Originally posted by bdery Your tests indicate there's no problem with the adapter. If light leaked, it would always leak (and you would have seen it with your flashlight test).
The lenses are causing the flare.
Did you pull the hood on the FA77?
The FA50 is known to be pretty sensitive to flare, which is why some people preferred the F50 F1.7 because its front element is recessed. Otherwise, a hood for the FA50 would do marvels.
Correct, no light leaks in the Monster adapter, it is well made.
Correct, it seems the FA50 1.4 and FA77 LTD are prone to a bit more flare than I had previously recognized, I think I instinctively avoided it.
Yes, I pulled out the hood on the FA77, and I use a rubber plunger collapsible on the FA50 1.4 . I have a rectangular black metal hood that is flocked, and it does work better on the FA50 1.4, I just can't lay my hands on it at the moment.
So I would agree 99.99999% of your statement. It's hard to quantify without laboratory equipment, but if I had to make an educated guess based on what I've seen so far... I would say the adapter or the sensor shine like Uncle Vanya mentions, "might" amplify the flare issues these lenses already have by small amount.
I say this because I've had that light tent for years, and used the same soft boxes with it for years, with the K1 and my Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 were my go to lenses (sold the Tammy) so using the FA 50 1.4 in the light box may have been rare, but I did use it occasionally and I don't remember so much flare as I do now that I am forced to use it to list stuff in the marketplace... so it was a surprise for me.(my cell phone doesn't do it with the same scene in the light tent, crazy, right?) Otherwise the FA50 1.4 and FA77 got used mostly for portraiture, either with strobes or available light, and front lit situations. I guess I just never pushed them that way before with harsh back and side light.
My dilemma now is, do I keep a $400 dollar adapter or do I keep my K-1 or do I dump both and further invest in native glass? I know this is a Pentax forum and what the emotional answer is, and trust me, I feel it too.
In reality, we are just talking a few A/F primes. I can get a cheap M/F adapter for my old K non-AF glass.
The A/F lenses that I had initially planned to keep are:
FA50 1.4 because it's not bringing lots of money, and would be expensive to replace with something a whole lot better
FA31 LTD... because it is pretty awesome.
FA77 LTD... because it is small and has awesome character.
FA*85 1.4 ... was on the fence with this one and tossing a coin between it and the FA77... but if I want a big sharp 85mm, there are plenty in the Sony universe, so its probably going to go.
So, I'm beginning to ask myself, it worth the pain of the adapter's slightly slower focus and carrying it as an intermediary device to keep just 3 lenses going that I'm a little emotionally attached to???
This is definitely going to end up being an internal fight for me, between a logical and emotional response. Having a short time to decide isn't helping,
I'm just trying to be completely honest here and save anyone else the pain in future. If I had it to do over, I can't help second guessing if I should have been more patient waiting on the K1-III, but that ship has sailed, and I'm committed to moving forward now. I really DO enjoy the A7RV and the 200-600mm G OSS lens combo... and that would be too hard to give up now that I've had a taste.
Decisions decisions...
Eric