Canon 5D Mark II with VAF-5D2 Anti AA Filter Test
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Ted Ramasola
Veteran
Here's more samples:
Interesting to watch. I'm quite curious about the sweet spot you mention and why this should be the case (any thoughts anyone?). I'm guessing this sort of thing varies from lenses to lenses, and is to do with contrast and sharpness at different apertures -- and that the softer or less contrasty the image, the less the aliasing?
Any apparent disadvantages so far, Ted? Mosaic have got at their site that this filter will change the ability of zoom lenses to hold focus as you change focal length (not that still zooms are generallly supposed to hold focus anyway!). Any thoughts on how bad this effect is?
Any apparent disadvantages so far, Ted? Mosaic have got at their site that this filter will change the ability of zoom lenses to hold focus as you change focal length (not that still zooms are generallly supposed to hold focus anyway!). Any thoughts on how bad this effect is?
Ted Ramasola
Veteran
The VAF 5D2 filter has been tested and documented to perform optimally from tele to 50mm with no problems.
I've used nikkors 80-200 f2.8, nikkor 50mm f1.4, nikkor 105mm f2.8.
For the wide lenses, here is what the tests have concluded.
For a canon wide prime such as 24mm there is softness at the sides at wide apertures, this disappears at f11.
For the canon 24-70 f2.8 there is no problems at the entire zoom range.
canon 24-105mm no problems.
for Sigma 20-40 f2.8 soft at wide apertures, sharp edge to edge at f11
for Tokina 11-16 @16mm soft at wide aperture, sharp edge to edge at f11
FOR ALL LENSES INFINITY IS OK BUT MOD IS CHANGED. (Minimum object distance)
Overall, if you are aware of these limitations on certain lenses there is not much disadvantage except that you can't take stills with the filter inside.
It has a veerry minimal effect on exposure. No change in white balance or color.
Here are more videos which will show you tests done with charts and actual real world scenes to show you its performance.
By Glenn Przyborski,
Philip Bloom,
Rez charts with different lenses and settings,
Mosaic have at their site:
"Zoom lenses can be used, but do not track focus while zooming. Another result is that, while zoom lenses can be used with the filter, they must be considered 'variable prime lenses', since focus tracking while zooming is not possible when the VAF-5D2 filter is installed."
I don't really understand this. Ted, would you know (or would anyone else) whether this means:
-- If you focus on an object, and then zoom in or out, you can't expect that object still to be in focus?
-- If you focus on an object and zoom, you can't expect that object to stay in focus while you're zooming?
-- If you're zooming and focusing at the same time (perhaps it's an object moving towards you), you won't be able to focus properly?
Or something else?
If one of the above, aren't these the case for still lenses in general? Or does the VAF-5D exacerbate the issue?
"Zoom lenses can be used, but do not track focus while zooming. Another result is that, while zoom lenses can be used with the filter, they must be considered 'variable prime lenses', since focus tracking while zooming is not possible when the VAF-5D2 filter is installed."
I don't really understand this. Ted, would you know (or would anyone else) whether this means:
-- If you focus on an object, and then zoom in or out, you can't expect that object still to be in focus?
-- If you focus on an object and zoom, you can't expect that object to stay in focus while you're zooming?
-- If you're zooming and focusing at the same time (perhaps it's an object moving towards you), you won't be able to focus properly?
Or something else?
If one of the above, aren't these the case for still lenses in general? Or does the VAF-5D exacerbate the issue?
Ted Ramasola
Veteran
they must be considered 'variable prime lenses', - This means you can only use the zoom function to change the fov/focal length, not for zooming while recording. (I personally avoid this technique anyway unless its for certain effect)
-- If you focus on an object, and then zoom in or out, you can't expect that object still to be in focus? - yes, it will not be in focus when you zoom out, you will have to re-focus once you change the focal/zoom setting.
-- If you're zooming and focusing at the same time (perhaps it's an object moving towards you), you won't be able to focus properly? - this depends on your skill, or if you have your zoom and focus targets marked on a follow focus and follow zoom. I guess this would still be how you do it even without a filter. You cant rely on the 5D's AF when shooting video.
If one of the above, aren't these the case for still lenses in general? Or does the VAF-5D exacerbate the issue? -- yes, this is the case mostly for still lenses which are not parfocal. The VAF5D2 still allows you to focus to infinity , but don't trust your barrel markings to hold true for the settings in between infinity and the MOD.
Most DSLR shooters don't do that anyway but rather use an ext monitor, peaking, loupe, or a combination of the 3 to hit focus rather than looking at the barrel scale.
-- If you focus on an object, and then zoom in or out, you can't expect that object still to be in focus? - yes, it will not be in focus when you zoom out, you will have to re-focus once you change the focal/zoom setting.
-- If you're zooming and focusing at the same time (perhaps it's an object moving towards you), you won't be able to focus properly? - this depends on your skill, or if you have your zoom and focus targets marked on a follow focus and follow zoom. I guess this would still be how you do it even without a filter. You cant rely on the 5D's AF when shooting video.
If one of the above, aren't these the case for still lenses in general? Or does the VAF-5D exacerbate the issue? -- yes, this is the case mostly for still lenses which are not parfocal. The VAF5D2 still allows you to focus to infinity , but don't trust your barrel markings to hold true for the settings in between infinity and the MOD.
Most DSLR shooters don't do that anyway but rather use an ext monitor, peaking, loupe, or a combination of the 3 to hit focus rather than looking at the barrel scale.
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Hey Ted, just got a reply back from David Cubanski at Mosaic Engineering confirming what you said. Hope he doesn't mind me posting it here. Key point, if I understand the reply properly, seems to be that the filter does exacerbate parfocal-ness:
"If you focus on an object with a zoom lens while using the filter, and then adjust the zoom, you will lose focus to some extent, and need to refocus at the new zoom setting.
By the way, one of the most popular and successful lenses that customers are using with the filter, is the Canon 24-70 f/2.8L. This lens has very good sharpness with the filter even at its widest (24mm) setting, and is a very flexible resource. But as in the above, you will need to adjust the focus after changing the zoom setting."
I'm not sure this is going to stop me doing the occasional pull-out zoom-reveal, with the filter in my camera, for use as a quick establishing shot. Might lose a little focus, but hopefully the increase in depth of field will mitigate it...
"If you focus on an object with a zoom lens while using the filter, and then adjust the zoom, you will lose focus to some extent, and need to refocus at the new zoom setting.
By the way, one of the most popular and successful lenses that customers are using with the filter, is the Canon 24-70 f/2.8L. This lens has very good sharpness with the filter even at its widest (24mm) setting, and is a very flexible resource. But as in the above, you will need to adjust the focus after changing the zoom setting."
I'm not sure this is going to stop me doing the occasional pull-out zoom-reveal, with the filter in my camera, for use as a quick establishing shot. Might lose a little focus, but hopefully the increase in depth of field will mitigate it...
Hey yocaly, kind of you to offer to review it. Here's some things I'm curious about:
-- minimum focusing distance; perhaps you could try with a few different lenses and see by how much this is altered
-- zoom again -- could you set to longest focal length, focus, zoom out to wide, then zoom back in, and see how much focus is changed, with and without filter?
-- minimum focusing distance; perhaps you could try with a few different lenses and see by how much this is altered
-- zoom again -- could you set to longest focal length, focus, zoom out to wide, then zoom back in, and see how much focus is changed, with and without filter?
I don't see the point - there are no canon lenses that are parfocal.
Ted Ramasola
Veteran
its at 1 most of the time ibut lately I'm experimenting with putting it at 2.
HansSteinert
Well-known member
Sharpening in post will produce better results, so just do that.