Is there a standalone EF lens aperture controller for adapting Canon EF lenses to mirrorless bodies?
Asked 9/10/2015
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2 answers
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I want to use Canon EF-mount lenses, including some third-party EF lenses, on other mirrorless mounts. I do not need autofocus, and a passive spacer adapter would otherwise be enough. The issue is that EF lenses have no mechanical aperture ring, so aperture control normally requires electronic communication.
Using an EOS body to set the aperture and remove the lens while holding depth-of-field preview is cumbersome. I’m wondering whether a small battery-powered EF device exists—something like a lens-cap-style controller—that can set the aperture on the lens before mounting it to a passive adapter.
If not, what practical options are available for controlling aperture when adapting EF lenses to mirrorless cameras?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
7
No, there is currently no battery powered lens cap sized aperture control devices for EF lenses.
There are some cheap "dumb" (mechanical only) adapters that feature their own built in iris. But it's not a great idea to have the aperture stop that far back, as you will get some aperture variation across the frame.
The are also some fully electronic Metabones competitors which are a bit cheaper, this would be the best option for adapting EF lenses for mirrorless.
Originally by user1375. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1375
10y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
No—there is not a known standalone battery-powered, lens-cap-style EF aperture controller.
Because Canon EF lenses use electronic aperture control, you generally need an electronic adapter that communicates with the lens. If you want proper aperture control on mirrorless, the practical solution is an EF-to-mirrorless electronic adapter. Some alternatives to premium brands exist and may be less expensive, though compatibility can still vary, especially with third-party lenses.
You may also see cheap passive adapters with a built-in iris, but that iris is in the adapter, not in the lens. That is usually a poor substitute for true aperture control and can cause uneven aperture effects across the frame.
So in practice, your realistic options are:
- use an electronic EF adapter for aperture control, or
- use the EOS-body DOF-preview workaround.
A passive adapter alone cannot directly control the aperture of an EF lens.
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