Will the VAF-70D Optical Anti-Aliasing Filter impair "Face Detection" from working?

D

david_p

Veteran
Will the VAF-70D Optical Anti-Aliasing Filter impair "Face Detection" from working?

just bought a 70D specifically for times when i want to use "face detection" AF (gimbal & steadicam) which is very effective on this camera.

do you think the AF function of the 70D would be "any less" effective with this filter installed on this camera?

http://www.mosaicengineering.com/products/vaf/70d/main.html

I'm looking at the info on the above site and it appears that it may. just wondering if anyone has direct experience with this filter on the 70D?

thanks
david
 
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That looks like a great piece for the 70D. No experience no but I believe there's no reason why DPAF would be impaires. The sensor and AF pixels are seeing the same scene, just without aliasing and moire. I wouldn't worry about it.
 
It works very well! I've already installed the VAF filter, and have shot tons of interviews, etc, and it works just like it isn't there! No moire, no aliasing...just perfect.
 
Does it actually eliminate aliasing and moire? Like the 5D mk III and 7D mk II? That would be awesome! Please post some footage if you can especially a wide detailed shot where on the normal 70D looks hedious by aliasing.
 
Ebrahim Saadawi said:
Does it actually eliminate aliasing and moire? Like the 5D mk III and 7D mk II? That would be awesome! Please post some footage if you can especially a wide detailed shot where on the normal 70D looks hedious by aliasing.
Click to expand...

look at the link at the top to see footage. you need to scrub in about 10 seconds. the moire that is showing prior to putting in the filter looks like more than it would be...maybe they turned up sharpening to exaggerate a bit?

the stair stepping is what bugs me the most. its horrible!. still the AF face detection is so good i just couldn't resist this camera.

i don't really find the 70D very detailed and is similar to my 5DmkIII but at least the 5DmkIII is virtually moire & aliasing free and you can sharpen a bit in post. i mostly use a C100 plus a host of other video cameras that have way more detail but none can AF like the 70D. the AF upgrade for the C100 only works in the center of the frame and its not face detection.

david
 
well, i received the VAF-70D filter for my 70D and will confirm what a few of the above poster said that it "does not impair AF" when installed. installing is as simple as can be as well as taking it out. i highly doubt i will use the 70D for photos (since i have many other FF options) so i expect the filter to stay in the camera.

about MOIRE & ARTIFACTS specifically (stair stepping!!!)...

all i can say is WOW!

this filter turns a fairly infected 70D image into what a 5DMkIII is of sorts which is nearly free from stair stepping and moire.

i don't find the 70D very detailed (sharp) but for medium to bust shots of people I'm ok with that. still at times i will feel the need to sharpen a bit in PP. without the VAF filter sharpening is simply just exaggerating the already existing stair stepping and moire and really not doable IMO and still unsharpened the image is marginally acceptable if i squint. with the filter in i can sharpen away to my hearts desire without the fear of bringing out the inherit artifacts which are now mostly gone. this is HUGE!

$300 is nothing to sneeze at but for the $300 my options of how i use the 70D have expanded by quite a lot. i will be able to shoot with no fear of the funky stuff.

the face detection AF of the 70D is really really impressive and the primary reason i bought this camera. i was cringing at the stair stepping i was getting on a lot of stuff but now its basically a non issue.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

david
 
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I paired a Canon 70D with my C100 for this year's wedding season and was unpleasantly surprised by the exceptionally soft image that it produces. When using it in very well lit situations, I was able to match the cameras as long as I had a really nice lens on the 70D like a Canon 70-200mm. However, in low light the 70D was basically worthless to us as a B camera even with fast primes because the noise is quite noticable above 1000 ISO, and it's very difficult to get rid of even with Denoiser II. When we first started using the 70D I used the Canon 18-135 STM lens, and unless I was getting a medium or tight shot, the image had far less detail than my consumer Canon G20. If using it alongside another DSLR I can see how it would be easier to get away with matching the cameras as long there's a LOT of light present. However, the footage we got from it was very disappointing and i wouldn't recommend the camera.
 
mdsilverman22 said:
I paired a Canon 70D with my C100 for this year's wedding season and was unpleasantly surprised by the exceptionally soft image that it produces. When using it in very well lit situations, I was able to match the cameras as long as I had a really nice lens on the 70D like a Canon 70-200mm. However, in low light the 70D was basically worthless to us as a B camera even with fast primes because the noise is quite noticable above 1000 ISO, and it's very difficult to get rid of even with Denoiser II. When we first started using the 70D I used the Canon 18-135 STM lens, and unless I was getting a medium or tight shot, the image had far less detail than my consumer Canon G20. If using it alongside another DSLR I can see how it would be easier to get away with matching the cameras as long there's a LOT of light present. However, the footage we got from it was very disappointing and i wouldn't recommend the camera.
Click to expand...

i won't disagree with your comments as to the IQ of the 70D vs the C100 and i too mostly use a C100. still what camera can do continuous AF/face detection out there unless you have the upgrade to the C100 but even then you need to keep the subject "in the center" of the frame to keep focus which i don't find very convenient. also agree that the 70D needs to be shooting at lower ISO's if matching with cameras like the C100 that is very good in low light.

putting my C100 on a steadicam or gimbal means i need to be mostly "wide" so i have infinite "focus". with the 70D i can zoom in and shoot shallow DOF and track faces with ease.

i use the sigma 18-35mm 1.8, canon 35mm 1.4L & a 50mm 1.4. when shooting with shallow DOF and filling the frame with the subject the 70D i think the perceived "in focus" is more striking because of the OOF shallow DOF.

also without the VAF-70D i find that you can't sharpen without bringing out the artifacts. i have no problem sharpening a bit with the filter installed.

david
 
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