Canon M50ii + 28mm macro EF-M lens with Helicon Remote issues

Hi all - new to the forum!

I recently bought a used (like new) Canon M50ii, 15-45mm kit lens and also the 28mm EF-M macro lens. I mainly shoot model cars and previously had a Nikon D3300 with the kit lens and used some extension tubes to get the macro effect on a budget with plenty of focus stacking in Photoshop.

I discovered Helicon Remote and Helicon Focus, which I thought would be amazing to help speed up my workflow. However, I've been having major issues getting the macro lens to focus front to back using Helicon Remote. Basically, I am able to focus on pretty much any point in the frame and take an individual photo with Remote. However, if I set the nearest focus point (point A) and then try and select the farthest focus point (point B), the lens simply won't step through beyond point A. Every time I hit the little arrows to change the focus point, I can hear a faint whirring sound from the lens.

I reached out to the developer of Helicon and was told the lens and camera are supported and he thinks the most likely explanation is that some kind of continuous/aggressive AF mode is active and when I try to adjust the focus position, autofocus kicks in and overrides the desired choice.

Has anyone got any experience with Helicon Remote that has faced this same issue? Perhaps there's an issue with the lens, or perhaps I'm just being stupid and missing some key settings??

TIA!

Hello...

mcaf123 wrote:

Hi all - new to the forum!

I recently bought a used (like new) Canon M50ii, 15-45mm kit lens and also the 28mm EF-M macro lens. I mainly shoot model cars and previously had a Nikon D3300 with the kit lens and used some extension tubes to get the macro effect on a budget with plenty of focus stacking in Photoshop.

I discovered Helicon Remote and Helicon Focus, which I thought would be amazing to help speed up my workflow. However, I've been having major issues getting the macro lens to focus front to back using Helicon Remote. Basically, I am able to focus on pretty much any point in the frame and take an individual photo with Remote. However, if I set the nearest focus point (point A) and then try and select the farthest focus point (point B), the lens simply won't step through beyond point A. Every time I hit the little arrows to change the focus point, I can hear a faint whirring sound from the lens.

I reached out to the developer of Helicon and was told the lens and camera are supported and he thinks the most likely explanation is that some kind of continuous/aggressive AF mode is active and when I try to adjust the focus position, autofocus kicks in and overrides the desired choice.

Has anyone got any experience with Helicon Remote that has faced this same issue? Perhaps there's an issue with the lens, or perhaps I'm just being stupid and missing some key settings??

TIA!

IDK - I don't use that but I am sure it's fine with your Canon M50ii.

Sue Anne Rush wrote:

IDK - I don't use that but I am sure it's fine with your Canon M50ii.

Sadly it doesn't seem to be working fine for me, which is why I've come here in the hope someone is using the same lens with Helicon Remote and can guide me

Turn off continuous autofocus, see if that solves the issue