Unexpected...

The other day I wrote a photo-geek entry about that the Fringer Pro adapter got a new firmware (1.7). But the previous firmware (v1.6) contained a AF correction for the Canon EF 300/4 L IS lens.

So, just out of boredom, at home deep at night - i put the Canon EF 300/4 L IS lens onto the Fujifilm GFX 50s II (which only has contrast based AF), and set the ISO between 1600 and 3200. And focused. In low to medium level indoor light

Every single - in focus

- in an exact spot ! Now that was a huge surprise - because that was NOT the case with the Fringer Pro adapter v.1.5 firmware version.

Below you see a 100% pixel level image from the espresso pot above - showing that when i aimed at the espresso pot (hand held) - the focus did indeed focus exactly onto the espresso pot. (Image stabilization did work well even at 1/60 seconds)

Notice also that this shot was taken at wide open aperture ƒ4

I think sharpness is more than good !

Improvement

If this isn't an improvement - then I don't know what is.

Of course I will test this further, in order to see that this is the real deal. I also want to see how the lens / camera / adapter combo works in daylight, too. But if this holds up - than the Canon EF 300/4 L IS will be fully useful on the Fujifilm GFX cameras. (Especially on the 100 series, because those support not only CDAF, but also sensor based PDAF) ensuring faster and (generally more) accurate focus.

Quite impressive what the people have done behind the Finger Pro adapter.

Kudos !

Even more impressive

As i continued to focus in poor indoor lighting - the camera + lens + adapter v1.7 were able to find the focus exactly. Another shot in the close range with the 300 mm lens shows, at ƒ4.0 (wide open) excellent sharpness. I am truly impressed by the vastly noticeable difference, now with the 1.6 + 1.7v adapter firmware update.

Just wow, really !

Another example

in my kitchen showing good sharpness. Again, i took it with wide open aperture ƒ 4.0. If I would stop down a bit, sharpness increases of course.

I did notice that sometimes the camera + lens + Fringer Pro adapter can hesitate in AF focus. So, you need to focus on details that are clearly defined in order to achieve focus.

This reminds me of earlier Olympus (MicroFourThirds cameras, when their sensors were still only contrast based, and being a bit more hesitant, and not always correct in where they set focus. So yeah, I would say the Fujifilm GFX 50 series are similar. Keep an eye and look out for good contrast in details, in order to get the focus locked on precisely.

At least now it works much better with the Finger Pro v1.7 adapter.

Is the Canon EF 300/4 L IS useful on a Fujifilm GFX 50s II camera ?

In my opinion - with the Fringer Pro adapter, firmware version 1.7 - this Canon lens becomes a much stronger contender. Let's just say; it has become very useful. Not just as a manual focus lens, but now even as an AF lens (in limits, due to the contrast based Fujifilm GFX 50s II model - that type of AF has its limits and can occasionally missfocus. So do all AF contrast based cameras (such as the older Olympus cameras did, too)

Yes, there is a tiny portion of vignetting visible in the extreme corners - but it is really small and rather easily corrected, or though some light cropping.

Given that the Canon EOS 300/4 L IS is an old lens - now plays nicely thanks to the 1.7v firmware update in the Fringer Pro adapter... I think the lens is a winner. Or mildly spoken: It is a useful 240 mm lens on the Fujifilm GFX, so to speak.

Would I buy it just because of that ?

I don't think so. But i had it for many years, so now i can use it with good results.

My primary goal with the Fujifilm GFX 50s II camera - is to create real mediumformat images (7x7 cm) with help of the rotating Vertex GFX adapter + Pentax 6x7 lenses. I am less interested in the Fujifilm GFX 50s II to do normal photography. Of course the addition of the Mitakon 65mm f 1.4 lens, makes the GFX fun to take out handheld... So, i use it both as it was designed for - but also to make 7x7 cm mediumformat sensor equivalent images; manually with tripod the old fashioned way like I handled analog mediumforamt cameras back in the 80s and 90s.

Mitakon 65mm f 1.4

is for poetry and "flair" - which in this regard is a lens that is unique for the Fujifilm GFX cameras. Just don't look for critical sharpness when you use it wide open at ƒ1.4 to ƒ 2 - because it isn't (when you pixel peep). Stop it down much further - and then it becomes a much sharper lens (but it then looses all the poetic character). Very much like the "Dr Mandler's" Leica Noctilux-M 50/1 does: It is sheer poetry when used at aperture ƒ1. However, once you stop it down - it becomes critically sharp, yet looses all that poetry in that rendering style.

Both lenses have something "classic" in common.

Only difference is that the Mitakon Speedmaster 65/1.4 doesn't vignette as harsh like the Leica Noctilux-M 50/1 does. OK, the highlights with the Noctilux 50/1 are a bit more pronounced, compared to the Mitakon, which renders them softer (see image below)

I would claim, that the Mitakon 65/1.4 on the Fuji GFX results into a rendering style that is a MIX between Leica Noctilux 50/1 and the mediumformat Pentax 6x7 Takumar 105mm f 2.4 lens. Curiously, when you use the Pentax 105mm lens on a Pentax 6x7 camera - it looks like a 55 mm lens on fullframe. Or like the Mitakon 65mm does on the Fujifilm GFX 50s camera.

Like twins.

Pentax SMC Takumar 105mm f 2.4 vs
Mitakon 65mm ƒ 1.4

It is like bringing the Pentax 6x7 105mm f 2.4 analog rendering style on film - directly to a digital camera equivalent: thanks to the Mitakon 65mm f 1.4 lens with it's classic rendering style.

Same type of (effective) focal length. Same type of "atmosphere".

• Sal portrait | Fujifilm GFX 50s II with Mitakon 65mm ƒ 1.4

Dreamy images (Mitakon 65mm f 1.4)

Sharpness ? Who is talking about sharpness. You can in fact pronounce images even further by making portraits which are just outside of the plane of sharpness, enhancing the feeling of dreaminess even further. Like in my self portrait below. (For the sake of truth, it takes a while to get a nice one.

When you are almost 60... well the reflection simply isn't so nice to me anymore. Some angles are just looking aweful, while others still work *harsh LOL*

Yet - it can work, and it takes a couple of shots. In fact, I like the photo below. It looks a sort of "timeless Ralf". (Which means, I still recognize the Ralf from earlier years).

• Ralf selfportait | Fujifilm GFX 50s II with Mitakon 65mm ƒ 1.4

• Ralf selfportait | Fujifilm GFX 50s II with Mitakon 65mm ƒ 1.4

I am not sad about aging...

Because being now 58 years of age, i am thankful for still looking like Ralf, you know. I remember when I was 25, and i said to Per Henriksson (who was 42) back in 1991, that i would wish or like to be a somewhat handsome Ralf when i turn 50.

Well, those days have passed 8 years ago - but in essence I am still Ralf in my looks; just an older version, but recognizable as Ralf.

There is absolutely nothing to cry about getting older. Sure, i admit that there are a lot of moments my sensitive mind thinks about looks, aging and all that stuff. (The/my ego is afraid to loose attraction...) Isn't that a general "fear" ?!

But when i look at it though the eye of my heart: than there is absolutely nothing to regret. Even more so, it is all about being / feeling thankful for what I am, and what I look like today. (To be really honest; I wouldn't want to be 20, 25 or 30 of age again).

I guess the ego in us, can make things far more problematic and heavy than it really is. The conditional ego tends to make our self-view obscured, indoctrinating that we are ugly or not worthy, or that we should change or do this or that (and god knows what else, like facial operations and stuff like that *hurrk*)

But let me tell you - is all bullshit. Don't believe in the shit your ego mind tells you. But also; don't totally overestimate yourself either. The ego goes into many directions, dependent on which are your weakest spots - it exploits it, in order to keep control over you (in a sneaking negative way). Learn to look at yourself (and others) in a more kind way. Then you understand, what it is I am pointing at.

It is OK to age ! It really is.