TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Bill, are you asserting that PP sharpening is a substitute for accurate focus?

gwilliams6

Lens calibration is not necessary with mirrorless cameras, just another of the advantages since the focus is read directly off the image sensor, the very spot the lens projects the image.

RRS Loc: Not sure

You may want to check that out as I believe that on some mirrorless cameras that there is in the menu an option for calibration. Can't remember where I read that but it surprised me.

gwilliams6

Not necessary on the latest mirrorless. The menu item option is for lens correction for vignetting, chromatic aberration and distortion, not for focus. A pro of over 40 years and a University Photo Professor, so I have some knowledge here. I have had four mirrorless Sony cameras and have 12 Sony and Sigma lens from 10mm-600mm (and one Canon lens with MC-11 adapter), and never need to calibrate any of them, but I do set the camera menu to automatically correct for any lens vignetting, aberrations and distortion. Once that is set the camera will read what lens is attached and automatically make the corrections, but NOT for focus like you need in a DSLR. Just one of the reason I would never return to DSLR use, what a pain to calibrate different lenses for different cameras, WHEW. Cheers

https://www.facebook.com/GSWilliamsPhotography/

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Lots of cameras did not back then, and many newer mid and lower end models from various manufacturers still do not support micro focus adjustment. If I recall correctly you argued there was a focus problem specific to the 60D. There was not. The fact that some lens could take advantage of that feature is a completely different issue.

RRS Loc: Not sure

I was not questioning your credentials, I have some of my own, but with my degree and $10.00 I might be able to buy us both a cup of coffee and yes my degree is in Photography. It may have been info that I read on a Nikon camera, I will continue to look for it. I had so much money invested in (film) Nikons and Hasselblad's but I sold them all, penny's on the dollar. I now am retired and specialize in wildlife with some emphasis on birds. Again I have too much invested in glass that I will not make the change to mirrorless at least not at this time. It may seem a pain to have to calibrate several bodies with 6 lenses and 3 extenders but afterwards it can be very rewarding. There are those out there that don't even calibrate their monitors. If I was just starting out there would be no question. I love PP and what I can do with Photoshop, if I have to. Never will learn or use all of it but I find it relaxing still messing with my gray matter, always been that way. Enjoy what you do, I sure do, life is too short. Cheers

gessman Loc: Colorado

This might be where you read that: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-584870-1.html

gwilliams6

No harm, just folks don't believe you know anything here sometimes if you can't show it. I don't doubt your word on your credentials. I would love to see some of your work. Maybe I have already seen some here in UHH. My degrees are a BA In Photography from Rochester Institute of Technology back in 1975, and a MA in Digital Photography from Savannah College of Art and Design in 2009 when I was 58 years old. It is fine if you don't want or need the mirrorless advantages over DSLRs and often the decision is more about costs and comfort with gear you know and love. I was a user of pro Nikon and Canon SLR and DSLR gear for over 40 years when I moved to mirrorless in 2017 and have never looked back. The freedom from lens focus calibrations and changes has been an added plus. Cheers and best to you.

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

No. What I am saying is, MOST lenses are sharp enough out of the box to deliver 20X30 prints, and, as I have said many times on this site, calibration is for one distance, one focal length. That's how home lens calibration kits work, period.
In addition, my shots with factory lenses is that they need no sharpening, cause they are sharp, but my printer, bless her, likes to put additional sharpening to my prints. BUT, they do not need it, but she insists, so I let her. None of my prints receive that much sharpening. If the image is not tack sharp to begin with, it's not going to be tack sharp in the final print. Post processing sharpening enhances everyone's prints, just like other filters in Photoshop.
Lenses are only off to the person trying to adjust it with calibration home kits.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Sharp enough does not mean optimally sharp on a particular body. How many lenses have you personally calibrated? I've calibrated a bunch and when done correctly there are very noticeably improved results, even on lenses that seemed "sharp enough". Perhaps your cameras only has one calibration setting, but I'm willing to bet it has an algorithm that extrapolates and provide adjustments that affect more than just the one focus length or distance. My Canon cameras provide a single adjustment for primes and two adjustments for zooms, at the wide and long ends, and extrapolates in between. The Tamron and Sigma USB devices provide 4 distance settings for primes and 16 separate distance and focal length settings for supported zoom lenses, and extrapolates in between for both the distance and focal length settings.

Performing lens calibrations correctly and effectively is a very time-consuming and exacting process. Most people are not interested enough or willing to go through all that time and effort. But for those of us who do, we reap the benefits of achieving better results. I've paid a lot of money for my lenses. Doing whatever it takes to optimize them for my three different bodies was an easy decision. It really all comes down to our individual expectations.

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

My shows sell out without calibration. How do you do on your shows.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

A non sequitur of the first order. Just as sharpening does not compensate for perfect focus (sharpening typically adds noise, correct focusing does not), the fact that you can sell your work does not mean that your AF is accurate. It simply means that your work is good enough for the consumers that purchase it, it doesn't mean It couldn’t be sharper. For some, (which by your admission includes you) good enough is acceptable. For others, they want it exact. To each his own.

RRS Loc: Not sure

Thank you so much! I knew that I seen it somewhere. I know that all of that info is stored up in my computer, the one that runs on gray matter, but it's not as easy to pull up as it once was.

Thanks again...Ron

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

The fact that you may be a very good photographer and sell your images is absolutely irrelevant. This topic is about lens optimization, not about your skill or your ability to market your product. One has nothing to do with the other.

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

Home kit calibrations correct focusing for one distance and one focal length. Not an ideal way to calibrate a lens.