As per Andy's promise, I've just been contacted by Nichelle Deaver, the Sales Administrator, with a very nice nice offer for the 4x5.65" T1 version (I need this size for my Letus / matte box setup). As I understand it, all the non-US residents' problems may be solved by simply wire transferring the money, which I'm going to do.

So, no reason to complain, really.

Like Piotr I was contacted today by Nichelle today. The deal about supplying a photocopy and the front of the driver's license is not typical of retail outlets but it's not that unusual, particular in the US where ID theft is a real. Many of the sales Abel Cine Tech are going to do will be in the thousands of dollars so I can appreciate their concern.

They didn't have stock but should have it within a week. We've been living with the problem for over a year another week I can live with.

Hi.

Will someone please let me know if these filters,

1. Fit under the hood?
2. Have another thread in front for possible use with a circular polarizer?

I like the results I see. I will get one either way because I have to. Thanks Sony!

As per Andy's promise, I've just been contacted by Nichelle Deaver, the Sales Administrator, with a very nice nice offer for the 4x5.65" T1 version (I need this size for my Letus / matte box setup). As I understand it, all the non-US residents' problems may be solved by simply wire transferring the money, which I'm going to do.

So, no reason to complain, really.
Another method is to have Abel-Cine send a PayPal invoice which includes shipping costs and pay that way. You pay up front and then they ship. This system has worked very well via equipment I have bought from other companies. The credit card front and back scan is used by B&H. I have been buying from them for years ... have spent a lot of money over the years and have never had a problem as a result. It's an OK system but ... PayPal is better!
Piotr ... I have asked Abel-Cine if they can provide 2 filters ... one with screw threads on one side and another with screw threads on both sides (fit to the 77mm lens ... then the 35mm adapter ... then the lens and matte box.) This gives you an extra 4X5 lens frame in the matte box.
If they don't have both ... I'll get a 4X5 and a single sided 77mm screw thread. This is a single camera problem after all.

[QUOTE=Leonard Levy;1432963]
...
I got my 77mm filter with threads on both sides so it can be coupled inside a Letus type adapter. I haven't checked to see if that fits inside the EX-1 hood


Leonard,

My tiffen t1 IR with threads front and back has just arrived, is about 3 to 4 mm thick and fits under the EX1 lens hood without any problems.

A quick test confirms that it solves the problem of 'red/brown' blacks.

However it does not fit between lens and the Sony VCL EX0877 wide angle lens.

Does any one have a solution for this?

Brian

Oh yeah - I forgot about WA adapters. We're still kinda screwed if we want to use one of those. I want to get a bayonet style WA adapter eventually, and those don't have outer threads a lot of times.

Where did you get your filter from Brian?

From Ebay... but don't see any more there just now.

My camera is still in repair but I did get to try the new filter for an second yesterday just to see if the standard (non "slim" with threads on both sides) filter fits under the EX-1 hood and it does so have no fear it isn't neccessary to get a slim version.

I was surprised a bit at how much light it lost also so I now understand those who complain that the old 486 had its advantages.

Sounds like an EX 1R is the best solution.

I didn't even get a chance to white balance through it though.

I spoke to Tiffen today and they promised to expedite delivery of the filters to us. We should have them soon.

My dealings with Abel have been frustrating, insulting that I have to prove I am not a criminal, and a waste of time.

Andy, you really need to stop treating customers like this. I have been trying to buy these filters from you since October 14th, and have had to force a response. Do you really want to sell things to people?

Les,

I'm sorry that this has been such a painful process. Our policy for international transactions are based on problems we have had in the past. As you may or may not have heard there have been a large number of recent thefts of production gear both in the rental business as well as through fake sales scams. I'm not actually a sales person, just a tech that enjoys these forums. However I have been working with our sales team to insure that everyone gets contacted and dealt with accordingly. I will let our team know of your problems and again make sure that our international customers are better supported in the future.

Andy

I have been contacted by Abel Cine Tech with an offer that makes up for the mix ups and a satisfactory way to pay. I am placing my order with thanks to Andy and Abel Cine Tech for making things right.

[QUOTE=Leonard Levy;1432963]
...
I got my 77mm filter with threads on both sides so it can be coupled inside a Letus type adapter. I haven't checked to see if that fits inside the EX-1 hood


Leonard,

My tiffen t1 IR with threads front and back has just arrived, is about 3 to 4 mm thick and fits under the EX1 lens hood without any problems.

A quick test confirms that it solves the problem of 'red/brown' blacks.

However it does not fit between lens and the Sony VCL EX0877 wide angle lens.

Does any one have a solution for this?

Brian

I just got the T1 and have run into this very problem. I use the Sony VCL EX0877 all the time. In fact it hardly ever comes off the camera, and I thought, wrongly, that the Sony WA would just fit as per normal when the T1 was screwed in place.

This is a real disaster to me as I shoot weddings every week and in tight church spaces I need the extra WA the EX0877 gives me, as half the time I am very close/right on top of the couple and vicar.

So I can have the fun of removing the T1, white balancing, stick on the WA, then remove the WA, stick on the T1, white balancing ad nauseum.

This isn't going to work at all for me.

Steve,
Are you saying that you got a slim filter with threads only on one side?
I'm sure you can exchange it. Call up the dealer you got it from or Tiffen directly.
They should be describing these as slim or normal filters upfront.

I'll bet you could even fix it yourself if you can unscrew the retaining ring in the filter, drop out the glass and replace in the ring of another 77mm filter. You might be able to buy one of those dirt cheap filters on the internet or get it from Tiffen.

Steve,
Are you saying that you got a slim filter with threads only on one side?
I'm sure you can exchange it. Call up the dealer you got it from or Tiffen directly.
They should be describing these as slim or normal filters upfront.

I'll bet you could even fix it yourself if you can unscrew the retaining ring in the filter, drop out the glass and replace in the ring of another 77mm filter. You might be able to buy one of those dirt cheap filters on the internet or get it from Tiffen.

HI Leonard, I have fixed it myself. I took the glass out and used an old slim 77mm filter I no longer used. Thanks for the heads up on that. Didn't cross my mind.

I got the T1 of Ebay so no sending it back. Was a very good price and whether it was a slim or normal version never entered my mind.

I have been contacted by Abel Cine Tech with an offer that makes up for the mix ups and a satisfactory way to pay. I am placing my order with thanks to Andy and Abel Cine Tech for making things right.


Hello everybody,

You do not have to hand over a copy of your driver's license to vendors if you do not want to. I have come across this issue several times with a few vendors and that in domestic orders.

When a vendor says they have had security problems, frankly that is not your problem as a customer and you should not be bothered to put yourself at risk for identity theft because of their problems.

Refusing to submit your drivers license doesn't always mean the vendor will refuse your order. They may make an exception or use an alternate security procedure. If they don't, do not support this practice and use another vendor.

No matter how sincere and believable a vendor can be about your information being kept safe or being destroyed after a stated period, there is no guarantee. Even if there was, should your information be used for ill purposes due to a security breach in the process, a guarantee will be of no use. The painful human truth is that, after the sale, no one will be as vigilant about keeping your information safe as you will.

I am personally against this practice as you can tell. A vendor has every right to watch out for themselves but you have just as much right also. Any time a vendor asks for your driver's license ask WHY. If you're in a store DO NOT allow them to leave your sight with your license or credit card or make copies or a scan. We all like to think it's just procedure and everyone we come in contact with will automatically be careful with our information. That assumption is not wise. The path that document follows and the security level of its storage after the sale is out of your hands and open to many risk concerns: stores are burglarized, computers are hacked, unshredded documents are stolen from company trash, disgruntled employees out to hurt the company... so on and so forth.

I should have included that as far as Abel Cine goes my experience with them has been good personally. Of course developing a relationship with a vendor helps just like it is the other way around between them and their customers. Especially helpful to have a relationship with a salesperson.

As someone who has lost a camera to a professional fraudster I can assure everyone that having a photo drivers licence and a passport is of zero worth as a security check.
When the thief was caught he had multiple drivers licences, passports and credit cards on his person.
These professional fraudsters are not too bright, this gent was caught when he tried to scam a rental compay for a second time. Still I doubt anyone would be so daft as to risk getting caught for fraud for the sake of a $100 filter.

...I have fixed it myself. I took the glass out and used an old slim 77mm filter I no longer used. Thanks for the heads up on that. Didn't cross my mind.

Hi Steve, how secure is the wide angle? Is there "enough" thread holding the adapter? It's pretty heavy but seems this is the only solution unless there is a slim version of this filter.

I see on their web site that the T1 IR filter is now available to order. it's not in stock and shows 6-10 weeks for delivery...

Dang - 6-10 weeks!? We'll have the EX1R by then. I should have jumped on this thing the day it came out. I was laying back to see how people liked it.

If any become available anywhere - please post here guys.

I'm assuming that 6-10 weeks is just their placeholder for "we're not sure exactly why it's coming in" - given that Tiffen is shipping that others are selling it now, I'd expect it to ship much sooner (hopefully)...

I just completed a PayPal payment on mine and hope to have the filter soon. It's coming UPSI and that's a bit cheaper than FedEx. So far, so good.

Do you have a link where you bought it from?

Thanks

Go directly to Abel-Cine website and, as I remember, there is a paypal link on their page. You are in the U.S. so it will be reasonable shipping charges. Good price and good service!

Dean, are these filters currently shipping or is there a long wait time?

Not really sure about the time frame for delivery. I assume pretty soon as in a week or there abouts ... you'll have to address Andy on that one.

I just called AbleCineTech about the T1 filter. They take your name and info and will call you when they have them and your name comes up. They have none at the time of this writing. They gave me no info as to when they expect some in. The gal only said, "This is a VERY popular filter". Of course it is. There is going to be one sold for every EX1 Sony screwed us on.

There is going to be one sold for every EX1 Sony screwed us on.

Don't forget EX-3 users will also require one. To avoid wasting time I simply filled in their equiry form on the product page giving them all my details. I'm awaiting a reply but I think that'll be near the time when they have some in stock.

"This is a VERY popular filter"

The word I'd use is 'Golddust' :) At least I have a 486 to be getting on with.

Has anyone established what light loss does the T1 filter cause?

Hello Piotr,
I just did a quick test using the camera's auto exposure function.

With T1 1R filter F3.4
without T1 1R filter F4.8

Tiffen claim 1/3 fstop loss

"Hello Piotr,
I just did a quick test using the camera's auto exposure function.

With T1 1R filter F3.4
without T1 1R filter F4.8

Tiffen claim 1/3 fstop loss "

I guess you mean with the filter F4.8 and without F3.4 or not?

Sorry John your right I have put them the wrong way around.

"Hello Piotr,
I just did a quick test using the camera's auto exposure function.

With T1 1R filter F3.4
without T1 1R filter F4.8

Tiffen claim 1/3 fstop loss "

I guess you mean with the filter F4.8 and without F3.4 or not?

No, I think he's right. The filter takes away light, requiring the camera's aperture to open to allow more light in. f/3.4 with the filter on makes sense - it's a wider aperture than f/4.8.

"No, I think he's right. The filter takes away light, requiring the camera's aperture to open to allow more light in. f/3.4 with the filter on makes sense - it's a wider aperture than f/4.8. "

Right indeed. The camera must compensate for the filter and has to open up the iris.

Thanks John.

Actually I wish you *were* wrong - this would mean the filter increases camera's sensitivity by a full stop.

;)

[quote=Brian Crow;1442182]

I just got the T1 and have run into this very problem. I use the Sony VCL EX0877 all the time. In fact it hardly ever comes off the camera, and I thought, wrongly, that the Sony WA would just fit as per normal when the T1 was screwed in place.

This is a real disaster to me as I shoot weddings every week and in tight church spaces I need the extra WA the EX0877 gives me, as half the time I am very close/right on top of the couple and vicar.

So I can have the fun of removing the T1, white balancing, stick on the WA, then remove the WA, stick on the T1, white balancing ad nauseum.

This isn't going to work at all for me.

It isn't going to work for anyone... even if you did go through this, (some of) the blacks would keep changing to/from a red brown. That is going to be even more difficult to explain to the bride/groom.

Inspection suggests there is no room between lens and WA to fit even a slimline filter. I would be delighted to be proved wrong here... any one tried it?

So are there any options?

Brian,

In Steve Shovlar's next post right below the one you quote he claims to have solved the problem by remounting the T1 in regular filter ring with threads on both sides. It sounds like that is working with the wide angle. Try emailing him.

There is enough room to fit the bare filter into the filter thread of the Sony lens, and then capture it with a retaining ring from the filter ring the bare filter is removed from. I have not tried this yet but will if I ever get the filters I am promised.

If this idea works, it will probably also allow for another filter to still be used, like a CP or whatever. Then I will probably never remove the T1 unless I am fighting extreme lighting conditions and I have no black issues in the shot.

Come to think of it, getting the 486 filter into the same location might be enough to change the angle of incidence of the entering light rays to alleviate the green vignette problem. I will not have to try that too! (hmmm, likely won't make a difference)

Another method is to have Abel-Cine send a PayPal invoice which includes shipping costs and pay that way. You pay up front and then they ship.

I got the Quote, paid via PayPal two days ago, and ...

- nothing! Not even a confirmation of receiving my payment (and mind you , I ordered and paid not for the T1 filter only).

Andy, I hope you will resolve this soon.

Piotr

There is enough room to fit the bare filter into the filter thread of the Sony lens, and then capture it with a retaining ring from the filter ring the bare filter is removed from. I have not tried this yet but will if I ever get the filters I am promised....



Excellent suggestion, tried it and the filter finished flush with the filter thread of the lens so the retaining ring just does not quite catch the thread.

Perhaps an optician will be able to grind a rebate into the filter so that it will seat slightly lower.

Excellent suggestion, tried it and the filter finished flush with the filter thread of the lens so the retaining ring just does not quite catch the thread.

Perhaps an optician will be able to grind a rebate into the filter so that it will seat slightly lower.

I had no idea that the filter was that thick. Oh well.

For everyone's information, I've just received confirmation of my order from Nichelle at Abel Cine. The T1 Tiffen filter is still back ordered and it is not expected before the end of next week.

For everyone's information, I've just received confirmation of my order from Nichelle at Abel Cine. The T1 Tiffen filter is still back ordered and it is not expected before the end of next week.

Thanks for sharing as I'm still waiting for an acknowledgement to my intial enquiry.

I'm sure you will get it Paul - Nichelle is a really nice person, but extremely busy, too :)

I can confirm that the problem does seem to be in supply from Tiffen. Their local online reseller informed me two weeks ago they were waiting for a new shipment.

I can imagine just how many people want to get their hands on one of these filters. Hopefully they'll start trickling though soon.

Excellent suggestion, tried it and the filter finished flush with the filter thread of the lens so the retaining ring just does not quite catch the thread.

Perhaps an optician will be able to grind a rebate into the filter so that it will seat slightly lower.

I am still searching for a way to use t1 filter with the wide angle lens.

In the spirit of Edison... here are some ways that don't work:-


1) Grinding filter:
Optician tried on diamond belt, but glass very tough. End result was the edges of the filter only got polished rather than ground much thinner. He advised against using more pressure while grinding as the risk of breaking the filter was too high. It may have been worth trying if the filters were cheap and readily available...

As the point of grinding filter was to enable the retaining ring to fix the filter, we then tried
alternative methods of fixing the bare filter in place without using the retaining ring:

2) locktight the filter in place: Did not hold

3) Glue it in place: Held OK but... the wide angle adapter would not fit.

Inspection then revealed the rear element of the WA adapter is convex and stands proud of the face of the bayonet mount. It therefore relies on the front element of the lens being recessed to provide clearance. With (only) the filter glass in place there is not sufficient clearance. Should have tried before gluing but you learn from mistakes.

Filter removed from Lens and returned to its mount.

It appears the filter will *not* fit between lens and WA.
Back to the drawing board.

[Apologies if this shouldn't be posted - as far as I can tell, there are no UK sponsors at present]

Just spoke to Top Teks in the UK and they have had their first 4 T1 filters come in, and go straight out. More are on order. They are quoting £60 plus £6 postage plus VAT and will put your name down against future stock.

N

It appears the filter will *not* fit between lens and WA.
Back to the drawing board.

You are correct. I just got my filters and did some measuring before making any attempts like this.

The T1 filter element is 2.5mm thick. The gap between the back element of the Sony 0.8x and the front element of the stock EX3 lens is 1.6mm ±0.1mm. I did not measure any more precisely as it was pointless given the result from the lower precision measurements.

Unless the filter was 1mm or less thick, it would not be a good idea to put it between the wide angle and the stock lens as this would severely change the optical design and cause bad aberrations. perhaps Tiffen made the filter this thick so as to prevent its use this way and to avoid complaints of poor image quality when used with a wide angle adapter.

I also did a rough measure of the light loss on my camera and it appears to be around 3/4 of a stop.

I guess it's time for a matte box and a 4x4.