Psergel Loc: New Mexico

I think this would be a logical addition to any tool of this kind.
I mean......how often do you photograph yard sticks anyway? :)

Revet Loc: Fairview Park, Ohio

Great capture!!! I am curious though. I have used the Lens align system for all my lenses except for my Sigma 150-600 because I don't have the larger ruler yet. How did that work out for you??? Is it worth the purchase??

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Interesting shot. Fortunately the bird dropped in to help out. Luckily for you he did not want to buy the tripod outfit otherwise he might have left a, "deposit", on it.

Dennis

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

It looks like the lens is somewhat beak focused.

wotsmith Loc: Nashville TN

Amen, been using one for years

RRS Loc: Not sure

Whenever I buy a new lens or if we are going to Yellowstone I might check on focus. I also check on focus every time I get my camera body back from a cleaning. If the focus looks good while PP I don't even think about it. :)

RRS Loc: Not sure

If you buy the long ruler from LensAlign you'll pay about $84.00, I bought mine from Home Depot for $2.99. I did have a problem with the short ruler bending down at both ends and you can check yours with a straight edge. I also bought a very thin 18" metal ruler that I have placed under the ruler on the LensAlign so that it's now straight too. Be sure to place the center (18") on the zero point of the short ruler and align it to the left so you can also see all the alignment circles. I attach the ruler, both additional long and short, with black electrical tape. I do my alignments of the longer lenses at 70' and it does help and I think it's well worth it.

RRS Loc: Not sure

Your right, the humming bird did leave a "deposit" inside of my lens shade on the 300mm while I was shooting, so close that I couldn't even focus. :)

RRS Loc: Not sure

It was to start but now it covers the whole head and at f/8.0 the bird from beak to tail end. :)

RRS Loc: Not sure

A small price to pay for fine focus and peace of mind while shooting too. If and when I get an OOF shot I know it's something I did and not my focus system. I like your lens selections too!

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

:thumbup: :thumbup:

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

I use a much simpler technique to micro adjust my lenses, but I wonder whether you feel the investment on this was advantageous. They sell the device alone, or you can get it with software, which I am not sure exactly what it does. So you recommend, and would you by the version with the software. Obviously, when one spends the kind of money necessary to get top notch lenses, you want to get the most out of them.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks.

PS, the bird looks in focus.

RRS Loc: Not sure

No I don't use the version with the software. You can also use the "Green Dot" system too. The advantage of the ruler system is you can fine tune, I don't mean Nikon, but some photographers like their focus to be 1/3 in front and 2/3's toward the back on their subject.

In DPP I can adjust the sliders so that it's obvious by looking at the focus on the circles on the right side where the focus is.
I'm always open to new ideas so what is your way to adjust the focus? If your not familiar with the "green Dot" let me know.

Revet Loc: Fairview Park, Ohio

I got the lens align and software package as a gift. I would not have purchased the software package if it was not a gift but now that I have used it, I see that it is absolutely imperative to have it.

The software averages and plots out the data. You will see that individual plots of a lens ability to focus going from -20 to +20 on a microadustment vary greatly. By averaging 5 shots at each point, you get a curve that gives you the microadjustment level that is most often accurate. I had done the work without the software first and I found my settings varies as much as 5 units (is. -10 to -5) when using the software. Once you get good at it, taking 5 shots at each setting is pretty fast.

What I found out using this system is that your lens does not always autofocus the same. When taking 10 shots of exactly the same thing with exactly the same settings on your camera, then putting it out of focus and re-focusing for each exposure; 2 to 3 of those shots will be greatly different than the others (which are mostly grouped closely together). With the software, you can either eliminate those points or they are averaged together thus reducing the variability. Without the software, you would never know it and possible pick a microadjustment level that is not correct for most exposures you take.

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

Thanks for your comments. I have done micro adjusts on my lenses, but considering your comments, sounds like my technique is pretty rudimentary. Think I will make the investment.