AFMA for 1DX II Tips Anyone?

[scottkinfw]

I need to calibrate my lenses to my 1DX !! but Reikan Focal doesn't support it yet. I have Lens Align but not the Focus Tune software to automate it.

What are people using? Is the Focus Tune software worth purchasing and how is it to use?

All help is appreciated.

Thanks.

sek

 

[tpatana]

What's wrong with manual dot tune?

 

[Valvebounce]

Hi tpatana.
Whilst I'm sure that some get acceptable results from dot tune, many of us here have reported less than consistent results with zero repeatability, to be accurate results should be repeatable within reasonable limits. 1 or maybe two points off, I had 5 or 6 point differences between results when I did it, not repeatable!

Cheers, Graham.

What's wrong with manual dot tune?

 

[LordofTackle]

Hi,

the latest Version of Focal (2.1) does support at least Manual File Mode with the 1DxII.
Thus you could do AFMA by taking photos with different AFMA settings manually and analyze them using Focal-
I haven't tried it yet, though.
The ability to control the camera through Focal is supposed to come soon.

https://www.reikan.co.uk/focalweb/index.php/2016/07/focal-2-1-adds-full-nikon-d5d500-support-and-new-dust-analysis/

 

[neuroanatomist]

Use FoCal's manual mode.

What's wrong with manual dot tune?

It's neither accurate nor precise.

 

[YuengLinger]

Isn't the included in-camera automated AFMA working? Or is that coming in a firmware update?

 

[GuyF]

Or is that coming in a firmware update?

Sounds like you know something that CR doesn't. Care to share?

 

[Refurb7]

You can still do AFMA manually. Just go through the settings, -20 to +20, and pick the best one. Slower than using FoCal, but you'll still get good results.

 

[JMZawodny]

While I have bought some of the various focus targets, I find that few things work better than a brick wall viewed at a high angle of incidence to quickly get the lens AFMA in the ballpark ±1 or 2. From there I find I'd rather do the final zeroing in with a target at the desired distance of the subject. For that final task I use something with lettering on a curved surface - a can, a bottle, ... . I've done it this way for 22 lenses (14 lenses and 4 with either the 1.4x or the 2x) and 3 bodies. It really does not take that long to do or put that many releases on the shutter.

 

[dcm]

http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=30269.msg607455#msg607455

Manual AFMA using Reikan FoCal works great. Mount lens, set target and light, shoot frames at 5pt intervals, load into FoCal, let it crunch. Got excellent results on almost every lens going down to f/1.4 due to AF consistency. Checked with LensAlign and didn't see the need to further tune. Been shooting for 2 months with no focus issues (other than the photographer).

 

[tpatana]

Use FoCal's manual mode.

What's wrong with manual dot tune?

It's neither accurate nor precise.

Is it more accurate/precise than not doing anything?

 

[neuroanatomist]

Use FoCal's manual mode.

What's wrong with manual dot tune?

It's neither accurate nor precise.

Is it more accurate/precise than not doing anything?

Say the appropriate value is +2, but DotTune reports -4. Then, yes...it's worse than doing nothing.

 

[tpatana]

Use FoCal's manual mode.

What's wrong with manual dot tune?

It's neither accurate nor precise.

Is it more accurate/precise than not doing anything?

Say the appropriate value is +2, but DotTune reports -4. Then, yes...it's worse than doing nothing.

How often this happens? Assuming person doing the dot tune knows how to do it?

I dot tune my gear, and so far re-tuning it's usually same every time.

 

[neuroanatomist]

Use FoCal's manual mode.

What's wrong with manual dot tune?

It's neither accurate nor precise.

Is it more accurate/precise than not doing anything?

Say the appropriate value is +2, but DotTune reports -4. Then, yes...it's worse than doing nothing.

How often this happens? Assuming person doing the dot tune knows how to do it?

I dot tune my gear, and so far re-tuning it's usually same every time.

Happened to me with the 35L. The 16-35/2.8 II was also way off. DotTune is better with longer lenses, but I'm not prepared to trust it.

 

[Valvebounce]

Hi tpatana.
I'm pretty certain I fully comprehend the method involved in dot tune, I tried it on my 7D with Σ 150-500 and Σ 17-70C both returned results commensurate with Neuro's explanation, yes it made things worse, that was when I discovered the lack of repeatability of the method, I will concede that it may be down to the lenses as much as the method, either way, Reikan FoCal does work reliably and repeatabley with these lenses, dot tune did not.

Cheers, Graham.

Say the appropriate value is +2, but DotTune reports -4. Then, yes...it's worse than doing nothing.

 

[GuyF]

Once tweaked via FoCal, how often would you retest a lens (if at all)? Is there any drift in the AFMA required over the space of, say, a year of heavy use of a lens? (Clearly this would depend on a number of factors such as component wear, temperature extremes and levels of your OCD.)

If only Canon could/would implement an auto AFMA system via firmware.

 

[AlanF]

Once tweaked via FoCal, how often would you retest a lens (if at all)? Is there any drift in the AFMA required over the space of, say, a year of heavy use of a lens? (Clearly this would depend on a number of factors such as component wear, temperature extremes and levels of your OCD.)

If only Canon could/would implement an auto AFMA system via firmware.

Recalibrate:
When it appears soft.
When you have dropped the lens.
When you have dropped the camera.
When working in very hot weather.
When working in very cold weather.
When you are bored.

I stick a chart to a wall and shoot it periodically to see if the resolution has changed.

 

[dcm]

Once tweaked via FoCal, how often would you retest a lens (if at all)? Is there any drift in the AFMA required over the space of, say, a year of heavy use of a lens? (Clearly this would depend on a number of factors such as component wear, temperature extremes and levels of your OCD.)

If only Canon could/would implement an auto AFMA system via firmware.

Recalibrate:
When it appears soft.
When you have dropped the lens.
When you have dropped the camera.
When working in very hot weather.
When working in very cold weather.
When you are bored.

I stick a chart to a wall and shoot it periodically to see if the resolution has changed.

AF verification is a good use of LensAlign or a target with angled yardstick. No reason to re-calibrate unless you see something wrong in your photos or after a periodic checkup. I tend to check my wide aperture or long lenses more often.

 

[scottkinfw]

Thank you to all who posted, most informative and thought out.

Here is my continuing saga.

I upgraded to the latest version of Focal (2.1). When I try to connect the 1DX II I get the following message:

"Error. The connected camera (Canon EOS-1DX Mark II) is not supported by FoCal. I have tried to contact FoCal at least 6 times by email, but get no reply.

Is there a secret to get the camera recognized? I was able to get the serial number/camera registered, and I'm using the Pro version.

Thanks for all help.

sek

 

[neuroanatomist]

I upgraded to the latest version of Focal (2.1). When I try to connect the 1DX II I get the following message:

"Error. The connected camera (Canon EOS-1DX Mark II) is not supported by FoCal. I have tried to contact FoCal at least 6 times by email, but get no reply.

Is there a secret to get the camera recognized? I was able to get the serial number/camera registered, and I'm using the Pro version.

There's no secret, other than FoCal does not currently support the 1D X II with anything other than manual mode calibration. This was mentioned in the 3rd reply to your post, along with a link for the FoCal page which states just that:

the latest Version of Focal (2.1) does support at least Manual File Mode with the 1DxII.
Thus you could do AFMA by taking photos with different AFMA settings manually and analyze them using Focal-
I haven't tried it yet, though.
The ability to control the camera through Focal is supposed to come soon.

https://www.reikan.co.uk/focalweb/index.php/2016/07/focal-2-1-adds-full-nikon-d5d500-support-and-new-dust-analysis/

I guess they're not responding because they already answered your question in the release notes for v2.1.

Check the FoCal instructions for how to do a Manual Mode analysis.