Anyone used FoCal for focus calibration

cambsno

cambsno

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Saw this and thought it could help? Anyone here yard it? Any good? Easy to use?
 
I bought it in February and have used it on my returned d800 and new d800e.

To me it seems very good, I'm sure you could sit down with test charts and a computer and do it all yourself but I don't have the eye for it or the patience.

With the Nikon version you still have to sit and change the MA value each time.

I think the setup is critical, the chart need to be set up properly at proper distances and light needs to be good.. This can be a bit tricky I've found especially on longer lens.

I have had it throw up different results for the same lens.. Don't know if it was my setup or what..I did some of my lens today after receiving a new d800e with my 85mm 1.4g it gave +8,+6+10 +8+8 I tend to check 3 times to be sure or more untill I get the same results more often. The light kept changing as it was getting late on after 6pm.
With my 50mm it gave +13 twice in a row before I did the 85.

It very easy to use the setup is the hardest part. Is it worth it ? for me it was I bought the full version as it lets you do more and at the time the mac version was only available as a beta on the full version I think.
 
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Didn't work on either of my D3S', kept saying it couldn't do it - try searching Google for 'dot tune' it's a free alternative mentioned on Dpreview.
 
yep - I use it as well. Its very good. Gramps I'm surprised about your D3S - I had no issues doing mine. I do find it works best with constant light, so I tend to use a modelling light onto the target
 
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Debated buying it but after reading online about users getting different inconsistent readings decided to give it a miss.
 
As said I think a lot of it is down to light and set up.

Gramps was it the same lens that you used on both?
I found that I had issues with my 24-70 it would fail the test. Not sure if it was set up wrong or not but it worked fine yesterday, though it did need to plot more MA points than my primes.
 
Sorry to sound dumb but what is it ?

Software, hardware, magic ?
 
boyfalldown said:
Gramps I'm surprised about your D3S - I had no issues doing mine. I do find it works best with constant light, so I tend to use a modelling light onto the target
Click to expand...

pmac said:
Gramps was it the same lens that you used on both?
I found that I had issues with my 24-70 it would fail the test. Not sure if it was set up wrong or not but it worked fine yesterday, though it did need to plot more MA points than my primes.
Click to expand...

I did the testing using 2 D3S bodies with 3 different Nikon lenses, 35 1.4, 85 1.4 and 24-70 f2.8 and although it would lock onto the chart, giving me the green tick, it would go through the test until about half way and then abort.
Testing was done in good daylight and using the provided test chart, all it succeeded in doing was adding to my shutter count!
 
Typical. Lol.


Asks question and get conflicting advice. :-)
 
I've used it to MFA three bodies and around a dozen lenses and it has worked perfectly. Before FoCal I did three lenses only (too much hard work to do them all). Focal gave similar results but a lot faster - so much so that I've done all my lenses.

When I've tried repeating the process I always get results that are the same (well, within the expected variation).

I did take notice of the instructions that say that good, steady light is required to light the target. If I'm using natural light and it changes abruptly then I do find I'll have to repeat it sometimes.
 
gramps said:
Testing was done in good daylight and using the provided test chart, all it succeeded in doing was adding to my shutter count!
Click to expand...

did it give a reason for the failure? it normally does
 
every time I've seen that its something I've done. Not saying thats the case here though.
 
Could be, I just got fed up trying after following all the instruction to the letter, getting confirmations and then wasting literally hours of my time.
 
ive got it find it great ,also good for testing af consistency(in the pro version)
 
I've had good results using it. Need to make sure the target is square and that you print it on non glossy paper. Also best of the target is on a neutral background too and with constant even lighting - I use two continuous softlights.
 
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