Why don't cameras micro adjust themselves?

So, I was just thinking. Since the newer generations of DSLRs all have live view with contrast detect AF as well as phase detect, it would be relatively easy to implement the following:

• User places the camera on a tripod and points it at a certain distance where the focus is most critical (let's say at 4m for something like a 85mm prime - wouldn't matter much, but the misalignment might not be linear so multiple distance measurements could be done.).
  
• User places a stationary high contrast object in front of the camera.
  
• User selects the "Auto Calibrate AF" function.
  
• Camera uses phase detect AF to focus on the object
  
• Once focus is achieved, the camera switches to live view and checks the set focus. The camera then uses contrast detect to set the focus.
  
• If contrast detect focus is not equal to phase detect focus, it puts an entry for that amount of micro adjust for that lens.

Sounds logical and can be implimented by a mere firmware update, but look at canon... They dont seem to be listening to us. We should somehow ask the magic lantern guys to help us out. My 60D sadly misses any form of AF correction.

boerewors wrote in post #15018163
Sounds logical and can be implimented by a mere firmware update, but look at canon... They dont seem to be listening to us. We should somehow ask the magic lantern guys to help us out. My 60D sadly misses any form of AF correction.

All my cameras do as well, but yeah, magic lantarn could possibly use this as a feature.

Easy answer: Canon already knows how to do this...they're rolling it out slowly, to be able to keep adding "new features" to future bodies...

Previous discussions over the past few years to help address this question, or related to it. Short answer, there is no reason why not, other than it would be Canon's decision.

https://photography-on-the.net …php?p=8833318#p​ost8833318
https://photography-on-the.net …ight=auto+micro​adjustment
https://photography-on-the.net …?t=1225334&high​light=step

TeamSpeed wrote in post #15018736
Previous discussions over the past few years to help address this question, or related to it. Short answer, there is no reason why not, other than it would be Canon's decision.

https://photography-on-the.net …php?p=8833318#p​ost8833318
https://photography-on-the.net …ight=auto+micro​adjustment
https://photography-on-the.net …?t=1225334&high​light=step

Ah, and here I though I was on to something new Thanks for the links

LowriderS10 wrote in post #15018481
Easy answer: Canon already knows how to do this...they're rolling it out slowly, to be able to keep adding "new features" to future bodies...

Makes perfect "marketting" sense if that's the case. Pay extra for the new optional feature which then becomes standard equipment on the next version; sort of like self-adjusting brakes .

Sounds to me like this proposed solution is at least, if not more, work on the user's part than doing it manually. Besides that, let's not lose sight of the primary reason for having focus bias adjustments -- fabrication tolerances that results in different path lengths to the AF sensor and the image sensor. The real solution is to improve the high precision fabrication tolerances to do away with the need for having focus bias adjustments in the first place. If anything, I suspect that is Canon's approach.

Canon already performed micro-adjustment. It's call "Calibration". You really want it to be done manually. This will take the AF issue or any other issue out of the equation and that include software. They perform calibration and set it in the center. Now every lens is going to have a small variation. It's not that big deal to do micro-adj.

Some of you want auto-micro adjustment. Some want Wifi, gps, 10fps, 41Mpixels, huge DR, 80 AF points, etc.... then to throw in what I want...I want a 1% spot metering that is tie to the AF point and not just the center. I'm sure Canon can build this camera for us but are we all willing to pay the price? I'm sure I will hear people complaining about value and that they don't need bunch feature just the one they want and want to pay $1700 for it and not $12K. You can't make everyone happy.

drive_75 wrote in post #15019152
Canon already performed micro-adjustment. It's call "Calibration". You really want it to be done manually. This will take the AF issue or any other issue out of the equation and that include software. They perform calibration and set it in the center. Now every lens is going to have a small variation. It's not that big deal to do micro-adj.

Some of you want auto-micro adjustment. Some want Wifi, gps, 10fps, 41Mpixels, huge DR, 80 AF points, etc.... then to throw in what I want...I want a 1% spot metering that is tie to the AF point and not just the center. I'm sure Canon can build this camera for us but are we all willing to pay the price? I'm sure I will hear people complaining about value and that they don't need bunch feature just the one they want and want to pay $1700 for it and not $12K. You can't make everyone happy.

Considering that Canon already listened to the complaints about a single MFA value and how it really doesn't help zoom lenses, they made a change that allows 2 MFA values per lens provided it is not a prime. Give it enough time, and Canon will continue to tweak already existing functions into better functions, like auto-ISO, auto-calibration, etc.

Can this function exist? Absolutely yes. Will Canon add it? Who's to say, time will only tell.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #15019215
Considering that Canon already listened to the complaints about a single MFA value and how it really doesn't help zoom lenses, they made a change that allows 2 MFA values per lens provided it is not a prime. Give it enough time, and Canon will continue to tweak already existing functions into better functions, like auto-ISO, auto-calibration, etc.

Can this function exist? Absolutely yes. Will Canon add it? Who's to say, time will only tell.

Yeah I suppose you are correct. Maybe I need to be more vocal about the fact that I like to have a spot metering that is tie to the AF point on the next 5D model

drive_75 wrote in post #15019241
Yeah I suppose you are correct. Maybe I need to be more vocal about the fact that I like to have a spot metering that is tie to the AF point on the next 5D model

That is reserved for the 1D series.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #15019305
That is reserved for the 1D series.

Yeah but if complain enough and post enough on the forum complaining then it might just happen right?

drive_75 wrote in post #15019496
Yeah but if complain enough and post enough on the forum complaining then it might just happen right?

I get the tongue in cheek smilie, but your request is right in line with those who seem to think that the 6d should have everything the 5dIII has but for $1000 less. The trouble is, those guys seem to be serious about it, and they are incensed that Canon has so blatantly ignored the outcry.

It's like buying a car - if you don't like the option package available for the Toyota Corolla, you either move up to a Camry or you learn to do without - or maybe buy a Honda (of course, changing automobile brands is easier than changing a body from Canon to Nikon).

I've been using Magic Lantern on my 50D for a while, with a recent stable release it became much more useful (e.g. it can take a shot when the image comes into focus - works even with chipped MF lenses, and lenses with extension tubes - macro shots with hand-held nifty-fifty + 62mm tubes are as sharp as you can do that manually with a tripod!). But last time I heard about tweaking/improving/ena​bling focus MA, the developers mentioned that it's at the edge of the realm of possible.