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   Speed Booster

One of the most interesting products for this year, at least for the movie enthusiasts and professionals is Metabone's "Speed Booster"

It is a lens adapter for Canon and Nikon lenses (soon for Leica R, Contax-Yashica, Alpa and Contarex) on mirrorless cameras. So what's the big news? Here: it's also a focal (de)multiplier and amplifies the light transmission of the lens, more or less like many other manufacturers did in the past, for example Carl Zeiss in the 1960s with the 50mm f0.7 which was sporting a (non removable) rear element doing the trick.

Metabones and Caldwell Photographic are going to make this available as an adapter for your existing FX or DX lenses and mirrorless cameras, Micro Four Thirds, Fuji-x and Sony NEX. The Canon EF-to-NEX version will retain iris, autofocus and VR, while the Nikon version will be "G" compatible (with manual control). The adapter increases the maximum aperture by 1 stop, it also improves MTF, sharpness and has a focal length multiplier of 0.71x. A 50mm f2 designed for the 24X36 format becomes approximately a 35mm, that is 50mm f1.4 (real light transmission value) equivalent when mounted on a DX sensor. An ultra wide designed for the FX retains its angle of view when mounted on a DX sized camera; a 14mm becomes a 14mm equivalent, and so on...

Specifications:

• Magnification: 0.71x
• Maximum input aperture: f/1.26
• Maximum output aperture: f/0.90
• Lens elements/groups: 4/4
• Objective lens mounts: Canon-EF, Nikon-F (Leica-R, Contax C/Y, Contarex and Alpa planned)
• Capabilities, Canon-EF version: Electronic iris control, AF and VR
• Capabilities, Nikon-F version: Manual iris control of G type lenses
• Camera mounts: Sony NEX, Micro Four Thirds, (Fuifilm X planned)
• Length reduction (Sony NEX, version): 4.16mm
• Length reduction (Micro Four Thirds version): 6.17mm
• Dimensions Sony NEX version (diameter x length): 69mm x 27mm (with tripod mount removed)
• Weight Sony NEX version: 194 grams
• Tripod mount: Removable type with Arca Swiss compatibility

Via Photorumors.com