Modding the Fuji Finepix F31FD with viewfinder, lens adaptor for wide lens converter and other stuff.

I will stop updating the brainwalker blog cause i have a new domain and a new blogname appropriate to the occasion. So please visit www.timelock.in or www.timelockin.wordpress.com . Information about modding of the F31FD and other stuff will be continued on the new places.

Thanks for your interest until now.

Next to my Digilux 2 I use a Fuji F31FD which is the best ps camera for shooting in available light. No other consumer camera have such a good performance in 800/1600 iso (excluding the F20 and F30 from Fuji cause of using the same sensor). But compared to my Digilux 2 i missed some ergonomic things. So I made different moddings.

I´m wearing glasses and have to hold the camera 40 cm apart for focus with the lcd. The answer is a Voigtlaender 35mm viewfinder. For this i fixed a hotshoe adapter with glue on the top of the camera. Cause of using the F31 mostly with 36mm the Voigtländer works perfect. Especial in lowlight and with glasses. Next i took a lcd-hood and fixed it with two little magnetic stripes. So it`s easy to put it on and of the lcd. For a better left hand grip, for using filters or for a wide lens i bought the special filter adapter. And for lensprotection a lenshood which fits perfect on the adaptor. Every modding part is matching the design of the F31 very well. So now the F31 looks a little bit like a stylish modern viewfinder camera. The whole stuff is no custom-made but all parts of this modding can be bought in some internet-shops or on ebay. And in 15 seconds the moddings can be rebuild (excluding the hotshoe). To finish the modding i will put a clamp on the cameras left side for using a neck strap.

Sources

Complete modding set_ http://www.flickr.com/gp/41157095@N00/s5Pm5r

Full review of the F31FD_ http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilmf31fd/

Lens Adapter_ http://www.digitaltoyshop.co.uk/prodtype.asp?PT_ID=943&lg=1&c=DIGITAL_CAMERA_FUJI_FINEPIX_F31FD

Viewfinder_ http://www.cameraquest.com/voigtacc.htm

LCD Hood_ http://www.enjoyyourcamera.com/product_info.php?language=en&products_id=772

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You’re currently reading “Modding the Fuji Finepix F31FD with viewfinder, lens adaptor for wide lens converter and other stuff.,” an entry on Timeblog

Published:: January 22, 2008 / 1:13 pm

Category:: Finepix F31FD lens adaptor for wide lens converter and

Tags:: adapter tube, adaptor, converter, F30, F31, filter, filter adapter, filter threat, finder, Finepix, Fuji F31FD, lcd hood, lens hood, Modding, rangefinder, tele converter, tele lens, telelens, viewfinder, Voigtlaender, wide angle lens, wide lens, widelens, ww converter

Ted 1.29.08 / 5pm

Hi,

I admire your modyfications – very professionally done indeed.

We have several of f30 and f31 in my family and for some time now I was searching the Internet for lens adapter. Would you mind to diclose where were you able to puchase such a nice lens adapter tube. It looks splendid, very professional…

To complement your kit you may also want to consider an external flash – I would recommend Metz 28 cs2 digital. For those rare occasions when the suberb low light ability of this camera will reach its limits…

I would be grateful for any info regarding silver lens adapter.

Congratulations on a very professional modyfications.

Kind regards

Ted

PS. The pictures are fantastic!

brainwalker 1.30.08 / 12am

Hi Ted and thanks for the kind words to the moddings and the pictures. It had cost me a lot of time to get the lens adapter. First i found an “universal adapter” on ebay.
But it had to much options to adjust. Then i found the adapter you can see on this blog at an Japanese webside. But it was sold out:-)
It took 2 hours more of expressive googleing to find a dealer in spain, who sells the adapter (only) in a set with a filter. I bought a polar-filter and the very solid made stuff.
http://www.digitaltoyshop.co.uk/prodtype.asp?PT_ID=943&lg=1&c=DIGITAL_CAMERA_FUJI_FINEPIX_F31FD

It fits and looks perfect on the F31FD and the F30. Very good for working with filters and very good for holding the camera quiet steady with the left hand.
Last week i was on a design exhibition and a lot of people wanted to know, which expensiv and nice looking camera i have:-)
Next week i will test a wide lens on the adapter.
Best regards
BW

Ted 1.30.08 / 11am

I have just placen an order for the filter with an adapter. Thank you very much for the info!

I will also very anxiously await your wide angle lens tests. Just wondering which lens are you using?

I have several magneting lenses for my F30. At first I bought wide angle and telephoto lenses of ebay.
They were no good at all. Wide angle lens was better of the two, but it also had very soft edges. The tele lens 2x was simply awful… But later I have seen some comments on DPreview site about Hama magnetic lens wide angle, and the user was quite happy… I bought the lens.It is suprisingly good actually – not much softness, some but very slight. Quite acceptable.They do different models, some of them may fit the diameter of the lens, but will not match sensor – this is quite interresting info from Hama – and the image will have blurred edges. The lens is quite difficult to use. There is a constant danger of the lens dropping off. I was searching for the suitable adapter and I suddenly saw your pictures. Thank you for the info.

I admire your Baltic pictures. I am Polish so it is particulary close to my heart…

Where are you based please? And also – if you do not me asking – are you a professional photographer?

Kindest regards

brainwalker 1.30.08 / 7pm

Hi,
I´m based in Germany and i`m working in a film company. Photography is a good way for relaxation, cause in comparison to filmmaking you need a minimum stuff and no big team. It have more to do with silence:-)
I take a 0,5 wide converter with a 37mm mount from ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120216806852&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.de%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm37%26satitle%3D120216806852%2B%2B%26category0%3D%26fvi%3D1

Only problem is that the front houses of the camera lens makes a little bit reflections from inside.
Maybe i will put some black tape on to the metal. Next week i will test the setup and post some shots.

Best regards
BW

Ted 2.29.08 / 11am

I hope you are well.

I wonder, how you are getting on with wide angle lens trials?

Also, does your hood have an internal thread for filters please?

Best regards,

brainwalker 2.29.08 / 4pm

It is poorly a little to busy at work but next week i`m on Amrum and can test the setup. And post the results. The hood have a filter threat for putting it on the top of the lens adapter or in front a filter.

Howard E Davis 5.1.08 / 6am

Hello “brainwalker”, I love the wideangle pics that I discovered of yours on the fujitalk site of dpreview, including the dog and the girl on the swing.

I just acquired an F31 and am very interested in your wide angle adapter.
Does the link to ebay take me to the exact lens that I need (“WIDE ANGLE 0.5X LENS AF X.5 for SONY JVC CAMCORDER 37mm”), and if so, is it really selling for US $17.95?

…and then what? How do I attach a lens adapter to a lens that zooms in and out?

Thanks for any/all shared knowledge.

Regards, Howard

brainwalker 5.6.08 / 12pm

Hi Howard,
Thanks for your kind words.
The ebay wide angle adapter is an example and a “cheap” test for my modding. If i will do more wide angle shots i will buy a better quality version cause the distortion and circle-blur of the ebay wide angle lens is a little bit to big. But you can use every adapter with a 37mm threat.
Or you can use threatadapters from 37mm to the dimension of your converter threat. The lens adapter i use have the same square dimension like the F31FD lens in the widest out position. With my ebay wide angle i can use my complete zoomrange.
But the quality of a normal or tele shot through a pluged wide converter have a lot to do with the quality of the converter lens. The converter of my Digilux2 had cost more then 500 dollars new or 150 dollars used from ebay. So if you will do snapshots you can use the ebay lens very good.
But if you want to make technical perfect photos you have to invest a little bit more. And you have to look for wide converter especialy for photocameras and not for videocameras.

Cheers

Erwin 9.5.09 / 9am

Hi, Brainwalker,

I think your modding is very good. Could you help me finding a store for this lens adapter? I don’t seem to find any.

Thanks.

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Modding the Fuji Finepix F31FD with viewfinder, lens adaptor for wide lens converter and other stuff.

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