FoCal, what version do you suggest?

I don't know if I really need this, but since I got my 70-200 f/2.8L II, I'm not sure that it doesn't need to be micro adjusted a bit. It just seems a little soft compared to my other L lenses.

It seems like using this software to do the micro adjust on all my lens would be the best way to make sure they all are set up right with my 5dMKII.

What are your thoughts & experience with this software and micro adjusting your lens? Thanks for your suggestions.

jeff

I bought the software a few months back and used it on all my lenses. It's fast, accurate, and the results are reproducable. IMO everyone that has a supported camera and isn't shooting to have everything from the foreground to background in focus should use the software. There was an extended discount offered a while back; you may want search around and see if it's still active.

I went for the PRO version to get the extra bells and whistles; a PDF report showing the before/after test results with actual screen shots at different MA values, being able to compare results at different aperatures, etc.

It gives great consistent results in a much shorter time frame that also take my eyeballs out of the equation (which are unfortunately required when using LensAlign Pro, etc.).

However, for some lenses I found that the MA at 50FL (regardless of method used) gives blurry results at longer subject distances so you should test at varying distances to see if there is a focus shift and what the best compromise over near to far would be. Or if you know at various focus distances what the MA is then you can change to be closer for the distance you need to shoot a lot at.

Highly recommended!

Great product, if all you want to do is MA I would consider the Plus version. Quite a bit less as I recall and they will let you upgrade in the future for only the price difference to the Pro if you find you need more.

What exactly does the Pro version gain?

I have the LensAlign Pro, but I feel like the size of the target is too small to do the tests at the recommended 25x-50x focal length. I don't get very consistent results.

Well, I made the jump. I figured for what I have tied up in glass, I'd go with the Pro version. Downloaded and installed. I'll post some results when I have the tiem to set it up and give it a go.

Jeff

pyro1 wrote in post #14979509
Well, I made the jump. I figured for what I have tied up in glass, I'd go with the Pro version. Downloaded and installed. I'll post some results when I have the tiem to set it up and give it a go.

Jeff

I'm reading mixed reviews on how reproducible the results are. Looking forward to see how you make out.

mannetti21 wrote in post #14979518
I'm reading mixed reviews on how reproducible the results are.

I would imagine that if we're all using the same software, controlling the same range of cameras and lenses then we should all be able to attain the same level of consistency....as far as the utility goes.
If it works well for some and not for others then it would seem to suggest an external influence....tripod stability, lighting quality or user setup.
I've used it on a whole raft of lenses on 5 different bodies and only found one combination that is inconsistent.....and even that inconsistency is consistent!

Bob

After reading everything last night, I really believe it's consistency depends entirely on our consistency, mainly lighting & doing everything precisely the same way each time.

I look forward to setting it up and giving it a go.

Just ordered the Pro version last week for my birthday. Finally got a chance to use it with my 5D3 this evening and it worked wonderfully. My two primes have just always seemed to fall a little short since I got the 5D3 and after tonight I know why. Ran each lens through twice with the "Many" settings and target validation. Results came out with a consistent -6 for my 28 f1.8 and -9 for my 85 f1.8. The target shots on the 85 in particular were night and day.

I also did my 24-105 and it showed +2 on the short end and +3 on the long end. I will do the 70-200 tomorrow and then all four lenses with my 1D3 (although the zooms will have to be averaged). I'm going to try and play around with the other tools it offers this weekend. The PDF printout is great to go back and view your results from different tests. Definitely worth the money IMO.

I recommend not using the SW. I bought it and achieved worse results than with my manual MA procedure. The FoCal SW took many, many frames then reported that the lens wasn't consistent enough to be adjusted.

I've have great results with a tripod, focus target, tape measure and computer to review the images.

My copy of FoCal sits unused. I wish I had saved the $50 and not bought it.

Was your lighting in the recommended range while testing? Mine dropped/fluctuated in the middle of one of the tests. FoCal warned me once about the light but I was stubborn and continued. Then the focus results weren't what the software expected so it threw another warning. I provided more light for the target and everything worked perfectly afterwards.

Has anyone bought the software to then find out that their lenses didn't need MA or it was very minor +/- 1? That's my fear, I spend the ~$75 hoping my lenses are sharper, to then find out that they are already as sharp as they get...

cueball wrote in post #14989867
Was your lighting in the recommended range while testing? Mine dropped/fluctuated in the middle of one of the tests. FoCal warned me once about the light but I was stubborn and continued. Then the focus results weren't what the software expected so it threw another warning. I provided more light for the target and everything worked perfectly afterwards.

FoCal said the lighting was OK. The only thing I can think is that I was using a target printed on my computer as my ink cartridge was getting low. Maybe it created a sub-standard target?

Having to tether a laptop to the camera was one more strike against it. I could not make it work with JPG images I took and then loaded on the computer.

No problems. I get great results in good light. Tape the target to your Garage door and use golden hour light. Use the distance you like most for that lens. I stick with the 50x canon recs. I also like aperture sharpness and AF consistency tests. Great to see change in sharpness over apertures.