Sony RX100 M1: Close-Up Experiences - MagFilter Filter Adapter Installation

Introduction | Parts | Installation | Look "Stand-Alone" and with Different Close-up Lenses | First Thoughts | References

This page and its companion pages discuss the macro, or better, close-up, abilities of the Sony RX100 M1. Although the camera has a macro mode (allowing shots from 5 cm), I would not call these photos "macros" and therefore use the term "close-up."

On this page, I present the Carry Speed MagFilter magnetic filter adapter. It allows you to attach filters and close-up lenses to the various Sony RX100 models and also to point-and-shoot cameras from other manufacturers. I show the supplied parts, a little bit of the installation of the adapter, as well as photos of the camera with the adapter and with different close-up lenses attached. First results with different close-up lenses will be presented on another page.

 

Introduction

Since the lenses of the Sony RX100 models do not have a filter thread, we cannot use our existing close-up lenses with this camera. At least, we would have to buy some sort of "lens adapter" like the one that Sony sells (VFA-49R1). I found, however, another filter adapter from Carry Speed, the Carry Speed MagFilter magnetic filter adapter, which seemed more interesting to me, because it fixes filters and lenses to the camera lens using magnetic force. We bought the 52 mm filter thread version, because this fits our close-up lenses.

 

Parts

The Carry Speed MagFilter filter adapter 52mm is delivered with the parts:

         

The package and its content

 

The filter adapter from the back

 

The filter adapter from the front

   

Ditto other side

 

The filter adapter from the side

 

The filter adapter from the front

 

Installation

There are neither installation instructions nor an installation or removal tool provided. I therefore consulted YouTube! for installation hints...

The following installation procedure was taken (and expanded) from a video (to be found on this page) that is provided by Lensmate for installing and removing the filter adapter:

  1. Lay the camera on its back.
  2. Clean the front of the lens (not the glass!) with alcohol.
  3. Allow the alcohol to dry.
  4. Remove the plastic backing from the lens ring.
  5. Lay the lens ring with the glue side on the lens front so that the ring is centered.
  6. Press firmly down on the lens ring to fix it.
  7. The installation is complete.
         

Camera and the necessary parts for the installation; I cleaned the front of the lens (not the glass!) with alcohol

 

The magnetic lens ling after removal of the protective paper; this is the "glue" side of the ring

 

Ring fitted to the lens (I had two attempts before the ring was fairly centered)
   

Filter adapter attached to the lens (magnetically)

 

Ditto, seen from above; you can see how far the filter adapter protrudes when the camera is off.

 

The lens ring is hard to see (depending on the lighting) and protrudes less than a millimeter.

 

Look "Stand-Alone" and with Different Close-up Lenses

The following photos show the Sony RX100 M1 with the MagFilter filter adapter attached and with some of my close-up lenses attached.

No Lens

       
   

The lens ring is hard to see and protrudes less than a millimeter.

  Closer look with lens ring only   Filter adapter attached (front view)
         

Filter adapter attached (oblique view)

 

Filter adapter attached (oblique view), camera "on"

 

Ditto, look from above

Marumi +5 Achromat

       
   

With Marumi +5 achromat, side view

 

Oblique side view

 

Ditto with lens cap

Dörr +10 Achromat

        
   

With Dörr +10 achromat

  

Ditto

  

Ditto with lens cap

siocore +10 Achromat

       
   

With siocore +10 achromat

 

Ditto

  

Ditto, view from top

Note: The Dörr +10 achromat does not fit the filter thread well. I first considered using two Marumi +5 achromats instead. But because of the high weight of this combination, I decided to buy a generic +10 achromat as a replacement for the Dörr achromat. The only one that I was able to find on the Internet was the siocore +10 achromat for a 52 mm filter thread. So I bought this one...

 

First Thoughts

First of all, I am curious how long it will take before the receiver will get loose. Luckily, there is a second lens ring to accommodate this a little...

Contrary to the Lensmate filter adapter that I bought for the Sony RX100 M4 and that is of plastic, the MagFilter adapter is made of metal.

Somewhat disappointing is the force of the magnet (I read that some users complained about this). I would not run around with a filter or lens attached to the camera with this adapter. For just taking photos, the force seems, however, to be OK.

Since the Dörr +10 achromat seems to have issues with the filter thread, I decided not to use it at the Sony RX100 M1. First, I considered adding a second Marumi +5 achromat instead, whenever I need more magnification (no photos of this assembly yet...). Probably, I can also screw the Dörr achromat to a Marumi achromat to achieve an even higher magnification, but things get heavier and heavier this way: The Marumi achromats weigh 58 g and 59 g respectively, and the Dörr achromat 85 g. Thus, both Marumis together exceed this with 117 g, and altogether, we get already 202 g, probably far too much for the magnetic filter adapter assembly...

I therefore decided to buy a generic +10 achromat, but this was not easy. Finally, I found the siocore +10 achromat for a 52 mm filter thread on the Internet and bought one for my RX100 M4. It weighs 74 g and this should be OK.

We will use my second Marumi achromat +5 on my wife's RX100 M1, that is, on this camera. And I am unsure at the moment what to do with respect to +10 diopters (use the Dörr, share the siocore or buy another one, use two Marumis)...

 

References

 

An den Anfang   Homepage  
gerd (at) waloszek (dot) de

About me
made by walodesign on a mac!
19.11.2021