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Fuji x-mount Samyang 135 mm + ZWO astrocams - possible?

ZWO ASIAIR Plus CMOS Star Tracker
Samyang 135 f/2 •7 replies•129 views
Paul Sanfilippo avatar
Paul Sanfilippo avatar
Hi All,

I've used my Fuji X-T20 for daytime shooting for years and love it. When I got interested in astrophotography I thought I would dip my toes in with a star tracker, and ASIAIR Plus and a Samyang 135 mm lens. That has worked great as well. Now I wouldn't mind upgrading to an astrocam, but it seems that X-mount isn't compatible with ZWO cameras due to the difference in the Fuji-X flange distance and ZWO back focus being so small (0.2 mm if I understand).

Just browsing Astrobin I found a similar post regarding the Sony E-mount:
https://www.astrobin.com/forum/c/equipment-forums/zwo-asi585mc-pro/adapting-the-585mc-pro-to-a-rokinon-135mm-w-sony-e-mount/

Anyone with an X-mount version of the Samyang managed to adapt it to a ZWO camera?

I feel a little annoyed (but I guess it's my fault for not researching things properly) that if I do get an astrocam I won't be able to use the Samyang....

Thanks.
Well Written
Göran Nilsson avatar
Göran Nilsson avatar
You can rebuild the camera end of your Samyang with this adapter but then you cannot use your Samyang for the Fuji camera.
Cheers, Göran

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/astro-essentials-samyang-lens-to-m48-adapter.html
Paul Sanfilippo avatar
Paul Sanfilippo avatar
Göran Nilsson:
You can rebuild the camera end of your Samyang with this adapter but then you cannot use your Samyang for the Fuji camera.
Cheers, Göran

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/astro-essentials-samyang-lens-to-m48-adapter.html

Thank you!

Wow - so maybe there is hope. I'm not particularly technical but maybe this is worth exploring. I could live with it being a dedicated astrolens. So you think this would work with X-mount? I presume this is so niche you wouldn't know where to find any information online about how to 'rebuild' the end of the lens?
Göran Nilsson avatar
Göran Nilsson avatar
I have done it for an EOS Samyang and it was easy. However, send FLO an email and ask about your X-mount.
Cheers, Göran
Jon Woodhead avatar
Jon Woodhead avatar
I don't think that this is possible. I asked the people at Precise Parts about this some years ago and the response was:



'Thank you for your inquiry. We do not list the Fuji X, nor other mirrorless lenses, as these lenses short registration distance prevents making any type of astronomical camera adapters. We are sorry not to be able to assist you with this particular project and remain at your service for anything else you may need from PreciseParts.'

I am using the AstroEssentials adapter noted in the posts above but I believe that it is designed only forCanon fit Samyang lenses - on the product page it says:

'Important: Suitable for use only with manual focus lenses. with Canon EOS fitting'
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Göran Nilsson avatar
Göran Nilsson avatar
From Jon's message it seems like you are back to where you started Paul. Maybe consider to sell your Samyang and find a used EOS version on ebay.
Göran Nilsson avatar
Göran Nilsson avatar
By the way, for the EOS version ZWO makes an excellent filter slider that also works as an ASI adapter.
Well Written Concise
Paul Sanfilippo avatar
Paul Sanfilippo avatar
Thanks Guys,

It seems so. I like the lens for my daytime photography so I'm in a bit of a mental bind. I don't think I can justify buying another version of it. Oh well...

For anyone else in the same boat, the reply from FLO was:

"Hi Paul,

Thanks for getting in touch about your Samyang 135mm Fuji X-Mount lens.

Unfortunately, as it the X-Mount has such a short flange flocal distance/back focus requirement of just 17.7mm, there are no current adaptors that I am aware of to allow you to use a ZWO or similar astronomy camera directly with an X-Mount lens:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujifilm_X-mount

So in this case you will not be able to use that specific lens with the ASI2600MC, but it will work with the equivalent in Nikon F or Canon EF formats:
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/zwo-accessories/zwo-nikon-t2-adapter-mkii-suitable-for-all-asi-cameras.html
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/zwo-accessories/zwo-adjustable-eos-lens-to-t2-adapter-for-all-asi-cameras.html

Let us know if we can help with anything else at all."
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