Another Arizona POTN get together (3)?

Hatch1921 wrote in post #10455293
Well... I will first start by saying there are numerous methods all over the net... and I tried most of them...LOL.

When you say "methods" what you really mean is "targets" or ways to determine how much the lens is out of adjustment, right.

If your camera body doesn't have a micro-focus adjustment feature, and you don't want to send all your bodies and lens to Canon for calibration what other "methods" are there for adjusting front/back focus issues with bodies/lens'?

AZAlphaDog wrote in post #10455393
When you say "methods" what you really mean is "targets" or ways to determine how much the lens is out of adjustment, right.

Correct. In fact (sorry Hatch), Canon suggests using vertical surfaces that have good contrast and not a sloping chart.

Tweak the focus via MF...

I have the 7D so I may give it a shot. So when you dial a lens in, is that specific lens stored within the memory of the camera? So whenever that specific lens is attached it will recognize it? You dont need to redial a lens in everytime you swap lenses do you?

matrix311 wrote in post #10455443
I have the 7D so I may give it a shot. So when you dial a lens in, is that specific lens stored within the memory of the camera? So whenever that specific lens is attached it will recognize it? You dont need to redial a lens in everytime you swap lenses do you?

The body knows...

In fact, it's smart enough to store the info for a given lens minus TC and plus TC as two different "lenses!"

Handy when you work with large primes and shoot with/without extenders!

Truth be told though, I've never tweaked any glass on my MkIII. Why find out it's me and not the gear, right?

matrix311 wrote in post #10455443
I have the 7D so I may give it a shot. So when you dial a lens in, is that specific lens stored within the memory of the camera? So whenever that specific lens is attached it will recognize it? You dont need to redial a lens in everytime you swap lenses do you?

Oh, oh I want to take this one!

Noted in the manual that came with your camera you will find the option to adjust per individual lens or for all lens attached, and the information is stored in you camera for every time you attach a specific lens to your body.

I hooked mine up to my laptop and shot tests tethered and made adjustments and made another test shot and looked at it on screen at 100% and made additional adjustments until I think I got it right.

had to jump in here.... you know..... in support of my partner and all.. lol...

If you look at the lens align.. you'll see that there is a vertical square shaped thing with some star looking patterns on it..... that is what you focus on.. the center one... great contrast for the lens to grab at...

The sloped chart to the right of that focus panel is just to allow you to see where the focus falls in real time.... kinda hard to see it on a flat surface...

Limiting factor as far as I can tell is on zoom lenses... you have to find a "happy place" that covers both the wide end and the long end of your lens.... you can't set separate adjustments for each end....

Does all of that make sense...?

All in all... it's an incredibly useful tool and very much worth the peace of mind. Lord knows Canon Factory Service is unable to achieve such results with their fancy calibration equipment and trained employees.... why waste valuable time sending it in, when you can DIY...

(jumping back out now...)

Kristy, you can do the same thing with seven toy blocks or AA batteries and a yardstick for a lot cheaper...

From the new phone, had to call ATT to get it working in readneckville

cntry wrote in post #10455996
From the new phone, had to call ATT to get it working in readneckville

Welcome back to civilization. Honestly, you didn't miss much...

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #10455995
Kristy, you can do the same thing with seven toy blocks or AA batteries and a yardstick for a lot cheaper...

Not for the fine adjustment that you get off of that yardstick though.. it just simplifies the process and makes it super easy to get a precise adjustment number dialed in... for those who are completely anal retentive when it comes to focus accuracay.... (**cough cough**) haha

Nobody I know...

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #10456013
Nobody I know...

Me neither.....

Kristy wrote in post #10455985
had to jump in here.... you know..... in support of my partner and all.. lol...

If you look at the lens align.. you'll see that there is a vertical square shaped thing with some star looking patterns on it..... that is what you focus on.. the center one... great contrast for the lens to grab at...

The sloped chart to the right of that focus panel is just to allow you to see where the focus falls in real time.... kinda hard to see it on a flat surface...

Limiting factor as far as I can tell is on zoom lenses... you have to find a "happy place" that covers both the wide end and the long end of your lens.... you can't set separate adjustments for each end....

Does all of that make sense...?

All in all... it's an incredibly useful tool and very much worth the peace of mind. Lord knows Canon Factory Service is unable to achieve such results with their fancy calibration equipment and trained employees.... why waste valuable time sending it in, when you can DIY...

(jumping back out now...)

Thanks partner!

Jay... you are correct... and Canon is correct... the angle test is what I would assume they are talking about. You do shoot a vertical target... the angled ruler shows the DOF and where your focus is hitting.

Sample below.... I think I have the 85mm adjusted at +2 or +3 backwards to get it centered. It wasn't all that far off...

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Hatch1921 wrote in post #10456028
Thanks partner!

Jay... you are correct... and Canon is correct... the angle test is what I would assume they are talking about. You do shoot a vertical target... the angled ruler shows the DOF and where your focus is hitting.

Sample below.... I think I have the 85mm adjusted at +2 or +3 backwards to get it centered. It wasn't all that far off...

Excellent illustration...!!! We should work for their sales department, huh? Might be worth the commission check.... or at least a free device. hahaha...

off and running.... Happy Wednesday all!!