Meike Launches Canon EF to RF Adapter with Drop-in Filters

Meike has announced the MK-EFTR-C Drop-in Filter Mount Adapter which allows for Canon EF and EF-S lenses to work with RF-mount cameras with aperture control and autofocus and image stabilization support along with the ability to use drop-in filters.

The new adapter is compatible with all EF and EF-S lenses along with all RF-mount cameras and Meike states that it supports autofocus via a built-in electronic contact that theoretically also allows for the transfer of EXIF data.

While EF to RF adapters are common and Canon even produces one with Variable ND drop-in filter support, it's not cheap at nearly $400. Meiki appears to want to cut in to that market by offering what it seems to claim to be equal support but for less than half the price. The Mk-EFTR-C is built with an all-metal construction and what is promised to be "fine workmanship" and "solid quality."

The adapter weighs 138.9 grams when it is outfitted with the variable neutral density filter and measures 2.87 by 0.95 inches in size, which is extremly close to the size of the official Canon adapter which measures 2.9 by 1.0 inches in size, but is a bit heavier as the Canon version weighs 121 grams.

While the variable neutral density filter is included with the adapter, Meike also sells additional filters including a clear glass filter as well as a circular polarizer.

This type of adapter is useful for both photographers and videographers and allows for the use of a variety of lenses with different front filter sizes without needing to carry along an equal number of different front-mounted filters. Kolari vision also produces a drop-in filter adapter that _PetaPixel '_s David Crewe positively reviewed.

At the time of publication, the Meike MK-EFTR-C was already listed as out of stock but the company says that it expects to be able to ship more by the end of November.

The adapter, which as mentioned includes the variable neutral density drop-in filter, costs $150 while the filter itself can be purchased for $80 directly from Meike. The circular polarizer droop-in filter is listed for $48. The "extra holder" listed on the site is $32 very likely refers to the clear glass filter, which is particularly useful to protect and seal the adapter when either the variable neutral density filter or the circular polarizer is not in use.

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Drop-In Filters for Canon RF Adapter Add Swirly Bokeh to Any EF Lens

Kolari Vision has developed a filter that works with Canon's EF to RF adapter with support for drop-in filters that can add a swirly bokeh effect to any EF lens. This would theoretically let those who enjoy the unique bokeh of lenses like the Petzval 80.5mm or 55mm achieve that effect with any EF lens.

Kolari Vision says that its new Swirl Bokeh filter is capable of producing "dreamy blurred backgrounds" for photos where the photographer is trying to create a different look to a portrait or just wants the subject to stand out more prominently from the background. The filters are designed to be used specifically with the Canon EF-EOS R Drop-In Filter Lens Mount Adapter and would give the swirl bokeh effect to theoretically the entire lineup of EF lenses when combined with an RF-mount camera.

According to Kolari Vision, the term bokeh comes from the Japanese word “bokeru,” which means blur or haziness.

"In modern photography, it directly refers to the way the out-of-focus areas of an image are rendered by a lens. The 'swirl' bokeh effect is usually the result of a defect and poor focusing on a specific lens. Modern professional lenses are not affected by these defects and will never produce the rare 'swirl' bokeh effect," the company writes.

Modern photographers who want an unusual out of focus area now either seek vintage lenses that can be adapted to modern cameras, or they have to purchase standalone new optics that have been specifically designed to grant the unusual bokeh swirl. As mentioned, Lomography has recently released two Petzval lenses that were made to mimic the swirl effect for modern cameras: the Petzval 55mm f/1.7 Mark II Bokeh Control Art Lens and the Petzval 80.5mm f/1.9 MKII Bokeh Control Art Lens. Neither is particularly expensive, but both do limit the photographer to one specific focal length.

"Many photographers chase the rare classic swirl bokeh effect by purchasing older, vintage lenses but there is now no need to purchase additional lenses as long as you have Canon’s RF to EF Drop-in Adapter and our Swirly Bokeh Drop-in Filter," Kolari Vision writes.

The Swirl Bokeh Filter is currently available in two variations that offer two levels of swirl "strength." The company says that the 1x variation will produce a "great" swirly bokeh while the 2x produces "a more dramatic iteration of the effect."

Below is an example of a photo taken with the Canon EF50mm f/1.4 USM adapted to the EOS R5 with the drop-in filter adapter, but with no filter in place:

The image below uses the 1x filter:

And this last photo uses the 2x filter:

Below is a side-by-side with all three to better show the difference in swirl intensity. There does appear to be a tradeoff of sharpness for a more intense bokeh swirl:

The 1x and 2x filters can each be purchased for $100 or both can be purchased together for $150 on the Kolari Vision website.

#equipment #news #adapter #bokeh #canon #canonadapter #canonef #canoneftorf #canonrf #dropin #dropinfilter #eflenses #eftorfadapter #filters #kolarivision #rfmount #swirlybokeh