FoCal lens calibration
Jul 24, 2020 23:59:51 #
gastech1949
Loc: Imperial Beach, CA.
Pabst Blue Ribbon, That was the beer Chester A Riley (William Bendix) drank and advertised on the Radio version of "The Life of Riley.
Jul 25, 2020 09:41:41 #
gastech1949 wrote:
Pabst Blue Ribbon, That was the beer Chester A Riley (William Bendix) drank and advertised on the Radio version of "The Life of Riley.
Also known as PBR for short ...
Jul 25, 2020 10:10:39 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
What makes you think any of your lenses needs to be calibrated?
Well, I have had my camera guy check all my bodies and lenses and all have needed some adjustment. I guess I am assuming they will again!
Jul 25, 2020 10:12:10 #
TriX wrote:
Just to clarify for the OP, I think you might have... (show quote)
Thanks for info! Good to know it worked well for you.
Jul 25, 2020 10:13:36 #
Jul 25, 2020 10:15:54 #
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.
.
.
Someone else said put a $100 bill on a post and focus on the hair until it is sharp! I guess the hair on a $100 is the best.....
Jul 25, 2020 12:29:20 #
Photolady2014 wrote:
Someone else said put a $100 bill on a post and focus on the hair until it is sharp! I guess the hair on a $100 is the best.....
Smile. I’ve tried the other methods - angled ruler, finest print I could find, matchsticks in a row at varying distance, etc., and all have a subjective component if the graduations are close enough to give good resolution. FoCal takes all the subjectivity out of the procedure. It repeatedly defocus and then refocuses with different MAF settings wit( the lens wide open and aimed at a distant special target, and constructs a chart of acuity vs MFA correction which is then set on the camera. Depending on the camera (I’m attaching a typical output), the system may do the entire operation automatically, or you may be required to change the MFA as it steps through (both audio and video instructions) - takes maybe 5 minutes per lens.
I have 8 Canon L series lenses, and all but one required some correction, and you can definitely see the difference in sharpness (I posted a thread some time ago with before and after images). In my opinion, it’s a bargain to get all the performance you paid for, but in fairness, there are some excellent and professional photographers on the forum that staunchly believe it is unnecessary or the factory should do any required tuning. It’s a long standing debate, and you’ll have to make your own decision as to the value.
Jul 25, 2020 13:19:56 #
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
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
Hi Beth,
If you have a laptop and a tripod, FoCal is a great tool to have. Trying to use your eyes to determine the best AF fine tune setting is difficult to get correct. FoCal does it automatically. I have used it for years and suggest that it was worth the money. I also have a few other tools for this purpose and they work too, but not as well.
Get FoCal, and your photographic friends will be coming to you as their go-to calibration lady!
Doc Barry
Jul 25, 2020 17:37:02 #
I have used it for years on my 7Dmk2 and love it I would opt for their preprinted hard target over one you print yourself,l got the large. I check calibration about every 4 months just cause I can and it's easy enough to do
Jul 25, 2020 17:54:22 #
NormanTheGr8 wrote:
I have used it for years on my 7Dmk2 and love it I would opt for their preprinted hard target over one you print yourself,l got the large. I check calibration about every 4 months just cause I can and it's easy enough to do
I concur about having both the regular and the large targets. You also need to pay attention to their guidance on setting up the calibration. The camera should be level and the target as near vertical as you can. Also the target should be centered in the FOV.
Jul 25, 2020 20:45:02 #
Doc Barry wrote:
I concur about having both the regular and the large targets. You also need to pay attention to their guidance on setting up the calibration. The camera should be level and the target as near vertical as you can. Also the target should be centered in the FOV.
Yes I use a laser tape measure which helps me get distance from target accurately and make sure your wall and target are flat ie the target isn't angled on the wall with one corner or end closer to the wall than the other for best results
Jul 25, 2020 22:22:33 #
TriX wrote:
Just to clarify for the OP, I think you might have... (show quote)
I have a question, this software will work on both my cameras D7100 and D850. My questions is will it work with older lens like the AF MICRO NIKKOR 60mm 1:2.8. Most of my Lens are AF but I have a few that are manual like Nikon 24mm f/2.8 AI-s. Thanks in advance.
Jul 25, 2020 22:28:34 #
JohnBoy5562 wrote:
I have a question, this software will work on both my cameras D7100 and D850. My questions is will it work with older lens like the AF MICRO NIKKOR 60mm 1:2.8. Most of my Lens are AF but I have a few that are manual like Nikon 24mm f/2.8 AI-s. Thanks in advance.
No. FoCal just corrects autofocus errors - manual focus errors are up to the operator to correct 😸.
Jul 26, 2020 09:20:48 #
Thank you again! I may go Canon mirrorless! I guess they do not require lens calibration. But I will still keep my 5D MIV!
Jul 26, 2020 09:21:58 #
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.