & Lens OIS on the SL2 & SL2-S.

Hmm, that’s very interesting. I’m curious how you confirmed this and how you differentiate between OIS only vs IBIS only vs OIS + IBIS.

[michali]

10 hours ago, beewee said:

Hmm, that’s very interesting. I’m curious how you confirmed this and how you differentiate between OIS only vs IBIS only vs OIS + IBIS.

With the Canon 400mm mounted there's no IBIS icon in the LCD & Viewfinder displays:

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

With the Sigma 150-600mm mounted, the IBIS icon is visible in the displays:

 

[BernardC]

7 hours ago, michali said:

With the Canon 400mm mounted there's no IBIS icon in the LCD & Viewfinder displays:

Adapted lenses probably don't provide enough information to coordinate the in-body system with the lens system, so the camera just lets the lens do its own thing.

[peterm1_Leica]

An old thread but I need help.  🙂

I have just purchased a  Leica SL (original version not SL2 etc). Low milage looks immaculate and need advice on adapter options for Canon EF mount lenses (but these are Zeiss ones and MF -  note AF is not what I am asking about.

Some background - My intention at this stage is to use the SL with a variety of classic vintage MF lenses I own having bought them over many years die to my love of vintage glass. This is not a problem with lenses such as Nikon F, Canon FD etc as I plan to use a strategy I have used for other systems - for each lens type I already have an adapter for Leica M which effectively converts that lens type to Leica M mount (without RF focusing of course) and for each camera body system (I have been using Sony E, M4/3 and more recently Fuji)  I likewise have a Leica M adapter. By using a Leica M adapter on both body and lens it's easy to swap any lens from one camera system to another as they already effectively have a common mount. I will do the same with the Leica L mount for those lenses that will work with this system.

BUT!!!!!!! As mentioned, I also have a set of Zeiss ZE lenses (i.e. in Canon FE mount). All of these are Manual Focus and lack aperture control - they must be controlled through the camera. With my Sony system I have been using a Sigma MC-11 adapter which works perfectly for this purpose and planned to buy a Sigma MC-21 adapter (which is the model which purports to be for L system cameras) which on initial reports would work on the Leica SL. Obviously, AF is not a consideration (at least not immediately though who knows in the more distant future) but I need at least aperture control. 

Closer investigations throw some doubt on this. I have seen a few reports in forums (including this one) which state that the Sigma MC 21 adapter "does not work on the original SL only on later versions of this line of cameras). I appreciate this means it will not provide AF on this camera. BUT......................I have never been able to find out satisfactorily whether it can do what I need - to allow camera control of lens aperture. 

A couple of questions

1 - Does anyone know if the MC -21 will function at least to the extent it can provide aperture control between Canon compliant EF mount lenses and the SL body?
2 -  If not, are there other options in this regard, adapter-wise. I have heard the Novoflex gives full functionality including AF but these adapters are seriously expensive insofar as I am aware and I think they have ceased production (based on one report I read). Another option I have seen is Viltrox. But I have seen no reports about whether it will work for me given my specific needs ON THE ORIGINAL LEICA SL. can anyone throw light on this or provide info on other adapters that function.

[BernardC]

16 hours ago, peterm1_Leica said:

A couple of questions

1 - Does anyone know if the MC -21 will function at least to the extent it can provide aperture control between Canon compliant EF mount lenses and the SL body?
2 -  If not, are there other options in this regard, adapter-wise. I have heard the Novoflex gives full functionality including AF but these adapters are seriously expensive insofar as I am aware and I think they have ceased production (based on one report I read). Another option I have seen is Viltrox. But I have seen no reports about whether it will work for me given my specific needs ON THE ORIGINAL LEICA SL. can anyone throw light on this or provide info on other adapters that function.

Unfortunately, the only electronic EF adapter that works with the original SL was the one made by Novoflex. Sigma's otherwise excellent adapter only works with later bodies, starting with the SL2 for Leica, and including Sigma's own fp, fp-l, and all Lumix L-mount bodies.

I have no idea about Viltrox's adapter, but I doubt that it will work with the SL. There is at-least one review on their site that says "My leica SL is died , totally cannot turn on after using EF L PRO VIltrox adapter". They still gave it 5 stars! I personally wouldn't risk it.

[peterm1_Leica]

9 hours ago, BernardC said:

Unfortunately, the only electronic EF adapter that works with the original SL was the one made by Novoflex. Sigma's otherwise excellent adapter only works with later bodies, starting with the SL2 for Leica, and including Sigma's own fp, fp-l, and all Lumix L-mount bodies.

I have no idea about Viltrox's adapter, but I doubt that it will work with the SL. There is at-least one review on their site that says "My leica SL is died , totally cannot turn on after using EF L PRO VIltrox adapter". They still gave it 5 stars! I personally wouldn't risk it.

Bernard thanks for this. But one point of clarification please......When you say the Sigma 21-11 does not work do you mean does not work at all or only that it does not work in the sense that it does not provide AF. I have heard of quite a few electronic adapters that work so poorly at providing AF with this or that lens on this or that camera But not working at all (as in the adapter being a "brick" is another matter.

As noted I only need the ability to adjust apertures via the camera so an adapter not working to provide AF is not necessarily a deal breaker if there is still communication with regard to aperture setting.

Oh, and do you know from personal experience? 

I only ask as there is a lot of fairly loose talk on forums about this adapter not working or that one not working but with-out addressing the specifics. Also, a lot of people provide answers that are based on what they believe (e.g. from assertions made by other people on forums) rather than what they know from personal experience. The latter obviously carries more weight. (It reminds me of that old British military joke about the signal being sent to HQ from the front line:  "Send reinforcements we are going to advance" being passed for person to person and ending up before the General as "Send three and four pence we are going to a dance."  😆

regards Peter

Edited January 25 by peterm1_Leica

[BernardC]

Peter, the very first sentence in this thread ends with "the Sigma MC-21 adapter for Canon EF lenses does not work at all on the SL601." You can't get much more clear than that.

[peterm1_Leica]

13 hours ago, BernardC said:

Peter, the very first sentence in this thread ends with "the Sigma MC-21 adapter for Canon EF lenses does not work at all on the SL601." You can't get much more clear than that.

Yep that sounds pretty definitive. 😗