5D MKII Microadjust across 2 bodies.

Question for you folks. I might have a little free time tomorrow and I'm considering going through the steps to microadjust my lenses.

I have 2 5D bodies, my question is, do I need to MA all of my lenses to both of the bodies, or can I just take the setting from one body and use them on the other?

I'm hoping not to make this an all day affair.

Thanks!

Tim

If both of your bodies where absolutely perfect, and the adjustments only affected the lenses, then I would think copying setting would be fine. However, it is possible that part of the adjustment is due to backfocusing issues in your body. Therefore, if you copied the settings from one camera to the other you may find they don't work.

What I would suggest is take one of your lenses, and mount it to your other camera. Manually do a MA to get it in focus. Check the setting to see if it matches your other camera. If the setting is the same as what you found on your other camera, I think it is safe to say that both bodies are spot on, and then I would just copy the settings for all of the lenses. If it is not, then it's reasonable to think that part of the problem lies in the body, and I would re-check with a second lens. If that lens doesn't match the setting from the first camera, then at that point I would just manually MA all my lenses on the second body.

I feel almost certainly that the adjustments will different for each lens/body combination. Hopefully I'm wrong? Good luck!

I wouldn't be surprised if the settings are different for each body.

BigBlueDodge wrote in post #6970856
What I would suggest is take one of your lenses, and mount it to your other camera. Manually do a MA to get it in focus. Check the setting to see if it matches your other camera. If the setting is the same as what you found on your other camera, I think it is safe to say that both bodies are spot on, and then I would just copy the settings for all of the lenses. If it is not, then it's reasonable to think that part of the problem lies in the body, and I would re-check with a second lens. If that lens doesn't match the setting from the first camera, then at that point I would just manually MA all my lenses on the second body.

That's a good idea, I will try that!

Ianfp wrote in post #6970881
I feel almost certainly that the adjustments will different for each lens/body combination. Hopefully I'm wrong? Good luck!

Familiaphoto wrote in post #6971061
I wouldn't be surprised if the settings are different for each body.

I'm hoping I won't have to do it for both, but I guess we'll see.

You will (canon makes sure that when their is a problem with your lens you send the body AND camera so each can be calibrated to it's own "master counterpart" that they have possession of)

wallybud wrote in post #6971633
You will (canon makes sure that when their is a problem with your lens you send the body AND camera so each can be calibrated to it's own "master counterpart" that they have possession of)

So you are saying canon does not have a test bench where they measure the placement of the sensors depth with: laser, mechanical, sound, optical....
and verify against the given manufacturing spec?

And on the lens - hook it to a test fixture and run thru a series of test(electrical) to verify signal sent(focus movement location) = final lens focus mechanics position?
And then verify location of image from lens will land at a given distance specification which would be the sensor if attached to camera body.

I am curious to the meaning of "master counterpart" .......

It means they take your body and put a certified lens on it (master counterpart to the body) and test it, and then take your lens and put it on a special body (master counterpart) and test it. if there is nothing wrong with the body they know instantly that something is wrong with the lens...they then put it through the paces...they dont just laser everything up...

even if your lens has a focus issue they will only calibrate it if it is "out of factory spec" and it can very well be -5 on the mirco adjust and be considered "within spec" so they won't do anything.

every body is different so every lens has to be micro adjusted to each body...you can't just set the same settings for each unless testing them first. my lens have different focus issues on my 5dmkII than they did on my 40D. and the 40D and lens all went to canon together. this time I can do something about it

PS my 24-70 at 2.8 is -17 at 70mm but VERY VERY different at 24mm so you much do A LOT of testing and find a Compromise

I leave it at -17 because usually I only use it at 70mm...otherwise I have my 17-40 for landscape or my 35 for low light...if my 35 is on then the 24-70 at 2.8 is not going to help much

I'm guessing that once the line is set up, cameras are assembled and as they roll off of the production line there is minimal testing done to insure things power up. Then one out of say 10~100 cameras is taken from the assemble line and tested to insure that the line is still within spec. I doubt that each and every camera is individually tested. Way too time consuming.

Your lucky you have mostly primes. Also check distances...my 35 is different in focus at close distances and a different micro adjust for farther away...I still have time to exchange it for another one and I might do that as Im not sure if this is normal or not. also I want a sharper copy wide open...

wallybud wrote in post #6971909
It means they take your body and put a certified lens on it (master counterpart to the body) and test it, and then take your lens and put it on a special body (master counterpart) and test it. if there is nothing wrong with the body they know instantly that something is wrong with the lens...they then put it through the paces...they dont just laser everything up...

even if your lens has a focus issue they will only calibrate it if it is "out of factory spec" and it can very well be -5 on the mirco adjust and be considered "within spec" so they won't do anything.

every body is different so every lens has to be micro adjusted to each body...you can't just set the same settings for each unless testing them first. my lens have different focus issues on my 5dmkII than they did on my 40D. and the 40D and lens all went to canon together. this time I can do something about it

Thanks for the explanation on master counter part....

The manufacturing part i agree completely..... to the point if you get 2x 50D's or 5D mark ii that are made right after each other - they will be different due to manufacturing variations and still be in spec.

Ziffle wrote in post #6971954
Thanks for the explanation on master counter part....

The manufacturing part i agree completely..... to the point if you get 2x 50D's or 5D mark ii that are made right after each other - they will be different do to manufacturing variations and still be in spec.

Id like to get my hands on both of their counterparts and keep THAT kit

gjl711 wrote in post #6971943
I'm guessing that once the line is set up, cameras are assembled and as they roll off of the production line there is minimal testing done to insure things power up. Then one out of say 10~100 cameras is taken from the assemble line and tested to insure that the line is still within spec. I doubt that each and every camera is individually tested. Way too time consuming.

I would disagree. I bet every camera get a full functionality test to include final placement of sensor to lens mount in distance and parallelism.

The black dot issues (5dmark ii) would be an outside issue to the normal test cycle.

Before each body is buttoned up - i would not be surprised if there is a test point on a board and/ or run something thru one of the connectors.
this process could be automated pretty easily.