Metabones’ New EF-X Adapters

credits: Metabones

After a relatively long quiet period, Metabones is back with its second big launch in just a couple of months. This time, the company has unveiled new versions of its EF-X Speed Boosters and Smart Adapters for Fujifilm X cameras. It follows the upgraded EF-MFT adapters released in June and brings the same TruePDAF technology over to X-mount. Metabones says the system uses a library of profiles covering more than 100 Canon EF lenses to improve phase-detect autofocus with adapted glass. It works with PDAF-equipped Fujifilm bodies including the X-H series, X-T2 and newer, and X-Pro2 and newer. Lenses without a dedicated TruePDAF profile can still use phase-detect AF, but performance is not optimised in the same way.

The lineup consists of the T Speed Booster Ultra 0.71x II+, T Smart Adapter II+, T Cine Speed Booster Ultra 0.71x II+, and T Cine Smart Adapter II+. The Speed Booster versions use a five-element, four-group optical design with 0.71x magnification, reducing Fujifilm’s usual 1.5x APS-C crop factor to roughly 1.07x while also increasing effective lens speed. A Canon 24-70mm f/2.8, for example, effectively becomes around a 17-50mm f/2, while a 70-200mm f/2.8 becomes roughly 50-142mm f/2. A 50mm f/1.2 ends up around 35.5mm f/0.9. The regular Smart Adapters do not contain optics, so they simply adapt EF lenses while retaining electronic communication.

Pricing starts at $399 for the Smart Adapter II+, while the Cine version costs $449. The Speed Booster Ultra 0.71x II+ is $649, and the Cine Speed Booster is $699, with availability expected next month. The Cine models add a positive-locking mechanism designed to stop heavier lenses from shifting at the mount while focusing or zooming. Metabones’ older EF-X adapters can apparently also be upgraded to the new II+ specification by replacing an internal circuit, although owners will need to contact Metabones directly for the details.