Testing Techart Contax G to NEX auto adapter

[flyingpalm]

Just received this adapter few days ago, tested with G 28/2.8 and 35-70 zoom lens, 28/2.8 works pretty well can auto focus down to F11 with no problem but the 35-70 can only focus wide open, also caused shut down few times. According to the manufacture 28/35/45/90 should be no problem.
Will test the other lenses later.

 

[benkap]

Sounds very interesting. You say it works fine down to F11 - how about further down?
Is there any give when the lenses are mounted or do they sit firmly? Would also like to see pictures of the adapter when mounted on the camera.
Cheers,
Ben

 

[flyingpalm]

Hi Ben

For F16 or F22 it won't auto focus, need to use manual focus.
The adapter is well made and no play when it mounted to the camera, focus is pretty fast at least I think it's the same speed with Contax G body.

David

 

[flyingpalm]

The small wheel on the left side is manual focusing wheel and it's working perfect.

 

[benkap]

Thanks for the additional photos and info. It sure looks like something I'd like to try but for the price ($300 + shipping) from their website it's simply a no-go for me.
I just got the Sonnar 90mm in the mail yesterday and took a few test shots with a cheapo Chinese adapter and it worked very well. I have a Metabones on the way, the wider focus ring will be a welcome feature.

 

[sevo]

I would not hold my breath for now - they seem to be hard to come by. I haven't found a distributor with a English language page so far, and transferring $300+shipping on the strength of a page Google-translated from Chinese seems too risky - if the seller is inept at overseas shipping and screws up filling his forms, the goods may vanish for good or be held for a disproportionally high ransom at the customs. Besides, there will doubtlessly be improvements to speed and accuracy until they become more easily available.

 

[benkap]

sevo, their website is in English..?
I contacted them to ask if it was made from brass or aluminum and got the reply that the lens mount was made from brass and the adapter body from ABS plastic.

http://www.mxcamera.com/DEO/product_info.php?products_id=50

As long as the shipment has tracking info it should be ok. I just don't want to spend that much money on an adapter.

 

[splitimageview]

So it's using the camera battery for power. Wonder how much drain that is...

 

[sevo]

sevo, their website is in English..?

I see, mxcamera.com is somewhat screwed up - their sub-set of pages for DEO are not linked to from the main site I end up on when googling for mxcamera.

So it's using the camera battery for power. Wonder how much drain that is...

That need not be a issue, if done right - after all, the G1/G2 managed to run their screwdriver motors from a pair of humble CR2s, and had decent battery life at that.

 

[nemjo]

I used this adapter a weekend now. Not a very long time, but seems to be enough for some conclusions.

The first sad news is that it's not reliable. Not even on the largest apertures.
Even in very bright light it can fail to focus. Indoors it's close to useless.

The manual focus is very smooth. It is my third adapter for CG lenses, and it is the best by far in that regard. But...

I couldn't figure how to stick it to be in manual mode, so it requires extra attention not to override it by the AF. (After manually focused you have to leave the shutter halfpressed - or the AF starts it's own.)
However it has the (some?) electric contacts, manually focusing doesn't bring up the focus aid (magnification)- you still have to activate it separately.
If you want to take more shots at the same distance you have to focus each time.

All in all, I feel that DEO-Tech made a half job.

nemjo

 

[sevo]

It could prove to be a difficult task. There must be some important reason why the G1/G2 can only focus lenses whose parameters are stored in their firmware lookup table (the black vs. green label issue on earlier G1) - it must be something like the focus train gearing being non-linear. Which would need similar processing in the adapter.