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Archive 2016Techart PRO LM-EA7 FAQ

  
 
rji2goleez
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p.13 #1Techart PRO LM-EA7 FAQ
brick33308 wrote:
I've read posts in this thread where TAP has trouble finding focus. However my problem with TAP operating my 35 ZM mounted on my A7Rii is that at least 50% of the time when I switch the camera on, the TAP is not even attempting to find focus while the camera is in AF mode. Other times at start up it will hunt (and usually find) focus, however at some point shortly afterwards it will stop trying to find focus - as though it's set to MF mode. Once that happens and I'm out and about shooting, I set the...Show more →

That's certainly not how my 35ZM behaves with TAP. There are times when the adapter may hunt a bit more but it's usually the result of moving the focus point toward the edges. Many have had good success using AF-C mode for focusing so you might try that. I have only used AF-S myself.
Dec 30, 2016 at 07:09 AM
brick33308
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p.13 #2Techart PRO LM-EA7 FAQ
rji2goleez wrote:
brick33308 wroteI've read posts in this thread where TAP has trouble finding focus. However my problem with TAP operating my 35 ZM mounted on my A7Rii is that at least 50% of the time when I switch the camera on, the TAP is not even attempting to find focus while the camera is in AF mode. Other times at start up it will hunt (and usually find) focus, however at some point shortly afterwards it will stop trying to find focus - as though it's set to MF mode. Once that happens and I'm out and about shooting, I set the camera to MF as I need to use focus assist and magnification if the TAP is not even going to try to focus. On my trip to eastern Europe from which I just returned, this problem forced me to use the 35 ZM in MF mode, and I actually grew to enjoy the process - and of course I am over the moon with the rendering of the lens. However it's a real problem to walking the streets and taking candid street portraits of which I'm fond - at this point I'm not able to quickly enough focus manually to achieve accurate focus in those portraits.

So I'm wondering whether this is normal behavior for the TAP (whether as a function of the TAP itself or my erroneous use of it) or if instead I have a defective TAP. I'd appreciate any input you may have.
That's certainly not how my 35ZM behaves with TAP. There are times when the adapter may hunt a bit more but it's usually the result of moving the focus point toward the edges. Many have had good success using AF-C mode for focusing so you might try that. I have only used AF-S myself.

I've used it in both AF-A and AF-C, with flexible-W and flexible-M, both the same issue.
Dec 30, 2016 at 08:01 AM
Chris_88
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p.13 #3Techart PRO LM-EA7 FAQ
brick33308 wrote:
I've used it in both AF-A and AF-C, with flexible-W and flexible-M, both the same issue.


I have only used mine in AF-S thus far and only have a couple of hours shooting with the 35 zm and TAP under my belt, but just like Bob, I haven't had any trouble with focusing. In AF-S wide I have had a couple of focus misses as the combo was struggling to find a focus point, but after putting a focus point on an island on the horizon, it would focus just fine. I even took a few shots after sunset, and my combo had little trouble acquiring focus, at least until my battery ran out of fuel.

If your camera is set to PDAF and it's not working at all, then you may have a faulty adapter.
Dec 30, 2016 at 08:59 AM
kin2son
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p.13 #4Techart PRO LM-EA7 FAQ
Been using my TAP and tbh I'm very underwhelmed...

Both ZM 85 and VC 35 1.4 are struggling with flexible point with ANY point away from center.

It hunts a lot and often just fails to lock. Small flexible point off center? Yea forget it.....

Otoh center point is noticeably better, but still wouldn't call it anywhere near good.

AF-S has tons of false locks, I find AFC miles in front but still nowhere near decent.


Dec 31, 2016 at 12:34 AM
DavidBM
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p.13 #5Techart PRO LM-EA7 FAQ
I've not had good results with ZM 85 except centrally with very good light.
But it's been great with just about everything else I've tried it with.
I haven't tied the CV 1.4/35 but that's a "classic" design that likely has quite low contrast outside the central area.
Dec 31, 2016 at 01:38 AM
joe256
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p.13 #6Techart PRO LM-EA7 FAQ
For the A7R2, make sure that PDAF is the AF system indicated on menu item Gear 7. TAP will actually kinda work if CD is listed but not very well.
Dec 31, 2016 at 07:42 PM
DavidBM
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p.13 #7Techart PRO LM-EA7 FAQ
joe256 wrote:
For the A7R2, make sure that PDAF is the AF system indicated on menu item Gear 7. TAP will actually kinda work if CD is listed but not very well.

+1 on this! When I got my TAP it didn't work well at all, and found that the camera had been set to CDAF. Shows how little I was using AF (and how well CDAF works with native lenses!) that I hadn't noticed for presumably quite a long time...
Dec 31, 2016 at 08:03 PM
brick33308
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p.13 #8Techart PRO LM-EA7 FAQ
joe256 wrote:
For the A7R2, make sure that PDAF is the AF system indicated on menu item Gear 7. TAP will actually kinda work if CD is listed but not very well.

I just checked and found that I was already set to PDAF while having the problems with my TAP.

Just to be clear, my issue is that at least half the time, there is no auto focus at all - as opposed to the problem others reported which is that the TAP would hunt but not lock on focus.
Dec 31, 2016 at 08:07 PM
genji
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p.13 #9Techart PRO LM-EA7 FAQ
brick33308 wrote:
I just checked and found that I was already set to PDAF while having the problems with my TAP.

Just to be clear, my issue is that at least half the time, there is no auto focus at all - as opposed to the problem others reported which is that the TAP would hunt but not lock on focus.

Is the lack of autofocus random? Or does it occur (say) when you turn the camera on? I have my A7R II set up with Focus Peaking enabled and the AF/MF button set to AF/MF Ctrl Toggle. When I press that button to switch to MF, focus peaking automatically kicks in and, if I have the TAP set to park the adapter at the current focus when switching from AF to MF mode, the yellow shimmering is immediately visible. (Alternatively, if I have the TAP set to park the adapter at infinity focus when switching from AF to MF mode, I have to point the camera at a distant subject to see the peaking effect.

It occurred to me that one way to further explore whether your TAP is faulty or not would be to set your camera up in the way I have described and to observe what happens when you manually switch between AF and MF.
Dec 31, 2016 at 11:16 PM
brick33308
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p.13 #10Techart PRO LM-EA7 FAQ
genji wrote:
brick33308 wroteI just checked and found that I was already set to PDAF while having the problems with my TAP.

Just to be clear, my issue is that at least half the time, there is no auto focus at all - as opposed to the problem others reported which is that the TAP would hunt but not lock on focus.
Is the lack of autofocus random? Or does it occur (say) when you turn the camera on? I have my A7R II set up with Focus Peaking enabled and the AF/MF button set to AF/MF Ctrl Toggle. When I press that button to switch to MF, focus peaking automatically kicks in and, if I have the TAP set to park the adapter at the current focus when switching from AF to MF mode, the yellow shimmering is immediately visible. (Alternatively, if I have the TAP set to park the adapter at infinity focus when switching from AF to MF mode,...Show more →

Yes, lack of autofocus with TAP is random. Most of the time when I turn the camera on, autofocus works for some shots, then inexplicably it stops. I also have focus peaking set whenever I'm in MF, and I have my trashcan button set as a toggle between AF and MF, and as soon as TAP stops focusing, I immediately toggle to MF and it stays there until I turn the camera off. When I turn the camera back on, it always starts back in AF. Focus peaking is okay, but to get accurate focus in MF I have my center button when pressed activate zoom which helps me achieve proper focus. The more I use the TAP and my 35 ZM, the more adept I've become in quickly achieving proper focus, but still not fast enough for moving people of whom I'm trying for candid street portraits.
Dec 31, 2016 at 11:32 PM
genji
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p.13 #11Techart PRO LM-EA7 FAQ
brick33308 wrote:
genji wrote
brick33308 wroteI just checked and found that I was already set to PDAF while having the problems with my TAP.

Just to be clear, my issue is that at least half the time, there is no auto focus at all - as opposed to the problem others reported which is that the TAP would hunt but not lock on focus.
Is the lack of autofocus random? Or does it occur (say) when you turn the camera on? I have my A7R II set up with Focus Peaking enabled and the AF/MF button set to AF/MF Ctrl Toggle. When I press that button to switch to MF, focus peaking automatically kicks in and, if I have the TAP set to park the adapter at the current focus when switching from AF to MF mode, the yellow shimmering is immediately visible. (Alternatively, if I have the TAP set to park the adapter at infinity focus when switching from AF to MF mode, I have to point the camera at a distant subject to see the peaking effect.

It occurred to me that one way to further explore whether your TAP is faulty or not would be to set your camera up in the way I have described and to observe what happens when you manually switch between AF and MF.
Yes, lack of autofocus with TAP is random. Most of the time when I turn the camera on, autofocus works for some shots, then inexplicably it stops. I also have focus peaking set whenever I'm in MF, and I have my trashcan button set as a toggle between AF and MF, and as soon as TAP stops focusing, I immediately toggle to MF and it stays there until I turn the camera off. When I turn the camera back on, it always starts back in AF. Focus peaking is okay, but to get accurate focus in MF I have my...Show more →

Have you tried the TAP with lenses other than the 35ZM? If you have and it's the same story then the adapter is probably faulty. The behavior you're describing is definitely not normal.
Jan 01, 2017 at 12:44 PM
brick33308
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p.13 #12Techart PRO LM-EA7 FAQ
genji wrote:
Have you tried the TAP with lenses other than the 35ZM? If you have and it's the same story then the adapter is probably faulty. The behavior you're describing is definitely not normal.

no, unfortunately the 35ZM is my only manual focus lens.

Jan 01, 2017 at 12:48 PM
bluloo
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p.13 #13Techart PRO LM-EA7 FAQ
I've noticed that the TAP sometimes will not AF - it simply sits there and does nothing. When that occurs, I can often manually focus with the shutter depressed half-way, and get the green confirmation square and dots when I hit focus.

While it's clearly a bug, I wonder if the TAP people could add something that as a functionality - a mode to disable the AF motor, but retain the AF lock confirmation. I'd like something like that better than using peaking.
Jan 01, 2017 at 03:18 PM
Chris_88
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p.13 #14Techart PRO LM-EA7 FAQ
I had asked the same question on the previous page, but since I didn't get any answer, I'll try again:

I'm probably too stupid to figure this out: Do I have to park the adapter once to switch between AF/MF? Just pressing the designated AF/MF button gives me focus confirmation, but pressing the shutter button afterwards will still result the adapter to AF's the lens. Is it possible to quickly disable the AF? I would like to use MF with focus peaking for certain landscape shots, when the adapter's AF doesn't nail focus.
Jan 01, 2017 at 03:45 PM
brick33308
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p.13 #15Techart PRO LM-EA7 FAQ
Chris_88 wrote:
I had asked the same question on the previous page, but since I didn't get any answer, I'll try again:

I'm probably too stupid to figure this out: Do I have to park the adapter once to switch between AF/MF? Just pressing the designated AF/MF button gives me focus confirmation, but pressing the shutter button afterwards will still result the adapter to AF's the lens. Is it possible to quickly disable the AF? I would like to use MF with focus peaking for certain landscape shots, when the adapter's AF doesn't nail focus.

I'm not sure what you mean by "parking" the adapter. I have the trash can button set to toggle AF/MF, and the center of the control dial set to zoom. That way, as soon as the TAP starts acting up (which is just after a few shots), I toggle to MF and continue shooting that way. Be sure to have focus peaking turned on in settings.
Jan 01, 2017 at 04:05 PM
bluloo
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p.13 #16Techart PRO LM-EA7 FAQ
Chris_88 wrote:
I had asked the same question on the previous page, but since I didn't get any answer, I'll try again:

I'm probably too stupid to figure this out: Do I have to park the adapter once to switch between AF/MF? Just pressing the designated AF/MF button gives me focus confirmation, but pressing the shutter button afterwards will still result the adapter to AF's the lens. Is it possible to quickly disable the AF? I would like to use MF with focus peaking for certain landscape shots, when the adapter's AF doesn't nail focus.

If you've set the TAP's manual focus behavior to "park at present position" using F45, when you switch to MF, the TAP will park at it's current position.
You can control that to a degree by either focusing on a near, or far object prior to switching the camera to MF.

After you use the AF/MF button to get to MF, then you need to flip the switch down, to stay in MF.

FYI - When you turn the camera on again, the TAP will start in AF mode, regardless of the switch being in the down position, so you need to re-engage MF again, via the same process.
Jan 01, 2017 at 05:30 PM
gardkert
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p.13 #17Techart PRO LM-EA7 FAQ
Could anyone out there comment on using the TAP with the Canon FD 85mm f1.2?
How fast the TAP focus at f1.2?
...and weighing in at 682 grams, this is pushing the TAP to its limit.

Jan 02, 2017 at 10:29 AM
brick33308
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p.13 #18Techart PRO LM-EA7 FAQ
follow-up: I called B&H who cheerfully offered to take back my old TAP either for refund or exchange. I chose exchange so hopefully the new one will work out better for me. Of course this is why I usually buy from B&H.
Jan 02, 2017 at 02:08 PM
Chris_88
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p.13 #19Techart PRO LM-EA7 FAQ
bluloo wrote:
Chris_88 wroteI had asked the same question on the previous page, but since I didn't get any answer, I'll try again:

I'm probably too stupid to figure this out: Do I have to park the adapter once to switch between AF/MF? Just pressing the designated AF/MF button gives me focus confirmation, but pressing the shutter button afterwards will still result the adapter to AF's the lens. Is it possible to quickly disable the AF? I would like to use MF with focus peaking for certain landscape shots, when the adapter's AF doesn't nail focus.
If you've set the TAP's manual focus behavior to "park at present position" using F45, when you switch to MF, the TAP will park at it's current position.
You can control that to a degree by either focusing on a near, or far object prior to switching the camera to MF.

After you use the AF/MF button to get to MF, then you need to flip the switch down, to stay in MF.

FYI - When you turn the camera on again, the TAP will start in AF mode, regardless of the switch being in the down position, so you need...Show more →

Thans for the explanation. I've now figured out what the problem is: If I press down the button, the camera only temporarily switches to MF, but no matter what I do with the toggle, it immediately resets to AF-S. How can I convince it to stay in MF (nice words didn't work)?

I feel like a rookie, despite having this camera since launch, but then again I usually just used the dial/function menu to switch into M mode with alt lenses.
Jan 02, 2017 at 09:16 PM
Chris_88
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p.13 #20Techart PRO LM-EA7 FAQ
brick33308 wrote:
follow-up: I called B&H who cheerfully offered to take back my old TAP either for refund or exchange. I chose exchange so hopefully the new one will work out better for me. Of course this is why I usually buy from B&H.

Great to hear. I'm sure there was something wrong with the adapter. The TAP has its limitations, but it works surprisingly well under various lightning conditions with all those lenses that were never designed to work with AF.
Jan 02, 2017 at 09:18 PM
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