The Metabones Speed Booster XL 0.64x is a new Micro Four Thirds Speed Booster adapter with a magnification of 0.64x. Reducing the MFT 'crop factor' from 2x to 1.28x, the Metabones Speed Booster XL 0.64x adapter uses an advanced 6-element optical design to achieve "extraordinary optical performance" at apertures up to f/0.8, a new record for the Micro Four Thirds format. The Speed Booster XL 0.64x is similar to the Blackmagic-specific 0.64x BMCC Speed Booster, but the working distance has increased by 1mm to permit use on the Panasonic GH4 and a number of other Micro Four Thirds cameras without touching the flexible outer cover of the camera’s shutter mechanism. Also, when the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 is used in Cinema 4K video mode the horizontal full frame crop factor is reduced from 2.34x to 1.50x, thus effectively transforming the GH4 into a Super-35 format 4K cine camera. Planned lens mounts for the Speed Booster XL 0.64x include an active Canon-EF version and a Nikon F version with what Metabones call "the most advanced Nikon G aperture adjustment mechanism in the industry." The Speed Booster XL 0.64x will be available for $649. (Canon EF mount) and $479 (Nikon F/G mount).

Metabones Press Release

Metabones Speed Booster XL 0.64x

Petersburg, VA, USA, Jun 05, 2015:  Caldwell Photographic Inc. and Metabones® are pleased to announce the Speed Booster XL 0.64x, a new Micro-4/3 mount Speed Booster® adapter designed exclusively for the Panasonic GH4 and other selected Micro Four Thirds cameras, with a magnification of 0.64x.  The Speed Booster XL 0.64x uses an advanced 6-element optical design to achieve extraordinary optical performance at apertures up to an incredible f/0.80, a new record for Micro Four Thirds format. 

The new Speed Booster XL 0.64x reduces the full-frame crop factor of the Panasonic GH4 from 2.0x to 1.28x, thus effectively transforming these cameras into APS-H format.  When the GH4 is used in Cinema 4k video mode the horizontal full frame crop factor is reduced from 2.34x to 1.50x, thus effectively transforming the GH4 into a super-35 format 4k cine camera.  In addition, the speed of any attached lens is increased by 11/3 stops, with a maximum output aperture of f/0.80 when an f/1.2 lens is used.  For example, a 50mm f/1.2 becomes a 32mm f/0.80, which is the fastest aperture available for full size Micro Four Thirds format.

Perhaps most exciting of all, in addition to increasing lens speed and field of view, the Speed Booster XL 0.64x offers amazingly high image quality even at extremely large apertures.

Like all Metabones Speed Boosters, the Speed Booster XL 0.64x is optimized to fully account for the camera’s filter stack located near the sensor surface4.  This is especially critical at the extremely large apertures made possible by Speed Booster technology.  As a result of this careful optimization, an enormous range of full-frame optics, ranging from vintage film lenses to the latest digital designs, will function flawlessly when adapted to compatible Micro Four Thirds camera bodies.  In fact, most lenses will have significantly improved MTF when used with the Speed Booster, compared to using them with a plain (i.e. “glassless”) adapter on Micro Four Thirds cameras.  Planned lens mounts for the Speed Booster XL 0.64x include an active Canon-EF version and a Nikon F/G version with the most advanced Nikon G aperture adjustment mechanism in the industry.

The Speed Booster XL 0.64x will be available starting in June 2015 from the Metabones website and its worldwide dealer network for US $649. (Canon EF mount) and US $479. (Nikon F/G mount), plus shipping and applicable taxes and duties.

Compatibility:

The Speed Booster XL 0.64x is similar to the Blackmagic-specific 0.64x BMCC Speed Booster, but has been completely re-designed to meet the following requirements:

The working distance has increased by 1mm to permit use on the Panasonic GH4 and a number of other Micro Four Thirds cameras without touching the flexible outer cover of the camera’s shutter mechanism.

The optics are optimized for a standard Micro Four Thirds filter stack thickness of 4mm rather than the 2.4mm found in Blackmagic cameras.

The image circle diameter has been increased to 21.63mm so that the full 17.3mm x 13mm Four Thirds format is covered.  This has been achieved while maintaining unusually high image quality over the 17.4mm image circle used by the Panasonic GH4 in its Cinema 4k video mode.

Although the Speed Booster XL 0.64x has extra clearance compared to the 0.64x BMCC Speed Booster, there are still a number of Micro Four Thirds cameras that are not supported due to mechanical clearance issues.

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