AFMA advice sought

[AlanF]

Yesterday I downloaded FoCal Pro to calibrate my new 5D3. It was an utter pain trying to focus by 600mm on the centre of the target using my cheap Manfrotto tripod, and we don't have concrete floors etc. The repeat runs were somewhat erratic. Today, I adapted the FoCal system to work under suboptimal conditions, which I recommend. First, find a sturdy cardboard box the size of A4 paper or its US equivalent.
1. Print the Reiken target, and glue it to the face of the box.
2. Put a screw or a nail in the side of the box at about 2/3rds of the height at the back.
3. Rest a ruler with horizontal lines facing you so it slopes towards you at about 30 deg.
4. Focus on the Reiken target. Shoot a couple, and vary the AFMA so you see when the line level to the face is the  best in focus.

The results were within the spread of the semi-automatic method using the program.

[AlanF]

I wasn't joking.

[Marsu42]

The results were within the spread of the semi-automatic method using the program.

That's a great advice & thanks for the pic - but watch out for Reikan employees setting fire to your car :->

[neuroanatomist]

FWIW, I got good results with FoCal with 600mm (at 30 m and 15 m) and 840mm (600+1.4x, at 42 m and 21 m)...also outdoors, but I had a very stable RRS tripod/gimbal and I added some lighting (with a long extension cord!) to the sunlight for ~15 EV as reported by FoCal, meaning high shutter speeds >1/1000 s even at f/5.6.  I haven't done the 600 + 2x combo yet (seems quite sharp at AFMA = 0, and the longest sight line on my property is ~50 m - I need to find a vacant football field, and maybe a helper and a set of walkie-talkies for target alignment  ).

I wasn't joking.

You've built yourself an economical LensAlign tool.   

Here's my DIY schematic:

[Marsu42]

Here's my DIY schematic

I take it since the pic is "AFMA_Image4.jpg" there are others - or is the a good "do it yourself" site on this? I haven't read up on this since my 60d hasn't got afma (thanks, Canon!) but now that I'll get a ff I'd like a good solution for af adjustment w/o spending additional money.

[neuroanatomist]

Here's my DIY schematic

I take it since the pic is "AFMA_Image4.jpg" there are others - or is the a good "do it yourself" site on this? I haven't read up on this since my 60d hasn't got afma (thanks, Canon!) but now that I'll get a ff I'd like a good solution for af adjustment w/o spending additional money.

From here:  http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Photography-Tips/AF-Microadjustment-Tips.aspx

Written before FoCal was available, I use FoCal now...

[Studio1930]

Another Focal pro user here.  It works better than any other method I have tried.  Great for my 1D4 and 1DX.

[AudioGlenn]

@Neuro:  Is the-digital-picture.com YOUR site? 

[neuroanatomist]

@Neuro:  Is the-digital-picture.com YOUR site?

Goodness, no.  Bryan Carnathan run's it...

[AudioGlenn]

@Neuro:  Is the-digital-picture.com YOUR site?

Goodness, no.  Bryan Carnathan run's it...

oh ok.  just wondering.  I go there all the time to check out lens reviews.   

anyways, thanks for always having great input on the forum.  I notice your replies on almost everything I read on here! 

[Marsu42]

Another Focal pro user here.  It works better than any other method I have tried.

Fyi: Another Magic Lantern user here, and the latest dev build has automatic afma tuning (for the time being 5d2, but I'm sure other cameras will follow) :-) ... https://bitbucket.org/hudson/magic-lantern/commits/6cf3c98700f4b659215d14ede8d6fe15eeca2e81

[Hobby Shooter]

I have been thinking of this for a while and reading up on it a bit. Thanks Neuro for that great article, I will study it closer as I just read it briefly now.

However, I might not have time and energy to do this on my gear. I have a 5D3 and 3 L-lenses. Is this possible to have done through a Canon dealer? Is it very expensive? I find my 70-200 f/2.8L MkII IS to be extremely sharp already, I am very happy with my 35L, the 24-105 I sometimes feel would need an adjustment, but that might come down to user error and the AF not being super fast.

[picturesbyme]

Another Focal pro user here.  It works better than any other method I have tried.

Fyi: Another Magic Lantern user here, and the latest dev build has automatic afma tuning (for the time being 5d2, but I'm sure other cameras will follow) :-) ... https://bitbucket.org/hudson/magic-lantern/commits/6cf3c98700f4b659215d14ede8d6fe15eeca2e81

Hi Marsu, I looked it up and it seems very interesting. (youtu.be/7zE50jCUPhM)
and automated on ML sounds really promising:

http://youtu.be/58enf18Q0l4

[killswitch]

This is great stuff from ML. Thanks for sharing.

In regards to Focal's AFMA, at what aperture should you perform Focal's AFMA test? I think i had it wide open during the test, is that ok or are we supposed to stop it down to something smaller like 5.6 or 8?

[Old Shooter]

This is great stuff from ML. Thanks for sharing.

In regards to Focal's AFMA, at what aperture should you perform Focal's AFMA test? I think i had it wide open during the test, is that ok or are we supposed to stop it down to something smaller like 5.6 or 8?

Generally test wide open... In fact, only the Pro version let's you select f/stops other than wide open...