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Calibrating Lens
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Nov 13, 2018 07:55:13   #
ggenova64
 
What is Reikan’s FoCal system?

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Nov 13, 2018 08:01:18   #
Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.
 
ggenova64 wrote:
What is Reikan’s FoCal system?


Software & target to automate the calibration process

https://www.reikanfocal.com

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Nov 13, 2018 08:39:39   #
ChristianHJensen
 
billnikon wrote:
First of all, lens calibration is a dangerous road. I own four Nikon camera's, 2 D500's, a D5 and a D850. I shoot wildlife photography. I have been using the Nikon 200-500 5.6 on all four camera's WITHOUT having to do any lens calibrations and I get perfectly sharp images with all four camera's without lens calibration. On a zoom, once you calibrate for a certain distance, you are only good for that distance and zoom level, if you change zoom level or distance then your off your set calibration. Same with a prime lens, once you calibrate for a certain distance, you are only good for that distance, change distances, your off your calibration again.
Don't take my word for this, the Nikon boys at Melville New York say the same thing. I have over 20 Nikon AF lenses and have not had to calibrate one to get sharp eye focus on any bird I have shot over the past three years.
The D5, D850, and D500 all share the same focusing system. Nikon has put a separate focusing engine into these camera's to assure true, accurate focusing.
To sum up, you can calibrate for a certain distance (one distance only). BUT, once you change that distance, your calibration is no longer accurate. Again, don't take anyone's word here (they will tell you differently) relay on the boys at Nikon to set you straight before you start playing with your expensive equipment and going down a dangerous road.
First of all, lens calibration is a dangerous road... (show quote)


Dangerous - you really just wrote that?

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Nov 13, 2018 08:56:32   #
A.I.R. Loc: Carmel IN
 
My thoughts are the same as yours. Lens calibrating with your camera seems like a simple process (would assume one time process) just gives you more of an edge for focusing with a camera. For photographers, focusing is usually one of the top goals when shooting and wanting to achieve that consistently. There are exceptions of course for some styles of photos.Thank you. Any particular "method" you find best to use?

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Nov 13, 2018 08:58:01   #
A.I.R. Loc: Carmel IN
 
Sorry my mistake.

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Nov 13, 2018 09:18:53   #
abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois
 
Bill_de wrote:
Since no calibration is needed with mirrorless cameras....


Why do you say that?

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Nov 13, 2018 09:23:28   #
abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois
 
A.I.R. wrote:
My thoughts are the same as yours. Lens calibrating with your camera seems like a simple process (would assume one time process) just gives you more of an edge for focusing with a camera. For photographers, focusing is usually one of the top goals when shooting and wanting to achieve that consistently. There are exceptions of course for some styles of photos.Thank you. Any particular "method" you find best to use?


You are right: it seems to be a simple process. In reality, it is not. You need patience to do it and you must be careful in how you do it.

Best method? After having used SpyderCal and other such methods, I ruled them out as being too subjective and having too much inherent error. I am currently evaluating Reikan's FoCal and report on it when I am done.

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Nov 13, 2018 09:35:40   #
A.I.R. Loc: Carmel IN
 
To which are you asking "why"? Calibrating the lenses or the focus goal?

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Nov 13, 2018 09:39:42   #
A.I.R. Loc: Carmel IN
 
Looking forward to the results. Will investigate some methods pros suggest and go from there. Will be interesting. Maybe some other members will join our "research" and share results with their camera?lenses. To be continued.

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Nov 13, 2018 10:06:29   #
jims203 Loc: Connecticut
 
I calibrated all my lens for a D300 D7100 and D500. It made a huge difference for Tamron and Tokina lens.

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Nov 13, 2018 10:32:54   #
AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!
 
I've actually tried a couple of times to do this, and frankly can't figure it out!

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Nov 13, 2018 10:33:29   #
gordone Loc: Red Deer AB Canada
 
I use Reikan Focal as well and calibrate every lens to every body. It definitely makes a difference

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Nov 13, 2018 10:36:36   #
Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx
 
I check all my lenses with the bodies they will be used on and calibrate as needed. Yes, it takes a lot of time and effort, but it is certainly worth it especially for my longer zooms used for wildlife and birding. Its one of the reasons I like Tamron and Sigma lenses. Both have devices that let you calibrate the lenses at different distances and different zoom levels where the AF fine tune feature in Nikon bodies only gives you one calibration point, which is OK for primes, but not for zooms. Even with primes, Tamron lets you calibrate at 3 different distances.

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Nov 13, 2018 10:42:06   #
GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI
 
A.I.R. wrote:
How many of you calibrate your numerous lenses with your camera? The D500 has a option that you are able to store all the specs of your different lenses and when attaching a particular lens the camera knows which lens it is and fine tunes with the info you've stored. This is something new to me. I don't know what other cameras have this option but wanted to know how many of you use this tool?
Appreciate any thoughts.


All of them. Only one needed an adjustment.

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Nov 13, 2018 11:02:52   #
Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.
 
Strodav wrote:
I check all my lenses with the bodies they will be used on and calibrate as needed. Yes, it takes a lot of time and effort, but it is certainly worth it especially for my longer zooms used for wildlife and birding. Its one of the reasons I like Tamron and Sigma lenses. Both have devices that let you calibrate the lenses at different distances and different zoom levels where the AF fine tune feature in Nikon bodies only gives you one calibration point, which is OK for primes, but not for zooms. Even with primes, Tamron lets you calibrate at 3 different distances.
I check all my lenses with the bodies they will be... (show quote)


Calibrating the newer lenses with the device is actually calibrating the lens, where calibrating the lens on camera with AF fine tune is actually calibrating the camera to the lens. For the best fit, if possible using both lens calibration and AF fine tune should be optimal.

All my Canon lenses are fine tuned to 0 using FoCal. My Tamron 16-300 gets tuned to -15, which happens to be the same value needed using the “dot tune” method. My Sigma 17-50 gets -2, again same as “dot tune” for me.

What I like about FoCal is a report of calibration tests and final setting result, including sharpest aperture, not always f/8 BTW.

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