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For someone who writes about the latest and greatest camera gear, you might be surprised how little I use new gear in my photography. Instead of using the latest RF-mount lenses for my Canon EOS R, I’ve mostly stuck with older, adapted lenses from various film cameras I’ve purchased over the years. That’s why my favorite item of the year is Kolari’s EF-RF mount adapter with built-in variable ND filter.
My usual kit for photojournalism or motorsport work includes my Canon EOS R with Nikon Nikkor 50mm F1.4 AI, Carl Zeiss 80mm F2 lens (originally attached to a Contax 645 camera) mine) and the Sigma 500mm F4 DG OS lens, the first two of which were adapted from their respective mounts to Canon’s EF mount before being adapted to the EOS R RF mount. If that sounds like like a Frankenstein camera bag, that’s because it is. But there’s something about using old, adjusted glasses that keeps me coming back to see more, and Kolari’s third-party EF-to-RF converters allow me to get even more flexibility from my favorites. adjusted lenses compared to before when using them on my Canon EOS 5D Mark III.
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| This stunning kit is a Carl Zeiss 80mm F2 (Contax 645) lens that was adapted to Canon’s EF mount via a Fotodiox adapter, then adapted to the Canon EOS R using a Kolari Vision mount adapter. EF-RF with 2-10 stop variable neutral density filter inside. |
Until recently, I used Canon’s basic EF/RF lens adapter when shooting with my older lenses. While it works and allows me to shoot like I did with the adjusted lenses on my Canon EOS 5D Mark III (which still serves as my backup camera), I know that in the end I want make the most of the shorter flange distance of mirrorless cameras. Canon manufactures its own EF/RF converter with drop-in filters, but after writing about Kolari Vision’s third-party option earlier this year, I learned that this adapter is one. I’d like to go along, due to the positive experiences I’ve had with Kolari devices in the past. So I ordered a Kolari EF-to-RF converter with a built-in 2–10 stop variable ND filter.
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| I have set the filter to about 3 stops for this image. |
As I had come to expect from the Kolari device, the adapter impressed me right out of the box. The sturdy construction and drop-in 2–10 stop-variable ND filter almost give off an over-engineered feel. Unlike Canon’s equivalents, which rely on plastic parts for the drop-in filter, the Kolari’s is made of CNC milled aluminum. This, combined with the quick dial to adjust the intensity of the variable ND filter, creates a home-like experience with the aperture and focus rings of the manually adjusted lenses. .
For the first time,first I was able to easily shoot wide open with both lenses in full daylight and make the most of their respective imaging characteristics. This opened up a whole new realm of creative possibilities, and although I hadn’t attended a motorsport event in a while and had stopped freelance writing for the local newspaper, it Proven usability when going out and taking pictures of the kids in the yard.
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While I consider the highest focus to be the biggest technical advantage the switch to Canon mirrorless cameras has given me, the second most impactful change is the increased flange distance of the R mount. up and additional accessories can do.
first The front filter threads on both lenses are primed to flex after decades of use, so front-mounted variable ND is never an option.
