Messages

1

Software & Accessories / Re: who uses Focal or similar?

« on: September 29, 2012, 03:42:05 PM »

purchased the Focal software and just did it on my kit 24-105 @105 and my 50 1.4.

results:
50mm 1.4 needed +9 adjust
24-105 needed +5 adjust at 105mm

is that usual?

I have now done most of my lenses (I've a ton of old EF film lenses that I may consider some day).
Here is the results so far, and a typical report that FoCal Pro produces.
 
This is my table made to keep track of my settings in case I happen to lose them.  Zoom lenses have two settings, while primes have one.  I wish there were a macro setting for the 100mm L, I'm certain that the AFMA value will be a lot different at near macro distances.
Most of my lenses are close enough to be set to zero, but my most used lens, the 135mm L, along with my 85mm f/1.8 need AFMA.  I have yet to test the 35mmL, I overlooked it or would have done it when I had the 16-35mmL setup for 35mm.  Same for my 50mm f/1.4.  Doing a AFMA for my 15mm FE would not likely make a difference, but I'll do it anyway.

 
 
Table produced by FoCal.  As you can see, the lens had a AF issue one time.  I was outdoors, and the wind was blowing gently, so a gust might have moved the target, or just the lens misfired.  It happens more than you might think, and FoCal shows it.

I have a year old 35L at +8, and a 4 months old 70-200 f4L IS at +4 pretty new, i think even brand new lenses might need a little calibration. not worried since it's giving better results.

2

Lenses / Re: Lens align pro or Spyder lenscal

« on: September 07, 2012, 02:53:02 PM »

why would it compute on a suggested number when other AFMA scored higher, eg AFMA=3 1645 AfMA=4 1605 AFMA=5 1637 and it picks 4 about 6 to 8 ft from the chart it's pretty accurate but just concern if that's a problem, on the 5DIII it's manual only just wondering if there's a patch or an update.

Because its fitting a curve based on multiple measurements over a wider range, which is a better approach than using the single highest measurement.  There is variability in the AF system, slight differences each time you refocus on the same point. The curve fitting helps pick the best value despite that variability.

Thanks for that. I'm learning something new everyday.

3

Lenses / Re: Lens align pro or Spyder lenscal

« on: September 06, 2012, 04:31:40 PM »

I've been testing all lenses at 25x and 50x focal length. In real life shooting, it may not make too much difference if you are within +/- 10.

If you mean within +/- 10x of focal length distance, probably true.

If you mean within +/- 10 AFMA units, I'd expect that to make a difference in many situations, either shooting wide open or with close subjects.  One unit is 1/8 the depth of focus at max aperture, so a 10-unit difference is substantial.  A 1-2 unit difference can be noticeable with an f/1.2 or f/1.4 prime, on average, but any given shot will vary a little too, probably in a similar range.  A 3-4 unit difference with an f/4 or f/5.6 lens is probably not too noticeable.

why would it compute on a suggested number when other AFMA scored higher, eg AFMA=3 1645 AfMA=4 1605 AFMA=5 1637 and it picks 4 about 6 to 8 ft from the chart it's pretty accurate but just concern if that's a problem, on the 5DIII it's manual only just wondering if there's a patch or an update.

4

5D MK III Sample Images / Re: Take a look at this image, can someone with great PP skill make it work?

« on: September 04, 2012, 11:23:57 PM »

http://www.flickr.com/photos/isabella1/7934488042/#in/photostream/lightbox/
gonna erase it soon. just did a little action here and there.

5

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon 5D Mark III - Soft images

« on: September 04, 2012, 06:47:17 PM »

In an ironic twist, my problem went away once I turned AFMA off.

Same here ... disabling AFMA worked for me when I used 5D3 with the 25-105 f/4 L lens ... but all of my other lenses work better with AFMA enabled

That just means the 24-105 is a good match for your 5DIII. You just set Adjust By Lens and leave the 24-105 at zero.  Personally, my 85L II and 135L require no adjustment on my 1D X, my other lenses do.

Just got the Reikan Focal PRO i just did the camera/adjusted(all) haven't tried the lens yet, does it give you the same results? just wondering if they'll have an update so we don't have to manually set, but otherwise it's money well spent.

6

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Canon 1DX - AFMA reset when I turn off the camera (workaround found)

« on: July 20, 2012, 02:36:48 AM »

Does anyone know a good way of reporting this subtle problem to Canon so they can get this fixed in a firmware update?

FWIW, I emailed Canon tech support yesterday. Heard back from them today with the statement that they could not reproduce the issue on their two 1D X bodies, and asked me to provide the detailed steps I took when trying to set an AFMA.  I chuckled a bit at the implication that I don't know how to set an AFMA (especially given the fact that I've written a tutorial on the subject!).  I replied to the email, and when I got home I took a short video clip documenting the issue, and I've just sent that to Canon as well.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr_brain/7600237574/#secretb2c81b5680

this is like a CMOS battery dying and forgetting your settings, or pretty much a coding error. they held off a long time to release the camera and amazingly forgot to QC the whole batch. does it have a little battery like the 7D?

7

EOS Bodies / Re: Mirrorless Update - APS-C? [CR2]

« on: July 12, 2012, 02:33:47 PM »

What's the pricing on these?

8

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: My Canon EOS-1D X Has Arrived!

« on: July 04, 2012, 10:19:49 AM »

very nice

9

Lenses / Re: Looking for travel zoom

« on: July 02, 2012, 11:23:36 AM »

i bought a 35L and a 135L to China and the Philippines last year with a grip 5DII and it was never a burden and never thought of using a zoom, try 35L and a 70-200f4is maybe that would work for you.

10

Lenses / Re: Patent: Canon EF 35 f/1.4L II

« on: July 02, 2012, 11:02:53 AM »

will it likely come out this year?? i'd rather wait on this than the 24-70L II

11

Lens Gallery / Re: 40 Shorty Test Shots

« on: June 19, 2012, 04:16:56 PM »

here is a picture taken by a shorty forty

looks good, why is B&H and Adorama always late in the game.

12

Software & Accessories / Re: Canon Releases DPP 3.11.31 for Windows & Mac

« on: June 18, 2012, 05:31:14 PM »

fixed "phenomenon" when transferring to PS CS6 on 32 bit machines, no longer hangs every now and then, no problem with 64 bit though.

13

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5DMKIII Autofocus help required

« on: June 18, 2012, 05:15:21 PM »

  I think the 5D Mark III can do spot metering everywhere (all 61 points) in single shot mode can't it?  I can't remember.  AI Servo is different.

I was wondering about this. Sure it has the 61 point AF, and I can select any of those points, but is the one I select
also used for metering? In the book it says something about a central area about 1.5% of the total area for spot.
So who knows this for certain?
Cheers Brian

If you're using evaluative metering, weighting is given to the region around the selected AF point.  Spot metering on the 5DIII is in the center only, not linked to the AF point selected.  AF point-linked spot metering is currently a 1-series only feature.

Is that possible with a firmware update on the 5DIII??

14

Lenses / Re: Where is the Lens EF40mm F2.8 STM made in?

« on: June 18, 2012, 02:57:41 AM »

The China means low quality, low price, counterfeit and low low low,

not all, motherboards, iPhones, RAM and whatnots are great quality and reliability, i've had an ASUS board that i have in the garage that's been running for almost 12 years more than allowed MTBF the last BIOS update was 3 years after i bought it.

15

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Ergonomics... Why you pay more for a 1D...

« on: June 11, 2012, 04:57:50 AM »

Does that mean the OP goes around town and looks for people who own a 5D3 and tells em "Uh you got a bad ergonomics there" hopefully somebody who happens to have a .45 and a shovel is willing to tell him otherwise..