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ekoehler7 Fujinon-TV 12.5mm/1.4 full coverage modification

gekopaca

New member
I just received a C-Mount Fujinon-TV 12.5mm f1.4 modification for m4/3 sensor coverage from "ekoehler7"; here are my first impressions, even if I need to practice more with this new lens in order to post a more complete review (and better pictures!).

I bought the gorgeous Fujinon-TV 12.5/f1.4 because it's the C-Mount wide angle lens that vignettes the least on m4/3, but the original (unmodified) lens vignettes a little too much for me.

So, I contacted a C-Mount specialist (I should say: a master!) called "ekoe" on mu-43.com and forum.getdpi.com, and "ekoehler7" on flickr and eBay, who has developed a modification for the Fujinon-TV 12.5mm/f1.4 for fuller m4/3 sensor coverage. His modification gets very close to full coverage of the m4/3 sensor in 4:3 mode, with only slight vignetting in the corners. The modification includes collimation for precise infinity focus and upright 12 o'clock lens marks on m4/3, and a perfect pairing with an ultra-thin C-Mount to M43 adaptor.

ekoehler7 agreed to modify the Fujinon-TV 12.5/f1.4 for me, and now… it's really a great lens!

You will find some info in the following threads :
<a href="http://www.mu-43.com/f40/wide-fast-adapted-options-12188/" rel="nofollow">www.mu-43.com/f40/wide-fast-adapted-options-12188/</a>
<a href="http://forum.getdpi.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18471" rel="nofollow">forum.getdpi.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18471</a>

ekoehler7's modification results in close to full coverage of the m4/3 sensor in 4:3 mode, with slight vignetting in the corners. In 3:2 mode, there is just the slightest hint of vignette. The modification consists of 12 separate adjustments. It started with the efforts of GetDPI forum users "Vivek" and "zcream", but ekoehler7 taken the modification further to achieve greater coverage.

In this album most of the pictures aren't cropped, only few of them are a little bit cropped when the skies needed to be blue in the corners.

Aperture :
@ f1.4 the effect is very special, very soft, like a milky flare on high lights. With more practise I'm sure I will be more skill with it, in sunlight controlling perfectly the exposure, in dark place or artificial lights it could be a killer because the rendering is less contrasted.
@ 2 or 2.8 the images are free of artefacts, so they're the common apertures to shoot everywhere in low light - f4 is perfect for zone focusing but it's the limit of speed with the IS of the E-P2.
@ 5.6 with focus on 0.7m to 1m that lens is a street-photo killer.
@ 8 and more, you can shoot with hyperfocal.

Colors :
They are slightly saturated, as famous Fuji's Provia or Sensia. The greens and blues are gorgeous, the red a little bit aggressive - I think that fast lens is perfect for artificial and urban lights - shooting in the subway, I remember the colors of Takeshi's Miike movies.
I must try now nature, forest, sea side… to come!

Image Quality :

The lens is precise, less sharp than my Voigtlander Ultra-Wide Heliar but I think it's better for M43 sensors; I don't know exactly why but I dislike the rendering of the Voigtlander on my M43 cameras, the Fujinon is better to use, and post processing permits amazing possibilities.
The corners are certainly softer than the center, but it may vary in function of aperture and distance, and I didn't notice issues with it : see my pictures to have your own opinion.
The chromatic aberrations aren't an issue for me, it's the way I like the "personality" of the lens.

Flare :
As an ultra wide angle the Fujinon-TV 12.5mm has a convex front lens and when the sun is on front it may have reflects and flares.
Most of them aren't an issue for me, some of them are really funny, as the rainbow on one of the pictures in Brussels.
In order to reduce the flare but most of all in order to protect the front element during the shooting, maybe I will experiment a short lens hood with a step up ring, but I'm not sure it could be a solution, and the lens will be longer and larger.

Video :
Now I must try the lens on video with my GH1…













Other pictures HERE
 
Last edited by a moderator:

zcream

New member
Hi Ekoe. I would very curious to see what additional mods you made.
I see that you put the hood back. I had left some thread to hold the front lens element.
Did you remove all the thread and just glue or attach the front element ?
 

ekoe

New member
Hello zcream,

Yes, I kept the hood. I wanted to keep the original appearance of the lens. On Gekopaca's lens, the front group still has a couple threads, but I've also widened the light path through the entire lens which involves complete disassembly. It's too many precise adjustments to describe accurately here.

I'll have to sit down at some point and write it all down and photograph the process, but at the moment I've got lenses to service and modify.
I would not recommend anyone trying the modification on their own unless they have considerable lens service and repair experience. Otherwise there is a definite likelihood of damage or destruction to the lens. Just send it to me. :thumbup:
 

zcream

New member
Eddie I PM'ed you in flickr.
Is it any use to send you my hacked 12.5mm lens ? What would it cost ? I am very very curious.
Especially since your mod seems to be sharper than what I did.
 
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