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Messages - Zed3891

#1
The VAF-TXi does not help with 720p footage, which is a shame, because the 720p aliasing is much worse than the 1080p aliasing.

I got a VAF-TXi for my Rebel T2i/550d and it causes err 20 every time I try to use it.
Err 20 usually indicates a problem with the mirror mechanism, and this filter does hold up the mirror, but most people are apparently not having this problem.

I also discovered that old, adapted camera lenses with no electronics in them don't cause the error, but as soon as the camera detects a lens
with an electronic contact on it, it throws the error.

I talked to Mosaic Engineering about it and they said that most T2i users are using it with no problems, but some have this same problem for no apparent reason and they're trying to figure out why.

I found one or two other people on this forum who are having the same problem.  Here is a link to a discussion I replied to with my observations:
http://www.magiclantern.fm/forum/index.php?topic=7265.new#new
#2
Additional notes:
"Err 20" normally indicates that there's a problem with your camera's mirror mechanism (and the VAF-TXi does hold up the mirror).

I have seen videos online of footage shot with the VAF-TXi on a 550d, so it does seem to work for some people (as Mosaic claims it does).

Also, yes, I installed the filter correctly.
I even sent pictures to Mosaic Engineering to be sure, and they told me it was correct.
#3
I also got a VAF-Txi earlier this year and found that it wouldn't work on my T2i (550d).

I talked to Mosaic Engineering about it and they said that it usually works on the T2i, but they have had a couple of cases where it didn't work and they're not sure why.

He suggested to me that Magic Lantern may be causing it, but I told him that I hadn't installed Magic Lantern on this camera.

From my attempts to make it work, I've discovered that the problem seems to be related to the lens electronics.
When I put an old, adapted Nikon SLR lens on it it worked (no electronics), but none of my EF or EF-S lenses would work (they all have electronics).

The people from Mosaic Engineering said they might work with Magic Lantern to develop a solution.
They also suggested I try downgrading the firmware to the previous version, but they didn't know how I could do that.
I haven't heard from them for quite a while and they haven't been returning my e-mails lately.
I might just return the filter because it was a bit expensive, the aliasing isn't usually that bad in 1080 mode, and the filter doesn't do anything for 720 mode (where it would be most helpful).


Here are some observations I made while trying to get the filter to work:

•  If the VAF-TXi is in the camera and a lens is attached, the camera will immediately give the Err 20 code if the camera is set to video mode or Live View is enabled (including upon startup while set to Video Mode).
        -  The still photo mechanism works and does not throw the error code in this configuration, unless I use Live View or Video Mode (although the viewfinder doesn't work because of the mirror being locked up by the VAF-TXi and Live View throws the Err 20 error).

•  If I turn on the camera without the VAF-TXi in it, put it in live mode or video mode, and install the VAF-TXi, it doesn't immediately throw the error.   The camera will tell you to attach a lens.
        - If a Canon (or compatible) electronic, EF/EF-S lens is installed, the camera will tell you to push the Live View button to shoot video.  Pressing the Live View button will throw Err 20.
        - If I attach my old, adapted, non-electronic Nikon lens in this configuration, the camera does NOT throw Err 20 when I press Live View, and it allows me to shoot video until I push the shutter button, which causes Err 20 to be thrown.
        - If I attach the old, adapted, non-electronic Nikon lens while the VAF-TXi is installed, then turn the camera off, turning it back on has the same result as turning it back on with the VAF-TXi and any of the other lenses installed.

•  If the VAF-TXi is in the camera, and a lens is NOT attached, the camera will remind you to attach a lens when you turn it on, and tell you to press the Live View button to begin shooting.   
   - At this point, regardless of whether or not you attach a lens, pressing the Live View button will cause the camera to give you the Err 20 code.

Any time I attach an electronic lens to the camera, it makes a motor sound.  The non-electronic Nikon lens (obviously) doesn't.
The inability of the Camera and the Nikon lens to communicate seems to trick the camera into allowing it to work until you turn the camera off and back on or press the shutter button.