Canon EF Lens to Micro Four Thirds T Speed Booster XL 0.64x

Key Features

GH5, XL or ULTRA?

In a nutshell, we recommend XL for full frame lenses and ULTRA for DX/APS-C lenses. For the long story, read the 'limitations' column.

Features and Benefits  

Limitations

Optical

  • Increase maximum aperture by 11/3 stop
  • Increase MTF
  • Makes lens 0.64x wider
  • Patented 6-element/4-group optical design by Caldwell Photographic in the USA
  • Supports 4k video mode with DX lenses (except on GH5).

Electronic

  • Autofocus
  • Can be powered either by camera body or by third-party external 5V power source (not included)
  • Iris/aperture controlled by the camera body
  • Smooth iris support with the latest Canon (2009+), Tamron (SP series 2013+) and Sigma (2016+) lenses
  • Image stabilization (IS) lens support
  • Support for cameras with in-body image stabilization (IBIS), including Panasonic GX7, GX8, GX80/85 and Olympus cameras
  • Electronic manual focusing (e.g. EF 85/1.2L II and discontinued EF 50/1.0L)
  • EXIF (focal length, aperture, zoom range)
  • Distance and zoom display on camcorders (requires lenses supporting distance information)
  • Canon Cinema EOS lens (CN-E Compact-Servo) support, including AF (requires external 5V power through micro USB port), auto iris and servo zoom

Other

  • Detachable tripod foot compatible with Arca Swiss, Markins and Photo Clam ball heads.
  • The opening is flocked with felt material to reduce internal reflection.
 
  • Supports only Panasonic GH5m2, GH5s, GH5, GH4, GH3, G3, G5, G6, G7, G9, G10, GF3, GF5, GF6, GX1, GX8, GX80/GX85, GX9, Olympus E-PL7, PEN-F, Blackmagic Cinema Camera with Micro Four Thirds mount**, Pocket Cinema Camera*** and Micro Cinema Camera***
  • EF-S lenses require modification to fit or may remain incompatible even after modification (but third-party DX lenses can be used without modification)
  • On GH5, Speed Booster XL can be used with full frame lenses only. DX lenses are unable to cover full-sensor-width readout + in-body image stabilizer (IBIS)
  • EF-S and third-party DX lenses do not cover the full Micro Four Thirds sensor in still photo and FHD video (but will cover 4k video mode on GH4, GX8 and GX80/85).
  • No video AF for Olympus
  • AF may not work if the maximum aperture of the lens plus any EF Extender or other teleconverter attached is smaller than f/8 before boost or smaller than f/5.1 after boost.
  • AFC (continuous AF) and AFF (flexible AF) modes are not supported, except on Olympus OM-D E-M1.
  • Panasonic video AF may hunt more than a native lens or have unsatisfactory performance.
  • Some Tamron lenses may have unsatisfactory AF accuracy.
  • No support for Focus Stacking and Focus Bracketing on Olympus.
  • On Olympus, other than E-M1, you may move the single AF point among any of the 81, but you may not multi-point AF. There is no restriction on E-M1 and Panasonic.
  • Very early Olympus models (e.g. E-PL1) have no autofocus support.
  • EF-mount lenses are not silent but may make audible click noises during autofocus operation and iris changes which may be picked up by the built-in microphone of the camera. An external microphone is recommended for video.
  • Use of Canon Cinema Compact-Servo lenses such as CN-E 18-80mm T4.4 L KAS S for still photography is not supported.
  • Iris changes are in 1/8 stop steps which may be noticeable in video recordings. Programmed exposure mode and shutter priority exposure mode should not be used for video. This limitation does not apply to Cinema EOS lenses which permit fine resolution iris control, such as CN-E 18-80mm T4.4 L IS KAS S.
  • No support for in-camera correction such as peripheral shading, CA and distortion

A new Micro-4/3 mount Speed Booster® adapter designed exclusively for the Panasonic GH4 and other selected Micro Four Thirds cameras (refer to the below camera compatibility table), with a magnification of 0.64x.  The Speed Booster XL 0.64x uses an advanced 6-element optical design to achieve extraordinary optical performance at apertures up to an incredible f/0.80, a new record for Micro Four Thirds format. 

The new Speed Booster XL 0.64x reduces the full-frame crop factor of the Panasonic GH4 from 2.0x to 1.28x, thus effectively transforming these cameras into APS-H format.  When the GH4 is used in Cinema 4k video mode the horizontal full frame crop factor is reduced from 2.34x to 1.50x, thus effectively transforming the GH4 into a super-35 format 4k cine camera.  In addition, the speed of any attached lens is increased by 11/3 stops, with a maximum output aperture of f/0.80 when an f/1.2 lens is used.  For example, a 50mm f/1.2 becomes a 32mm f/0.80, which is the fastest aperture available for full size Micro Four Thirds format. (More information can be found in the press release here )



Description

Compatibility

The Speed Booster XL 0.64x is similar to the Blackmagic-specific 0.64x BMCC Speed Booster (MB_SPEF-BMCC-BM1), but has been completely re-designed to meet the following requirements:

  • The working distance has increased by 1mm to permit use on the Panasonic GH4 and a number of other Micro Four Thirds cameras without touching the flexible outer cover of the camera’s shutter mechanism.
     
  • The optics are optimized for a standard Micro Four Thirds filter stack thickness of 4mm rather than the 2.4mm found in Blackmagic cameras.
     
  • The image circle diameter has been increased to 21.63mm so that the full 17.3mm x 13mm Four Thirds format is covered.  This has been achieved while maintaining unusually high image quality over the 17.4mm image circle used by the Panasonic GH4 in its Cinema 4k video mode.

 

Although the Speed Booster XL 0.64x has extra clearance compared to the 0.64x BMCC Speed Booster, there are still a number of Micro Four Thirds cameras that are not supported due to mechanical clearance issues.  This is summarized in the table below, which is color-coded so that Green means the camera is supported and Red means the camera is not supported. 

Note that many of the Red-coded cameras actually do function, but there is a minor interference with the protective shutter cover.  Although slight contact with the shutter cover appears to have no effect on the functioning or cosmetics of either the camera or the Speed Booster we cannot support these combinations due to possible risk of damage.

BRAND MICRO FOUR THIRDS CAMERA MODEL
Blackmagic Cinema Camera Pocket Cinema Camera Micro Cinema Camera (HD) Micro Studio Camera (4K)        
JVC GY-LS300              
Olympus E-M5 E-M1 E-M10 E-M5 II E-M1 II      
PEN-F              
E-P1 E-P2 E-P3 E-P5        
E-PL1 E-PL2 E-PL3 E-PL5 E-PL6 E-PL7    
E-PM1 E-PM2 System OM-1          
Panasonic AF100              
GH1 GH2 GH3 GH4 GH5 GH5s GH5 Mk2 GH6
G1 G2 G3 G5 G6 G7 G9 G10
GF1 GF2 GF3 GF5 GF6 GF7 GF8 GF800/850/9
GX1 GX7 GX8 GX80/85 GX9      
GM1 GM5            

Select the correct EF-MFT Speed Booster fits for your camera:

Autofocus with an Optimum Balance of Accuracy, Speed, Consistency and Reliability

New in Speed Booster XL for Canon EF Mount to Micro Four Thirds is autofocus support, subject to certain limitations (see table above for details). We are pleased to report that Panasonic Micro Four Thirds camera bodies are capable of autofocusing accurately even if the maximum aperture of the Speed Booster and the lens combined is in the sub-f/1.0 range. Although our first and foremost priority is accuracy, we are able to make great strides in autofocus speed as well.

Autofocus Lens Compatibility List

The following table lists lenses which has been tested. Other lenses not listed here typically works well, too.

Accurate

Tested by the community, thanks!

Accurate only on newer cameras such as Panasonic G7, GX8 and GX80/85

Canon CN-E 18-80mm T4.4 Compact-Servo EF**
Canon CN-E 70-200mm T4.4 Compact-Servo EF**
Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L USM Fisheye*
Canon EF 20-35mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Canon EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II
Canon EF 35-80mm f/4-5.6
Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM*
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM*
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM*
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM*
Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro USM*
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM*
Canon EF Extender 1.4x III
Canon EF Extender 2x
Sigma 18-125mm f/3.8-5.6 DC HSM
Sigma 24-105mm f/4 Art
Tokina AT-X PRO 11-16mm f/2.8 DX II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM (Mark I)
Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L USM (Mark I)
Canon EF 200mm f/2.0L IS USM
Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM (Mark I)
Canon EF 400/2.8L IS USM (Mark I)

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM (non-IS)
Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM
Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM
Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM
Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM
Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC Art
Sigma 50-100mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art 016*
Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 VC USD A012*
Tamron SP 45mm f/1.8 VC USD F013*

Inaccurate

Require external USB power supply owing to high current consumption; AF inaccurate

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX HSM
Tamron 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II Macro A18
Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD A007
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD A009*
Tokina AT-X PRO 11-16mm f/2.8 DX (I)

Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC A20
Tamron 150-600/5-6.3 VC USD A011*

Does not fit, even after modification

Manual focus only

Not supported

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Nano USM

Contax N lenses modified by Conurus
Tamron SP 17-50mm f/2.8 VC B005
Zeiss ZE lenses

Focus confirmation "chips"

* with smooth iris support

** CN-E Compact-Servo lens with some of MFT cameras may require external power to autofocus

Manual Focus Lens Compatibility

Some improperly-made M42 screw mount adapters may short the electronic contacts of the Speed Booster and cause damage to the Speed Booster and/or camera body.

Focus confirmation "chips" such as Dandelion are incompatible.

Many manual focus lenses (e.g. OM 28/2.8, OM 50/1.8, Leica R 15/3.5) have rear protrusions (spikes, levers, other appendages) which would damage the optics and/or housing of Speed Booster. They need to be modified before they can be safely used on Speed Booster. Check and make sure there are no rear protrusions from the adapter/lens combination before using on Speed Booster. Scratches and damages caused by rear protrusions on Speed Booster are not covered by warranty.

List of manual focus lenses which REQUIRE MODIFICATION to be used on Speed Booster

Leica R

Super-Elmar-R 15mm
Elmarit R 28/2.8
Elmarit R 35/2.8
Summicron R 50/2
 

Nikon F

20/2.8 AI-S

Olympus OM

OM 18/3.5
OM 21/2
OM 21/3.5
OM 28/2.8
OM 50/1.8

Pentax K

Every Pentax K-mount lens has a protruding fin and an aperture lever. It does NOT fit.


Metabones Speed Booster XL 0.64x Specifications:

Magnification:  0.64x

Crop Factor for Full Micro Four Thirds format:  1.28x

Crop Factor with GH4 in Cinema 4k (4096 x 2160) Video Mode:  1.5x

Maximum Output Aperture:  f/0.80 (with f/1.2 lens attached)

Rectilinear Distortion:  < 0.8%

Lens Elements/Groups:  6/4

Length Reduction:  6.2 mm

Camera Mount:  Micro Four Thirds

Image Format:  17.3 mm x 13.0 mm (full Micro Four Thirds format)


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Disclaimer: we are NOT licensed, approved or endorsed by Micro Four Thirds or Canon.


 


Why Metabones®?

Since its inception, Metabones has been designing and manufacturing lens adapters recognized among professionals and enthusiasts as leaders in design and workmanship.

Contrary to the popular trend of other factories using an aluminum ring painted black on the camera-body-side, we instead take no short-cut but use precision-machined brass with chromium plating on both the camera-body and the lens sides of our adapters, in order to ensure smooth mounting, great appearance, and durability. The lens side of the adapter features a strong leaf-spring structure, strengthening the adapter-lens connection and ensuring tightness of the lens in order to reduce wear and prevent focus errors and optical alignment issues from appearing.

Metabones uses matte-black treatment to keep internal reflection to a minimum in order to maintain the maximum optical quality possible with the lens.

All Metabones Adapters follow this tradition of uncompromising precision, robust build quality and outstanding finish. Our new Smart AdapterTM series of products add industry-leading electronic interfacing technology from Canada, with true electronic control of the lens' aperture directly from the camera body.

Features

Our Smart AdapterTM  series adapters have the following additional features