Metabones Speed Booster XL 0.64x Press Release

(PDF version: download here)

Petersburg, VA, USA, Jun 05, 2015:  Caldwell Photographic Inc. and Metabones® are pleased to announce the Speed Booster XL 0.64x, a new Micro-4/3 mount Speed Booster® adapter designed exclusively for the Panasonic GH4 and other selected Micro Four Thirds cameras, 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.

Perhaps most exciting of all, in addition to increasing lens speed and field of view, the Speed Booster XL 0.64x offers amazingly high image quality even at extremely large apertures.  Figures 2 through 4 below show MTF at 10, 20, and 40 lp/mm as a function of image height for output apertures of f/0.8, f/1.1, and f/1.81.   At f/0.80 (i.e., with an f/1.2 master lens) the sharpness and contrast are extraordinary out to an image height of 8.7 mm, which is the limiting image height in the GH4’s Cinema 4k video mode.  Beyond 8.7 mm the performance drops gracefully, but remains very good even in the extreme corner of the full Micro Four Thirds format.  Note that as the master lens aperture is reduced to f/1.8 and then f/2.8 (corresponding to output apertures of f/1.1 and f/1.8, respectively) the performance improves everywhere, especially in the extreme corners.

And other aspects of optical performance haven’t been sacrificed in order to obtain high MTF, either.  Figure 5 shows that there is only about 1 stop of corner illumination falloff even at f/0.8. There is no vignetting at all after the output aperture reaches f/3.42.  Figure 6 shows that rectilinear distortion added by the Speed Booster XL 0.64x is negligible at less than 0.8%.

Figure 1:  Speed Booster XL 0.64x design layout

Figure 2:  MTF at 10, 20, and 40 lp/mm for f/0.80

Figure 3:  MTF at 10, 20 and 40 lp/mm for f/1.1

Figure 4:  MTF at 10, 20, and 40 lp/mm for f/1.8

 

Figure 5:  Relative illumination

Figure 6:  Distortion

 

Like all Metabones Speed Boosters, the Speed Booster XL 0.64x is optimized to fully account for the camera’s filter stack located near the sensor surface4.  This is especially critical at the extremely large apertures made possible by Speed Booster technology.  As a result of this careful optimization, an enormous range of full-frame optics, ranging from vintage film lenses to the latest digital designs, will function flawlessly when adapted to compatible Micro Four Thirds camera bodies.  In fact, most lenses will have significantly improved MTF when used with the Speed Booster, compared to using them with a plain (i.e. “glassless”) adapter on Micro Four Thirds cameras.  Planned lens mounts for the Speed Booster XL 0.64x include an active Canon-EF version and a Nikon F/G version with the most advanced Nikon G aperture adjustment mechanism in the industry.

The Speed Booster XL 0.64x will be available starting in June 2015 from the Metabones website and its worldwide dealer network for US $649. (Canon EF mount) and US $479. (Nikon F/G mount), plus shipping and applicable taxes and duties. 

 

Compatibility:

The Speed Booster XL 0.64x is similar to the Blackmagic-specific 0.64x BMCC Speed Booster, but has been completely re-designed to meet the following requirements:

 

  1. 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.

 

  1. The optics are optimized for a standard Micro Four Thirds filter stack thickness of 4mm rather than the 2.4mm found in Blackmagic cameras.

 

  1. 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.

 

 


*Not yet tested

 

Metabones Speed Booster XL 0.64x Specifications:

Model Code: Speed Booster XL 0.64x

Color: Black Satin exterior; Black Matte interior

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

Supported Cameras3:  Panasonic GH4, GH3, G3, G5, G6, G10, GF3, GF5, GF6, GX1, Olympus E-PL7, Blackmagic Cinema Camera with Micro Four Thirds mount4, Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera4

Camera Mount:  Micro Four Thirds

Image Format:  17.3 mm x 13.0 mm (full Micro Four Thirds format)

Lens Compatibility:  Any full-frame (36 mm x 24 mm format) lens with the appropriate mount can be used.  DX format lenses can be mounted but may result in vignetting when the full Micro Four Thirds format is used, depending on the lens.  DX lenses are fully supported when used on the Panasonic GH4 in Cinema 4k mode, and will function without abnormal vignetting.  Canon EF-S lenses are not supported, but third-party EF-mount APS-C lenses can be mounted and will have full electronic functionality.

Special Features:  Long-throw clickless aperture ring on Nikon F/G version; IS support and in- camera aperture selection with Canon EF version.

Dimensions: 27 x 76 x 72mm for Canon EF version

Weight: 182 grams for Canon EF version

Tripod Mount:  Robust removable type with Arca Swiss compatibility

 

Notes:

  1. MTF data is a full diffraction-based calculation that assumes the Speed Booster GH-4k is attached to a perfect master lens having an exit pupil distance of 100mm.  Note that the MTF calculations do not take into account sensor-induced apodization effects, sometimes called “pixel vignetting” or “pixel shading”, so actual results at large apertures are likely to be better than the calculations indicate.
     
  2. Illumination data assumes a perfect master lens with an exit pupil distance of 100mm and zero vignetting.  The slight falloff shown at f/3.4 is due to cos4 effects alone, as the mechanical vignetting is zero.  Actual results will depend on the exit pupil distance and vignetting characteristics of the master lens used.

     
  3. The gap between the Olympus E-M5II shutter cover and the rear surface of the Speed Booster XL 0.64x is very small.  No interference was measured with a test camera, but there is a possibility that a small interference could occur depending on the tolerance buildup in a particular camera/Speed Booster combination.  Accordingly, Metabones cannot guarantee compatibility of the Speed Booster XL 0.64x with the Olympus E-M5II.

     
  4. Standard Micro Four Thirds cameras like the Panasonic GH4 have a total of approximately 4mm thickness of filter glass near the sensor, and the Speed Booster XL 0.64x is designed to work optimally with this thickness of glass.  The Blackmagic Cinema Camera and Pocket Cinema Camera have substantially thinner total filter glass thickness, which may cause noticeable aberrations when the Speed Booster XL 0.64x is used on Blackmagic cameras at large apertures.  For best results on Blackmagic cameras it is recommended that the appropriate Blackmagic-specific Speed Boosters be used.

(PDF version: download here)