FoCal Users, Worth it or not?

rpsmith79

rpsmith79

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Right then after spending far to long faffing around trying to sort the focus compensation on my Sigma 150-600C i came across FoCal, which claims to assist in AF Calibration

I was really wanting to hear from any users of this program to see what your real world thoughts are, and on which version to choose, as according to the comparison i would need the Pro version for any lens over 400mm, and at £40 for Plus or £70 for the Pro, its quite jump and was wondering if it really is worth the extra

My current lens line up is as follows

Sigma 17-50 f2.8
Tamron 70-300 VC
Nikon 300mm f4
Sigma 150-600 C

So i would only benefit with the 150-600 if i went for the pro version, and i'm not sure if it is still possible to do the calibration on the 600mm using the Plus version, or is it just easier to do with the Pro version
 
I have Focal Pro, and it's very good.
But I only use it on primes, as I only have a couple of zooms, which rarely, if ever get used nowadays.
Zooms are always a compromise when focus tuning IMHO, as the correct setting for one focal length may not be the best setting for another f/l within the zoom's range.
I thought the Sigma dock was the way to go for the Sigma lenses?
I don't have any, as all my lenses are Nikon, but if I bought a Sigma, the dock would definitely be on the same shopping list.
 
GHP said:
I have Focal Pro, and it's very good.
But I only use it on primes, as I only have a couple of zooms, which rarely, if ever get used nowadays.
Zooms are always a compromise when focus tuning IMHO, as the correct setting for one focal length may not be the best setting for another f/l within the zoom's range.
I thought the Sigma dock was the way to go for the Sigma lenses?
I don't have any, as all my lenses are Nikon, but if I bought a Sigma, the dock would definitely be on the same shopping list.
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Yes the Sigma dock allows you to change settings based on FL and subject distance, so i was hoping that FoCal would allow me to do AF Calibration at various FL and subject distance so that i could input all the figures into the Sigma Dock, but it's just so long winded doing it with no assistance, hence where i hope FoCal could be of use and be a bit more scientific

I'm just not 100% sure why (or indeed if) i need to spend the extra £30 on Pro over Plus as i don't really need any of the other benefits of the Pro version, just the long lens Cailbration
 
Focal Pro works for me as it takes my eye out of the equation, your eye maybe more reliable in which case you could use the 45 degree ruler or the line of batteries etc to calibrate ... for me the cost was worth saving the hassle but remember to follow all the instructions and have good light for the test.
 
Good luck with calibrating your sigma with Focal. You'd need a huge space to get their recommended distance and a very large target. Not only that but the adjustments on your camera have no relation to those on the sigma dock/app.

I've given up on Focal as I always get different results. Even the slightest change in light can give a different result.

The best method I've found and now use on all my lenses including the sigma is the dot tune method.
Still, the sigma is a pain in the arse to adjust because you can't quickly make a change on the body and retry. You have to remove the lens, attach to the dock, make a best guess adjustment, remove dock, reattach lens and test again, rinse and repeat a number of times for each distance and focal length.
 
ecoleman said:
Good luck with calibrating your sigma with Focal. You'd need a huge space to get their recommended distance and a very large target. Not only that but the adjustments on your camera have no relation to those on the sigma dock/app.

I've given up on Focal as I always get different results. Even the slightest change in light can give a different result.

The best method I've found and now use on all my lenses including the sigma is the dot tune method.
Still, the sigma is a pain in the arse to adjust because you can't quickly make a change on the body and retry. You have to remove the lens, attach to the dock, make a best guess adjustment, remove dock, reattach lens and test again, rinse and repeat a number of times for each distance and focal length.
Click to expand...

This is why i'm not sure whether to spend the cash on FoCal, i suspected that the camera adjustments would be different to the Sigma dock, but it would at least get me heading in the right direction i guess

I don't mind taking the gamble at £40 for the Plus version to see how it works, just don't want to shell out £70 if i don't need to

But it appears everyone is using the Pro version, i could do with speaking to someone without Pro to see if it would work with my longest lens

Never heard of the Dot Tune method, will have to investigate that
 
It can be extremely fiddly and especially with longer lens you need to "do it" a few times and then you are sometimes not sure as you can get inconsistent results

with my 600mm and 300mm lens I "tune" at the recommended distance and then at my "usual" shooting distance, especially with the 600mm

@gramps (Roger) has used FoCal a lot and hopefully he will comment - I started with the original version which was terrible - the improved version released about a year ago was much better, (I shoot Nikon)

It is straightforward to use but can be very time consuming when the light changes - but if you try to set up the light, (as recommended on some Utubes vids), forget it, just set up in the back garden on a day with reasonably good consistent light - my view is that you want to tune your longer lens in normal light at the distance you use them

I have the Pro version and after a flurry for the first couple of weeks I've not used it since as once I start I have three long lens + three Nikon TC's to calibrate with those lens .... so that's 9 tests just to start with before I get onto the 50mm, etc.

I have also use SpyderLensCal - to check Focal and been driven around in circles

It's bloody pathetic that when you spend £000's with Nikon and Canon they cannot produce equipment that is accurate or can self tune
 
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Cheers for the advice everyone

Having read up on the Dot Tune method, i think i will give that a go first, see how i get on, as that sounds like a much simpler/quicker solution than any i have used in the past
 
rpsmith79 said:
Cheers for the advice everyone

Having read up on the Dot Tune method, i think i will give that a go first, see how i get on, as that sounds like a much simpler/quicker solution than any i have used in the past
Click to expand...

I've got Focal Pro, I ended up using dot tune :bang:
 
i have what you have and Focal. if you have the sigma Dock its great for that, as you can get your first reading from Focal then dial it in Via the dock and re-test, eventually focal will return a 0 value which means your bang on the money...i have mine fine tuned at 600mm only as this is the reviewed soft end, and now I'm sharp along the 600mm.. as 400mm is sharp anyway.
 
littleted said:
i have what you have and Focal. if you have the sigma Dock its great for that, as you can get your first reading from Focal then dial it in Via the dock and re-test, eventually focal will return a 0 value which means your bang on the money...i have mine fine tuned at 600mm only as this is the reviewed soft end, and now I'm sharp along the 600mm.. as 400mm is sharp anyway.
Click to expand...

Nice, cheers for that, at least i know my trian of thought would work

Which version of FoCal have you got, normal, Plus or Pro?
 
i had to get pro for the length, when you buy it you can license it for up to 15 Cameras, takes about 10 mins per test, but gives you a lot of info about your lens etc...sharpest F stop etc..
 
littleted said:
i had to get pro for the length, when you buy it you can license it for up to 15 Cameras, takes about 10 mins per test, but gives you a lot of info about your lens etc...sharpest F stop etc..
Click to expand...

Cheers, think i'll give the Dot Tune method a try, and if i'm still not happy i might take the plunge with FoCal Pro
 
I got good consistent results with dot tune even on a zoom range. I was tempted to try FoCal but didn't bother after using dot tune.
 
wezza13 said:
I've got FoCal Pro, if there's a way to send you the login and passcode then you can have it for £50 (bought for £70 and fine-tuned my lenses) (y)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the offer, i will see how i get on with the Dot Tune menthod, if i still have no joy i will be in touch to see if it is possible to transfer the licence
 
I bought FoCal Plus a while ago, spent ages dabbling with it and found that I generally got far better results using other more eyeball-oriented adjustment techniques for adjustments. Most of the time, FoCal actually seemed to make things slightly worse rather than better, despite me taking great care to ensure consistent lighting, etc. Certainly seemed to work a lot better with some lenses than others.
 
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