Mosaic Engineering, Inc.

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VAF-D600 Optical Anti-Aliasing Filter: Installation

(See Also: Removal)

The VAF-D600 is easily installed in your camera in just a few seconds.  Before beginning, please note:

Cleaning  If you accidentally touch the filter's coated optical surfaces, fingerprints can be easily wiped away using a just a single drop of alcohol on a piece of soft cotton cloth.  Most alcohol-based lens cleaners can be used as well.  As with any optics, avoid vigorous scrubbing, and be careful not to drag abrasive particles across the surface.

  • Remove the VAF-D600 from its container and protective wrapping, holding it by its corners and edges. If necessary, any dust can be easily removed using a "canned air" duster.
  • The filter is shipped with a small pair of pointed tweezers, which serves as an installation and removal tool, as well as a lint-free protective optical cloth, which can be used to gently clean the filter, or to wrap it for storage.
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  • Set the D600 release mode dial to "Mup".  This will allow you to raise the camera's reflex mirror without opening its focal plane shutter - this will help to protect the image sensor while installing the filter.
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  • Now, before you begin installing the VAF-D600, have a look inside your camera: Remove the lens and press the shutter release button.  In the "Mup" mode, this will raise the reflex mirror, and keep it raised for 30 seconds.
  • Now look carefully at the underside of the reflex mirror.  You will see five shallow, rectangular depressions along the front edge of the mirror.  The VAF-D600 engages these depressions.
  • 30 seconds after you pressed the shutter release button, the reflex mirror will again lower.
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  • Insert the tips of the installation tweezers into the two holes at the bottom of the VAF-D600.  Be sure to insert the tweezers into the FRONT, FLAT SIDE of the filter as shown - and not the rear beveled size of the filter.
  • Notice that the top, FRONT edge of the VAF-D600 has five small protrusions, which mate with the five depressions below the reflex mirror, as shown in the previous image.
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  • Always hold the camera vertically while installing or removing the VAF-D600.  This will prevent any possibility of a dropped object falling into the camera and contacting the image sensor.
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  • When you're ready to install the filter into the camera, press the shutter release button to raise the reflex mirror for another 30-second interval.
  • Angle the VAF-D600 into the camera.  Guide the five protrusions at the top of the filter, into the five depressions beneath the reflex mirror.
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  • Then gently press the bottom of the filter into the camera, to engage it in the groove at the base of the mirror cavity.
  • The VAF-D600 installs easily, with very little force or pressure!  If something doesn't seem right, don't force the filter into the camera - stop and call us for assistance!
  • If the camera times out during installation and lowers the reflex mirror, it's okay to gently pull the filter from the camera and let the reflex mirror fall normally - the camera will not be damaged in this way.
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  • When the filter is correctly installed into the D600, its front, flat face will be flat within the camera body, parallel to the lens flange.
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  • Look carefully at the bottom edge of the filter - it must engage in the groove at the base of the reflex mirror cavity, fully BEHIND the crescent-shaped cutout just below the mirror cavity.
  • If the filter is not so engaged, gently press it to fully seat it in the groove as shown here.  This prevents the filter from sliding forward within the camera after a lens has been mounted.
  • Now mount a lens, and go and use your D600 to shoot some great aliasing-free video!
  • The VAF-D600 may be left in the camera indefinitely without harm.
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  • Note that VAF-D800 and VAF-D600 filters shipped after approximately April 2014, have a slightly different mechanical construction.  As shown here, a crescent-shaped protrusion extends down from the bottom of the filter, and fits within the corresponding cavity within the lens flange.  This newer design of filter does not "snap" in as described above, but retains itself in the sensor cavity just by the gentle friction of two small rubber pads.
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