5D

1D

Fig. 1 - Canon EOS 5D (original EF mount)

 

The first step is to remove the original CANON EF flange. Unscrew the 4 screws (red arrows) and remove the locking pin for the lens (green arrow).

Fig. 2 - Canon EOS 5D - parts to remove

Next step is to remove the cover (blu arrows) on top of focus screen, the tiny ring below the EF flange and the plastic of the electrical contacts support (yellow arrows). In order to do this it is necessary to dismount the front and bottom covers of EOS 5D (for details see the Original Canon EOS 5D - Service Parts & Catalog Manual). This is not a difficult operation but some skills are required. If you do not have this skill you can ask help to some DSLR repair center in your city and with few cost you can perform a perfect reversible installation. The following figure shows all parts that need to be removed from the Canon 5D. All this parts can be fit back in a reversible way into the EOS 5D.

Fig. 2 - All parts removed from Canon EOS 5D

This is the Canon 5D's frontal view once disassembled the original CANON EF flange, the plastic support of the electrical contacts and the cover on top of focus screen.

Fig. 3- Canon EOS 5D without all the parts removed.

 

Next step is to shave the mirror that comprises two different parts (Fig. 4): a plastic support which holds the mirror (in dark gray in fig. 4/5) and a thin glass "true" mirror (in light gray in fig. 4/5).

Fig. 4 The two parts of the original EOS 5D's mirror

 

In order to use Minolta MC/MD lenses on the EOS-MD flange (type 3), both parts need to be trimmed by about 2.5mm (see fig. 6 for shapes and details) otherwise the mirror would collide with the base of the Minolta MC/MD lens as it flips up during exposure. To shaving of the two parts of the mirror follow this six basic steps.

THE SIX BASIC STEPS TO TRIMMING OF THE MIRROR 1) Remove the tiny glass from the plastic support of the mirror (Fig. 4); IMPORTANT: this plastic support needs to remain attached on the DSLR; 2) Isolate this plastic support from the focus screen, the shutter and the mirabox; 3) Trim the plastic support of the mirror (Fig. 6); 4) Fit the EOS-MD flange (without screws) on the Canon 5D and verify that MC/MD Rokkor lens do not touch any parts of the trimmed plastic support of the mirror during exposure; 5) Trim the tiny glass, along all the front side, as showed on Fig. 6/7. 6) Fit the trimmed glass on the trimmed plastic support of the mirror and repeat the step 4);

fig. 5- The shape of the Canon 5D's original mirror

 

fig. 6 -The lines of cut of the 5D's mirror plastic support (in red bold)

 

fig. 7 - The cutted shape of the 5D's mirror

 

fig. 8 - The Canon 5D's mirror once trimmed (click to enlarge)

 

Final step is to replace the original focus screen ( the Ee-A) with a split screen (easily available new on www.ebay.com by searching with "eos split screen") or with the original Canon Ee-s.

fig. 9 - The 180° split screen with microprism for Canon 5D

 

THE FIVE BASIC STEPS TO INSTALL THE SPLIT SCREEN 1) Remove the original Ee-A focus screen; 2) Remove the tiny metal shim, just below the focus screen; 3) Remove the AF point screen, just below the tiny metal shim; 4) Fit the split screen (without any shim) into the 5D; 5) Take some test in order to check if the photos are affected by back focus;

The split screens are, in general, accurate and precise but sometimes I have found that they can introduce a slight "backfocus". Obviously this backfocus (and also frontfocus) is an issue not related to the optical register modification introduced by the EOS-MD flange but to the thickness of the split screen which may be different from the original one.

It is possible to correct the backfocus by making an appropriate adjustment by adding a shim between the split screen and the pentaprism. This is the same procedure used by Canon service themselves by using a proprietary shim (see the Canon 5D service manual on page 11, CB3-2850-000). So, we can use original shim or make our own shim by taping the outer perimeter (only !) of the split screen, on the side facing the pentaprism itself, with a thin strip 1 mm (max 1.5 mm) wide of adhesive tape (my advice is to use the Scotch Magic 3 with thickness = 0.05mm). Calibration consists of finding the correct thickness (usually just 1 or 2 layers of tape would be necessary, with thickness equal to about 0.1mm) to get the focus correct by using the scale at 45 ° in the following article (see page 18). Note that this thin strip around the split screen will not be visible in the viewfinder because it is covered by the thin metal frame that holds the split screen below the pentaprism.

Fig. 10 Two split screens: without thickness (left),

with small thickness on the outer perimeter (right)

 

fig. L- Original shims for the Canon EOS 5D split screen adjustment (0.03mm e 0.05mm)

 

This is the Canon 5D's frontal view once the EOS-MD flange and the acute matte/microprism focus screen was successfully installed. Note that in place of the cover (see Fig. 2) on top of focus screen, that holds the foam of the mirror, there are two (new) foams: one on the right (see green arrow on Fig. 10) and one on the left (not visible) placed on the metal cover that holds the focus screen below the pentaprism. This two foams help to accomodate the trimmed mirror when it raises up.

Fig. 10 - The split/microprism focus screen and the two foams (visible only on the right) once installed.

 

... and this is the final result !

The Minolta MC W. Rokkor 28mm f2 on CANON EOS 5D (full frame DSLR).

... and this is the final result...

The Minolta MC W. Rokkor 28mm f2 on a CANON EOS 20D

The first step is to remove the original CANON EF flange. Unscrew the 4 screws and remove the locking pin for the lens.

In order to perform a reversible installation we need to remove the tiny ring below the EF flange (showed by the next figure). We will remove this thin ring (just below the CANON EF flange) from the botton of the 450D.

 

Again, in order to perform a reversible installation we need to disconnect the electrical contact plastic support and some flat cables like showed by the next figure.

This operation does not require to unsolder wires.

 

This is the Canon 450D's frontal view once disassembled the original CANON EF flange and the plastic support of the electrical contacts.

 

Mount the plastic cover as showed on next Figure (Note that it replaces the support of the electrical contacts). It is important to note that the area that remains "open" is not such as to leave enter dusts on the digital sensor's surface because it is located in a room "closed" in respect to this "open area ".

 

Mount the EOS-MD flange respecting the references (the red point) as shown in the next figure. The red point is the same reference to mount properly the Minolta MC/MD lens on ALL Minolta film camera.

 

... and this is the final result...

The Minolta MC Rokkor - PF 58mm f1.4 on CANON EOS 450D.

This is the Canon 300D's frontal view once disassembled the original CANON EF flange and the plastic support of the electrical contacts.

Now we have to isolate the CANON EOS's electrical contacts (this operation is mandatory !) using the plastic protection provided with the KIT. Dismount the two screws that block the support where are placed the electrical contact on EOS body, but without extract it !

Put first the two screws "on" the plastic protection (provided with the KIT). The shape of the plastic protection is shown in next figure.

Now we install the plastic protection "on" the electrical contacts. The two screws will block again this supports on the EOS body.

Note: If your EOS body has other electrical contacts (see the red circle) below the flange, you have to isolate them. Note that this is not a mandatory operation but only a further precaution.

 

This is the view that occurs once the EOS-MD flange and the acute matte/microprism focus prism was successfully installed.

... and this is the final result !

The Minolta MD 24mm f2.8 on a CANON EOS 300D