rpavich Loc: West Virginia

I was looking at the LensAlign tool that allows you to adjust your lenses focus point. It does a pretty good job (though not as good as the software that I have called FoCal which I heartily recommend; having both is cool)

I decided that since it's raining I'd do a "DIY" version.

Basically it consists of this:

Two parallel flat partitions. Front one with a hole that aligns with a dot on the back panel. Sighting through the camera lens, through the front panel hole to the back panel makes sure that the camera is square to the camera.

The other part of this is the graduated scale which shows the exact spot that your lens is either front focused or back focused.

It will blur from a center spot in both directions.

Once you've taken a picture, you put the result in Photoshop and use the high pass filter to show the edges more clearly so you can see easily where it's focusing.

The three shots below illustrate;

Shot #1: The gadget

Shot #2: The photo after my 50mm was adjusted (card board mock up shown)

Shot #3: The same photo after using the high pass filter. (card board mock up shown)

This is a shot from my 50mm


this is with the high pass filter

RMM Loc: Suburban New York

Interesting. Something to keep in mind...

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

I just realized that my 50mm is slightly front focusing in these shots lol.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Here is a side view of the gadget.

gessman Loc: Colorado

First, let me commend you on, among much else, your clarity of thought and expression. Second, I want to commend you on your ingenuity and precision approach to photography even if I personally am far less intentional and precise at this point in life. I admire your approach and the results I see you achieve, especially since you have opted for the benefit of prime lens. Third, a question please - did you discover that your 50 was front focusing before or after you used the Reikan software and if after, to what would you attribute the front focusing? Do you feel there is a tendency toward slippage that requires constant monitoring and checking? Thanks.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Thank you for the kind words...I appreciate it.

I did find that the software gave me a slightly front focused result but I don't think it's the software's fault as the software had a problem getting consistent results and reported it as such. It kept reporting (on this particular lens) that the results were not conclusive.


I talked to the developer and he said that the 50mm f/1.4 is just a lens that has an inconsistent focusing motor.

I think I agree with him.

I've had more problems with this lens than any other...it's aggravating.