Lenses for Digital View Camera Outfits with GFX or Other Mirrorless Cameras

[rdeloe]

I get asked a lot what lenses work well with digital view cameras paired with mirrorless cameras. When I get questions like that, I find it helpful to point people to a resource they can read to get started. When the question is about technical cameras with medium format backs, I send them to Dave Chew's pages! But in cases where someone wants to use a digital view camera like the Arca-Swiss F-Universalis (and now Pico), or a Cambo Actus G, I ended up writing some material to provide a bit of "one stop shopping".

Here's the link: https://www.robdeloephotography.com/Pages/Lenses

If you manage to make your way through all this and have some constructive feedback, do please use this thread to post it.

 

[4x5Australian]

Hi Rob,

Well done! For too long there has been little introductory information available on the basic concepts around lenses suitable for digital technical cameras. It's a daunting task, but your article addresses this gap well. It was a pleasure to read.

Rod

 

[John Leathwick]

What a great article, Rob - a very useful compilation of hard to find information, and beautifully described.

John

 

[rdeloe]

Thanks Rod and John. Glad it was helpful. If you see anything that needs clarification or correction, do please let me know.

 

[sbjornda]

I nominate this for a sticky thread. This will be helpful for years to come!

 

[dchew]

Wonderful article Rob! Many thanks for the effort you put into giving us this information; it is greatly appreciated. I know this takes so much longer to do than it appears.
Well done!
Dave

 

[Doppler9000]

I’ll add my thanks to Rob for his tireless work here.

 

[diggles]

Thank you, Rob, for generously sharing not just your findings but the effort behind them. The research, testing, and even making permanent modifications to lenses to explore their adaptability is no small task, and it’s clear how much thought and care went into this!

 

[John Leathwick]

Following on from Rob's sterling documentation of the lenses he uses with his Arca-Swiss F-Universalis/GFX 100s, I've documented my own setup in a blog post that can be found here. I started out using mostly Mamiya RZ67 and Pentax 645 lenses, but I was always a little uncomfortable with the weight of the RZ lenses in particular - both for me and the camera's sake. An unfortunate accident set me exploring lighter options, resulting in an effective halving of the weight of the five-lens kit that I use most frequently when out and about in New Zealand's marvelous landscapes. Please feel free to point out any gaps or errors in what I've written.

-John

 

[rdeloe]

Following on from Rob's sterling documentation of the lenses he uses with his Arca-Swiss F-Universalis/GFX 100s, I've documented my own setup in a blog post that can be found here. I started out using mostly Mamiya RZ67 and Pentax 645 lenses, but I was always a little uncomfortable with the weight of the RZ lenses in particular - both for me and the camera's sake. An unfortunate accident set me exploring lighter options, resulting in an effective halving of the weight of the five-lens kit that I use most frequently when out and about in New Zealand's marvelous landscapes. Please feel free to point out any gaps or errors in what I've written.

-John

That's a terrific write-up of your experiences John. There are lots of practical tips for people who desire a lightweight kit, and of course there's your photography, which, as always, is stunning. Bravo!

 

[cunim]

I get asked a lot what lenses work well with digital view cameras paired with mirrorless cameras.

Thanks for a very useful article, Rob. You briefly mention one issue I am confused about - flare. When I mount P1 lenses (eg my beloved 120 macro) directkly to the GFX ith the Kipon adapter, flare is pronounced. It is less evil with the SK80 and 55, but still very present. Leica lenses on Novoflex seem less problematic, but I digress. Anyway, I've given up using the GFX with Mamiya mount lenses because of the flare. Do the tech camera mounts remove this problem so that I actually could use the P1 lenses with the GFX on a Pico? It would seem to me that having a bellows in front of the sensor - as opposed to a barrel - could make it work?

 

[rdeloe]

Flare is a devilish problem to solve Peter. I have lenses that flare on my setup but nobody else complains about them. For example, I've never read or heard that the APO-Digitar 150 is a flare monster, but it is on my setup where it is in a Schneider-Kreuznach B-0 mount in front of a custom extension tube, and then on an F-Universalis with a GFX 100S. I solved the problem with a simple baffle in the rear of the adapter tube, but I don't know what the source of the flare is. Similarly, I can't remember complaints that the Mamiya N 65mm f/4 L has flare and ghosting issues on a Mamiya 7 body, but it does on my setup.

For your specific situation, I would first of all look closely at that Kipon adapter. It's the most likely suspect. If yours is like any of my Kipon, Fotodiox or Mirex adapters, they don't treat the inside properly. The "matte" black paint is still too shiny.

 

[John Leathwick]

Thanks for a very useful article, Rob. You briefly mention one issue I am confused about - flare. When I mount P1 lenses (eg my beloved 120 macro) directkly to the GFX ith the Kipon adapter, flare is pronounced. It is less evil with the SK80 and 55, but still very present. Leica lenses on Novoflex seem less problematic, but I digress. Anyway, I've given up using the GFX with Mamiya mount lenses because of the flare. Do the tech camera mounts remove this problem so that I actually could use the P1 lenses with the GFX on a Pico? It would seem to me that having a bellows in front of the sensor - as opposed to a barrel - could make it work?

Peter, I had exactly the same problem with my two Mamiya RZ ApoSekors when used on a GFX with a Fotodiox adapter. The problem was worse when the adapter was extended, because this exposed surfaces that were even more inadequately matted than when focused at infinity. I bought some of this adhesive flocking material, and it has almost completely eliminated the problem. I occasionally get slight flare when its extended, because I could not put flocking on all of the exposed surface. I also use a big Mamiya No.2 hood. For me it was a game changer with these two lenses.

-John

 

[cunim]

Thanks for the comments about flare reduction. I am a bit hesitant to glue flocking into my optics - my wife changes the light bulbs here because I screw it up - seriously unhandy.

Someone on this board was going to try the newest formulation of ultra black paint, but I do not think he has reported back. I could probably manage brushing some paint into the adapter. Anyone tried that as opposed to paper?

 

[John Leathwick]

I found the flocking material very easy to apply inside the adapter. I simply measured the diameter of the mount, calculated its circumference, and then cut a piece of flocking material to size. It has backing material so its easy to trial fit and trim if required. I then removed the backing, rolled it into a loose tube to facilitate getting it lined up, and smoothed it onto the inside of the mount before firming it down. The adhesive doesn't go off straight away, so re-positioning it is possible before a final smooth down.

-John

 

[cunim]

Just to bring this up to date, I followed the advice here and got some of the Japanese flocking material. With that lining the Kipon adapter, flare seems much reduced. Now I can carry around the GFX + P1 120 macro, though after an hour of doing that I need to lie down and take a nap. Boy that's heavy.