I haven't done any hardware stuff in this blog for a long time.
We work with Canon equipment since 12 years ago but we use Olympus m4/3 camera (OM-D) during off work time. m4/3 is a good system (in my opinion) because it gives us more options to travel light and capturing fast objects like a Canon 1D series. Recently, I finally purchased a Kipon Bav Eyes EF To m4/3 AF x0.7 Focal Reducer. Actually, it's a Speedbooster with auto focus ability. I have been tracking Kipon's AF adapter for a long time before this version. I think it is about time to try it with firmware v2.6 available.
Let's jump to the conclusion to save you some time: It works well and I like it very much.
After Chinese New Year, the seller sent it with express mail in 7 days instead of over a month's shipping. The packaging is quite nice.
Obviously, the packaging department of Kipon's factory wasn't that clean. Lots of dusts on the surface but inside was ok.
First thing I did was testing Olympus E-M1 with Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L. The whole thing acted like a 35mm f/1.0 on a Full Frame camera (But depth of view is like f/2.0). What a surprise... It's very sharp at the middle. However, the auto focus speed wasn't very fast but usable for sure.
What about the crazy sharp Sigma 35mm f/1.4 ART? So, it acted like a 50mm f/1.0.
Sharp, very sharp.
Kipon Bav Eyes EF To m4/3 AF x0.7 Focal Reducer worked in my older E-M5 too. The weird thing is... E-M5 auto focus with this adapter a bit faster than E-M1 sometimes. (E-M1 auto faster than E-M5 with regular m4/3 lenses)
The most interesting test was using with the 10 years old Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 DC HSM lens which is an APS-C lens. I used this lens with Canon 30D in the old days. I also used it with 1D Mark II N in the old days. 1D Mark II N's sensor was a APS-H (x1.3 crop) camera. Photos came out with dark corners when 10-20mm mounted on it. I was very curious to see how it worked under the same focal length about full frame 14mm (10mm x 0.7 x 2).
It was very bad with the cheaper non-AF focal reducer (See below).
Photo taken by the cheap non-AF focal reducer: Corners were very bad. Totally, not usable.
Below: All E-M1 + Kipon + Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 DC HSM
Corners were all sharp and no dark corners (What?!). Quite amazing. BUT... you must set the AF mode at C-AF (continuous) instead of S-AF (single). If the camera was set at S-AF, the lens would hunt the AF points for a long time without letting you to release the shutter.
If you ask me... Will we use this for work? No. The combo is not as good as Sony A7R II or A7 II with EF adaptor.
