Programmable chips - An initial report.

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Archive 2008 · Programmable chips - An initial report.

Alex
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p.2 #1 · Programmable chips - An initial report.

Jim,
Loctite 5 min epoxy is what I used. I guess, I'm just clumsy. Will try one more time.

Alex

Dec 05, 2008 at 05:39 PM

Alex
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p.2 #2 · Programmable chips - An initial report.

Cableaddict,
You camera must be enabled for 1/3 aperture increments (not 1/2). To get in the program mode I use M 13 seconds - a) disconnect lens, b) half pres shutter, c) while keeping the shutter hulfpressed turn the lens back, d) fire. You ARE in the program mode now. Go to Av. Now you should be able to select the aperture using the usual dial.

To change the EXIF aperture a) select f/4 and fire, and b) select the apperture you want and fire again. The chip is now OUT of the proram mode and programmed for whatever aperture you selected in the step b) above.

To change the EXIF focal length you have to start it over from entering the program mode. When you are in the program mode go to Av and a) select f/5.6 and fire, b) you have to select different apertures (according to their table) and fire five more times. For example to encode 52mm (which is according to them is 00052) I had to fire three times f/4, one time f/7.1 and one time f/5.0. Now you are again OUT of the program mode and you focal length is programmed.

Alex

Dec 05, 2008 at 05:55 PM

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p.2 #3 · Programmable chips - An initial report.

Thanks, Alex.

I am discovering some sources of my problems slowly.

1: I had to set my shutter to THIRTY seconds, in order to enter Program-mode. 13 seconds does not work. Evidently, some chips are shipping with much longer program-delay times than the ten-second default that they are supposed to have.

2: Tthe instructions appear to be dead-wrong about bulb-mode being another option for entering the chip's program-mode.

3: The instructions erroneous say your will see f/5.0 if program-mode has been successfully entered.

4: The instructions, in one section, say that you must fire a shot, at "the selected aperture" to EXIT program-mode. this is completely false as well. It is now clear that program-mode ends automatically, once a proper command/numerics sequence is entered.

Then as you say Alex, Program mode must be entered TWICE. Once for FL, then again for aperture.
------------------------------------------------------

There's lots more mistakes & circular logic in those bloody instructions. (at least the instructions I have) Not good for a "literal" guy like me. Looks like there's still hope for my chips

I see now how to do the calibration as well. I have figured out which parts of the instructions to throw away. fog is lifting.

Not sure about "AF" mode vs "MF" mode, but one thing at a time. Hopefully, "MF" mode has to do with defeating the shutter-lockout. Hope so, since AI-servo mode causes nothing but grief.

Edited on Dec 05, 2008 at 10:32 PM · View previous versions

Dec 05, 2008 at 06:37 PM

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p.2 #4 · Programmable chips - An initial report.

Alex wrote:
...... you have to select different apertures (according to their table) and fire five more times. For example to encode 52mm (which is according to them is 00052) I had to fire three times f/4, one time f/7.1 and one time f/5.0. Now you are again OUT of the program mode and you focal length is programmed.

Thanks, Alex.(& Jim) You are following the instructions, and it is working for you. Glad to know this. This helps me understand. Sadly, the same proceedure does NOT work for me. The chip doesn't quit program-mode, and doesn't set any EXIF data. Ughh.

There may still be hope for these chips, we shall see...

Edited on Dec 22, 2008 at 04:52 AM · View previous versions

Dec 05, 2008 at 07:22 PM

Alex
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p.2 #5 · Programmable chips - An initial report.

Ok, here are my final results.

I bought and installed 3 chips. I'm using them on Contax 35-70mm, Contax 80-200mm and Tamron Adaptall 17mm (through Adaptall to Olympus and Olympus to EOS adapters). After initial period of confusion, which was probably caused by my messy glue work, all three chips can be programmed/reprogrammed any time I want.

The chips can work in two modes. The first (default) mode is AF which according to the chip designes emulates a Canon lens with the switch in AF position. This is a unique feature of these chips. The second mode is M mode which emulates a Canon lens with the switch in the M position. The authors claim that the AF mode is much more precisize than the M mode. A few tests I did seem to confirm this statement.

The AF mode comes with a couple of quirks. First, your shutter is blocked until you get a focus confirmation. The only way to overcome this is to program your camera AF to the *-button. It is my default choice anyway. The second "feature" is not documented. Before focusing you have to defocus the lens severely. If the lens is almost focused the camera will give a focus confirmation right away resulting in less than perfect focus.

A great feature of the chips is that they allow a focus adjustment similar to micro-focus adjustment of the modern cameras. There are 17 position for correction of front/back focus. The adjustment seems to work in both AF and M modes. I feel that it would've been nice to have even finer granularity.

I found that the zooms needed different adjustments for the short and the long ends. I had to split the difference and settle for a median position which is a little bit off for the short/long ends.

All in all, I'm happy with the chips and would recommend them.

Alex

Dec 10, 2008 at 05:48 AM

makron
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p.2 #6 · Programmable chips - An initial report.

I just got this chip and it works as described.

I followed the instructions and got no problem programming it on my 20D.

I find that AF is more accurate if I program it to be a f1 lens for my 50mm/1.4 instead of f1.4. If i program the same lens as f2.8, accuracy is off. This is for M mode. I've not try the AF mode yet.

Dec 20, 2008 at 05:24 AM

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p.2 #7 · Programmable chips - An initial report.

I mounted my plain chip on a Nikon adapter- and it is working fine.

There seems to be a problem with one of my other adapters, so i guess there are QC issues here.
-------

Well, this chip is indeed pretty cool, once you get it working. However, two caveates:

1: You can't just enter ANY aperture number. It has to be a number that is in your camera's database (i.e. a number that comes up in your viewfinder lcd, when you turn your dial.)
This stinks for me, since the two lenses I bought these M42 adapters for have apertures of 2.3 and 3.0 -sigh.

2: The afore-mentioned problem of defeating the shutter-lockout feature. It can be done, but it's a semi PITA, in my opinion.

Still, this is definitely the future of adapter chips.

Dec 22, 2008 at 04:47 AM

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p.2 #8 · Programmable chips - An initial report.

Alex wrote:
The chips can work in two modes. The first (default) mode is AF which according to the chip designes emulates a Canon lens with the switch in AF position. ...The second mode is M mode which emulates a Canon lens with the switch in the M position. The authors claim that the AF mode is much more precisize than the M mode. A few tests I did seem to confirm this statement.

Alex,

Could you possibly explain this? I read the same thing in the instructions, but I can't understand how a Canon lens is any different, electronically, when switched from AF to MF. Other than the AF motor being disengaged (obviously not a factor on an alt lens) what else changes?

Dec 22, 2008 at 05:06 AM

JimBuchanan
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p.2 #9 · Programmable chips - An initial report.

I've gotten a little more experience with these chips, and I wish they would have defaulted to "MF". Defaulting to "AF" requires an initial focus on an object to enter programming mode and when turning the lens to engage the Canon mount lock pin, sometimes the lens changes focus. Defaulting to "MF" would also make possible programming without a tripod.

As to AF being more accurate, I can't judge yet. Is this another example of eastern logical where AF mode is more accurate because the photo can't be taken unless the green light is on solid in my XSi, versus the lens can be focused on anything and the shutter will fire in MF?

Dec 22, 2008 at 02:56 PM

Alex
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p.2 #10 · Programmable chips - An initial report.

Cableaddict wrote:
Alex wrote:
The chips can work in two modes. The first (default) mode is AF which according to the chip designes emulates a Canon lens with the switch in AF position. ...The second mode is M mode which emulates a Canon lens with the switch in the M position. The authors claim that the AF mode is much more precisize than the M mode. A few tests I did seem to confirm this statement.

Alex,

Could you possibly explain this? I read the same thing in the instructions, but I can't understand how a Canon lens is any different, electronically, when switched from AF to MF. Other than the AF motor being disengaged (obviously not a factor on an alt lens) what else changes?

My reading of this is a Canon body uses diffrenet focusing tolerances whe the lens is in M or AF mode.

Alex

Dec 22, 2008 at 04:06 PM

rgallie
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p.2 #11 · Programmable chips - An initial report.

JimBuchanan wrote:
I've gotten a little more experience with these chips, and I wish they would have defaulted to "MF". Defaulting to "AF" requires an initial focus on an object to enter programming mode and when turning the lens to engage the Canon mount lock pin, sometimes the lens changes focus. Defaulting to "MF" would also make possible programming without a tripod.

As to AF being more accurate, I can't judge yet. Is this another example of eastern logical where AF mode is more accurate because the photo can't be taken unless the green light is on solid in my XSi, versus the lens can be focused on anything and the shutter will fire in MF?

Jim, read the troubleshooting at the end of the instructions document. The alternate method of setting focus to AI Servo was very easy to get into programming mode. No need to focus on an object.

I have only had this chip for a few days and have not used it much. But it does seem more accurate and the zone where it says you are in focus is small.

My problem is these chips should have been developed several years ago. Now I have to remove chips from adapters and they were epoxied on by the chip manufacturer. Very hard to get off without breaking the chip.

Either the people that developed the AF chips were satisfied with the accuracy or could not figure out how to use a more accurate mode of Canon AF.

If you want accurate autofocus with these chips, definitely set the aperture to 2.8 or wider to activate the more accurate sensor mode. My initial test is on a 1.2 lens. It might be desirable to set the aperture in all lenses to 1.2 or thereabouts.

Also, in my initial test my lens was back focusing a bit. I programmed the focus to a +3 I believe and it did move the focus point forward and was repeatable. So I think this is great so far. With this you have the equivalent of Canon Microfocus adjustment on a manual focus lens.

The weather has been miserable so testing is more difficult. It was 0 F last night with 30 mph winds.

Rodney

Dec 22, 2008 at 09:28 PM

Alex
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p.2 #12 · Programmable chips - An initial report.

rgallie wrote:

If you want accurate autofocus with these chips, definitely set the aperture to 2.8 or wider to activate the more accurate sensor mode. My initial test is on a 1.2 lens. It might be desirable to set the aperture in all lenses to 1.2 or thereabouts.

Just have in mind that the more accurate sensor mode does need a 2.8 apperture. It is not a question of the dim or bright light. The more accurate sensor needs the physical size of 2.8 apperture to work properly. A much slower lens will block any light this sensor can detect.

Alex

Dec 22, 2008 at 10:37 PM

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p.2 #13 · Programmable chips - An initial report.

rgallie wrote:
JimBuchanan wrote:
I've gotten a little more experience with these chips, and I wish they would have defaulted to "MF". Defaulting to "AF" requires an initial focus on an object to enter programming mode and when turning the lens to engage the Canon mount lock pin, sometimes the lens changes focus. Defaulting to "MF" would also make possible programming without a tripod.

Jim, read the troubleshooting at the end of the instructions document. The alternate method of setting focus to AI Servo was very easy to get into programming mode. No need to focus on an object.

Correct. That part of the instructions had me puzzled. I thought I was setting the focus-point of the lens by doing this, but the only reason you have to do it is so you can click the sutter later, to enter data. So, using AI-servo mode solves this. You can also just push the DOF preview button, and not use the shutter at all.

Dec 23, 2008 at 01:27 AM

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p.2 #14 · Programmable chips - An initial report.

Alex wrote:
Cableaddict wrote:
Alex wrote:
The chips can work in two modes. The first (default) mode is AF which according to the chip designes emulates a Canon lens with the switch in AF position. ...The second mode is M mode which emulates a Canon lens with the switch in the M position. The authors claim that the AF mode is much more precisize than the M mode. A few tests I did seem to confirm this statement.

Alex,

Could you possibly explain this? I read the same thing in the instructions, but I can't understand how a Canon lens is any different, electronically, when switched from AF to MF. Other than the AF motor being disengaged (obviously not a factor on an alt lens) what else changes?

My reading of this is a Canon body uses diffrenet focusing tolerances whe the lens is in M or AF mode.

Alex

Hmmm. I'm not buying this explanation. It doesn't seem to be the case with my Canon lenses. Something is very odd about this business. I haven't had time to check, but I'm thinking perhaps that the chip's "MF" mode has no shutter lock-out. Thus, the chip's "AF" mode (a terrible misnomer in itself) acts sort of like a Canon lens set to AF, since you can have the shutter fire automatically.

I've been swamped with work this month, no time to check, including now. Has anyone tested this chip in it's two modes, to see what the real difference actually is?

Dec 23, 2008 at 01:30 AM

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