Just tested my new Genus Eclipse ND Fader filter for sharpness at the lowest and highest ND value compared to the lens without a filter. The camera was manually white balanced and you can notice a slight color change with the filter as the color becomes a bit warmer. In sharpness there is hardly any loss, the image looks even more pleasing to me with the filter.

The shots with the stocklens where fully zoomed in. This is a very good filter, not cheap but worth the money. So Jerome, it's safe to get this one, no focusing issues at all. :)

Genus Eclipse ND Fader filter test on Vimeo

So Jerome, it's safe to get this one, no focusing issues at all. :)

SWEET! I'm buying!

Anyone want to buy a POS Cokin? JK, sending back to B&H.

I also ordered 2 step down rings to fit the filter on different diameter lenses but one ring was crooked and wouldn't fit my 85mm, not a big deal and will ask for a replacement but only thing I didn't like about the Genus was that there is no filter cap supplied. A much cheaper filter I have did have a lenskap and considering the Genus price I would expect that to be standard delivered, but luckily that filtercap from the cheap filter fit's my Genus as well.

I got a phonecall today from another videographer who was sick and wasn't able to do a wedding this Saturday and asked if I could take over, as she makes documentary longer form style of weddings I was considering it would be a great opportunity to take my ea50 along, together with my 2 sony cx730's as 2nd unmanned camera and backup. I could leave my 2dslr's at home and don't use the steadicam either but will be taking my slider with me. With a bit of luck my 24mm f1.4 will be arriving tomorrow so could test that one as well.

Mm, that might be interesting...

Yeah those step rings have some thin threads for sure. I'd personally like to see a bayonet type of mount, but oh well.

Sounds interesting about the Saturday wedding. I have one I need to get finished editing... but hopefully that lens will arrive for you.

but hopefully that lens will arrive for you

It's currently mounted on my camera looking eagerly at me asking for some action. :)

It's currently mounted on my camera looking eagerly at me asking for some action. :)

And like Mick Jagger said "I can't get no satisfaction."
Go find some action! LOL!
You'll have fun soon!

Noa - I noticed you bought that for your 35mm lens (which I'm guessing is a 77mm thread). Did you get one of those for your stock lens too? Since that's a 67mm thread I'm wondering how well it works with the included lens hood.

I got the filter for my 24, 35, 85mm and stocklens, the filter fits my 24 and 35mm because both are 77mm and I got 2 stepdown ring to fit the filter on the 85 and stocklens.
The lenshoods don't fit anymore but I noticed the filter does have what looks like a screw thread on the inside, maybe to screw a custom lens hood onto that? Not sure about it.

I just ordered the Genus Eclipse and it comes with a screw-on lens hood for an extra $5, so I added it to the order with some step-down rings.

I prefer the bayonet lens hoods since it offeres a good solid barrier to damage to the front of the lens. Hoods screwed to the filters don't seem to offer the same level of protection, especially since they're usually soft rubber. The best option would probably be a matte box, but I really don't want the hassle/bulk of rails on the camera.

One of the filters I've tested is the Light Craft Workshop 67mm Fader ND Mark II Filter. I didn't like it because of the texture in the bokeh, but it did worked slightly better with the stock lens and hood. From what I've run across, even the most accesible filters are difficult to rotate with the hood on because of the small amount of space to access it. Using a rubber lens hood on the filter may not offer the most in terms of protection, but at least it should be way easier to rotate.

Can you give a link to that screw-on lens hood Wes? I ordered from a Dutch store and I didn't see that listed.

For those who haven't bought it yet, there's an option in the product info to buy it with (under the 77mm drop-down): ND Fader Filters : Eclipse ND Fader 77mm (http://www.genustech.tv/home/eclipse-nd-fader-77mm)

You can get it separately here: Genus Hood for ND Fader circular filter system 77mm | Genustech Webstore (http://shop.genustech.tv/collections/nd-fader-filter/products/genus-hood-for-nd-fader-circular-filter-system-77mm)

Thx Wes! I now found it at the Dutch store as well, it was listed separately, will order one next week

I used my Genus for the first time yesterday on a wedding shoot and noticed no ill effects - I was filming the B&G out in the snow - a proper whiteout and colour balanced by eye (using WB shift). I was using PP3 (left on by mistake) and the footage looks good, if a little washed out but is easily corrected.

I got mine a few days ago and love it so far. Did some tests outside and didn't notice any issues. The included hood however does creep into the shot when using the stock lens if you have it completely wide at 18mm. It goes away after about 50-55mm zoom (number 23 if you're using the numbers instead of bar for zoom indicator).

I got mine a few days ago and love it so far. Did some tests outside and didn't notice any issues. The included hood however does creep into the shot when using the stock lens if you have it completely wide at 18mm. It goes away after about 50-55mm zoom (number 23 if you're using the numbers instead of bar for zoom indicator).

What if you collapse the boot/hood when fully wide?

Yeah, that worked fine. I just forgot it later and zoomed in past 50mm, which resulted in some lens flare (shooting outside mid afternoon).

Good deal..
Wait, what size did you get?

77mm so I could use it on my Rokinon 35mm, and some step down rings so I could use it on the kit lens (67 thread) and a 85mm lens (72 thread)

Ok. I was hoping it was the 67mm one that creeped in and the 77 wouldn't. Oh well.

77mm so I could use it on my Rokinon 35mm, and some step down rings so I could use it on the kit lens (67 thread) and a 85mm lens (72 thread)

Same set up here, so to be sure, is the rubber lenshood showing in the frame at wide angle lenses?

Here's some stills showing how it looks with the hood extended and collapsed. This is with the ND filter and rubber hood on the stock lens at 18mm.

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/members/wes-browning-albums-tests-picture792-hood-collapsed.jpg

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/members/wes-browning-albums-tests-picture791-hood-extended.jpg

Which stills? :) Ah, now I see them, took some time to load. So the bit vignetting in the corners on the top pic is from the lenshood?

So back before the Genus 'Eclipse' version came out, I bought a Heliopan variable ND, as
the Genus variable filter at the time wasn't nearly as good as their 'Eclipse' version. I bought
the 77mm Heliopan, which was the largest one available at the time. As time went by, Heliopan
introduced a 82mm version. I wished I would have got that one, but o well, all my lenses were
77mm or smaller. Then I bought a lens with 82mm threads.....and at nearly the same time, I bought
a B-camera (VG20) to supplement my FS100. So I bought a 82mm Genus Eclipse. The way I
figure it, step up rings are cheap, so get the largest filter you can, to reduce chances of vignetting
at wide angles. I have a 10-20mm lens, and even at 10mm get no vignetting. And I am glad I did,
because soon after, I saw the 'Xume' system and really wanted it! It's nice as you don't have to thread
on and off ND filters, instead just snap them on. However, this introduces another ring, besides the step
up ring, (so that the magnetic system can work) This increase the chances of vignetting, but luckily,
I had got the 82mm, so I still get no vignetting! Just another bonus of getting the largest filter you can. So I can
use one camera with the more 'telephoto' length lenses with the Heliopan filter, and the other
with more 'wide angle' lenses with the Genus. The system works great, and changing filters is a snap.

Gabe, seeing that you own both have you had a chance to compare the Genus Eclipse to the Heliopan? I've been using the Heliopan which I really like, but I prefer to have two of everything just in case stuff breaks at a shoot, hence was considering getting the Genus Eclipse.

Yup, I will be posting a video comparison of them on my blog soon. Suffice it to say for now, that
I am VERY pleased with the Genus Eclipse version of their fader filter. Also, be aware that it IS
a little different than the Heliopan, the Heliopan gives you roughly 1-6 stops of ND while the Eclipse
is roughly 2-8 stops.

will be posting a video comparison of them on my blog soon
Pls let us know when that video is "live", would be interesting to see.

Gabe, seeing that you own both have you had a chance to compare the Genus Eclipse to the Heliopan? I've been using the Heliopan which I really like, but I prefer to have two of everything just in case stuff breaks at a shoot, hence was considering getting the Genus Eclipse.

Have a look: ND Fader Shootout – Heliopan vs. the new GENUS Eclipse | Frank Glencairn (http://frankglencairn.wordpress.com/2012/12/08/nd-fader-shootout-heliopan-vs-the-new-genus-eclipse/)

Thx Frank!

Have a look: ND Fader Shootout – Heliopan vs. the new GENUS Eclipse | Frank Glencairn (http://frankglencairn.wordpress.com/2012/12/08/nd-fader-shootout-heliopan-vs-the-new-genus-eclipse/)

Thanks! I wish he did some bokeh comparisons since what I film is 50-200mm shallow dof portrait stuff, not so much rooftops or wide shots. I've seen reviews of other variable nd filters where they showed how the cheaper ones added noise to the bokeh, whereas keeping boken intact is what the heliopan excels at. In any case I guess I'll find out since I ordered one, it's only $170 with the hood so what the heck.

So Jerome, it's safe to get this one, no focusing issues at all. :)

So let me first say that shipping from Hong Kong was VERY FAST! Ordered on March 29, Received tracking number yesterday and it arrived today!
I popped this sucker on my camera and went out and filmed a few quick things and WHOA! This filter is great!

FYI, Cokin responded to my video I posted on vimeo saying that it was a defective filter, blah blah. I sent them an email saying I already sent it back. They said they'll send me a "correct" filter to test out. We'll see. If I get one from them, I'll do a side by side comparison considering they're within $10 of each other. Unless the correct filter is leaps and bounds better than the Eclipse, I'm keeping the Eclipse due to the cool rubber lens hood. That will come in handy.

Yeah I got mine really quick as well. I don't like that it doesn't stop on the min/max ends of filtering. On the Heliopan for example when you rotate it, it will stop when it hits the min and max amounts. The Genus Eclipse filter doesn't have any stops so it just keeps rotating, meaning I have to look up from the oled viewfinder, set it to min visually, then back to the viewfinder to make my adjustments. Not a huge thing but I like how on the Heliopan I can set it blind without ever leaving the viewfinder. The hood on the Genus Eclipse though is very cool, I think it vignettes slightly on my full frame video camera at 50mm, but at 70mm It seems ok (at full hood extension), although I haven't really tested that in detail. What's neat about it is that I can use the hood and still tweak the nd setting on the filter. With the Heliopan you can put the lens hood on there, but then you can't really adjust the nd filter setting after that because it gets blocked. Anyways I have a shoot tomorrow so I may give it a whirl.