The MOFAGE POCO PL to E/RF/L/Z Mount Adapter combines rear filters with adapters. The POCO is compatible with most PL mount lenses, but I’m sure there are certain lenses that won’t work due to clearance issues.
Please note that the version of the POCO adapter I am testing is a pre-production unit and some improvements may be made before it actually ships.
Who was targeted?
This adapter will likely appeal to users of digital cinema cameras and mirrorless hybrids that don’t have built-in ND filters, or users who want to use PL glass without a matte box.
What is very interesting and quite unique about the POCO adapter is that it uses interchangeable mounts. This means you only need to buy one adapter as it can be used on multiple camera platforms. You must choose which mount you want when purchasing the adapter, but you can purchase additional mounts for $17. I am currently unsure whether or not these additional mounts include a shim kit.
You can turn the adapter into the following mounts:
- PL Sony E mount
- PL Canon RF mount
- PL Nikon Z mount
- PL Leica L mount
The benefit of using a rear filter adapter is that you only need to use one size filter no matter what lens you are using. This is very handy if you have PL mount lenses with different sized front diameters and don’t want to use a matte box.
You can change the filter at any time by pressing a button on the top of the adapter. The adapter features an automatic locking mechanism to keep your filter from falling out.
POCO can be used with several different filter options including VND, Black Mist, White Mist and Streaks. If you don’t need to use a filter, just pop in the Pure Clear, which the company claims won’t spoil your image in any way. MOFAGE does not list the size of filters that will work in the adapter, nor whether third-party filters can be used.
The VND filter can be controlled manually or remotely via a focus motor as it has 0.8 pitch gearing.
build quality
The general build quality is pretty good. The adapter is solidly built and doesn’t feel flimsy or cheap.
The only small issue I encountered is that the Clear Filter is a bit difficult to insert smoothly at times and wobbles around slightly once inserted. When I contacted the company about this, I was told that this will be improved with the shipping production versions.
According to the company, the POCO offers a certain degree of sealing, but it is recommended not to be used in extreme conditions without covering it.
furnishings
The MOFAGE POCO comes with an instruction card. What you need to note is that you need to check the length of your PL lens mount to avoid damaging the filter as this is an adapter that accepts rear filters. Certain PL lenses have a longer rear mount than others, making them unusable with the adapter. The POCO adapter is 24.5mm to 26.5mm deep.
MOFAGE will include a simple tool to measure the rear mount of your PL lens to see if it’s working. This did not come with the pre-production unit I tested.
Once you have verified or already know that your lens will fit, I think the best way is to first install the adapter on your camera and then attach the lens.
If you need to change the rear filter, simply press the button on the top of the adapter and then use the tab to pull out the filter.
The adapter is pretty simple and easy to attach to a camera. It doesn’t wobble or move and you get a nice secure connection between the adapter and your camera.
The POCO provided by MOFAGE was a PL to L mount and I encountered a problem when using it with a Panasonic S1H. I could not attach the mount to the camera without removing the clear filter. This is because the frame of the filter comes into contact with the camera body when trying to position the adapter in the correct position to attach it to the camera.
I had to remove the filter and then attach the adapter.
This is also an issue when using any of the other filters besides the VND. The VND is the only filter you can have in place at the time you attach the adapter to the Panasonic S1H. I can’t tell you whether this is also the case with other cameras, as I wasn’t able to test the adapter with different mounts etc. I contacted the company about this issue and they were aware of it.
user friendliness
The overall usability of the POCO was good. It is easy to attach to cameras and the filters are relatively easy to insert and remove.
The VND dial moves smoothly, allowing you to make subtle or large exposure changes.
How are the filters?
Let’s find out. MOFAGE provided the VND and 1/4 Black Mist and White Mist filters.
I was most interested in the VND because I think this is the filter that makes using this adapter very interesting. The VND ranges from 0.3 to 2.4 ND. This is a decent range.
You must take into account when using the VND that you have dialed in at least 0.3 ND at all times.
I ran a test to see if there was a noticeable or large color shift when using the VND filter. I white balanced the camera first with the Clear Filter in the POCO adapter and then I inserted the VND filter and kept the same white balance. The performance of the VND filter was pretty good. While it had a very slight boost towards magenta at some VND settings, it still remained fairly neutral even at 2.4 ND. This was pretty impressive given the price of the MOFAGE POCO.
Above, just for further reference, I’ve listed the different ranges for each of the settings in case you want to study these tests a little more closely.
In addition, you can see “No Filter” above compared to VND 2.4.
I also tested both the 1/4 Black Mist and 1/4 White Mist filters to see how they looked. The effect they create is quite subtle, and to my eye at least, the Black Mist seems a bit softer than the White Mist. I found both filters did a good job toning down shaper lenses just a bit.
Price & Availability
MOFAGE POCO Drop-in Filter Adapter will be available soon via a kickstarters campaign soon. You can register in advance for a 25% discount, which means you can snag one for $329. Official retail price is $439. Please be aware of the risks involved in supporting crowdfunding products as there are never guarantees. At least I can tell you that the product exists, so you might have peace of mind.
Conclusion
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect before I started testing the MOFAGE POCO. MOFAGE is a new company with no track record of manufacturing products, but like every device I review, it’s rated in the same impartial manner.
I was pleasantly surprised by the build quality, ease of use and quality of the filters.
The POCO is a very interesting product and if you plan to use PL mount lenses on hybrid mirrorless or cameras like the RED KOMODO without built-in ND filters, it certainly makes a lot of sense.
Reasonably priced given its build quality and feature set, the POCO is a very handy addition to your kit if you want to use PL lenses with the added ability to use rear filters like a VND.
#MOFAGE #POCO #ERFLZ #Mount #Adapters #Dropin #Filters #Review #Newsshooter