Could there ever be a focal reducer optically designed for MFT?

Jüri · Nov 19, 2014

First of all, I'm very aware of the focal reducers with MFT mount. But as far as I understand, all of those are just full frame to APS-C focal reducers with MFT mount. So unlike an APS-C sized sensor, MFT with a focal reducer still only utilizes about 3/4 of the image created by a full frame lens.

The thing is that I'm really fond of old full frame lenses and I feel like I can't use them to their fullest with any MFT camera and focal reducer combination. I don't care much about corner sharpness whereas I'd like to achieve the shallowest DoF possible. Under these conditions it seems inevitable to give up MFT for an APS-C mirrorless camera.

What I'm asking is whether or not it would techincally be possible to create a 0.5x focal reducer in addition to the 0.71x ones that are currently available? And how likely is it that someone will ever produce and sell this?

Promit · Nov 19, 2014

Metabones and Brian Caldwell's past comments have implied that it is possible, but that quality would suffer significantly.

manzoid · Nov 19, 2014

I thought the ones designed for black magic cameras had a smaller reduction multiplier, but wouldn't work with oly /pan because of interference with the shutter. I do remember someone asking if the gm1 would work because of the different shutter, but I never saw an answer.

Also fotodiox has talked about releasing a 0.5x focal reducer, but after they got it wrong with the vizelex, and again with the excell, I'm not holding my breath.

RnR · Nov 19, 2014

I think the black magic camera's also have a smaller sensor than m43.

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Could there ever be a focal reducer optically designed for MFT?

Jüri Mu-43 Regular

Promit Mu-43 All-Pro

manzoid Mu-43 Regular

RnR Mu-43 All-Pro