[pinholecam]

Looks like overall it works well.

I think it depends on expectations and use case.
For me so far, I think its usable, but not totally smooth to have no need to be mindful of the limitations.

---------- Post added 03-21-2022 at 09:35 AM ----------

FA43 Limited




With the 43ltd on the adapter, the camera reads it as f2, next click down is f2.2, then 2.5, 2.8 and so on.
The lens is wide open even when it says f2, and it makes sense since Sony probably did not cater for any f1.9 lens in their lineup.
Beyond wide open, everything else reports correctly.

EXIF data is present and plug and play (no need to input focal length on camera start up ) -Big Plus!






I get the impression that AF is slower with a lens like the 43ltd.
Not because of actual motor spin, but because of what a normal lens is expected to do photographically.
Its got to do a lot.
From head shoulders portraits, to food / small item close ups to overall scene, wider reportage type portraits, the change in focus distance is quite a bit for each photo type and hence, as mentioned before, the AF is slow to focus the lens if the change in focus distance is large.





The other thing slowing things down is shutter lag.
Its not noticeable when shooting wide open or 0.3-0.7 stops from wide open, but it becomes quite obvious as it gets 1-2stops down (eg. f2.8, f4)

So the whole "AF package" becomes rather slow from AF > close aperture > shutter release.
This did become apparent with taking photos of my kids when they were particularly energetic and constantly shifted/swayed even for a portrait shot.
Something to consider if you want the adapter to take photos of things that can't keep still.
That said, maybe AF-C will be better, so more things to try over time.




Ok, I don't want the take away message from this week's report with the FA43ltd to be a negative one.
I just lumped my thoughts as I go along this review/user impressions.
Many of the issues, I have already mentioned.
Sometimes, some of them coalesce to be a tad more noticeable or maybe I was more sensitive for them on that particular session.


I think as far as practical usage go, the photos speak for themselves and the 43ltd+adapter combo is small, unencumbering and can certainly deliver results.

---

Last edited by pinholecam; 03-20-2022 at 06:43 PM.

[ranchy]

Do you feel the optics aren’t sharp enough for the a7riii or the focus isn’t accurate enough on these? How well do these lenses do on a manual adapter?

I did not really try with manual adapter in the past.
Anyway, did not have much time to test with the lenses. If i have time, will retry with the FA200.

---------- Post added 03-21-2022 at 04:13 PM ----------

DFA100WR
Previously, i find the focus is slow and hunts alot.

took it out to try again. Focus speed, K1 is much faster. with the monster adapter, it is usable, but i won't say fantastic .
Best setting to get the lens to work well with the adapter.
Setting to AFS, centre point only.

f2.8
SRA00424_filtered

f7.1
SRA00425_filtered

Trying to capture while person is moving towards me.
SRA00401_filtered


SRA00433_filtered

[pinholecam]

Do you feel the optics aren’t sharp enough for the a7riii or the focus isn’t accurate enough on these? How well do these lenses do on a manual adapter?

One BIG problem using manual adapter with such big lenses is MF.
Even worse if its MF with large focus throw.
I find that I am holding the weight of the lens on the focusing hand, then turning the focus and then when its not focused yet, I need to do some hand dexterity to re-grip the lens so that I can turn it again.
At the same time, I need to zoom in with magnification to make sure it looks sharp enough and everything is shaking quite a bit with the weight + focusing going on.
Add to it that the subject moves and its much harder and AF is really preferred.

[UncleVanya]

One BIG problem using manual adapter with such big lenses is MF.
Even worse if its MF with large focus throw.
I find that I am holding the weight of the lens on the focusing hand, then turning the focus and then when its not focused yet, I need to do some hand dexterity to re-grip the lens so that I can turn it again.
At the same time, I need to zoom in with magnification to make sure it looks sharp enough and everything is shaking quite a bit with the weight + focusing going on.
Add to it that the subject moves and its much harder and AF is really preferred.

I have a technique where the weight rests on my palm and I can use two fingers to turn the focusing ring repeatedly without changing my grip much. But it’s still difficult depending on the subject. I was able to manually focus on a squirrel the other day. I’m unclear if my results are showing this lens is sharper manually focused or not so I wanted input from others.

[pinholecam]

I have a technique where the weight rests on my palm and I can use two fingers to turn the focusing ring repeatedly without changing my grip much. But it’s still difficult depending on the subject. I was able to manually focus on a squirrel the other day. I’m unclear if my results are showing this lens is sharper manually focused or not so I wanted input from others.

I recall it was sharp when used on my K5, but that has been years ago and I sold both the K5 and FA*200.
My impression if based on my FA135/2.8, MF A7 or K1 vs monster_adapter+A7iii is that the latter is better, being more accurate and consistent.
But so much depends on whats in the adapter firmware that it might be different for the FA*200

[UncleVanya]

One thing I noticed as a positive: in manual focus mode I can use lenses that aren’t supported and still get full Exif data. So I can pop the 12-24 (or any lens with data communication) on and use it and record aperture and focal length.

[Jonathan Mac]

With the 43ltd on the adapter, the camera reads it as f2, next click down is f2.2, then 2.5, 2.8 and so on.
The lens is wide open even when it says f2, and it makes sense since Sony probably did not cater for any f1.9 lens in their lineup.
Beyond wide open, everything else reports correctly.

EXIF data is present and plug and play (no need to input focal length on camera start up ) -Big Plus!

The other thing slowing things down is shutter lag.
Its not noticeable when shooting wide open or 0.3-0.7 stops from wide open, but it becomes quite obvious as it gets 1-2stops down (eg. f2.8, f4)

So the whole "AF package" becomes rather slow from AF > close aperture > shutter release.

The 43mm reads as maximum f/2 on film cameras that can read the aperture value too.

I might have missed it somewhere, but can the adapter allow control the aperture in the same way as a Pentax SLR does, from the camera body? Or is the aperture actually stopped down for focusing and exposure (in the same way as it would be using a dumb adapter on a mirrorless camera)?

[pinholecam]

One thing I noticed as a positive: in manual focus mode I can use lenses that aren’t supported and still get full Exif data. So I can pop the 12-24 (or any lens with data communication) on and use it and record aperture and focal length.

Good trick!
Looks like I will be retiring my old modded A7 with dummy adapter soon.

The 43mm reads as maximum f/2 on film cameras that can read the aperture value too.

I might have missed it somewhere, but can the adapter allow control the aperture in the same way as a Pentax SLR does, from the camera body? Or is the aperture actually stopped down for focusing and exposure (in the same way as it would be using a dumb adapter on a mirrorless camera)?

Its full control of the aperture when the lens is set to "A".

[Jonathan Mac]

What I don't understand is why lenses have to be "supported". Surely control of both aperture and AF is the same for all lenses? Not the speed of the AF or the total number of turns from infinity to minimum etc but surely that's immaterial to the AF system in the camera?

[UncleVanya]

What I don't understand is why lenses have to be "supported". Surely control of both aperture and AF is the same for all lenses? Not the speed of the AF or the total number of turns from infinity to minimum etc but surely that's immaterial to the AF system in the camera?

Not according to the designer. The simple explanation from him is that the Sony AF system needs additional data that the lens does not supply that the adapter has to provide.

[pinholecam]

What I don't understand is why lenses have to be "supported". Surely control of both aperture and AF is the same for all lenses? Not the speed of the AF or the total number of turns from infinity to minimum etc but surely that's immaterial to the AF system in the camera?

It does seem that the adapter reads off the chip on the lens to know what lens it is.
Then it tells the camera what lens it is based on Sony's AF/lens FE mount protocols.

The protocol was reverse engineered in this thread :
E-mount electronic protocol reverse engineering - Dyxum - Page 1
It does look more complicated than what we think. (with lots of Tx/Rx needed )

---------- Post added 03-24-2022 at 09:34 AM ----------

Response from Monster Adapter for FA50/1.4 and F*300/4.5

I sent a message to Monster Adapter on their FB page regarding the issues I have seen so far and got a reply

"Hi, 300mm 4.5 should already supported with firmware v02. And about your FA50 1.4, this might caused by different variations of lens's chip. It should be easy to get fixed, as long as we got that kind of lens in hand. But till now, all of FA50 1.4 we've got, all works fine now. So please give us more time for it. Thanks !"


Good to see that they do get back on messages.
I had suspected that my FA50 is too old as well when the issue happened, since its a 13yrs or more lens.

I will either hold out for V3 of the FW or re-load the V2 FW to see if it solves the F*300/4.5 issue. (actually , I think hey misread that I was referring to the FA*300/4.5)

[UncleVanya]

It does seem that the adapter reads off the chip on the lens to know what lens it is.
Then it tells the camera what lens it is based on Sony's AF/lens FE mount protocols.

The protocol was reverse engineered in this thread :
E-mount electronic protocol reverse engineering - Dyxum - Page 1
It does look more complicated than what we think. (with lots of Tx/Rx needed )

---------- Post added 03-24-2022 at 09:34 AM ----------

Response from Monster Adapter for FA50/1.4 and F*300/4.5

I sent a message to Monster Adapter on their FB page regarding the issues I have seen so far and got a reply

"Hi, 300mm 4.5 should already supported with firmware v02. And about your FA50 1.4, this might caused by different variations of lens's chip. It should be easy to get fixed, as long as we got that kind of lens in hand. But till now, all of FA50 1.4 we've got, all works fine now. So please give us more time for it. Thanks !"


Good to see that they do get back on messages.
I had suspected that my FA50 is too old as well when the issue happened, since its a 13yrs or more lens.

I will either hold out for V3 of the FW or re-load the V2 FW to see if it solves the F*300/4.5 issue. (actually , I think hey misread that I was referring to the FA*300/4.5)

He and I email a bit. He has said if anyone with a good copy of a supported lens that works on Pentax but is non-working on the adapter wants to try to send it to him to help them pinpoint the issue he are open to that idea.

[bdery]

I had suspected that my FA50 is too old as well when the issue happened, since its a 13yrs or more lens.

Make that 21 and counting

[UncleVanya]

clarification. I mentioned that manual focus and exif worked. I should have specified that mostly it seems to work for DA/FA/F lenses I have tried. A series lenses and M and "K" series do not work - no stop down at all - essentially the lens has to have some type of communication to the adapter beyond the passive A series contact points. Anything else simply doesn't get stopped down. This may be a limitation that will change but that's what I see now.

[i_trax]

right , I think I will be getting one ,
did anyone try it with a7IV?