Fine Tuning a lens
Sep 21, 2019 05:53:30 #
Sep 21, 2019 07:11:10 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
mittenjane wrote:
I recently upgraded to a "new to me" camera that has the lens fine tuning feature. I have read the instructions on how to, but wondering A.) if it is necessary and B.) is there a process I should follow to get the tuning correct?
Any assistance is appreciated.
Any assistance is appreciated.
Interesting question. You say you have read the instructions on how to fine tune the lens. Then you ask if there is a process you should follow to do it correctly.
Doesn't the instructions tell you how to do it?
And, the more important question, what is telling you that you need to fine turn? Are your images not sharp?
If your lens is delivering sharp images, you will not have to do anything.
And remember, fine tuning is only good for one distance you can do it for. PERIOD.
Sep 21, 2019 07:56:26 #
CO wrote:
I don't see how a flat target can show anything about if the camera and lens is back or front focusing. I think the slanted ruler type target or the Reikan FoCal software are probably the best. I was testing my Nikon 16-85mm lens here. I can see by the slanted ruler that the zero is in best focus. That's ideal.
I use the same target to test a lens. Works great, however I would be cautious fine tuning a lens as you can make things worse. Test the lens and if it is front/back focusing, consider a replacement.
Sep 21, 2019 07:57:50 #
There was very limited info in the manual- if focusing in front do this, if focusing in back- do this. Nothing outlined a process to determine if an adjustment is necessary and how to accurately fine tune. A link was provided that layer out the process- steps to take to determine if this is necessary.
In the camera menu, I found several saved adjustments for multiple lenses which got me wondering if this is really necessary.
In the camera menu, I found several saved adjustments for multiple lenses which got me wondering if this is really necessary.
Sep 21, 2019 08:17:14 #
mittenjane wrote:
There was very limited info in the manual- if focusing in front do this, if focusing in back- do this. Nothing outlined a process to determine if an adjustment is necessary and how to accurately fine tune. A link was provided that layer out the process- steps to take to determine if this is necessary.
In the camera menu, I found several saved adjustments for multiple lenses which got me wondering if this is really necessary.
In the camera menu, I found several saved adjustments for multiple lenses which got me wondering if this is really necessary.
Is the 'new to you' camera actually a used body? If yes, recognize that fine-tuning adjustments are not to lens models, but to specific physical lenses based on serial number. If you have the same lens model, but didn't also buy that lens from the prior owner, the micro adjustment will not be applied to your lens. This applies to newer Canon EOS models. You'd have to check your model's manual and confirm the same applies for your camera.
On certain Canon models, maybe other brands, there are also lens correction profiles. These are applied to JPEGs from the camera, addressing vignette, distortion and chromatic aberration. Canon doesn't have enough internal memory to have all Canon lenses in memory on the camera, so you can use some Canon software to add / remove these profiles. Is it possible these are this is the information loaded onto the camera you found, whether new or used?
Sep 21, 2019 08:27:49 #
Yes, this is a used body - Nikon D7100. In the menu under the fine tuning there is a "List Saved Values" and under that I found multiple lenses listed and the adjustments. Assumed there were lenses from the previous owner. When I saw this, it made me wonder if my lenses needed to be adjusted. I have the kit lens that came with the D5100, A Nikon 55-200 4-5.6, a Sigma 70-300 4-5.6 and a Tamron 17-50 2.8.
Sep 21, 2019 08:31:58 #
I have used Nikon cameras and lenses since 1963. I cannot remember a time when I had to do any fine adjustment to a lens. Assuming I had to I would prefer a technician to do it.
Shoot with the camera and lenses you have. I bet everything will be OK.
Shoot with the camera and lenses you have. I bet everything will be OK.
Sep 21, 2019 08:38:12 #
mittenjane wrote:
Yes, this is a used body - Nikon D7100. In the menu under the fine tuning there is a "List Saved Values" and under that I found multiple lenses listed and the adjustments. Assumed there were lenses from the previous owner. When I saw this, it made me wonder if my lenses needed to be adjusted. I have the kit lens that came with the D5100, A Nikon 55-200 4-5.6, a Sigma 70-300 4-5.6 and a Tamron 17-50 2.8.
I believe the D7100 will not let you save multiple adjustments for a lens. The more advanced and new models will allow a saved adjustment for a zoom at the min focal length and the max. I didn't check your manual to confirm for myself.
One way to break the Q&A cycle and help assess the lens / camera performance would be to post an example image from each lens, if desired, being sure to store the original file to the post. Many here are capable of looking at the image and the EXIF data and making an accurate assessment of the cause of any focus issues in the image.
Sep 21, 2019 08:53:43 #
Thanks for your responses. Will look at uploading some pics later. I'm actually heading out of town very soon to do a photo/video shoot. I take pictures of kids and their winning rabbits at rabbit shows. Just a basic set up - backdrop, a couple of speed lights and a table for their rabbit with some props that indicate the award and they stand behind it. Kids and parents love it. We have a Workshop that I will video - not with the camera but with my iPhone and external mic.
Sep 21, 2019 09:23:55 #
khorinek wrote:
I use the same target to test a lens. Works great, however I would be cautious fine tuning a lens as you can make things worse. Test the lens and if it is front/back focusing, consider a replacement.
Agree. I had a Nikon D7000 once that had a very poorly calibrated autofocus. It was known that a small number of D7000s had that issue. I had the AF fine tuning adjusted to its extreme limit and that still was not enough. All of my lenses were off when mounted on that body. I returned that one and purchased another one from a different company. The autofocus on that one was properly calibrated. Everything is practically perfect with that one. If I do any AF fine tuning, it's very small values of around -1 to -3.Sep 21, 2019 09:32:06 #
Gene51 wrote:
You only need to mess with the fine tuning tool in... (show quote)
Have you had Nikon do the autofocus calibration with your cameras and lenses? The reason I ask is because I checked into that once. The person at Nikon service told me that AF calibration is not a service they perform. I think I would have sent in one of my Nikon bodies to have that done.
My friend's Canon Rebel is front focusing substantially with both of her lenses. I called Canon service and they do that service for $179. I wonder why Canon performs that service but Nikon does not.
Sep 21, 2019 09:34:23 #
It's Deja vu all over again ... Success is the photographer. Failure is the equipment.
Sep 21, 2019 09:50:02 #
khorinek wrote:
I use the same target to test a lens. Works great, however I would be cautious fine tuning a lens as you can make things worse. Test the lens and if it is front/back focusing, consider a replacement.
That can be fixed. Usually no need to replace it.
Sep 21, 2019 09:56:45 #
CO wrote:
Have you had Nikon do the autofocus calibration with your cameras and lenses? The reason I ask is because I checked into that once. The person at Nikon service told me that AF calibration is not a service they perform. I think I would have sent in one of my Nikon bodies to have that done.
My friend's Canon Rebel is front focusing substantially with both of her lenses. I called Canon service and they do that service for $179. I wonder why Canon performs that service but Nikon does not.
My friend's Canon Rebel is front focusing substantially with both of her lenses. I called Canon service and they do that service for $179. I wonder why Canon performs that service but Nikon does not.
No, but what they are able to do is if you have a specific issue they can fix it. I don't use them for calibration per se, but when I had a camera body that refused to focus correctly with a bunch of lenses, I took it in, and after the third try, they got it right. When I tested it with my lenses it was perfect. However, they were ready to adjust the lens as well. I told them not to touch it as it was working fine with my other bodies, and it was clearly the one body that was problematic. From time to time things get out of adjustment, and in the course of CLA (clean-lube-adjust) they will correct any wierd stuff. So you are 100% correct, they will not do routine calibration, but they will correct a camera or body that is out of spec. This strategy has served me well since 2006 when I got my first DSLR, a Nikon D200. None of my lenses or cameras have needed AF Fine Tune adjustments. I have a Sigma Sport 150-600, and the dock accessory, and found that the AF performance was fine without adjustment - though I really did expect to see some issues especially at shorter focal lengths.
Sep 21, 2019 10:05:28 #
mittenjane wrote:
I recently upgraded to a "new to me" camera that has the lens fine tuning feature. I have read the instructions on how to, but wondering A.) if it is necessary and B.) is there a process I should follow to get the tuning correct?
Any assistance is appreciated.
Any assistance is appreciated.
Yes, and YES - especially if you are serious about maximum focus/sharpness and especially shooting wide open aperture - usually associated with longer focal length lenses.
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