When I first started using a lens adapter on the Lumix GH2 a few years ago, I remember wishing there was an adapter on the market with a built-in ND filter. I don’t know if this is possible from an engineering or design perspective, but I just feel like being able to easily control ND filtering on each lens it’s adapted to would be a lifesaver.
Like many of you, speed is of the essence to me when I’m on set. I often produce with limited time and budget, so I’m always on the lookout for tools that can help speed up my workflow without sacrificing quality… which is of course why I think adapters with built-in NDs are so cost-effective price reasons.
Not long ago, Fotodiox released a range of products to address this need – the ND Throttle Adapter. They are designed to adapt various glasses (Canon, M42, Leica, etc.) to cameras with mirrorless mounts, such as those offered by Sony, Blackmagic, Panasonic, Fujifilm, etc.
While I’ve had my eye on these adapters for a while, it wasn’t until recently that I discovered the direct need for one because I’m shooting more and more with the Fuji X-T2, And have been trying to adapt my Canon glass to it.
So a few weeks ago I decided to order the adapter and test it to see what kind of optical performance it had.
Here are my thoughts…
Canon EF – Fuji X ND Throttle
My first impressions of the adapter out of the box were very positive. It feels well made and sturdy on my camera. It had no issues locking onto my X-T2 (some adapters were a little tight or loose) and even held some of my heavier glass in place fairly securely.
On paper, I don’t like the color of the throttle ring. It’s a metallic blue, which detracts from the look of the adapter (and therefore your entire setup), and I would have preferred it to be all black. I know this is nitpicking, but still…
Still, shooting with the adapter proved to be a very positive experience. The day I got it, I ran some point-and-shoot tests to gauge how it performs in real-world situations, and I was impressed.
I could even tell from the electronic viewfinder on the camera that the filter didn’t introduce any major color casts, and after further experimentation in post, I was definitely able to see how image sharpness and sharpness were maintained.
One complaint I did have while shooting was that the actual ring on the adapter (used to adjust the ND settings) felt like it could be tighter. I wouldn’t say it’s loose, but it’s so loose that you could accidentally knock it out of place without realizing it. After a few shots, I got into the habit of double-checking the settings before each shot, but it would be better to lock it more securely in place to avoid any potential missteps.
Another thing I quickly realized was that I definitely needed another adapter that didn’t have an ND filter at all. Fotodiox says this adapter will cut between 1 and 8 stops of light (depending on your setup), but the low end is really more like 2 stops in my opinion. This of course means that in low light situations a regular adapter that allows light to pass through completely will be better.
As long as you’re using the adapter correctly, none of these things really affect image performance or quality…they’re just factors to consider when determining which scenarios the adapter is (or isn’t) suitable for.
For me, I know the final test of whether this adapter will become a staple in my camera kit will come down to color performance. While I’m basically optimistic (based on what I saw in the electronic viewfinder while shooting), I still need to dig a little deeper to decide if I can actually trust the adapter in real-world shooting.
Almost all ND filters (especially variable ND filters) are prone to color casts, and often cause images to look warmer/greener when used at stronger levels. Unfortunately, this is true of even some of the higher-end variable ND filters on the market, so to be honest, I didn’t expect the world to be that way when it came to this $79 adapter.
That being said, the results actually far exceeded my expectations.
Take a look at the images below…they are all JPEG stills shot with my X-T2 in Astia Soft mode at ISO 200.
The first is a still photo taken without an ND filter at all –
The second image almost uses the ND throttle –
Although there is indeed a certain degree of color cast, it is not that serious considering that the ND stops down the aperture almost the entire time. I would shoot with it confidently and color correct in post as needed. Also, it’s worth noting that no matter how you set ND Throttle, the color shift is actually the same. In other words, cutting off 2 stops of light will have roughly the same amount of color shift as cutting off 8 stops of light.
For good measure, I wanted to compare its performance to my Tiffen 77mm Variable ND.
This is what the image looks like using only Tiffen (no ND throttle) –
Now look at them side by side. On the left is ND Throttle, on the right is Tiffen. Both are close to maximum strength——
Obviously ND throttle performance is better.
This surprised me because I thought Tiffen (which specializes in making filters after all) would outperform a discount brand like Fotodiox, but apparently I was wrong. While price is certainly a factor in quality, another variable here is size…
I have to assume that Fotodiox performs better than Tiffen and costs less because the filter requires much less glass. Presumably Fotodiox could use higher quality materials as Tiffen needs to cover a larger size (77mm in this case) while still remaining cost competitive.
Regardless, it’s nice to know that this adapter can be used for professional work. It’s by no means perfect, but it’s good enough to be relied upon in actual production if needed, and can easily be color corrected in post to neutralize any slight color shifts.
In short, I highly recommend this adapter to anyone looking to streamline their on-set workflow. It certainly has some room for improvement (as I’ve outlined above), but if used with care and in the right circumstances, it will deliver great results.
Many of you have been asking for more X-T2 footage and I plan on posting more soon! I’ve been busy finishing my feature film in time for festival submission, but as that process comes to an end, I’m looking forward to documenting my X-T2 project in more detail soon.
stay tuned!
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