FoCal lens calibration: Has anyone used this for lens calibration? If so good or bad? For some reason with my old eyes I'm hesitant to try and calibrate with a yardstick etc! My camera...

Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

Has anyone used this for lens calibration? If so good or bad?
For some reason with my old eyes I'm hesitant to try and calibrate with a yardstick etc!
My camera cleaning and calibration guy moved away, boo!
Thanks! Beth

(Download)

dandev Loc: Enumclaw, WA

Well worth it! It gave me better focus on all my lenses. I have a Canon camera, so can adjust both the close and far ranges.
From what I understand - the need for this goes away with mirrorless cameras.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Yes! FoCal is an excellent package for lens calibration - it removes the subjective element present in almost every other method. In terms of results per $, it’s the best photographic investment I’ve made. I would suggest that you buy it directly from Reikan and choose the professional version - it has several additional features such as aperture vs acuity tests/graphs that are well worthwhile. You can pay and download online and print the test target on your home printer (if good quality), have it professionally printed, or purchase one from Reikan. Make sure your camera supports microfocus adjustment - not all do.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Photolady2014 wrote:

Has anyone used this for lens calibration? If so good or bad?
For some reason with my old eyes I'm hesitant to try and calibrate with a yardstick etc!
My camera cleaning and calibration guy moved away, boo!
Thanks! Beth

I have a Mirrorless camera. Don't need it.

Festus Loc: North Dakota

Photolady2014 wrote:

Has anyone used this for lens calibration? If so good or bad?
For some reason with my old eyes I'm hesitant to try and calibrate with a yardstick etc!
My camera cleaning and calibration guy moved away, boo!
Thanks! Beth

If you want to calibrate your lens, there is no better software to use.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

I invested a lot of time with other products, too numerous to mention. This was the only keeper. The basic version is good enough for me. I only want to adjust the focus and know the sharpest aperture. I have had no need to renew the subscription. Check their list of supported cameras.

Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

billnikon wrote:

I have a Mirrorless camera. Don't need it.

I’m heading that way! R5 !

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

abc1234 wrote:

I invested a lot of time with other products, too numerous to mention. This was the only keeper. The basic version is good enough for me. I only want to adjust the focus and know the sharpest aperture. I have had no need to renew the subscription. Check their list of supported cameras.

Just to clarify for the OP, I think you might have meant the upgrade to the professional version when you said renew the subscription? (It’s a one-time purchase, not a subscription).

Btw, I used the standard version for years and loved it, but upgraded to the pro version mainly because it allows calibrating lenses longer than 400mm (I use a 100-400L plus a 1.4x TC occasionally). But the pro version also adds some additional tests such as AF consistency and aperture vs acuity, which I use on every lens. Not only does it show you the sharpest apertures (which are NOT always 1-2 stops down from wide open), it shows you instantly if the lens is up to par. It plots acuity vs aperture and also shows the avaerage of all the lenses of that type in their data base (the blue area). Here’s one of the graphs - note the obvious effect of diffraction at smaller apertures.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

What makes you think any of your lenses needs to be calibrated?

GLSmith Loc: Tampa, Fl

I was using a 400mm f/2.8 with a Nikon 500. My area of interest is in rocket launches where I am generally 3-4 miles from target. Accurate focus was lacking. I opted to purchase FoCal...Results were amazing. I have since updated to a 500 telephoto & again amazing results. Research reveals all vendors, be it Nikon, Canon, Pentax manufacture camera bodies in 1 location & use a “best effort” setting for sensor readings. Lenses are made in another location and again settings are best effort...Due to the number of lenses, custom fittings are a must...I had one issue the first time I used FoCal and their tech support answered within 12 hours...(They are based in England).

dandev Loc: Enumclaw, WA

My Canon L lenses were all "off." Setting them per Focal made a huge difference in getting a sharp focus. I tried using one of the cardboard "rulers" held at an angle. It didn't really work for me.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Photolady2014 wrote:

Has anyone used this for lens calibration? If so good or bad?
For some reason with my old eyes I'm hesitant to try and calibrate with a yardstick etc!
My camera cleaning and calibration guy moved away, boo!
Thanks! Beth

I use the three beer can method - focus on the middle can and adjust until it is the sharpest of the three - not scientific - but works - for me .... pretty cheap too.
.

(Download)

jwreed50 Loc: Manassas, VA

imagemeister wrote:

I use the three beer can method - focus on the middle can and adjust until it is the sharpest of the three - not scientific - but works - for me .... pretty cheap too.
.

Pretty cheap? That probably depends on what brand of beer you use . . . ;-)

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

jwreed50 wrote:

Pretty cheap? That probably depends on what brand of beer you use . . . ;-)

If you drink and enjoy the beer, it really is not costing anything !

dyximan

I haven't drank in over 30 years I didn't realize they still made that beer. Of course when I did drink I drank Samuel Adams I actually bought it from him at the bar in Philadelphia I think it was lol