Testing out the Commlite CM-AEF-MFT Lens Adapter on Olympus OM-D EM-1 (Birding)

I have been using the Olympus system in my birding photography for sometime until I find the reach a little too short for my liking and gotten myself the Sigma 150-500mm instead. I used it on my Canon 7D.

Subsequently in my attempt to consolidate my gear, I sold off my Canon system and decided to use the Sigma lens via the mc-11 converter on my Sony a7ii. Then, I find that one of the downside of using crop mode on the Sony is that I lose pixels and the reach isn't much different.

© Edward Chen

So I decided to get the Commlite CM-AEF-MFT lens adapter and try the Sigma lens (and possibly all other Canon EF lenses) on the Olympus system. 

Some Photos of The Rufous-backed Kingfisher and more

Hulu Langat is one of the popular places for cyclists, probably due to its location near the forest reserve where the traffic is not as heavy as in the city. There are also eco-camps in the area where tourists stay in huts next to small rivers and waterfalls.

Here, after consulting my anonymous friends on the location of the bird, I had the opportunity to see for myself the beautiful Rufous-backed Kingfisher, 4th type of kingfisher on my list. 1st - white-throated kingfisher (everywhere), 2nd - Black-naped Kingfisher (Tanjung Karang), 3rd - Collared-Kingfisher (Tanjung Karang).

Edit: I actually saw the Collared-Kingfisher before my trip to Tanjung Karang. Stumbled upon an old photo of it which I took at Pantai Jeram a couple of years ago.

Rufous-backed Kingfisher. © Edward Chen

Retrospective: Sony A7 ii Touch and Try on 1st November 2015

*This is one of the blog entries written in retrospective based on my recollection of the events which took place earlier. 


I signed up for a touch and try session at the Studio Zaloon Sony shop in Pudu, KL on the first Sunday of November. The participants were briefed on the different Sony A7 cameras available then and we were given the opportunity to use some of the demo sets available. I got myself a Sony A7 ii with the Sony Zeiss 55mm f1.8 attached to it. 

All photos below were shot using this combination. The photos were saved in JPEG only and later processed in Lightroom CC (except for the last photo which required additional edits in Photoshop CC) .

Sony A7 ii Key Features. © Edward Chen Photography

More on the Sony A7 ii 5-axis image stabilization .
© Edward Chen Photography

Product briefing. © Edward Chen Photography

Sony Representative from Japan.
© Edward Chen Photography

Model shooting session. © Edward Chen Photography

Model shooting session. © Edward Chen Photography

Model shooting session. (Edited in Photoshop.) © Edward Chen Photography

First impression

Somehow it didn't seem to make me feel I want to shoot with this camera. Don't get me wrong. It's a good camera. (I bought one eventually.) Probably it's because of the camera menu navigation and dials which were very new to me. 

There is also a copyright feature missing if compared with models from many other brands. It's handy to have if you are shooting events and your personal data (i.e. name) is saved in the photo which may then be shared immediately. It's no big deal. To many, this is probably a negligible option. (But hey, Sony eventually added this feature to the later A7R ii model !) ;) 

Other than that, the initial feeling was that it's just a copy of an Olympus OM-D in a Sony fullframe body. 

So why did I (eventually) get one?

I have a handy collection of classical / manual focusing lenses lying unused in my dry box. They are not expensive lenses. I have used them for fun, attached to my Olympus OM-D. However, I am still curious as to how the lenses work with the A7 ii and the potential of the endless lens combination. The image stablisation is not as good as my Olympus OM-D E-M5, but it's the first mirrorless fullframe with in-body image stablisation (Sony calls it SteadyShot). 

I like the feel of the EVF on the mirrorless cameras (minus the dreaded short battery life due to it as well).

Besides, age is catching up. The thought of being able to use lighter manual focus lenses is enticing. 

And I just got rid of my road bike. More time for photography. :D

What do you think?

Retrospective: Olympus OM-D E-M1 Touch and Try on 22nd September 2013

*This is one of the blog entries written in retrospective based on my recollection of the events which took place earlier. 

I spent the Sunday morning poisoning myself with the new Olympus OM-D E-M1 ! Which path to continue, m43 or full frame? Hmm...

All photos are taken with the E-M5 + the Helios 58mm f2 manual focus lens.

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 taking a shower with the 60mm macro

© Edward Chen Photography