FD to EF adapter ring.

[diegoespinoza]

Hi, I previously posted about using an old FD lens in a 50D with an adapter ring, I heard the quality of the image would not be as good because the adapter includes a glass in the middle and the glass is not of the best quality, I recently found some online that do not have the glass in the middle, I was wondering if it would work the same as when I use my old M42 with just a ring between the lens and the camera.

I don't mid having to auto-focus and not having aperture info on the files.

[OsmosisStudios]

You wont have autofocus (FD was manual focus anyway), you wont get aperture, but if you use an FD -> EF ring without a glass element, you'll also lose the ability to focus at infinity. That's what the glass is for.

FD and M42 had different flange-to-film distances, so you can get away with it with the M42, btu not with FD.

[inkista]

Using the adapters without the glass in them is like adding a small extension tube to the lens. You can no longer focus to infinity, and unless you only want to use the lens for thin DoF/portrait or macro work, chances are you're going to get frustrated with it. If you're not adpating a macro lens, chances are good, you want the adapter with the glass in it.

Whether or not it screws up the image quality enough to not be worth it is a matter of personal opinion. Those of us who are hyper-picky about our lenses tend to say not, but there are a number of shooters who find it to be perfectly acceptable. It's up to you. Like most photographic gear: it's up to you and your personal tolerance for pricetags that are going to make a purchase worth it or not.

The six mounts that can be easily adapted with simple rings are: M42, Pentax K, Nikon F, Olympus OM, Contax/Yashica, and Leica-R. Any lenses that aren't in those mounts are probably going to be a no-go, require glass in the adapter, or a lens mount replacement.