Strange ND Fader problem since Firmware Update

M

matteo1

Member
Immediately after updating to Version 2.0 I noticed a strange phenomenon with my Heliopan ND Variable filter. When it's stopped most of the way down, it starts to get corner vignettes (i.e., not rounded – almost as if the camera was set for a fade-to-black wipe that starts in the corners). I went to Samys DV where I bought the camera and the filter, and we tried the filter on a FS100 without the new firmware. Of course, there were no problems. I also put my filter on a 7D and didn't have any of the strange vignetting.

I tried a new Heliopan on my camera, and the same vignetting happened. The work-around is to add another ND filter to bring the overall exposure level down.

Any thoughts? Anyone else having this problem? Anybody come up with some possible explanation for why the firmware update might cause this?
 
The same thing happens to me, it's no phenomenon, just the nature of the two overlapping polarizers. That's why there is still nothing better than a solid ND.
 
But pre and post firmware sounds awfully weird. Are you sure that on the pre firmware FS the setup was identical? It sounds like a physical or optical issue that should be the same before and after firmware...

cheers
paul
 
You have to be outside during the brightest part of the day wide open with a 180 degree shutter or less to let the most amount of light in, then crank the ND all the way to it's max. Point the lens at the sky and you'll see vignetting. Unless you have a super expensive Vari ND.
 
well i don't have an fs100 but i do experience this with my 7d. So I don't know if its a quality control issue with Heliopan, since some users dont seem to experience it. Most of the time though i'm not affected by it...but pointing to the sky...yeh its there. I have the front filter version ordered from that German site...if that helps.
 
I had a Heliopan that I returned due to it getting the cross hatch vignette of death. The replacement one is fine.
 
Now that I retested it really is the cross hatch I'm getting, but its only evident on wide lenses. On the 35mm and up it starts in the corners. Sucks cuz I live in Jamaica and to send this back to germany is costly...then clear the new one. Anyway its not evident most of the time cuz I don't usually push the nd that far. I'll contact the site and see what will come out of it.
 
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