Advice on Fotodiox Pro Canon EOS to Large Format 4x5 Adapter

[Thib]

Hi guys,
I would like to know if someone has used the Fotodiox Pro Adapter (for Canon or Nikon SLRs) on a 45N-2 Chamonix?
I'd like to get one of these, but want to make sure they are compatible. The description does not include Chamonix cameras but I think there might still be a chance they can work together.
Thanks!

Thib.

[Thib]

Also, for those who tried it, does it really cover the whole 4x5 field?
It seems unlikely since there seems to be only two vertical positions?

[Sheldon N]

I believe the issue that you run into is that the mirror box of the Canon will start to shade the image as you shift, limiting your ability to capture the whole image circle of the lens.

[Paul Cunningham]

Interesting product. There is one customer review (very positive) on B&H, he does not say which 4x5 he uses.

[Paul Cunningham]

Also some reviews on Amazon (Nikon version).

[djdister]

The FotodioX site shows the adapter using 6 positions to "cover" the 4x5 frame, presumably with a full frame sensor camera. Of course, if you attach a camera that is not a full frame sensor, you would have a serious problem determining how to overlap the multiple shots you would need to take. Also, the description lists a number of compatible camera types and then adds "with Graflok back" - so not sure if the 4x5 cameras listed all have Graflok backs or not. Sheldon's note about shading caused by the depth of the mirror box could be an issue as well. Would be interested to hear if anyone on the LF forum have tried it.

[Thib]

Hmm, thanks for the input guys.
I would be using it with my Mark3, so full frame it is :)
However, it seems like there are just two vertical positions (by reversing the whole back apparently), and so it makes me doubt it can actually cover the whole 4x5 frame... I say that because 36mmx2 < 4 inch.

But I would still be interested to know if someone tried one of these adapters on a FF sensor.

BTW, it seems to me that this Shen Hao adapter would be ideal: http://vimeo.com/49793947
Only problem is I cannot find any one selling it. Any idea how to get hold of this baby? :)

[Paul Cunningham]

When I looked yesterday on eBay, there were some non-fotodiox adapters (at least one claimed to be Shen Hao, they looked identiical). From looking at them they did not have both horizontal and vertical positions, (just horizontal) and were about $50 less. The more I researched yesterday, the less convinced I was that the entire approach was better than just stitching together images taken with a DSLR. (I also have a FF.)

[Thib]

I could not agree more Paul.
I am not interested in just horizontal movement. If I go for it I want both horizontal and vertical, and also want to have the whole 4x5 frame equivalent.
For horizontal movement alone I can simply use my T/S lens on the FF... Here I'd like to go HUGE, without needing the $$ for a digital back :)

[Bob Salomon]

There are two problems with these types of adapters. First, as already mentioned, is shadowing due to the mirror box. The second is the depth of the adapter + the camera body may make using wide angle lenses problematical or impossible at infinity. Especially extreme wide angle lenses.

[djdister]

Given what you would be trying to do with the FotodioX adapter and using a digital camera, then why not just get the GigaPan EPIC Robotic Camera Mount? I'm not seeing a huge advantage to using a view camera as the front piece. In both cases, the desired end product is a stitched together digital image, and the GigaPan seems a much better way to get there.

[Light Guru]

I have a Fotodiox 4x5 to EOS adapter and honestly after trying it out a few times I completely stopped using it.

It places the digital sensor so far back from where the ground glass would be it basically makes the using the ground glass for composing your image useless and therefore you dont have a way to properly compose the entire image.

The bigger issue is that not every scene works well for stitching many images together into a bigger one. In order for software to stitch all the smaller parts together it has to be able to find things in each frame that it can line up. This just simply does not work with all scenes, for example scenes with a lot of sky.

[VictoriaPerelet]

Hi guys,
I would like to know if someone has used the Fotodiox Pro Adapter (for Canon or Nikon SLRs) ....
Thanks!

Thib.
I used similar adapter made from Sinar lens board and Canon macro extension tube about decade ago (still have it somewhere in the boxes).

It's not best picture taking device - most lenses are too long for small sensor. Not good stiching device either - mirror box does cut off light.

But if you have one of modern Canons with Life View connected to laptop screen - that's priceless educational tool. You can learn camera movements, selective focus, get good feel for what camera shake is. It will take you LONG time learning all of that with film.

Besides that you can learn and better understand your (or any...) scanner. Canon APS sensor captures about 5000dpi. Take digital pic on your Canon and same pic on piece of film, scan crop and debate with "experts" on scanner resolution:)

You can also do selective lens resolution evaluation without developing sheet of film. Look how much time and film some people spend evaluating brassies.

Obviosly nice large 50mmx38mm sensor on digital back plus LCD shutter and Live View on mororized stiching back will give you much more, but it will also send you $$$$ back from your kids tuition.

Somebody should put together adapter for 4/3 mirrorless cameras - there's no mirror box and sensor is placed very close to lens mount.


Given what you would be trying to do with the FotodioX adapter and using a digital camera, then why not just get the GigaPan EPIC Robotic Camera Mount? ...

Gigapan (I have it) is usefull in many cases, but it can not replace stiching in film plane. You'll never get selective focus and other features of view camera.

[jbenedict]

Here is another fotodiox product that is called "Rhinocam" It uses a Sony NEX camera and your choice of medium format lenses. There are some examples of how it works.

http://www.fotodioxpro.com/lens-mount-adapters/vizelex-rhinocam-for-sony-nex-e-mount-cameras.html

Is this "large format photography"? You guys can argue about it.

[jbenedict]

There is also a set of photos of the camera in use with a rotating Graflok back. It shows the camera in use both horizontally and vertically.

http://www.fotodioxpro.com/fotodiox-pro-nikon-f-to-large-format-4x5-adapter-offset-camera-mount-fits-cambo-linhof-calumet-horseman-omega-toyo-kodak-with-graflok-back-on-digital-nikon-bodies-d100-d200-d300-d300s-d700-d1-d2-d3-d3s-d3x-d40-d50-d60.html

[David A. Goldfarb]

I have the Widepan sliding back for EOS, and the main issues are vignetting from the adapter plus the mirror box, and distance of the film plane to the back of the lens. In general, your minimum practical focal length at infinity is likely to be on the order of 135mm, and your maximum actual frame size is going to be on the order of 65mm square, depending on focal length, subject distance, etc., or you can get a longer, narrower panoramic image. If you have a mirrorless camera body, you should be able to get a larger virtual image area.

The advantage of using such a back on a view camera over a stitching head is that you have the perspective of a single lens in one position. You need consistent light for successful stitches, so it's handy for tabletop still life with strobes, not so much for portraits or windy landscapes with swaying grass and moving clouds. It's convenient to use the back on a monorail with rear shift, rise, and fall, if the back only slides along one axis. I've used it on the Sinar P and Linhof Tech V.

[Thib]

Wow guys, thnaks a lot for the great details and advice!
Made me ponder the oportunity of using such an adapter and I think I agree with most of you guys: I will pass on this one.
And Victoria, I did think about the MF digital back... but this is out of the question in the short-mid term given the price... I wonder how such an adapter would do with the newish Sony A7R mirrorless SLR. I'm thinking it might prevent cutting of light, what do you think?

[Bob Salomon]

You will still have the same problems. Even though there is no mirror box you will still have a plate and a tube and the tube will limit movements without vignetting/cut off.
The normal lens for the 77 is a 50mm since it has a full frame sensor. But you are going to push the sensor back because of the mounting tube. Can you still focus to infinity? Most view cameras will have a problem using a 50mm lens at infinity with film! If you can reach infinity what kind of movements will your camera allow? And if you want a shorter lens (as shorts as 23mm) then what happens?

The new Novoflex CASTBAL T/S tilt/shift bellows can take a mirrorless body and add T?S as can the Novoflex BALPRO T/S bellows which has T/S on both the front and the back. And these bellows can use any 35mm, mirror less, medium format lens but none of them will reach infinity. The shortest lens that will reach infinity on the CASTBAL T/S is a special Novoflex 90mm lens and the shortest lens on the BALPRO T/S to reach infinity is a special Novoflex 80mm. So with either of these, with no tube to cut off or to add length, you can not use a normal focal length lens at infinity. Adding the 77 to a view camera will be even more restrictive.

[europanorama]

The shenhao-adapters shown in video-video on page 1 are adapting FF-cameras. A) Shifts 5xFF horizontl B) is shifting horizontal and vertical leading to 15 images 3x 5.
also large-format cameras can be used.
The second multirow-adapter seems not available anymore. on ebay there a cheap horizontal adapters.
one is rota-adapter for 4x 55mm(if film is used) for hasselblad V.
the use of cam with mirror can be a problem. the solution is here at hartblei.de
they have the best universal tilt/shift-stitch camera- a "joint-venture" with novoflex and mirex.
HCam Master TS around 3600 euro
http://www.hartblei.de/en/index.htm
they have a second much more expensive HCAM-B1 around 6500 euro
see also comparison list
http://www.hartblei.de/en/hartbleicam4.htm
fotodiox once showed a special adapter which i printed out. but its not anymore on their list. i must verify the specifications
on dpreview wishnewsky clarified all the misterys about tilt/shift. what is working what not. the rhinocam vizelex is a possibility.
fotodiox recently added a new cam-combination. but i have lost it. cant find on their website. maybe its for APS-C or DSLR-FF.

[europanorama]

There is also a set of photos of the camera in use with a rotating Graflok back. It shows the camera in use both horizontally and vertically.

http://www.fotodioxpro.com/fotodiox-pro-nikon-f-to-large-format-4x5-adapter-offset-camera-mount-fits-cambo-linhof-calumet-horseman-omega-toyo-kodak-with-graflok-back-on-digital-nikon-bodies-d100-d200-d300-d300s-d700-d1-d2-d3-d3s-d3x-d40-d50-d60.html
just contacted fotodiox.
product-informations are confusive and no image-size-data.

[jbenedict]

just contacted fotodiox.
product-informations are confusive and no image-size-data.

Their site is a little confusing and its hard to find things. Here's a link to their site which might be useful:

https://www.fotodioxpro.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=graflok

[Michael Rosenberg]

I tried the Rhinocam with my a7r on my Chamonix, and returned it. You can take off the medium format adapter and use it as a Gaflex back. There were three issues:

1. It was made for the Nex 7, and the hand grip of the a7r makes it very difficult to reach the levers on the back.

2. The widest lens possible is 90 mm on a recessed board and limited focus, and no tilt/shift. I doubt you could even use a 90 with the Canon. A 135 mm works fine, but I wanted a wider angle.

3. The last issue is with the Camonix is that with either the Rhinocam or the 4x5 adaptor with the back in portrait orientation the focus knob is blocked.

Considering the lens limitations it did not seem like a good option to me for what I wanted to do - which is stitched panoramas and using for architectural with wide angle lenses. My solution was to buy a Mirex tilt shift adaptor (http://www.mirex-adapter.de/tilt_shift_adapter.htm): I already had a full set of Mamiya 645 lenses, including the 35 mm wide angle. With the dollar stronger now it is less expensive than when I bought it. I can stitch wide angle panoramics of interiors to acheive equivalence to a 65 mm lens on my 4x5, so I am very happy. Mine came with a EOS flange, so I got an adapter to use with my a7r.

Mike