FoCal - Automatic AF Microadjustment Calibrator

[andyz]

Sonny, any before and after shots on what those adjustments did? +2 sounds like a lot, but I've no real idea what that really translates to as far as the image.

[Abel]

i may try this software out as well... need to check pricing on it etc

[Flores]

it' pretty good abel. A couple of my lens + teleconverter combos are MUCH improved

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by andyz

Sonny, any before and after shots on what those adjustments did? +2 sounds like a lot, but I've no real idea what that really translates to as far as the image.

I'll have to check and see if I can output any of the results.

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by Abel

i may try this software out as well... need to check pricing on it etc

Come on by the house if you want to check it out.

[Abel]

Originally Posted by Sonny

Come on by the house if you want to check it out.

cool i may have to do that..

[picman]

It's been interesting and somewhat disconcerting to see the variability in autofocus. I would have assumed that, with nothing moving or changing, that the focus would hit the same point. I had one, the nifty fifty, that was all over the chart. It took a couple of tries to complete the test. I guess you get what you pay for.

This will be a great tool in evaluating lenses.

[SCone]

Kind of my reaction at first. Seemed like the lens was hit or miss way too much in the software & that was with my 50mm 1.4 lens. But after I repositioned the test with better lighting & a different target, it was much better.

[liubros]

Purchased the FoCal plus version. Adjusted my Canon 70-200 f/2.8 to +14,
Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4 to +8, and Sigma 50mm f/1.4 to +10. The Sigma 50mm at wide open AF is still soft. My only way to get a sharp image at f/1.4 is to shoot with live view and zoom to 10x and manual focus. But at f/2.0, it is very sharp. I see a lot improvement on the other two glasses, b/c they are off by a lot.

Actually, for the 70-200, it says +15 at 70mm, and +8 at 200mm. I would recommend this software if you cannot calibrate yourself.

[liubros]

After setting afma to +14, I took a test image, focusing at the right eye.

zoom in at hand

zoom in at eye

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by andyz

Sonny, any before and after shots on what those adjustments did? +2 sounds like a lot, but I've no real idea what that really translates to as far as the image.

I went back and re-calibrated my 70-200L on my 5D2 using a focal length of 200. I also set the proper distance from the target to the lens. Here are the results.

[IMG][/IMG]

[andyz]

I know we all want sharp photos, but in the average image this difference of 1 is moot. A macro or product shot may need this, but often manual focus is used anyway.

As I see "+14" and such though, that seems significant and makes me wonder if my lenses are crap on auto focus.

Converted to dollars, what is this software about $40-$50?

Those of you using it, are the results consistent, if you calibrate, shoot some, and calibrate again, has it changed?

Will we see booths set up to do this for us if it can be done on the PC and relatively quickly?

[Flores]

the vender sells a version designed to work with any camera, the 'cheap' versionis locked to your camera s serial number.

and if the improvement seen in a +/- 1 adjustment doesn't matter in your photo, you probably don't need it.

[David Alaniz]

Very very interesting........

[Stargazer77517]

Andy, This is off the canon site
Add about 50% to the english pound to get the us dollar amount. The pro version is about $76.00
As for the booths, He does offer a commercial version, Setup a booth with that version and charge 5.00 per lens. Could be a money maker at some photography shows. Hmmmmmmmm

Originally Posted by andyz

I know we all want sharp photos, but in the average image this difference of 1 is moot. A macro or product shot may need this, but often manual focus is used anyway.

As I see "+14" and such though, that seems significant and makes me wonder if my lenses are crap on auto focus.

Converted to dollars, what is this software about $40-$50?

Those of you using it, are the results consistent, if you calibrate, shoot some, and calibrate again, has it changed?

Will we see booths set up to do this for us if it can be done on the PC and relatively quickly?