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Post Options Post Options   Quote woodrim Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 October 2022 at 15:16
Originally posted by Snegren Snegren wrote:

Today the Vectis AF adapter arrived, gave it a quick test on the 400 Reflex (the reason for getting the adapter) and all-systems-are-go. AF works fine although not as refined as the modern day hypersonic drives, it gets there fast enough and does not hunt, MF works fine (cannot adjust MF on the camera, has to be through the A/M button on the lens which makes sense) and is nicely slow to adjust precisely. Test shots to follow soon.


Glad to hear that, Paul. Hopefully, you will experience the joy I have with that lens. Rare enough now; watch the prices go up.
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woodrim
 



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Post Options Post Options   Quote Snegren Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 October 2022 at 21:58
The 400 Vectis Mirror is called 400-4mm F8.3 according lightroom, FL is reported as 405mm (near enough) and aperture as f/8.

400 Vectis Mirror on LA-VE2


Perhaps not obvious to you Mike as an avid birder, but this lens is not Lord of the Straight Lines. -9 in Lightroom to put it straight.

pincushion


Two Herons


At MFD


Enough for one day.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Snegren Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 October 2022 at 15:36
One remark about above images. They are not cropped. I removed the "rectangular" insert in the lens mount, from what I can see it reduces vignetting to almost nothing.
“People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.” Søren Kierkegaard
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Post Options Post Options   Quote woodrim Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 October 2022 at 16:21
Originally posted by Snegren Snegren wrote:

One remark about above images. They are not cropped. I removed the "rectangular" insert in the lens mount, from what I can see it reduces vignetting to almost nothing.


I've been wondering about that but have been afraid to tamper with it. Was it straight forward? Any warnings? Does it cause wavy lines?
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woodrim
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Post Options Post Options   Quote darosa Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 October 2022 at 14:35
Originally posted by Fred_S Fred_S wrote:

Even when I include my sold ones, I am no where near your numbers, so there must be another reason

It took me some time to arrive at a conclusion, but I think you may have a point, Fred!
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Post Options Post Options   Quote woodrim Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 October 2022 at 15:23
Originally posted by darosa darosa wrote:

Originally posted by Fred_S Fred_S wrote:

Even when I include my sold ones, I am no where near your numbers, so there must be another reason

It took me some time to arrive at a conclusion, but I think you may have a point, Fred!


Fred: Rest assured that Leo is not alone in amassing a large number of lenses, but I won't mention names.
Leo: Take comfort in knowing that many others have numbers that far exceed either of ours or even ours together. I have seen evidence of such; shocking to even me.

I have developed a photo(lens)-relationship with a fellow in a nearby state that I met at MFLenses. To satisfy my curiosity, he sent me a list that did not include all duplicates or lenses needing repair or detachment from cameras. That list totaled ~500 at that time with 110 being mirrors. His is not the largest I've seen. If Leo's number is larger, maybe it's best not to know My number is unknown and uncounted and will remain that way.
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woodrim
 



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Post Options Post Options   Quote darosa Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 October 2022 at 16:56
Thanks for the comforting words, Mike!
My problem is I know the exact number. As you say, it's best not to know, so I will not burden you with it; I must carry this heavy load alone.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote darosa Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 October 2022 at 16:59
Btw, I tested the Vectis mirror today, it's awesome! To be continued ...
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Post Options Post Options   Quote woodrim Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 October 2022 at 17:15
Originally posted by darosa darosa wrote:

Thanks for the comforting words, Mike!
My problem is I know the exact number. As you say, it's best not to know, so I will not burden you with it; I must carry this heavy load alone.


I do know that once I start counting, it gets surprising and troubling. I have never completed a count.

When I started this MF thing, I had less than a half dozen lenses from the nearly forty years prior. When my wife saw one, she started asking "is that a new lens?", to which I replied, "no, it's an old one". Eventually, she caught on.
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woodrim
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Post Options Post Options   Quote woodrim Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 October 2022 at 17:15
Originally posted by darosa darosa wrote:

Btw, I tested the Vectis mirror today, it's awesome!


I knew that.
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woodrim
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Snegren Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 October 2022 at 10:39
Originally posted by woodrim woodrim wrote:

Originally posted by Snegren Snegren wrote:

One remark about above images. They are not cropped. I removed the "rectangular" insert in the lens mount, from what I can see it reduces vignetting to almost nothing.


I've been wondering about that but have been afraid to tamper with it. Was it straight forward? Any warnings? Does it cause wavy lines?


I'm not sure what you mean by wavy lines Mike.

If I remember correctly, it was straightforward to remove the plastic insert that holds the "rectangular" window, but obviously not for the fainthearted. I was super careful with the electronic contacts and the attached ribbon cable, break anything there and the lens is beyond salvage as focus is electronic.

You have to unscrew the assembly that holds the contacts (2 scews) and the 4 screws that fix the lens mount, that allows you to free the plastic insert. You then need to shave off the bits you don't want, I used a Dremel with a cutting disc for that. When I did this there were still 400 REFLEX lenses on the market for reasonable prices, they seem to have disappeared now. I think Vectis lenses have become collectible.



     
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Snegren Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 October 2022 at 10:48
I also like the 400 REFLEX. AF can be tricky, it depends on the subject if the lens locks on or goes into short focus cycling. A7M3 or A7RM4 show similar behaviour. I think there is a good reason why the Minolta 500 AF only supports the centre AF points, because there I have most succes with AF on the 400. Anyway, I tried birding yesterday:

Swan

Camera Model: ILCE-7M3
Lens: MINOLTA V MIRROR LENS 400mm f/8 on MonsterAdapter LA-VE2 auto-focus adapter
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure Time: 0.008 sec (1/125)
ISO: 200
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Post Options Post Options   Quote anthills Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 October 2022 at 13:13
I’m a mirror lens lover, new to the forum. Very nice examples here of what these lenses can do.

This may not be the right forum to discuss, so I would appreciate any redirection to a better thread/forum, but I’m having issues with getting the MonsterAdapter autofocus adapters to work well. I have a Sony a7r3 and two copies of the LA-EA4, one of which I modified with the MonsterAdapter replacement circuit board and removing the semitranslucent mirror. This should enable focusing by more than just the single central point. However, I found that the result with the Minolta AF 500 is just sporadic hunting and lurching, and verrrrrry slow intermittent focus twitches, before it apparently gives up never having found focus. Or it turns the focus confirmation square green when it’s not in focus.

I recently got the LA-VE2 and I’m seeing similar behavior using the Vectis 400.

I have more than one copy of each of these lenses, and I can try different copies, but given that my AF 500’s all work fine with the unmodified Sony adapter, I am suspicious of the camera or its settings. I bought the camera used and don’t know what the prior owner might have tweaked in the settings. I’m not expert in the Sony system, primarily using other systems and mechanical film cameras.

Off-forum, someone suggested trying continuous AF, which I will do when it’s daylight. It’s just early morning right now where I live. Meanwhile, though, I thought it would be worth posting here in case someone has suggestions, as well as to post the problem and solution publicly for anyone else trying to search the web for answers, which I will hopefully find.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote woodrim Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 October 2022 at 15:51
I know someone with the exact same problem. I told him to come here for advice
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woodrim
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