Metabones Unveils Fifth-Generation Smart Adapters on Fifth Anniversary

Metabones unveiled 4 new products on the fifth anniversary of the original Smart Adapter. They are EF to E CINE Smart Adapter, EF to E CINE Speed Booster ULTRA, EF to E Smart Adapter V and EF to E Speed Booster ULTRA II.

The headline feature of EF to E CINE Smart Adapter and EF to E CINE Speed Booster ULTRA is a positive-lock EF lens mount carried over from the critically acclaimed Metabones EF-FZ CINE Smart Adapter, a perfect companion to the positive-lock mount of the new Sony FS7 Mark II camera. All 4 new products are equipped with a rubber gasket to protect the E-mount connection from dust and moisture. To promote ease-of-use, an LED indicates the adapter's operation mode, optical image stabilization operation and communication status. A dedicated switch controls in-body image stabilization (IBIS) on Sony cameras equipped with SteadyShot INSIDE.

EF to E CINE Speed Booster ULTRA and EF to E Speed Booster ULTRA II feature the same world-renowned Speed Booster ULTRA optics by Caldwell Photographic and WB Designs that make lenses brighter, wider and sharper.

Metabones recounts the beginnings of the world's first fully electronic EF to E mount adapter 5 years ago, with only aperture control and auto-magnify (requires lens with distance information) but no autofocus support back then. Over the years firmware work has significantly expanded its capabilities. Today, the very same original Smart Adapter, though long discontinued, can still be upgraded to leverage the latest firmware benefits such as smooth iris (lens support required), fast contrast detection autofocus on all E-mount cameras, eye-AF, direct manual focus (DMF), zoom and distance display (requires lens with distance information), assignable custom button and 5-axis image stabilization (requires camera support).

Since the advent of the original EF to E Smart Adapter 5 years ago, Metabones has assumed a pivotal role in the mirrorless revolution. Cinematographers and photographers all over the world are armed with unprecedented flexibility of lens and camera choice.

EF to E CINE Smart Adapter will be available in February 2017 for 449 USD ex. VAT, and EF to E CINE Speed Booster ULTRA will be offered at the same time for 699 USD ex. VAT. Availability and pricing of EF to E Smart Adapter V and EF to E Speed Booster ULTRA II are to be determined.



New products:

• Canon EF-E mount T CINE Speed Booster ULTRA (MB_SPEF-E-BT3)
• Canon EF-E mount T CINE Smart Adapter (MB_EF-E-BT6)
• Canon EF-E mount T Speed Booster ULTRA II (model number MB_SPEF-E-BT3)
• Canon EF-E mount T Smart Adapter (MB_EF-E-BT5)

New key features:

• CINE models feature a new positive-lock EF lens mount. (Patent pending)
• Rubber gasket protects E-mount connection from dust and moisture.
• Compatible with Sony FS7 Mark II camera
• Status notification LED light
• Dedicated switch controls in-body image stabilization (IBIS)

Electronic features:

• Fast contrast-detect AF on all E-mount cameras.
• Phase-detect autofocus support on A7RII, A7II, A6300 and A6500.
• Smooth iris support with the latest Canon (2009+), Tamron (SP series 2013+) and Sigma (2016+) lenses
• Supports 5-axis in-body image stabilization of A7II, A7RII and A7SII. (Distance information from lens required; 3-axis IBIS if lens does not transmit distance information.)
• Powered by camera body. No external power source required.
• Aperture control from camera body.
• Custom function button assignable to more than 50 functions on A7 series and A6300/A6500.
• High performance 32-bit processor and efficient switched-mode power supply.
• Supports image stabilization (IS) lenses.
• Supports electronic manual focusing (e.g. EF 85/1.2L II and discontinued EF 50/1.0L)
• EXIF support (focal length, aperture, zoom range)
• Distance and zoom display on VG and FS series camcorders, A7 series and A6300/A6500 (lens with distance information support required).
• Auto magnify (lens with distance information support required)
• Auto "APS-C Size Capture" on full-frame cameras.

Optical (Speed Booster models only) / Mechanical Features:

• Increase maximum aperture by 1 stop.
• Increase MTF.
• Makes lens 0.71x wider.
• Advanced 5-element/4-group optical design incorporating ultra-high index tantalum-based optical glass by Caldwell Photographic in the USA (patent).
• Felt material flocked inside the opening to reduce internal reflection.
• The tripod foot is detachable and compatible with Arca Swiss, Markins, and Photo Clam ball heads.