Helicon Remote problem with Nikon D3

[miha]

I have been testing Helicon software for some time and I have a problem with Helicon Remote and a Nikon D3 with Nikon Micro 105mm f/2.8 VR.
The problem is that with one example Helicon Remote produced jumpy images where focus was not moving continuously in similar steps from front to back
but had a big jump on image 2 or 3 and even a jump back later on (focus and image, this lens has focus breathing). Automatic mode did this. I tried to use manual and some test images near the front with lower interval but still it jumped. Simulating the stepping manually on the camera showed continuous behaviour. And with Nikon Remote I could simulate much more continuous behaviour too so the lens itself does not seem to be the problem. ?

[Stas Yatsenko]

Thanks for your report. I suspect that it could be two reasons for this. First is that camera does not not make even steps for the same command, the second - the camera performs autofocus between steps and this gives strange results. To check this please make the following tests:

1. Click on >>> button in the interface and see on the lens scale. You should notice big steps in the same direction.

Repeat with >> button. The steps are much smaller but still noticable.

Repeat with > button. Single steps are very small, but you will see effect from several clicks.

2. Open help for Helicon Remote, go to the bottom of the page. You will see there example of checking DOF calculator. Use similar setup to see exactly where the camera is focused for each shot during shooting.

Last but not least, after test shooting please send us bug report with logs (menu\Help\Report a bug). It would be good to check it from inside too.

[Guest]

Bug report sent. Thanks for helping out.

[Stas Yatsenko]

Thanks!