Error 70 often caused by Canon RF to EF Adapter

[Insight32]

Ever since owning the EOS R5 I have had consistent error 70 freeze-ups while shooting timelapses.  I didn't own any RF lenses, but was using Canon and other 3rd party brand lenses with Canon's RF to EF adapter ($99).    Regardless of which lens I shot with (Canon EF 50mm F/1.4, Sigma 20mm F/1.8, Rokinon 14mm AF F/2.8, Sigma 150-600mm) the camera would eventually give me the ERR 70 message at some point during my timelapses.  Sometimes it happened after 160 frames, sometimes after 230, but almost always before I got reach 300 frames.    I was able to figure out that it ONLY happens when my lens was stopped down to any aperture other than wide open.  If I shot at the widest aperture I would never get the error.

Canon twice replaced the Main PCB assembly, but each time the error still occurred.  So after getting nowhere with their support department I decided to prove my theory.

I went out and purchased a Canon RF 24-105mm F/4-7.1 lens and also the RF version of the Rokinon 14mm F/2.8 AF lens.   When shooting with either of these native RF lenses I have yet to get the ERR 70 even with 1000+ frame timelapses.    Yet, when I go back to their adapter and connect one of my "EF-Mount" lenses I get the error.

After all the testing I have done with different memory cards, different Canon batteries, and different lenses. I can now say with 100% confidence that the EF adapter is causing many of the ERR 70 issues.  

I will be letting Canon know, but I have no idea how they plan to correct it - if they plan to at all.

Ron

[Tronhard]

Thank you for that reply.  I truly wish I could do something to help but it's outside my experience and mandate.  I agree that a more structured approach is required.   I think the linking of 3rd party lenses to the issue is something that likely causes Canon to dismiss this out of hand - whether that is valid or not is another issue!

Thank you for sharing the link to your work - it is very impressive.  Although not my genre, I can truly appreciate  your artistry and technical skill and applaud it and your work.

I hope you can continue to do your work with the R5 and the RF lenses without challenges in the future. 

[Tronhard]

I think one has to be clear that Canon provide the adapters so that you can put THEIR Native EF lenses onto the RF bodies. They do not claim, nor do they intend to, say that any 3rd party lens will work with their cameras via the adapters.  That is the responsibility of the said 3rd party lens maker.   So, I don't expect Canon to do anything about those lenses or any issues connected with them.

I have a couple of Sigma super telephoto zooms and they have worked well for me in shooting at distance.  However, those same lenses exhibit pulsing when using animal tracking at close to minimum focusing distance.  Sigma state that their current EF lenses are not guaranteed to  work on RF bodies, although most do to some degree.   I don't see why should Canon be responsible for making 3rd part lens work on their bodies.  That is the responsibility of the 3rd party manufacturer.

[Insight32]

I respectfully ask that before telling me your thoughts on the subject that you consider reading  what I wrote.    In my post I said “Regardless of which lens I shot with (Canon EF 50mm F/1.4, Sigma 20mm F/1.8, Rokinon 14mm AF F/2.8, Sigma 150-600mm) the camera would eventually give me the ERR 70 message at some point during my timelapses.”.  As you can see the issue happens with the Canon 50mm F/1.4 lens”

[Tronhard]

This is where having multiple people post issues on the same thread becomes an issue.  I was responding to the post by LAURENWESSEL who WAS referring exclusively to a non-CANON lens suggesting that Canon would produce a fix for that situation. Normally, I would have selected their post and hit reply to that, but the system often takes those posts and does not present them chronologically, resulting in more issues.

With all due respect, you listed a series of non-native lenses, that would suggest that there is a pattern here.  Those lenses cannot be considered in the light of the issue to establish a consistent pattern with a native lens, given that Canon have no jurisdiction over 3rd party lens design.  Sigma, for example, have stated that their EF lenses are not designed to be used with the RF series bodies, so it is  very much at your own risk.  Sigma (and any other 3rd party manufacturer) would be responsible for the design, production and support of any lens they make.

So, I would suggest we ignore all but the native Canon lens - where that absolutely IS a concern.

[laurenwessel]

It is standard practice on a forum to ask about updates from the OP to posts when you're experiencing a related issue. Especially since at the end of this post they mentioned they were reaching out to Canon.

Tronhard, your responses are not helpful in this case and your attitude is belittling.

[Tronhard]

I do not intentionally belittle anyone, and I am sorry if you took my responses that way.  However, to quote you, "Hey-- I have the same issue when using the EF to RF adapter with my Tamron lenses (my adapter is the one with the control ring). Did you ever hear anything from Canon on what the fix might be for this issue? I find no indication that this was specifically directed at the OP:  so it was - to say the least ambiguous. It would have been helpful and less confusing to those trying to help if you had been clear about that.

You could have done that by noting that in your post, or replying to the OP's post, but you did neither.  Clarifying it after the event does not change that.  The fact that is was not so addressed suggested it was directed at the forum I responded in that context.  Please don't get personal when your own error created the confusion.

As regard the content of the response... I am absolutely happy to address the issue of the Canon lens to which the OP made reference, but there are just too many variables with 3rd party lenses to be able to provide a cogent response on those.    The fact that the issue exists with the Canon lens is enough cause to ask the question on its own and we can and will happily support that issue.

Your issue we cannot support for the reasons I have provided. My answer is intended to be not belittling: it is simply a statement of fact.  It may not be the answer you want, and that is a different issue.  However Canon is not and will not be responsible for making 3rd party lenses work via their adapters - I would suggest you address that issue to Sigma, but as I said they have stated that their legacy EF lenses were and are not intended to work with RF mounts via the adapters or otherwise.  

[laurenwessel]

Since OP started this thread and my question is listed under "replies", I do not think it's that difficult to decipher that I was asking the OP for an update. Even some of your replies are not specifically formatted as "in response to", so I don't know why you're being so nitpicky about that. 

 Since this is a place to ask questions and receive help I find your answers still very abrasive, even if unintentionally. 

Also, Tamron, not Sigma. 

[Tronhard]

Conventional wisdom suggests that unless you are replying to a specific person's post - as I am dong now: so you can see it just above the input area, or unless you specifically mention in the body of the response that you are doing so, then the reply is to the thread - in which case the the reply is deemed to be to the community.  Since you did neither of the above, I responded to you. You want me to take responsibility for my response and I am happy to do so, perhaps you should take responsibility for your lack of clarity in whom it was directed to.

Lauren, with all due respect, I think you are being hyper sensitive because you don't like the body of the reply I gave you and that is also your responsibility.

I fail to see how you can expect Canon to be responsible for ensuring other makers' lenses comply to their design standards.  That is the responsibility of those makers to comply with Canon's standards.   Right now, makers are still working on the changes they will have to make to their lenses - these things can take a very long time, especially for a whole new mount system like the Canon one, and that of Nikon (who also changed their mount).  Sigma have stated that they are working on new lenses for the new platforms, but it will take time.

[laurenwessel]

My question was for the original poster.

[Tronhard]

I responded to Laurenwessel aside, I cannot address specific lens issues for 3rd party units but given your experiments and results, the logical thing is to look along the communications line from lens to camera via the adapter.  I understand that the adapter is a Canon unit, which is helpful, but there is the possibility that the adapter has a fault - even though there is no optical component, there are electronics and contacts in there to convert the signals from the EF to RF configurations.  I don't see an indication that the adapter has been tested at this stage. If not, is it possible to try a different adapter with the Canon lens?