GH5, XL or ULTRA?
In a nutshell, we recommend XL for full frame lenses and ULTRA for DX/APS-C lenses. For the long story, read the 'limitations' column.
Features and Benefits |
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Limitations
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Optical
- Increase maximum aperture by 11/3 stop
- Increase MTF
- Makes lens 0.64x wider
- Patented 6-element/4-group optical design by Caldwell Photographic in the USA
- Supports 4k video mode with DX lenses (except on GH5).
Electronic
- Autofocus
- Can be powered either by camera body or by third-party external 5V power source (not included)
- Iris/aperture controlled by the camera body
- Smooth iris support with the latest Canon (2009+), Tamron (SP series 2013+) and Sigma (2016+) lenses
- Image stabilization (IS) lens support
- Support for cameras with in-body image stabilization (IBIS), including Panasonic GX7, GX8, GX80/85 and Olympus cameras
- Electronic manual focusing (e.g. EF 85/1.2L II and discontinued EF 50/1.0L)
- EXIF (focal length, aperture, zoom range)
- Distance and zoom display on camcorders (requires lenses supporting distance information)
- Cinema EOS lens support (CN-E 18-80mm T4.4 L), including AF (requires external 5V power through micro USB port), auto iris and servo zoom
Other
- New positive-lock EF lens mount.
- Detachable tripod foot compatible with Arca Swiss, Markins and Photo Clam ball heads.
- Rubber gasket protects MTF mount connection from dust and moisture.
- The opening is flocked with felt material to reduce internal reflection.
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- Supports only Panasonic GH5s, GH5, GH4, GH3, G3, G5, G6, G7, G9, G10, GF3, GF5, GF6, GX1, GX8, GX80/GX85, GX9, Olympus E-PL7, PEN-F, Blackmagic Cinema Camera with Micro Four Thirds mount**, Pocket Cinema Camera*** and Micro Cinema Camera***
- EF-S lenses require modification to fit or may remain incompatible even after modification (but third party DX lenses can be used without modification)
- On GH5, Speed Booster XL can be used with full frame lenses only. DX lenses are unable to cover full-sensor-width readout + in-body image stabilizer (IBIS)
- EF-S and third party DX lenses do not cover the full Micro Four Thirds sensor in still photo and FHD video (but will cover 4k video mode on GH4, GX8 and GX80/85).
- No video AF for Olympus
- AF may not work if the maximum aperture of the lens plus any EF Extender or other teleconverter attached is smaller than f/8 before boost or smaller than f/5.1 after boost.
- AFC (continuous AF) and AFF (flexible AF) modes are not supported, except on Olympus OM-D E-M1.
- Panasonic video AF may hunt more than a native lens or have unsatisfactory performance.
- Some Tamron lenses may have unsatisfactory AF accuracy.
- No support for Focus Stacking and Focus Bracketing on Olympus.
- On Olympus, other than E-M1, you may move the single AF point among any of the 81, but you may not multi-point AF. There is no restriction on E-M1 and Panasonic.
- Very early Olympus models (e.g. E-PL1) have no autofocus support.
- EF-mount lenses are not silent but may make audible click noises during autofocus operation and iris changes which may be picked up by the built-in microphone of the camera. An external microphone is recommended for video.
- Use of Canon Cinema lenses such as CN-E 18-80mm T4.4 L KAS S for still photography is not supported.
- Iris changes are in 1/8 stop steps which may be noticeable in video recordings. Programmed exposure mode and shutter priority exposure mode should not be used for video. This limitation does not apply to Cinema EOS lenses which permit fine resolution iris control, such as CN-E 18-80mm T4.4 L IS KAS S.
- No support for in-camera correction such as peripheral shading, CA and distortion
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A new Micro-4/3 mount Speed Booster® adapter designed exclusively for the Panasonic GH4 and other selected Micro Four Thirds cameras (refer to the below camera compatibility table), with a magnification of 0.64x. The Speed Booster XL 0.64x uses an advanced 6-element optical design to achieve extraordinary optical performance at apertures up to an incredible f/0.80, a new record for Micro Four Thirds format.
The new Speed Booster XL 0.64x reduces the full-frame crop factor of the Panasonic GH4 from 2.0x to 1.28x, thus effectively transforming these cameras into APS-H format. When the GH4 is used in Cinema 4k video mode the horizontal full frame crop factor is reduced from 2.34x to 1.50x, thus effectively transforming the GH4 into a super-35 format 4k cine camera. In addition, the speed of any attached lens is increased by 11/3 stops, with a maximum output aperture of f/0.80 when an f/1.2 lens is used. For example, a 50mm f/1.2 becomes a 32mm f/0.80, which is the fastest aperture available for full size Micro Four Thirds format. (More information can be found in the press release here )
Compatibility
The Speed Booster XL 0.64x is similar to the Blackmagic-specific 0.64x BMCC Speed Booster (MB_SPEF-BMCC-BM1), but has been completely re-designed to meet the following requirements:
- The working distance has increased by 1mm to permit use on the Panasonic GH4 and a number of other Micro Four Thirds cameras without touching the flexible outer cover of the camera’s shutter mechanism.
- The optics are optimized for a standard Micro Four Thirds filter stack thickness of 4mm rather than the 2.4mm found in Blackmagic cameras.
- The image circle diameter has been increased to 21.63mm so that the full 17.3mm x 13mm Four Thirds format is covered. This has been achieved while maintaining unusually high image quality over the 17.4mm image circle used by the Panasonic GH4 in its Cinema 4k video mode.
Although the Speed Booster XL 0.64x has extra clearance compared to the 0.64x BMCC Speed Booster, there are still a number of Micro Four Thirds cameras that are not supported due to mechanical clearance issues. This is summarized in the table below, which is color-coded so that Green means the camera is supported and Red means the camera is not supported.
Note that many of the Red-coded cameras actually do function, but there is a minor interference with the protective shutter cover. Although slight contact with the shutter cover appears to have no effect on the functioning or cosmetics of either the camera or the Speed Booster we cannot support these combinations due to possible risk of damage.
BRAND |
MICRO FOUR THIRDS CAMERA MODEL |
Blackmagic |
Cinema Camera |
Pocket Cinema Camera |
Micro Cinema Camera (HD) |
Micro Studio Camera (4K) |
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JVC |
GY-LS300 |
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Olympus |
E-M5 |
E-M1 |
E-M10 |
E-M5 II |
E-M1 II |
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PEN-F |
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E-P1 |
E-P2 |
E-P3 |
E-P5 |
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E-PL1 |
E-PL2 |
E-PL3 |
E-PL5 |
E-PL6 |
E-PL7 |
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E-PM1 |
E-PM2 |
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Panasonic |
AF100 |
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GH1 |
GH2 |
GH3 |
GH4 |
GH5 |
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G1 |
G2 |
G3 |
G5 |
G6 |
G7 |
G9 |
G10 |
GF1 |
GF2 |
GF3 |
GF5 |
GF6 |
GF7 |
GF8 |
GF800/850/9 |
GX1 |
GX7 |
GX8 |
GX80/85 |
GX9 |
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GM1 |
GM5 |
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Select the correct EF-MFT Speed Booster fits for your camera:
Autofocus with an Optimum Balance of Accuracy, Speed, Consistency and Reliability
New in Speed Booster XL for Canon EF Mount to Micro Four Thirds is autofocus support, subject to certain limitations (see table above for details). We are pleased to report that Panasonic Micro Four Thirds camera bodies are capable of autofocusing accurately even if the maximum aperture of the Speed Booster and the lens combined is in the sub-f/1.0 range. Although our first and foremost priority is accuracy, we are able to make great strides in autofocus speed as well.
Autofocus Lens Compatibility List
The following table lists lenses which has been tested. Other lenses not listed here typically works well, too.
Accurate
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Tested by the community, thanks!
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Accurate only on newer cameras such as Panasonic G7, GX8 and GX80/85
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Canon CN-E 18-80mm T4.4 Compact-Servo EF** Canon CN-E 70-200mm T4.4 Compact-Servo EF** Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L USM Fisheye* Canon EF 20-35mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Canon EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II Canon EF 35-80mm f/4-5.6 Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM* Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM* Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM* Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM* Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro USM* Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM* Canon EF Extender 1.4x III Canon EF Extender 2x Sigma 18-125mm f/3.8-5.6 DC HSM Sigma 24-105mm f/4 Art Tokina AT-X PRO 11-16mm f/2.8 DX II
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Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM (Mark I) Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L USM (Mark I) Canon EF 200mm f/2.0L IS USM Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM (Mark I) Canon EF 400/2.8L IS USM (Mark I)
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Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM (non-IS) Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC Art Sigma 50-100mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art 016* Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 VC USD A012* Tamron SP 45mm f/1.8 VC USD F013*
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Inaccurate
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Require external USB power supply owing to high current consumption; AF inaccurate
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Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX HSM Tamron 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II Macro A18 Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD A007 Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD A009* Tokina AT-X PRO 11-16mm f/2.8 DX (I)
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Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC A20 Tamron 150-600/5-6.3 VC USD A011*
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Does not fit, even after modification
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Manual focus only
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Not supported
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Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Nano USM |
Contax N lenses modified by Conurus Tamron SP 17-50mm f/2.8 VC B005 Zeiss ZE lenses
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Focus confirmation "chips"
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* with smooth iris support
** CN-E lens with some of MFT cameras may require external power to autofocus
Manual Focus Lens Compatibility
Some improperly-made M42 screw mount adapters may short the electronic contacts of the Speed Booster and cause damage to the Speed Booster and/or camera body.
Focus confirmation "chips" such as Dandelion are incompatible.
Many manual focus lenses (e.g. OM 28/2.8, OM 50/1.8, Leica R 15/3.5) have rear protrusions (spikes, levers, other appendages) which would damage the optics and/or housing of Speed Booster. They need to be modified before they can be safely used on Speed Booster. Check and make sure there are no rear protrusions from the adapter/lens combination before using on Speed Booster. Scratches and damages caused by rear protrusions on Speed Booster are not covered by warranty.
List of manual focus lenses which REQUIRE MODIFICATION to be used on Speed Booster
Leica R
Super-Elmar-R 15mm Elmarit R 28/2.8 Elmarit R 35/2.8 Summicron R 50/2
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Nikon F
20/2.8 AI-S
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Olympus OM
OM 18/3.5 OM 21/2 OM 21/3.5 OM 28/2.8 OM 50/1.8
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Pentax K
Every Pentax K-mount lens has a protruding fin and an aperture lever. It does NOT fit.
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Metabones Speed Booster XL 0.64x Specifications:
Magnification: 0.64x
Crop Factor for Full Micro Four Thirds format: 1.28x
Crop Factor with GH4 in Cinema 4k (4096 x 2160) Video Mode: 1.5x
Maximum Output Aperture: f/0.80 (with f/1.2 lens attached)
Rectilinear Distortion: < 0.8%
Lens Elements/Groups: 6/4
Length Reduction: 6.2 mm
Camera Mount: Micro Four Thirds
Image Format: 17.3 mm x 13.0 mm (full Micro Four Thirds format)