Techart Pro Review - Autofocus Adapter (Leica M to Sony E-mount)
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- Опубликовано: 6 дек 2016
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Our in-depth review of the Techart Pro Leica M to Sony E-mount Autofocus Adapter. The video includes an explanation about how to handle metering and exif data.
Table of contents:
1:19 - Design and build quality
2:14 - Focus distances
5:59 - Autofocus and image stabilisation
8:59 - Metering and Exif data
15:12 - Conclusion 
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Best review yet of this device;the discussion of EXIF and metering is particularly helpful.
Best review about this adapter on RUclips!
Thanks for the best and the most detailed review of the Techart Pro adapter!
Really dense information about pretty much everything you need to know about working with this adaptor. Thanks, esp for the EXIF vs exposure issue and workaround.
Thanks for the detailed review Mathieu. I agree with you that this level of details is needed because there is a disconnection between accurate metering and camera exposure info on screen. I could live without correct EXIF data, but the on-screen exposure info would throw me off if I didn't know how this adapter is supposed to work. Guess I'll hold off on purchasing until the next version.
I tried also with my Nikkor MF 1000mm f11 mirror reflex lens, the same way I pre-focus the subject then press the release button, as soon as I hear the beep sound then click.... it just work fine too. I'm so happy with this Techart adapter, coz I have a bun of mirror reflex lens, that really hard for me to get the perfect focus manually, now I don't have to worry anymore.
Great video!
Purchased the Fotodiox last week. Arrived today and updated the FW via the Techart app to v.06 did the entire process on my a6300 and works perfectly. For near focus auto-focus you need to set your manual focus not at infinity and it will provide close focus. Also tested it on my a7III and even eye AF works. Very cool product. The entire Techart Pro and Fotodiox story is interesting. I assume that Techart had their product made in China. Through a bad contract(?) between them and their chinese producer the latter sold the product on to Fotodiox without mentioning the FW update. As I was able to purchase my fotodiox version last week it seems that either fotodiox has since 2016 started to pay a license to Techart (following a lawsuite) or that Techart had a loop in their contract with their Chinese supplier which makes it impossible for them to start a lawsuite. I think they have a license agreement as both companies seem to be very silent about the entire affair. But in the end the product works as advertised.
Does the EyeAF work on this adapter? Is limited to any A7 model (II, RII, III, RIII)?
I try it with Nikon adapter and used my Nikkor MF500mm f8 reflex mirror lens, it work fine, but I have to pre-focus manually to the object then press the shutter halfway, it will automatically focus then click. the result is amazing.
I didn't get the video part, would continuous focus work if I wanted to use this adapter with M lenses to record video?
...your just clarified it again at the end of the video. Too bad it is not working for video. :(
Good info thanks
Excellent review. Would be interesting to compare with the Fotodiox adapter (unless they just boought it from Techart)
It's pretty much exactly the same.
very comprehensive video. I fully concur with your findings. Hopefully @techart will come up with an IOS App allowing the changes that the Android App allows quickly.
I for one like the adapter a lot and would buy it again
Freaking great video as usual
thanks!
I have a fixed-focus lens (Nikkor-O 55mm F1.2; it doesn't have a focus ring). If I use that lens on this adapter, will the lens be able to focus on different focal planes? Or will it remain at fixed-focus? Thanks.
It should be able to focus on different focal planes since the adapter moves back and forth, however without a focus ring you will be limited.
Does this work with new Sony Cameras like the A7s3 or fx3?
Thanks for a very comprehensive review! One missing element though: the noise generated by the motor in the adapter. Could you add something on that?
It does make noise but it's not too loud.
Detailed review which is quite informatory.My question is it possible if having already eos adapters one can use with this adapter for different lenses and perform AF. Thanks .
do you mean using the Canon eos adapter with the techart pro?
To make it more precise have already eos 5D and using with different adapters. My question is if i attach Techart Pro LM-EA7 adpter on my body sony A 7ii and
eos Lecia adapter now have eos mount will all adapters for eos 5d (OM, PK, M42 and so on) will work in the mount of eos adapter for lecia and AF my all lenses.
Honestly I don't know, it's one of those combinations that need to be tested directly. However you may go beyond the maximum weight limitation so the techart pro wouldn't focus well.
Thanks for quick response.
Any view as to support of the EyeAF feature with this adapter and the Sony A7II? Sigma and Metabones seem to have achieved this meanwhile?
They released a new firmware update recently but not sign of EyeAF support.
Thanks for this Video, The instruction that come with this adapter are horrible. This explained a few things clearly.
+Mokhtar Chahine yep the instructions are not clear at all.
Mathieu Gasquet wonderful set oh photos. All the best !
Does it works on video mode? Pls reply. Thank you
No it doesn't unfortunately.
That f/2 metering fucked me up HARD.....until i figured it out
Will it adapt canon fd lenses ?
Since you made this video they have updated the firmware multiple versions. Perhaps, you could make another video and talk about the improvements?
Unfortunately I don't have the adapter anymore.
Bummer! Well, when you run out of things to review, perhaps Techart could send you one to play with. 👍☺
hello I have a question to ask you, can I use Techart Pro in my sony a7rii with zeiss loxia 21mm f2.8 distagon - zeiss loxia 50 f2 planar-zeiss 35 f2 biogon?
Hi, no it’s not possible because of the mount (it is designed to attach Leica M lenses) and because the flange distance would be longer.
apparently with latest firmware EyeAF works !
Henrik Gustav yes it does, on a7iii . even better than in a6000. It track the eye in most part of the frame. I truly believe this people will continuous upgrading it through firmware getting close and close to a real fe lens. Super happy with my Minolta’s and my last acquisition voigtlander 40 1.4.
Remember use it at relatively clean environment,
and always bring your brush,
its mechanism is dust sensitive.
Dont use it in dessert or rain, for example ; p
Autofocus does not work well under low light. One trick that I'm using is: 1) Set the lens adapter aperture (in camera) to the desired F number; 2) rotate the lens aperture to 2 (to have enough light for autofocus) 3) half press shutter to autofocus 4) after focus is acquired, rotate the lens aperture to the desired F number.
This way, it will be easier to autofocus, the exposure will be correct, and we record correct aperture to EXIF.
Hope this trick will be helpful!
Thanks for sharing!
By using this method, I notice another problem. Some fast or old lens have the problem of focus shift, for example, the focus of f/1.2 and f/2.8 is different. 😢
Very interesting review, Mathieu. Wondering if you've heard anything additionally since posting the review over a year ago? More importantly, wondering if you'd have any views on my "dilemma." I shoot with Sony A7R2s and I also sometimes use a Nikon F100. I've invested in a Kickstarter project to revive the old Zeiss Biotar (being manufactured by Oprema Jena) and it's time for me to choose my mount for the manual focus Biotar 75 1.5 and 58 2.0. I'd LOVE to have AF on these new lens!
It seems my choices are...
1) stick with an E mount lens and use manual focus only on the A7R2s.
2) Get a Nikon F mount for the Biotars and then get the Techart Pro Leica M to Sony E mount adapter... and get the additional Techart adapter for Nikon F to Leica M mount. (This would allow me to use the lens on my Nikon F100, on my A7R2 with a manual adapter I already own, and also use it on my A7R2 which Techart claims would work using this dual adapter configuration.)
Do you think this is too big of a risk? Do you know if others have used two Techart Pro adapter configurations like this? It just makes me really nervous but I also sort of default to the position that, in the worst case, I could always simply use the lens as manual focus lens only should the TechArt configuration fail. Appreciate any thoughts, Mathieu, or anyone!
Hi Scott, I don't know of anybody else that has tested this dual configuration. One thing that comes to mind is to check the weight of the whole setup because the Techart adapter has a limitation concerning the maximum weight in order for the AF motor to work properly.
Right, Mathieu! Great point. Thanks as always for your excellent work. I've since read a long chain on FredMiranda and some folks have experienced a wobble while many others not (appears to be a mounting issue)... TAP seems to be a small company that is braving some incredible and powerful waters. I'm on the fence but I guess my default position can always be to simply use a manual NikonF-SonyE adapter if I decide to go with the Nikon mount and use on both Nikon and Sony.
Is it possible to use this in continuous AF mode for video?
Nope, C-AF doesn't work for video.
Does this allow focus tracking for video?
No, C-AF doesn't work in video mode.
If you had to guess, do you think this would work on the A7R III?
I don't see any reasons why it shouldn't since the A7r III has a very similar AF to the A7r II.
The latest firmware for TechArt is 7.0 which allows Eye AF and is much faster in overall operation.
extra work ill probably miss my shot ill just focus it myself lol
Does this adapter work with the first gen sony A7?
No unfortunately, you need a second generation camera at least, and one with phase detection AF.
do they make a MFT adapter?
+thatsaloadofcrap it's only for E-mount cameras as of now.
How does this thing even work? How the hell does it make a manual lens into an autofocus one and why the hell didn't anyone think about doing this before? This is witchcraft if you ask me
It simply moves the entire lens back and forth, so the distance from the sensor varies.
Mathieu Gasquet
It's such a simple thing but it really puzzles me how it took so long for somebody to figure this out and make a working product.
+The Dead Immortal it isn't that long actually. Such adapter is possible because of the short flange focal distance of Sony E-Mount cameras. Sony's full frame cameras have been around for 3 years now but phase detection with third party lenses was enabled with the A7r II first (June 2015), and then with the A7 II via firmware update. The Techart Pro was announced in early 2016 so it took them less than 1 year.
Mathieu Gasquet
Oh. Well I stand correct then. Thanks for the info lol, you guys are great as always.
Contax AX had similar AF tech for manual lenses by adjusting plane of film assembly. Pentax made AF adapter for manual lenses back in 1980s. Techart certainly isn't the first one to do AF with Manual lens.
Can you try this with the A9 or A7r3? I think that it should have eye AF :)
Sorry, I don't have it anymore.
I felt very tempted to have eye AF with my vintage primes yesterday and I will probably try to buy the Fotodiox Pronto. The problem is that I live in Europe and those brands are not so easy to find here.
Where is it made?
I don’t have all those problem of incorrect metering information. I have firmware 6, maybe this review was done on an old firmware update? I have f2 and what the machine tell me is what it is.
Firmware 4 was the latest when I tested this. Apparently you can also get EyeAF with certain cameras now.
i must have gotten a bad adapter since it never worked, got the last version of it, the V6 and I never got support from tech art nor the ebay retailer so i had to return it......
With the help of your review I just ordered one. Listed and selling all my Canon gear to move over to Sony. For size alone let alone the specs, I have ordered Sony A7 III. Another reason is I have in my possession 7 leica lenses left to me in an extensive Leica collection. Was wondering how I might utilise them after 10 years now in a display case, 3 of them brand new Titaniums: 35mm 1.4, 50mm 1.4 & 90mm 2.8. Similar range in Summicrons too. I know right! Can't wait to try the system out. All that glass at my finger tips for all these years. got to thinking what the point was down sizing the size and weight of the camera only to put on massive lenses. May video my experience when I get the camera and adapter.
The A7 III is one of the best mirrorless on the market right now, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Let me know how do you find the combo with the adapter and M lenses!
how loud is it?
+STEHH87 it's not too bad but the motor is a little bit noisy.
Does it auto focus In video well?
+DesoloZ no.
seems like most of the problems can be solved with a firmware update. i have that adapter has a USB port on it.
Not a USB port, no, but it has internal Bluetooth for firmware updates.
has ANYONE tried this with an a7s or a camera without the phase detect? I really want to have AF with my a7s. I DO NOT need the full speed, its for convenience and for shooting events to be talking to the people while it focuses instead of burying myself in my camera all the time on certain shoots. Also, for club photography, my flash will read a lens and use its focus lamp making focusing easier as it is. If anyone has any experience with the original a7, a7r or a7s or even a6000 with this please message me!!
Did you try it on there a7s or a7sII ? I'm curious if it would work since I own a a7sii
Using tripod with this TechPro adapter is extremely inconvenient. You can't mount a quick plate with the adapter on because of the motor protruding below the camera. They do sell a knock-off L-bracket on their site, but it's only usable in portrait mode. I've asked them three times to post a photo with the camera mounted in normal landscape mode. Not only they didn't respond, they've deleted the questions from the thread. Very unprofessional.
Sounds like a headache using this adapter
You put much more Ads during your video, compared to other youtuber.
There are 3 ads set in the video, with the third being right at the end. If you're saying that this is much more than other youtubers, then we're watching completely different channels. I've seen more ads in shorter videos.
Also, please consider that a lot of hard work goes into making a video like this. It is an independent review that took time to be produced, with no sponsorship or other income of the kind.
been waiting 2 mths for a reply to why my techart doesn't work, wrote to them now 5 times! Don't buy this product if you want customer service!