XL2 and EF Lens Adapter / EF Lenses / EOS Lens

Chris Hurd · September 4th, 2009, 03:50 PM

Caleb, I have rec'd word from Canon USA that they are double-checking
the accuracy of that particular page. Be advised though that the stock
20x lens already covers the focal length range that you would get with
the EF-S 60mm with the EF adapter (appx. 430mm equivalent). So
there's really not much point to doing that.

Caleb Royer · September 4th, 2009, 04:01 PM

Thanks for checking with Canon Chris. About the 60mm lens being the same as the 20x stock lens, I plan on using it for macro work since it is a life size 1:1 macro lens.

Caleb Royer · November 22nd, 2009, 08:08 PM

I got my EF adapter from B&H and tried it with my EF-S 60mm f/2.8 macro lens and it didn't work. The back of the lens hits the front of the EF adapter so it does not fit but, I will sell the lens on eBay and buy a canon EF 70-300mm lens for wildlife.

TingSern Wong · November 22nd, 2009, 08:26 PM

I believe the EF adaptor is only for EF lenses and not for EF-S lenses. I have a Tamron Macro (for Canon) EF lens 100mm f/2.5 (not EF-S) and it works perfectly with the EF adaptor.

Michele Coser · March 12th, 2010, 02:47 AM

I was wondering if is possible to take a photographic lens like this:

VALIDO ZOOM 42/75mm YASHICA FX & CONTAX RTS 137 139 167 su eBay.it per Contax e Yashica, Obiettivi, Fotografia e Video

(just for example, but it might be any other brand); and mount a canon xl flange instead of the lens flange, this way the photographic lens can be mounted directly to the XL body without using an adapter (from what i understood is the adapter that cause the magnification factor?).

Tom Hardwick · March 12th, 2010, 03:03 AM

The magnification factor is all to do with the gate dimensions and the focal length of the lens, not how many adapters or spacers lie between the lens and the gate.

So to have a wide-angle for a 1"/3 chip you'll need a focal length in the order of 3 mm and for tele you'll need 50 mm or so. The lens you've spotted is a less-than-2x zoom with an f/3.5 max aperture :-( that will equate to something like a 300 to 525 mm telephoto on the Canon.

tom.

Michele Coser · March 12th, 2010, 03:55 AM

Thanks for the clarification; i was suspecting it but i wasn't sure... anyway here is a guy who make nikon/pentax/contax adapter to xl body for nearly 120/130€ (and many other adapters).

Adriano Lolli

Robert Muncie · July 13th, 2010, 07:33 AM

New to the XL2 family and was looking at the Canon EF adapter. Are there any advantages to using one of these with the 20X lense the XL2 comes with

Per Johan Naesje · July 13th, 2010, 08:27 AM

Hi Robert,
you can´t combine the 20x lens that comes with your camera and the ef-adapter!

The Canon ef-adapter is used to attach 35mm EF-lenses to your XL2. Note that when you attach EF-lenses to the XL2, due to the much smaller chip you got a magnification factor of at least 7.8 dependig of which aspect ratio you´re using. A 200mm EF lens gives you 1560mm on the XL2!

There is some articles at dvinfo which might be interesting:
The Watchdog Skinny on the Canon XL2
Guide to XL2 Lens Options by Chris Hurd
XL2 Fields of View Comparison by Chris Hurd

So it all depends on what you want to do. Using EF-lenses is more aimed for wildlife shooters. If you want to go the other way in the wide sections you have the 3x wide lens The Canon 3x Wide Angle Zoom Lens by Jim MacAlister

Rodney Compton · July 20th, 2010, 05:49 PM

the big debate is always whether the xl2 is better with ef lenses or with a non glass adapter for fd lenses.

I have both and can categorically say that it is a moot point, since footage from either ef or fd lenses is entirely dependent on the optics of the donor lenses and a straight comparison is almost impossible to make unless you have identical fd and ef lenses.

I am currently using a 5d mk2 and have some amazing footage, but the depth of field restrictions are onerous to say the least. At least with small chip cameras like the xl2 there is more leeway.

TingSern Wong · December 21st, 2010, 11:23 AM

I am trying to locate www.ronrail.com or www.ronsrail.com - and both of them gave me "server not found". Is he still in the business of making sights and/or rails?

Per Johan Naesje · December 26th, 2010, 08:49 AM

TingSern, I´m afraid that Ronsrail is out of business! Maybe a search on Ebay for a used one could do?

Another source is here:
- Kennan Ward Super-Tele Package - Kit Configuration Page
It´s look pretty equal to the Ronsrail IMHO!

TingSern Wong · December 26th, 2010, 09:53 AM

Per Johan, Thanks for the bad news then. I am looking for the Ronsight equivalent actually. I have a Ronsight that was meant for XL2 mounting. I am wondering if there are equivalent for DSLR cameras - because if I put a 500mm lens with 1.7X teleconverter in front on my Nikon DSLR - I have big problems figuring out where the camera is pointing to. While this question might not be entirely related to video (XL2) - I need some solutions equivalent to a Ronsight. Thank you.

Richard Rouillard · December 26th, 2010, 12:32 PM

I bought a Ronsight before they went out of business. I film wildlife using a Canon XL2 and Nikon lenses with an adaptor. I find it is essential when using my 80mm to 400mm Nikon lens for locating the subject and following it (in the case of birds in flight). The device is a "Red Dot" gunsight modified with an adaptor to fit in the XL2's flashgun mount. It would be worth Googling for red dot sights for rifles and shotguns to see what is available. I'm fairly sure that any small engineering workshop would be able to fashion a mount suitable for an XL2.
The sight basically is a tube incorporating a small LED in the centre of the field of view. There are elevation and windage adjusting screws on the sight that I haven't found necessary to use as yet. As the sight does not magnify the image in any way you retain a wide field of view enabling you to obtain the subject and track it, keeping the red dot aligned on the target.
I tried to purchase the Ronsrail lens support rail at the same time but it was out of stock. I managed to get a very good substitute from "Really Right Stuff" in the USA that actually was less expensive than the Ronsrail.
I had to have an extra I/4 inch tapped Whitworth hole in the support to be able to mount it on my Sachtler DV4 tripod, but a local small engineering workshop only charged me £5 to do so. It works very well in terms of stability but is difficult to balance as it is rear heavy. I can probably address this by adding extra weight further forward on the rail by means of an extra slidable mounting clamp obtainable from "Really Right Stuff".
I really should have a more heavy duty tripod than the DV4 but as I am retired I can't really afford one

Daniel Brown · January 27th, 2011, 12:07 PM

Hi all,

Just had my account verified and been waiting all week to pose this question.

Does anyone know if you could use an m42 lens with a nikon adapter for the XL series? My XL has a Nikon adapter, and as I have loads of old m42 lenses I was wondering if I could attach them to the camcorder via another adapter. This would mean 2 adapters between the camcorder and lens, although only one will have glass in.

September 4th, 2009, 03:50 PM	#316
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Caleb, I have rec'd word from Canon USA that they are double-checking the accuracy of that particular page. Be advised though that the stock 20x lens already covers the focal length range that you would get with the EF-S 60mm with the EF adapter (appx. 430mm equivalent). So there's really not much point to doing that. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

November 22nd, 2009, 08:08 PM	#318
Caleb Royer Regular Crew Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ozarks, Missouri, USA Posts: 109	EF-S 60mm lens does not work with EF adapter I got my EF adapter from B&H and tried it with my EF-S 60mm f/2.8 macro lens and it didn't work. The back of the lens hits the front of the EF adapter so it does not fit but, I will sell the lens on eBay and buy a canon EF 70-300mm lens for wildlife. __________________ 5D Mark II, 70-300mm IS lens, 28-135mm IS lens, 50mm f/1.8 lens, Canon HG20, 503HDV head, Adobe Creative Suite 4 Production Premium

July 13th, 2010, 07:33 AM	#323
Robert Muncie New Boot Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 23	EF adapter question New to the XL2 family and was looking at the Canon EF adapter. Are there any advantages to using one of these with the 20X lense the XL2 comes with

July 13th, 2010, 08:27 AM	#324
Per Johan Naesje Trustee Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Akershus, Norway Posts: 1,413	Hi Robert, you can´t combine the 20x lens that comes with your camera and the ef-adapter! The Canon ef-adapter is used to attach 35mm EF-lenses to your XL2. Note that when you attach EF-lenses to the XL2, due to the much smaller chip you got a magnification factor of at least 7.8 dependig of which aspect ratio you´re using. A 200mm EF lens gives you 1560mm on the XL2! There is some articles at dvinfo which might be interesting: The Watchdog Skinny on the Canon XL2 Guide to XL2 Lens Options by Chris Hurd XL2 Fields of View Comparison by Chris Hurd So it all depends on what you want to do. Using EF-lenses is more aimed for wildlife shooters. If you want to go the other way in the wide sections you have the 3x wide lens The Canon 3x Wide Angle Zoom Lens by Jim MacAlister __________________ - Per Johan

December 21st, 2010, 11:23 AM	#326
TingSern Wong Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Singapore, Rep of SINGAPORE Posts: 749	Anybody knows what happens to RONRAIL I am trying to locate www.ronrail.com or www.ronsrail.com - and both of them gave me "server not found". Is he still in the business of making sights and/or rails?

September 4th, 2009, 04:01 PM	#317
Caleb Royer Regular Crew Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ozarks, Missouri, USA Posts: 109	Thanks for checking with Canon Chris. About the 60mm lens being the same as the 20x stock lens, I plan on using it for macro work since it is a life size 1:1 macro lens.

November 22nd, 2009, 08:26 PM	#319
TingSern Wong Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Singapore, Rep of SINGAPORE Posts: 749	I believe the EF adaptor is only for EF lenses and not for EF-S lenses. I have a Tamron Macro (for Canon) EF lens 100mm f/2.5 (not EF-S) and it works perfectly with the EF adaptor.

March 12th, 2010, 02:47 AM	#320
Michele Coser Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Parma - Italy Posts: 91	I was wondering if is possible to take a photographic lens like this: VALIDO ZOOM 42/75mm YASHICA FX & CONTAX RTS 137 139 167 su eBay.it per Contax e Yashica, Obiettivi, Fotografia e Video (just for example, but it might be any other brand); and mount a canon xl flange instead of the lens flange, this way the photographic lens can be mounted directly to the XL body without using an adapter (from what i understood is the adapter that cause the magnification factor?).

March 12th, 2010, 03:03 AM	#321
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	The magnification factor is all to do with the gate dimensions and the focal length of the lens, not how many adapters or spacers lie between the lens and the gate. So to have a wide-angle for a 1"/3 chip you'll need a focal length in the order of 3 mm and for tele you'll need 50 mm or so. The lens you've spotted is a less-than-2x zoom with an f/3.5 max aperture :-( that will equate to something like a 300 to 525 mm telephoto on the Canon. tom.

March 12th, 2010, 03:55 AM	#322
Michele Coser Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Parma - Italy Posts: 91	Thanks for the clarification; i was suspecting it but i wasn't sure... anyway here is a guy who make nikon/pentax/contax adapter to xl body for nearly 120/130€ (and many other adapters). Adriano Lolli

July 20th, 2010, 05:49 PM	#325
Rodney Compton Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: London Posts: 90	the big debate is always whether the xl2 is better with ef lenses or with a non glass adapter for fd lenses. I have both and can categorically say that it is a moot point, since footage from either ef or fd lenses is entirely dependent on the optics of the donor lenses and a straight comparison is almost impossible to make unless you have identical fd and ef lenses. I am currently using a 5d mk2 and have some amazing footage, but the depth of field restrictions are onerous to say the least. At least with small chip cameras like the xl2 there is more leeway.

December 26th, 2010, 08:49 AM	#327
Per Johan Naesje Trustee Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Akershus, Norway Posts: 1,413	TingSern, I´m afraid that Ronsrail is out of business! Maybe a search on Ebay for a used one could do? Another source is here: - Kennan Ward Super-Tele Package - Kit Configuration Page It´s look pretty equal to the Ronsrail IMHO! __________________ - Per Johan

December 26th, 2010, 09:53 AM	#328
TingSern Wong Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Singapore, Rep of SINGAPORE Posts: 749	Per Johan, Thanks for the bad news then. I am looking for the Ronsight equivalent actually. I have a Ronsight that was meant for XL2 mounting. I am wondering if there are equivalent for DSLR cameras - because if I put a 500mm lens with 1.7X teleconverter in front on my Nikon DSLR - I have big problems figuring out where the camera is pointing to. While this question might not be entirely related to video (XL2) - I need some solutions equivalent to a Ronsight. Thank you.

December 26th, 2010, 12:32 PM	#329
Richard Rouillard New Boot Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Guernsey, Channel Islands, Great Britain Posts: 12	Richard Rouillard I bought a Ronsight before they went out of business. I film wildlife using a Canon XL2 and Nikon lenses with an adaptor. I find it is essential when using my 80mm to 400mm Nikon lens for locating the subject and following it (in the case of birds in flight). The device is a "Red Dot" gunsight modified with an adaptor to fit in the XL2's flashgun mount. It would be worth Googling for red dot sights for rifles and shotguns to see what is available. I'm fairly sure that any small engineering workshop would be able to fashion a mount suitable for an XL2. The sight basically is a tube incorporating a small LED in the centre of the field of view. There are elevation and windage adjusting screws on the sight that I haven't found necessary to use as yet. As the sight does not magnify the image in any way you retain a wide field of view enabling you to obtain the subject and track it, keeping the red dot aligned on the target. I tried to purchase the Ronsrail lens support rail at the same time but it was out of stock. I managed to get a very good substitute from "Really Right Stuff" in the USA that actually was less expensive than the Ronsrail. I had to have an extra I/4 inch tapped Whitworth hole in the support to be able to mount it on my Sachtler DV4 tripod, but a local small engineering workshop only charged me £5 to do so. It works very well in terms of stability but is difficult to balance as it is rear heavy. I can probably address this by adding extra weight further forward on the rail by means of an extra slidable mounting clamp obtainable from "Really Right Stuff". I really should have a more heavy duty tripod than the DV4 but as I am retired I can't really afford one

January 27th, 2011, 12:07 PM	#330
Daniel Brown New Boot Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Cornwall England Posts: 14	m42 Hi all, Just had my account verified and been waiting all week to pose this question. Does anyone know if you could use an m42 lens with a nikon adapter for the XL series? My XL has a Nikon adapter, and as I have loads of old m42 lenses I was wondering if I could attach them to the camcorder via another adapter. This would mean 2 adapters between the camcorder and lens, although only one will have glass in.