Fotodiox Pro manufactures precision lens adapters and filter accessories, enabling vintage lenses to work on modern digital cameras.
The lens adapters use CNC-milled aluminum with an anodized finish and precisely maintain flange focal distances from 12.5mm (Sony E-mount) to 65.5mm (Pentax 67). Professional models feature iris control rings with 360° rotation and a click-stop mechanism for manual aperture control on lenses without their own aperture ring. The Pro series also includes Vari-ND filters with 1-8 stop dichroic reduction, as well as square filter systems with 100mm and 150mm filter widths. Special cinema adapters offer 0.726x Speedbooster factors for Super35 sensors.
Fotodiox was founded in 2008 by Ray Chen in California, initially as a provider of affordable lens adapters for the emerging DSLR revolution. In 2012, the company introduced the Pro line to address professional cinematographers. The breakthrough came in 2015 with precision-engineered adapters for Arri Alexa and RED cameras. In 2018, Fotodiox expanded its portfolio to include lens mount converters with electronic contacts for Canon EF to Sony E-mount. Today, Fotodiox is one of the leading third-party manufacturers of cinematic adapter accessories.
Fotodiox Pro adapters enable the use of vintage lenses such as Zeiss Contax or Leica R on modern digital cameras, expanding the optical spectrum cost-effectively. DoPs use the iris control adapters for smooth focus pulls with vintage glass that lacks its own aperture control. The Pro series Vari-ND filters are used in daylight shooting to maintain the desired depth of field even at wide apertures. Productions like "The Mandalorian" use Fotodiox Speedboosters to utilize full-frame lenses on Super35 sensors without a crop factor.
Unlike Metabones or Novoflex, Fotodiox offers significantly lower prices with comparable mechanical precision. While Metabones focuses on electronic communication between lens and camera, Fotodiox concentrates on purely mechanical solutions with manual control. For high-end productions with electronic cine lenses, manufacturers like RED Pro or Arri remain the first choice. Fotodiox Pro positions itself as a professional alternative for budget productions and vintage optics.
Als DoP schätze ich die präzisen Auflagemaße der Fotodiox Pro-Adapter – meine alten Zeiss Contax-Objektive erreichen damit exakt unendlich auf der Sony FX9. Die Iris-Control-Funktion ermöglicht mir smooth aperture pulls während der Aufnahme, was mit den Original-Objektiven unmöglich wäre.
Die Vintage-Objektive, die ich dank Fotodiox Pro-Adaptern verwenden kann, geben meinen Filmen eine unverwechselbare optische Signatur – die sanfte Vignettierung und organischen Lens-Flares der 70er-Jahre Optiken unterstützen perfekt die nostalgische Atmosphäre meiner Geschichten. Der Speedbooster erweitert zudem meine kreativen Möglichkeiten bei der Bildkomposition.
Fotodiox Pro-Adapter kosten zwischen 150-400 Euro statt 800+ Euro für Metabones-Äquivalente und reduzieren mein Equipment-Budget erheblich. Die mechanische Robustheit hat sich in drei Produktionen bewährt – kein Ausfall trotz intensiver Nutzung unter verschiedenen Klimabedingungen.
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