FAQ – Helicon FB Tube
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Q: I’ve set everything as recommended in the Helicon FB Tube manual but the tube does not seem to work
A: Please make sure that the media volume on your device is set to max. Also try setting the lens focus range switch to different positions.
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Q: The tube does not flash when I’m trying to configure it and I’m not sure if the signal comes through
A: Please make sure that the transmitter works fine - check if the sensor light is visible when viewed through a camera or a smartphone camera.
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Q: How do I know that the tube has been successfully configured?
A: The LED indicator on the tube flashes green during the configuration process. Once it's successfully completed you will see the LED light stop flashing. Please watch this video:
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Q: Can Helicon FB Tube be combined with macro extension tubes?
A: Yes. Helicon FB Tube can be used together with one or more macro extension tubes.
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Q: Will Helicon FB Tube work out of the box, without me configuring it?
A: Yes, the tube will work, but the step value may not be optimal for current shooting conditions and parameters.
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Q: What is the Helicon FB Tube default step value?
A: Helicon FB Tube default step value both for Canon and Nikon cameras is 200.
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Q: Will the Helicon FB Tube for Canon cameras work also for Nikon?
A: No.
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Q: Do I need to set the step each time I change the lens and/or aperture?
A: Helicon FB Tube for Nikon cameras stores parameters for the five most recently used lenses. When one of these five ones is being used, there's no need to reconfigure the tube when changing the lens. If you are Canon user you need to set the step with each change of the aperture.
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Q: What is the ‘step’ and in which units is it measured?
A: It's an abstract step sent from camera to lens. Usually it's proportional to focus ring rotation angle.
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Q: Do I need to define the optimal step myself?
A: You need to do it if the data base integrated in the configuration utility does not have the info about the current lens.
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Q: How do I define the optimal step?
A: In order to define the optimal step you need to shoot stacks with different step values as described
here, process them in Helicon Focus and compared the results to find the best one.
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Q: Does the Helicon FB Tube work with manual focus only lenses?
A: Helicon FB Tube works only for AF lenses.
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Q: Does Helicon FB Tube work for low-end and old cameras/lenses?
A: Helicon FB Tube works with low-end AF lenses, though some complications may occur.
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Q: Where can I find the list of compatible lenses/cameras?
A: Please check the list of compatible lenses/cameras on our Web site or on the camera as lens list in the configuration utility.
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Q: Where can I find the step values for different lenses?
A: Please check the step value data on our Web site or on the step value list in the configuration utility.
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Q: I always have to activate the tube by shortly pressing the shutter release button, since the camera turns into energy saving mode
A: In order to avoid it please swith your camera to Live View mode.
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Q: Does Helicon FB Tube automatically detect and identify the lens?
A: Helicon FB Tube for Nikon cameras stores parameters for the five most recently used lenses, though does not identify the aperture value. So if the aperture is changed, the tube has to be reconfigured. Helicon FB Tube for Canon cameras does not store info about previously used lenses, just stores the latest step regardless of the lens.
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Troubleshooting
Q: I don't manage to configure the tube
1. Are you sure you are pointing the transmitter at the receiver and not at the LED?
The receiver and the LED look quite alike, so please have a look at the picture below to make sure you didn't misrecognize them.
for Canon DSLRs
for Nikon DSLRs
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2. Is media volume on your device set to max?
Please make sure that the media volume level on your device is set to its maximum.
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3. Are the transmitter and the receiver brought close enough?
For reliable transmission the distance should not exceed 5 mm. The safest way would be to to touch the transmitter on the receiver keeping them aligned.
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4. Is your camera active during configuration?
Please turn your camera into the Live View mode.
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5. Does the transmitter work properly?
In order to check this, please view the transmitter IR signal through a smartphone camera to make sure you can see the transmitter flash. Please note that the flashing is not bright, so is best viewed in the dark.
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6. Did you try using another device?
Please install the configuration utility to a different device. It's available both for Android and iOS.
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7. Does the lens have possibility to make focus steps?
Please make sure that the focus position at the beginning of shooting allows to make more focus steps, i.e. that the lens is not at the end of focus range when you start shooting. Take into account shooting direction.
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8. Running the Configuration Utility on iPhone?
