ttbek

On 2/9/2017 at 10:37 PM, IKSLIM said:

In order to support Luca's development, i'd be happy to purchase NXL.v1 from ttbek. Please PM me if you find my attempt attractive. Thanks.

Hey IKSLIM, had I needed to buy a new one for this update I probably would have sold you one, but Luca's kind offer is keeping both with me for now.  Upon closer inspection the  Apurture design version doesn't have the contacts I need camera side, so unfortunately you're out of luck unless I end up acquiring a 3rd one. 

On 2/9/2017 at 4:39 PM, lucabutera said:

Hello ttbek, how are you?

You must keep up to date, if you come on the forum every month you will always find new surprises.

The next series will predisposition of electrical contacts.

I will make a version NXL mute and a version with electronic controls.

Currently, for practical reasons, it is being tested, the Aputure Dec control that allows:

1) iris control Canon lenses;
2) Stabilizer Canon lenses;
3) WiFi Control focus;
4) recording 2 subjects for quick changes of focus.

Currently I started the study of a smart autofocus system, but this will take a little time.

How can you help me? Been programming?

I have been working with a digital logic analyzer and an Arduino nano.  Via this setup I can set the aperture and move the focus to min and max so far.  So the setup is

For gathering data: Canon Camera + EF extension tube with AF contacts + lens, I have wired the extension tube to sample the data via a USB digital logic anlyzer. 
For testing my control: Arduino Nano + EF extension tube with AF contacts + lens (no body for now).  So the aperture and focus max and min are working as controlled by the nano. 

Next step: NX camera + NX extension tube with AF contacts + Arduino Nano  and use the digital logic analyzer to find the focus commands from the camera, also spoof the lens data.  Here is where ihkim's work will be a big help with the lens initialisation, to hopefully successfully spoof the lens in a way the camera accepts. 

Final case: NX camera signal to contacts on close end EF -> NX adapter, these wired to the nano, then from the nano to the contacts on the other side of the adapter, then to the lens.  Then replace the adapter with wired NX-L for focal reduction. 

Stabilization seems to work automatically for the lenses I've tried, but I think the EF-M mount lenses don't have physical switches, but these are not among the lenses we're adapting. 

On 2/9/2017 at 4:39 PM, lucabutera said:

You want to finance my project? Or both?

My 10k offer still stands for anyone that can provide native-like camera driven AF.  The Apurture DEC does not do this, as I understand it doesn't listen to the camera half at all, in which case I'm only a few buttons away from doing the same with the nano (add button to repeat change focus command one way, another the other way, same for aperture).  Wifi would be a bunch of work though, but while nice it isn't on my own wish list.  The nano will allow more programmatic control, 2,3,4, etc... focus locations could be toggled, it's mostly a matter of adding physical inputs and writing logic into the nano code to handle them.  As I look back to your image of the upcoming system, the contacts are going to go just from the Apurture to the lens, I also need to get to the camera contacts somehow.  What I need is camera -> Apurture and Apurture -> lens (but with my nano instead of the Apurture).  With the current NX-L design I'm not sure how to get at the camera contacts, running wires even with a hole drilled through isn't great because of the rotating design, so they can be stressed or break if it rotates too far.  Solutions that come to mind would complicate the design quite a bit further (e.g. concentric rings for each contact on that part that rotates). 

On 2/9/2017 at 4:39 PM, lucabutera said:

P.S. If you ship me the NXL I can update it for telephoto compatibility.

That would be great, can you PM me the address, I didn't keep the packaging they arrived in so I lost the return address. 

21 hours ago, lucabutera said:

Hello Ikslim, I build them in sets of 10 pieces at a time.
Next week I will send the first 10 already sold, for the next production will have to wait a month, but it will have some constructive improvements and also the predisposition for electrical controls.

Best

Luca

Hey Luca, you've sabotaged yourself :P  I'm holding out for the electronics now that I know they're coming.  Even if there isn't AF working yet, at least so I can attach my chip in between without trying to machine my own holes or something.  You've probably leapfrogged me by a lot on the electronic control, but if there's anything I can do to help let me know. 

On 1/23/2017 at 7:23 AM, bzdingo said:

Good evening everyone,
Love the NX1, a shame that there is no more support, but you got to do the most with what you got.  I was wondering can this adapter work for Nikon lens or is it just Canon? I just bought a tamron g2 150-600 lens and I just use an Nikon adapter for it.  Would this improve the pictures?  I would love to get this adapter eventually.  God bless  

Just need to use a Nikon to Canon adapter with it and you can use Nikon lenses.  Of course some of the newer Nikons have the same annoyance as the Canon EF lenses in that aperture is controlled electronically, but if I recall correctly Nikon lenses will have the aperture closed all the way in that case while the Canon lenses are a somewhat more workable wide open in that situation.  For Canon lenses you can use a trick to get the aperture you want if you also have a Canon body, what you do is to put the lens on the body, set the aperture you want with the camera on, hold down the DOF preview button and remove the lens from the camera while it is on (do make sure IS/OS/OIS/etc.. is off for this, I haven't heard of damage from this but all the lens instruction manuals warn about removing or putting on the lens with this on), that aperture will then stay set until put back on another Canon body. 

Well, moving money to the smartphone department should be good for the cameras, since they've been in the same merged department since 2013 http://www.theverge.com/2013/12/13/5206560/samsung-merges-camera-and-mobile-divisions  But I assume that they have also been putting the money towards phones even within the department :P   

Giving -200 error when I try to upload my jpeg, trying to use a lower jpeg quality to see if the smaller file size lets it upload.  Hmm, no luck, says "There was a problem processing the uploaded file. -200"  I have no idea what the problem is.  Other files from the 5DSR also don't seem to be working.  Well, just uploaded a 400mm f/2.8 shot to DeviantArt, no appreciable vignetting: http://ttbek.deviantart.com/art/Tiny-Rocket-658531277?ga_submit_new=10%253A1484922555

Hmm, now two Samsung files are having the same problem with uploading, weird, at least the first two here worked though.  What I'm showing here is the slight play in the rotating section, it can be pulled slightly out or be slightly more in, first shot is out (5725) and the second is in (5726).  My Samyang 12mm's back element does something similar, not sure if it is supposed to be like that, maybe I'll open it up and see if I can tighten it.  It seems to be the same on both NX-L adapters.  I don't know if it is optically of concern or not, I think probably not, unless maybe if it shifts on you after you focus or something? 

Sorry for the delay, good to hear you have a solution, if you know anyone with a longer lens or a store that has one, maybe you could please test on a 600 or 800 lens.  Here are the images with the 1st version NX-L attached.  5707:Canon 400mm f/2.8 IS L version one,  5708:Sigma 150-600 Sport @150mm, 5709:Sigma 150-600 Sport @600mm, 5710:Tamron 75-300 Vi DC?...mumbo jumbo the latest one @75mm, 5712:Tamron 75-300@100mm, 5713:Tamron 75-300@135mm, 5714:Tamron 75-300@200mm, 5715:Tamron 75-300mm@300mm, 5716:Canon 400mm f/5.6 L.  

5722:Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art glassless adapter, 5723:Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art with NX-L  Focus is on front edge of the door, sharpness is retained quite well. Vignetting is much worse in the NX-L shot, but in this case it is in my opinion just from seeing more of the image circle here, though I should double check against a FF body just in case.  It's just vignette, not so much like the total corner blackout on the telephotos. 

Hmm, having trouble uploading my shot of the 400 f/5.6 on the 5DSR.  Maybe file/size limit per post, will retry in a separate post. 

Double checked again without the lens hoods, it doesn't start suddenly but starts becoming noticeable around 150mm on my Tamron 70-300. By 300 it is clear and obvious, on the 400 f/5.6 the corners become almost completely dark.  Different lens designs may make it show more or less, for example it definitely shows less on the 400 f/2.8 than on the 400 f/5.6.  I'll try to post sample pics sometime later today. 

Hey everyone, I'm mostly quite happy with the NX-L, but it has a problem with telephotos >~100mm.  I'm not sure if it is something avoidable with the design or not (probably not without using something other than glass?), but it has very strong vignetting in the corners, with my 70-300 (not really noticeable <100 but definitely there by 150), my 400 (5.6), my other 400 (2.8 and the issue is a bit less severe), my 500, and gets worse of course when used with a TC.  Sharpness is actually rather good.  I know I should still give you guys a more full review, we'll see how my time in the next few days.  One thing that I'm not sure if it has any noticeable effect yes is that there is some play int the part that rotates, the rotation is essentially fine I think, but I mean it can be move in and out ever so slightly, is the same on both copies.  Found a few interesting flares, but that lens may flare like that anyway, I haven't done a side by side sort of flare test (NX1+NX-L+lens vs. 5DSR+lens) yet. 

Well... some bad news, the source I got 29mm from seems to be a typo, it seems the flange is only 20mm, which is still more than M mount, but that is very little space for the adapter.  It will definitely have vignetting, lots of it ^_^.  Maybe not too bad at some focal lengths though, not sure on that.  When I'm back home I'll check out the protocol as best I can, no need putting in any time until I do that.  Maybe the chip won't even be working, the camera shop I got it from had nothing to try it out on. 

The NX-Ls have arrived ^_^.  Unfortunately they came through Q-post on this end, but luckily my brother was still home and was able to pick them up for me, only made it by like two days as he is flying here tomorrow.  I asked him to bring one with him so I'll get to use it on this vacation ^_^. 

11 hours ago, lucabutera said:

This lens is  near to MFT sensor but is possible try this crazy experiment! You can use this combination VL Lens -> VL Eos adapter -> Eos to Eos-M smart adapter -> Eos-M camera. But I do not the final result as well. 

No, the VL Eos adapter goes the other way

EF lens -> adapter -> XL1 or XL2 camera

I mentioned it only in regards to the XL cameras apparently using the same EF lens protocol for lens/body communication. 

What I'm looking to do is

VL lens -> apparently non-existent adapter VL to EOS M with electrical contacts -> EOS M camera

In fact, I can't find a VL adapter to any other mount, not even C-mount, probably because VL aperture is set electronically (just like EF... probably exactly like EF).  . 

Even in this case, results will not be very good, because the lens has a very small image circle, for like a 1/3" sensor or something.  I would try it but I don't have the machining tools to make the physical adapter.  I did go ahead and buy the lens as it was quite cheap.  I'll try wiring it up and see if it talks back to the Arduino just like the EF lenses or not (it's possible Canon did something more than just a pass through connection in that adapter). 

Hey Luca, I have the chance to pick up an 8-120mm Canon CL VL lens (for their film/analog video cameras).  From a cursory look it seems that the mount has the same pinout as EF, and at one point Canon sold an adapter to put EF lenses on these film cameras.  Now, it makes no sense to try to go from these CL/VL lenses (29mm flange) to EF mount, but it seems like going to EF-M mount should be very possible and with the electrical contacts it might just work without any chips needed in between.  I'm aware that the image circle is much smaller than APS-C for this lens, but with the new M5 at 24 MP a pretty good crop is more feasible than it once was.  I'm curious if you would be interested in making a one off adapter for that, PM with a rough price if you are. 

No need for that in my case, Qatar has no tax on received items like this, lol. 

Hmm, registered is usually pretty quick, I think it will make it, fingers crossed.  ^_^  And I think it end up through Fedex or DHL then as well on this side, probably Fedex. 

Hey Luca, I don't know, depends what kind of shipping.  If Fedex handles it once it reaches here they will come to the house.  If it is DHL, then probably as well, but if it is coming through the main post office they will send it back if I don't pick it up in like 2 days, so in that case it still works if it arrives before I leave, but otherwise be checking the return mail.  I guess we'll just hope for the best and I'll give you an update if they arrive or before I leave if they don't. 

I'm guessing it's far if you live by Taormina and weren't just visiting though.  :P

Luca, are mine in the mail or what?  I hate to pester you but I have no news on this front.  I'm going to be heading for vacation in 11 days...  If they aren't in the mail already now, I may be stopping in Venice on my trip around the new year,... though I don't know how far that is from you. 

Good stuff, is it just me or is the bokeh actually a bit smoother with the NXL?  Video sharpness is definitely living up to at least 4k, and Luca's post a bit earlier shows it is just about at the limits of what that lens can do without the NXL, looking good.  Is mine in the mail?  :P

On 11/1/2016 at 6:55 PM, lucabutera said:

 

Quiet, do not fear! I think it'll be fine...

I have faith in you Luca, just not the postal system ^_^....  really, these days they should do home delivery for all addresses in the country, long gone is the excuse that many places did not have proper addresses here, they all do now (maybe not literally all, but just about).  Last time I had a lens bounce back to Turkey, and this was right around when the attempted coup was going down, I feared I would never receive it, (not that important, Ebay buyer protection and all, but the wasted time, in that time I could have gotten a different one).  It did make it's way back thankfully, but in the confusion the seller never posted the new tracking code so I didn't know what was going on for sure for a while. 

Hey Luca, finally received email due to end of fundraising directing me to profile page to enter address (https://www.produzionidalbasso.com/account/edit-profile) I entered my phone number in the same line as the street address.   I will be going for vacation on December 15th, so if it arrives between the Dec. 15th and January 20th or so then I will not be able to receive it and they will probably ship it back to you.  If it is without the phone number they will also ship it back to you as they will not be able to reach me so that I can collect the package.  ... I have been waiting until the start of the next year to get a PO box to receive with them because they charge for a whole calender year regardless of when you get it (e.g. so if I got it now it would be only for 2 months and I would pay for the entire year).  This is if your are sending via normal mail that arrives at the post office, some others through FedEx and DHL can deliver to the home depending on the class/type of mail service requested.  Sorry for the complicated shipping situation. 

Kisaha, I'm looking forward to it as well. 

As a follow up on the K-mount adapter, apparently one with electrical contacts even made it onto their site at one point but was never for sale. https://***URL removed***/forums/post/40655967

and see also the following post, apparently the now long defunct first link to Samsung's site showed the adapter with electrical contacts. 

So now I'm curious how much code is still there, is there a chance a few lenses might work just by wiring up some contacts?  Unlikely, but maybe a slim chance. 

Luca: Hey man, it's been a few days now since I ordered two NX-L and haven't heard anything since the order confirmation from the site or your email with the project.  Did the order somehow not go through?  It all seemed like it worked on my end. 

2 hours ago, kinoseed said:

I don't know if you noticed, but it seems there's "official" support of K-mount and one other "unknown"

[root@drime5 ~]# st cap capdtm getusr LENSMOUNT
UserData is LENSMOUNT_NX_MOUNT (0x590000)
UserData is LENSMOUNT_K_MOUNT (0x590001)
UserData is LENSMOUNT_UNKNOWN (0x590002)

 

That is very interesting.  So back when I got my first NX, NX300, the rep told me they had a K mount adapter (which they do, but it is totally dumb/no electronics I know of) and that they would also soon have a smart adapter.  As time passed I assumed he didn't know what he was talking about and just said whatever sounded good to make the sale, but maybe they really were working on it and it got cancelled.  That, or does the dumb adapter have contacts just for EXIF or the like? 

8 minutes ago, Blah Blah said:

Any way to tell from files what that UNKNOWN mount is/does?

Probably just the catchall for anything else. 

Probably not too difficult.  It seems that ihkim didn't go so far as to get the focus commands for NX, though he has all the boot info.  I hope to have this in the next few weeks though, going to do some logic analyzing. Even if you had the money though, Luca's thing is for with EF lenses, not NX. 

7 minutes ago, Blah Blah said:

Does anyone have an idea how we could make an electronic follow focus?

You mean aside from the very expensive commercial ones I assume? 

B&H has stuff you can buy for the geared EFF of course:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Focusing-Gear/ci/12016/N/4028759307

This is where most of the English info on EF protocol comes from (most originates from a German forum):

https://pickandplace.wordpress.com/2011/10/05/canon-ef-s-protocol-and-electronic-follow-focus/

This inspired further work by an "h" fellow, h's blog gives description of what he has done but is sparse on details:

http://howiem.com/wordpress/index.php/2016/07/07/motion-control-canon-ef-lens-hacking/

http://howiem.com/wordpress/index.php/2016/07/14/hs-homemade-motion-control/

And he has actually open sourced his code, though with disclaimers that it is a hacked together mess on the precipice of major crashing, lol:

https://github.com/howiemnet/MotionControl

It might be possible to contact h for further details, I'm not really sure how he is about replying on his blog etc... never tried to reach him.  All of this is for EF lenses, if you want to use NX lenses, then those parts of the code need to be substituted, here the blueringlab site is a great help, much thanks to Ihkim:

http://blueringlab.com/