Available at http://www.ebay.com/itm/281604979992

http://nofilmschool.com/2013/11/moondog-labs-anamorphic-filmmaking-iphone/#more-71401

http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/coming-soon-worlds-first-translucent-e-mount-adapter-for-canon-lenses/

Key Features

Speed Booster XL 0.64x

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 compatbility 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 )

Key Features

Increase maximum aperture by 11/3 stops
Increase MTF.
Makes lens 0.64x wider.
Build-in electronics to control lens aperture.
The lens aperture is set by the controls on the camera body.
Powered by camera body. no external power source required. 
High performance 32-bit processor and efficient switched-mode power supply.
The interior is painted with flocking coating to further reduce the internal reflection. 
The tripod foot is detachable and compatible with Arca Swiss, Markins and Photo Clam ball heads.
Support Panasonic GH4, GH3, G3, G5, G6, G10, GF3, GF5, GF6, GX1, Olympus E-PL7, Blackmagic Cinema Camera with Micro Four Thirds mount**, Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera***

Optics designed by Caldwell Photographic in the USA (patent pending).

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.

*Not yet tested

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)

Supported Not supported

EF lenses

Image stabilization (IS) lenses

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 (see note 1)

Contax N mount lenses modified to Canon EF by Conurus (see note 2)

Contax 645 NAM-1 adapter modified to Canon EF by Conurus (see note 2)

Sigma, Tamron and Tokina lenses in Canon EF mount (see note 2)

External 5 Volt power supply (see note 6)

Autofocus

EF-S lenses (some EF-S lenses may need modification)

Lens correction such as peripheral shading, CA and distortion

Focus confirmation "chip" (e.g. Dandelion)

M42 screw mount adapters (see note 4)

Stacking non-Metabones/non-Conurus mount adapters on top (see note 5 and list of lenses which require modification below.)

Lens: Tamron SP 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II VC

Note:

Requires lenses supporting distance information.
A third party zoom lens may need to be registered with the Speed Booster/Smart Adapter first in order to detect its maximum aperture. 
This Smart Adapter is designed to cover an 17.3mm x 13mm sensor.
Some improperly-made M42 screw mount adapters may short the electronic contacts of the Smart Adapter and cause damage to the Smart Adapter and/or camera body.
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 Smart Adapter. They need to be modified before they can be safely used on Smart Adapter. Check and make sure there are no rear protrusions from the adapter/lens combination before using on Smart Adapter. Scratches and damages caused by rear protrusions on Smart Adapter are not covered by warranty.
For those passive (without electronic pin or without power supply from the camcorder) MFT camcorders, this Speed Booster Adapter can also be powered by external third-party 5 Volt MicroUSB power supply*.
* ) third-party 5 Volt MicroUSB power supply is not provided in the box. The compatibility of 3rd party power supply can't be guaranteed. 

For use with fast lenses (faster than f/1.8), the pre-boost apertures will be displayed in the camera.

Slow lenses will report boosted apertures to the camera body but fast lenses will report pre-boost apertures. We won't show f/0.8(Speed Booster XL Max. limit) with a f/1.2 lens attached, but show f/1.2 instead. 

Example:

a) EF 85/1.2L attached, camera display = f/1.2, physical aperture  (lens + Speed Booster combined) = f/0.8 (Speed Booster XL Max. limit).
b) Sigma 18-35/1.8 attached, camera display = f/1.0, physical aperture (lens + Speed Booster combined) = f/1.0.

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

List of lenses (have been tested by metabones) with support on EF-M43 Smart Adapter. (Lenses which have been tested with EF-E Smart Adapter may refer to EF-E Smart Adapter product page.) Canon EF zooms

Canon 20-35mm3.5-4.5

Canon 28-80mm2.8-4L

Canon 70-200mm2.8L

Canon 24-70mm2.8_II

Canon 24-105mm4_L

Canon 70-200mm4_L

Canon 70-300mm4-5.6L

Canon 70-300mm4-5.6

Canon EF primes

Canon 50mm1.8

Canon 50mm1.4

Canon 85mm 1.2

Canon 100mm 2.8 Others

Sigma 18-200mm3.5-6.3

Zeiss 35mm2

List of manual focus lenses which REQUIRE MODIFICATION to be used on Smart Adapter

Many manual focus lenses have rear protrusions (spikes, levers, other appendages) which would damage the optics and/or housing of Smart Adapter. They need to be modified before they can be safely used on Smart Adapter. Check and make sure there are no rear protrusions from the adapter/lens combination before using on Smart Adapter. Scratches and damages caused by rear protrusions or by poor quality adapters are not covered by warranty. The following is an incomplete list of lenses known to be incompatible. 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.

www.metabones.com/products/details/MB_SPEF-m43-BM3

I'm trying to figure out how to get a "dreamy" look for some shoots of my project. I want the image to be a bit softer (not extremly soft) and all highlights should have some halo/glow effect. The best professional filters I have found are the Tiffen Pro Mist (not Black Pro Mist), but they are expensive (and hardly sold used on ebay).

1. Does someone want to sell used Tiffen Pro Mist 1/2 or 1 filters (4x4 or 77/82mm)?

2. How about the stocking + clear filter trick? Can anybody with experience chime in please.

As I know exactly what I want in every shot, there is no point in doing it in post, as digital effects are not on the same level as real in camera effects.

Thanks guys

Some say you can easily use M42, while others say it won't even screw on properly. Anyone here with experience on this topic?

• Formatt claims that these are manufactured using a carbon metallic coating, instead of a dye like typical ND filters.

• Formatt claims they are almost perfectly neutral across the visible, infrared, and ultraviolet spectra, thus replacing hot mirrors and IRND filters.

• They are available as circular screw-in filters as well as rectangular glass.

• The prices seem extremely competitive - around $100 for most of the circular filters.

• Formatt, Amazon, and B&H are taking pre-orders now. B&H list them as IRND instead of ND, but they're the same thing.

• Initial tests show them to be superbly neutral: http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?123352-Close-Look-Formatt-Hitech-Firecrest-ND-Filters

I'm super excited about these! I'm tired of ND filters that aren't so neutral.

I'm curious about the physics of how these work. They seem to be quite different from the reflective metallic coating-type filters like TrueND. And what is a "carbon metallic" coating?

Again, I bought the filter from a reputable seller on eBay with good ratings, it came in a pouch with the Schneider logo, and the filter itself has "Schneider" engraved on it. I bought it together with a Schneider Platinum circular polarizer that works great, which makes it even stranger. Could this be a counterfeit filter?

I appreciate your help,

Thanks a lot!

I recently purchased a Camdiox speedbooster (FD-MFT) adapter from Roxsen to use with a Blackmagic Cinema Camera and a host of FD lenses which I've been given.

Using a dumb adapter (MFT-NEX) I fitted the Camdiox to my NEX5N while I was awaiting for the Blackmagic to arrive and found that the Camdiox produced the well known blue spots in bright light, as have been described by others, I immediately sent this back and decided to pay a bit more and buy a Zhongyi Lens Turbo.

Having read the countless reviews saying that then Lens Turbo II was a better bet to escape blue spots I picked one up but this time decided to get it in FD-NEX form just for photography with the NEX5N.

It arrived and so far I've found that none of my FD lenses achieve infinity focus and a poor through-out. I've now read that these adapters cannot achieve infinity due to the rear element bumping the adapter - I'm so confused by why this is - can anyone explain why they've made this adapter if it cannot be used properly, as an non-professional I would think that having infinity to be a requirement of any lens.

Apart from the blue spots issue with the camdiox version I found it to be pretty perfect - I'm gutted to find my only possibility to use my FD lenses is the costly metabones.

Now that I'm using a GH4, I am still using this setup, but in UHD mode I'm getting a 1.7x crop, which is a little annoying to me. My Sigma 18-35 suddenly doesn't feel quite wide enough on the wide end for a walk-about lens, and I struggle to get good subject isolation in situations where it never used to be a problem.

Another annoyance is not having autofocus, or the possibility of image stabilization if I buy a VR Nikon lens in the future, due to the Nikon Speedboosters not having electronic contacts. I don't use autofocus in video, but I'd feel a lot more comfortable shooting stills if I had autofocus. I'd also feel more comfortable shooting video and stills beyond 85mm, if I had image stabilized lenses that are supported as such on my GH4.

Finally, around here everyone and their mom is using Canon. I'm mostly happy with my modest lens collection, but there are definitely times when I'd love to be able to throw someones' Canon 70-200mm f2.8 on my GH4.

To me, it seems like the best option at the moment is the Canon EF to BMCC-MFT Speedbooster. This has a 0.64x reduction, yielding a crop of 1.53x on the GH4 in UHD mode, which is damn near Super 35 -- perfect, in other words. It also inexplicably has electronic contacts (surprising, because the BMCC-MFT doesn't). This would mean that I get autofocus and image stabilization as an added benefit.

Finally, as far as I know, I could use a basic Nikon to Canon adapter ring to mount old Nikon AI/AI-s lenses (as well as newer Nikon glass with manual aperture rings, like my Rokinon Cine lenses) onto a Canon to BMCC-MFT Speedbooster, opening up the way for even more lens choices with a single Speedbooster.

I've read rumors about a GH4 specific Speedbooster. I also would happily spend the extra cash on an "Ultra" variant Speedbooster, if it yielded improve image quality. These are the main considerations that are holding me back from exchanging my Nikon-mount Sigma 18-35 for a Canon EF mount copy, and exchanging my Nikon to MFT Speedbooster for a Canon EF to BMCC Speedbooster.

Any thoughts on these questions would be very appreciated. I'm a little reluctant to sell my Sigma and Speedbooster, crippling my lens options for at least a week while I wait for Canon replacements to ship in... but overall, it seems like the best idea.

Before anyone suggests it, I know that I could remove the glass from a circular polarizer and use that, but I don't think that it would be smooth enough. I'd like to see if there is anything that is specifically designed for this.

As usual Forga have very good manufacturing quality. Very simple matte box, good if you need just work horse.

Available at - http://www.personal-view.com/deals/matte-boxes/fotga

I'm guessing this has something to do with the polarising effects of Variable ND filters and the effect that has on highlights, reflective surfaces etc.

Any thoughts on this? Are there any Variable ND filters out there which minimise the 'polarising' effect as they're certainly more convenient, but right now I just can't trust the look i'm getting from them and straight NDs give me a much more 'realistic' image (which I can apply looks to in post to take the edge off).

Thanks Igor for photos from Photokina.

Also, the idea of a speed booster has me excited for possible lenses in the future like the extremely wide Sigma 8-16mm (5.68-11.36mm w/ SB, 11.36-22.72mm FF) and fisheyes like the Opteka 6.5mm (4.615mm w/ SB, 9.23 FF) and other 10mm fisheyes (7mm w/ SB, 14 FF). My question regarding these are whether or not they'll vignette and because it sounds like it's too good to be true. Also, has anyone tried these and/or has samples on the SB?

Thanks for reading :)