AFMA Callibration - How much is too much?

[Moody Blues]

So I am setting up the replacement 1DX i received today. On the previous 1DX, I only had to calibrate 2 lenses. the 85L needed +4 and the 24L needed +5. With the new 1DX I am at +17 on the 24L and +12 on the 85L. I needed to give the 135L +4. which required 0 on the last. I know each camera is difference but should the AF be that far off? Maybe i am just being way to picky but would hate to think that the camera took a big jolt during shipping...

[Mt Spokane Photography]

1.  You do not know how much each lens is off.
2.  You do not know how much each Camera is off.

All you know is the combination of Camera and lens results.  The 1D X could be right on, and your old camera could be off in the opposite direction such that it compensates for part of the lens errors.
I had a lens that required a +4 on my 5D MK II and  +17 on my 1D MK III.  I sent it in, and they calibrated it using their standard 1D MK III and it was perfect when it came back.
 

[Khristo]

"perfect when it came back"

Do you mean after calibration it needed 0 AFMA on both of the cameras?

[Mt Spokane Photography]

"perfect when it came back"

Do you mean after calibration it needed 0 AFMA on both of the cameras?

Yes!  The divisions of AFMA are not the same for different models, depending on the lens.

[Moody Blues]

I would be interested to see what others have had to AFMA input into their 1DX's.

[neuroanatomist]

I would be interested to see what others have had to AFMA input into their 1DX's.

Here are mine.

16-35L II: W=4, T=7
24-105L IS: W=4, T=2
28-300L IS: W=4, T=4
70-200L IS II: W=2, T=2 (haven't done it with 1.4x/2x TCs yet)
100-400L IS: W=-1, T=1
35L: 4
40 pancake: -1
85L: 0
100L Macro IS: 3
135L: 0

[Moody Blues]

Well, we will see tomorrow if the 3rd 1DX is the charm. I am sending 1 back to BH do to successive Err 80's and 1 back to Norman due to extreme front focusing. I have to admit that looking at 2 1DX boxes on my desk is pretty cool.

[balaji]

I would be interested to see what others have had to AFMA input into their 1DX's.

Here are mine.

16-35L II: W=4, T=7
24-105L IS: W=4, T=2
28-300L IS: W=4, T=4
70-200L IS II: W=2, T=2 (haven't done it with 1.4x/2x TCs yet)
100-400L IS: W=-1, T=1
35L: 4
40 pancake: -1
85L: 0
100L Macro IS: 3
135L: 0

Hi, Did you use any software for Camera/Lens calibration? Is there any online tutorial or best method to calibrate. I have a 5DM3, 24-105L F4, 70-200L F4 IS USM. Any advice is appreciated
Thanks in advance

[DrDeano]

Just curious...

Does anyone know the cost involved with having Canon adjust the lenses to a body?

How long does this typically take?

Thanks!

[neuroanatomist]

Hi, Did you use any software for Camera/Lens calibration? Is there any online tutorial or best method to calibrate. I have a 5DM3, 24-105L F4, 70-200L F4 IS USM. Any advice is appreciated

I use Reikan FoCal Pro, highly recommend it.  For my 1D X, manual mode is currently the only option, 5DIII works in semi-auto (for my 7D, and the 5DII I used to have, calibration is fully automatic).

For manual AFMA, I wrote a tutorial for TDP, based on LensAlign Pro, but with a DIY option as well.

[canon816]

I use Reikan FoCal as well.  Excellent software.

I have one lens and body that is at +11 and one at +14.

To answer your question how much is too much?  If -20 or +20 AFMA was the perfect setting for focus... then I would be happy I was able to nail down the appropriate calibration point.

As long as you can dial it it... it doesn't matter.  Every lens and body have specific tolerances and when putting a body and a lens together you can either minimize the tolerance variance or exaggerate it.

Occasionally you will find a body and lens combo that cannot be calibrated because it is beyond +20 or -20.  In this case you have reach the "too much" threshold and need to decide whether you should send it to canon for calibration or try a different copy.

[PhotoCat]

Very informative article Dr. neuroanatomist. Thanks!
Although I have always had a question on the effectiveness of AFMA.
My AFMA experience has suggested that the calibration is distance dependent.
i.e., if u calibrate an 85mm lens at a distance of 7 feet, it would be vy sharp
at that shooting distance. However, if u need to be shooting at 15feet for example,
the lens won't be as sharp.  The AFMA is a 1 dimension adjustment and it
seems that the Canon factory lens calibration is capable of more than 1 dimension adjustment
to make the lens sharp at all shooting distance.
Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Hi, Did you use any software for Camera/Lens calibration? Is there any online tutorial or best method to calibrate. I have a 5DM3, 24-105L F4, 70-200L F4 IS USM. Any advice is appreciated

I use Reikan FoCal Pro, highly recommend it.  For my 1D X, manual mode is currently the only option, 5DIII works in semi-auto (for my 7D, and the 5DII I used to have, calibration is fully automatic).

For manual AFMA, I wrote a tutorial for TDP, based on LensAlign Pro, but with a DIY option as well.

[canon816]

Very informative article Dr. neuroanatomist. Thanks!
Although I have always had a question on the effectiveness of AFMA.
My AFMA experience has suggested that the calibration is distance dependent.
i.e., if u calibrate an 85mm lens at a distance of 7 feet, it would be vy sharp
at that shooting distance. However, if u need to be shooting at 15feet for example,
the lens won't be as sharp.  The AFMA is a 1 dimension adjustment and it
seems that the Canon factory lens calibration is capable of more than 1 dimension adjustment
to make the lens sharp at all shooting distance.
Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Hi, Did you use any software for Camera/Lens calibration? Is there any online tutorial or best method to calibrate. I have a 5DM3, 24-105L F4, 70-200L F4 IS USM. Any advice is appreciated

I use Reikan FoCal Pro, highly recommend it.  For my 1D X, manual mode is currently the only option, 5DIII works in semi-auto (for my 7D, and the 5DII I used to have, calibration is fully automatic).

For manual AFMA, I wrote a tutorial for TDP, based on LensAlign Pro, but with a DIY option as well.

I have used the FoCal software extensively to calibrate my own bodies with all my lenses as well as worked with other photographers calibrating theirs.  Including one photographer who was involved with the beta development with Richard Reikan.

To put it simply... if you can nail focus at short distance with extremely narrow depth of field... you will also nail it at longer distances as well.  I have put this theory to the test and taken thousands of photos at 200mm, 300mm and 600mm all with and without TC's that were calibrated with FoCal.... and the theory holds true in actual field application.  I get tack sharp photos at all focal distances with one calibrated setting.  I used to adjust my AFMA point all the time (almost as much as changing aperture...haha) but now that I have calibrated with FoCal I NEVER adjust it.  (I will mention that there are other factors that can effect the AFMA point.  Most notably heat and cold.  As lens bodies heat they swell and as they cool they shrink... and this does have a noticable effect on AFMA... albeit a small one)

The only time you may have issues is if you are using a zoom lens as different focal lengths on the same lens may have different AFMA points.  I don't find this to be a problem as I calibrate for the longest focal length (which has the narrowest depth of field).  The shortest focal length has a much broader depth of field so if the AFMA is not perfect then it is hidden by the greater DOF, unless you are shooting subjects that are extremely close to the front lens element.  In which case I would adjust AFMA on the fly to suit needs.

I believe the 5DIII and the 1DX allow you to input different AFMA points for longest and shortest focal length of a zoom lens.  (correct me if im wrong... as I shoot with neither)

[PhotoCat]

Interesting info. Tks Canon816!

[Moody Blues]

I want to download and use Reikan FoCal but it does not specifically state that it supports the 1DX. It does however state that it supports all Canon cameras that have AFMA ability.

Can someone answer this?