The 60D Needs AF Microadjustment

[Joaaso]

Are ANY of the posters above, who are complaining about the lack of MA on the 60D, both in the market for the 60D and currently utilising MA in their current camera or in need of MA because they are experiencing focus accuracy problems with their current camera?

i.e. are you actually experiencing a problem?

My sigma 30 was backfocusing, had to send it in with the body (450D) for calibration... My 85/1.8 was a perfect match with my 450D right out of the box, but on my friends 7D it's backfocusing quite a lot -so who knows how it'll behave on a 60D if I buy it..!?

 

[Rocky]

Canon should add the micro adjustment to the 60D. It is a good tool to have. In fact Canon may actually saving money on the warranty work. So let us keep on emailing Canon and urge them to add it on.

 

[unexposure]

I just got an answer from the german canon helpdesk, on questioning, why the removed MFA, whether they think about including it via firmware update and what the new product-placement will be.

Here the (free) translation of the answer - sorry for my bad engrish ;-)

Our japanese mother canon inc. has decided, to release the EOS 60D as camera targeting the beginners- and semiprofessional-market. Considering this, it's design in functionallity is more leaned on the beginners-models rather than it was in it's predecessor the EOS 50D. When 50D hit the market, it was the only binding-part between beginnsers-models, such as EOS 500D and professional-models such as EOS 5D MKII. Now we have the EOS 7D as another camera in the semiprofessional segment, which is more targeting the professional market than the beginners market. The EOS 60D will now be the connection of the beginners-models and the semi-pro to professional market.

We decided to not include some of the functionallity of the EOS 50D into the EOS60D. Microfocusadjustment is one of them.

However, we will inform the right section of your wish on having the function to be in an upcoming upgrade. But we can't say whether and when it will be the case.

In other words: It's true, they split the 50D into a slightly more professional and a slightly more beginners model.

 

[ShotsForPassion]

Are ANY of the posters above, who are complaining about the lack of MA on the 60D, both in the market for the 60D and currently utilising MA in their current camera or in need of MA because they are experiencing focus accuracy problems with their current camera?

i.e. are you actually experiencing a problem?

Yes I'am.
My 400D + Sigma 17-70mm consistently back-focus in closeup shots.
My first Sigma 17-70 lens has been in servicing for 6 monts (2 weeks after buying) before they decided to send me a new one... so sigma service are out of question, I've paid my lens to take shots, not to wait substitution o fix.
So MicroAf adjustment is what I need to take sharp-hobbist-closeup photos. 8)
I was hoping for the 60D, but now I don't see a camera that fits my need in canon lineup :-(
No microAF, and IMO too much megapixel (18 megapixel = too much noise on APS-C)

 

[paeataa]

I a totally newbie in DSLRs. I do not know what the AF Microadjustment is and why it's so necessary. Anyone care to explain to me?

Thanks!

 

[Loswr]

I a totally newbie in DSLRs. I do not know what the AF Microadjustment is and why it's so necessary. Anyone care to explain to me?

Thanks!

AF Microadjustment is a capability to calibrate the cameras AF system for specific lenses (data on up to 20 lenses can be stored). This corrects for front- or back-focusing that can occur in some lenses, due to manufacturing tolerances. See the lensrentals.com article, "This lens is soft and other myths," for a description of the problem that AF Microadjustment solves. It's worth noticing that even if you have this problem, most consumer zoom lenses have narrow apertures and thus such a deep depth of field that you'd never notice the problem.

 

[paeataa]

AF Microadjustment is a capability to calibrate the cameras AF system for specific lenses (data on up to 20 lenses can be stored). This corrects for front- or back-focusing that can occur in some lenses, due to manufacturing tolerances. See the lensrentals.com article, "This lens is soft and other myths," for a description of the problem that AF Microadjustment solves. It's worth noticing that even if you have this problem, most consumer zoom lenses have narrow apertures and thus such a deep depth of field that you'd never notice the problem.

This is very helpful. Thanks!

 

[LukeS]

The Nikon D7000 has AF micro adjust or as Nikon calls it finetune along with a whole host of other things the 60D does not. Canon is going to have to do something to compete, most likely drop the price.

We should keep the pressure on them to add back AF micro adjust.

 

[Rocky]

Can someone actually has used micro adjustment share their REAL experience?

In this tread, a lot of people like to have micro adjustment in 60D. Some people says they don't need it. Some people actually says the micro adjustment will even mess up even more on the focusing issue. Can someone share their real life experience on using micro adjustment??? Thanks

 

[MintMark]

OK, my real life experience is that I spent an afternoon testing about eight lenses with my 50D, a mixture of zooms and primes, all Canon. I could not detect any consistent front or back focus with any of them and left all the settings at zero.

I did learn about the sorts of features that need to be under the AF point for reliable focusing.

It wasn't very exciting...

 

[Loswr]

Re: Can someone actually has used micro adjustment share their REAL experience?

In this tread, a lot of people like to have micro adjustment in 60D. Some people says they don't need it. Some people actually says the micro adjustment will even mess up even more on the focusing issue. Can someone share their real life experience on using micro adjustment??? Thanks

First off, read Roger's (lensrentals.com) article on the issue. I haven't heard of AF microadjustment messing up autofocus - I suppose that if it's not done properly, it could.

Personally, I use AF microadjustment, and that feature was one of the reasons I upgraded from a T1i to a 7D (my then-new 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS was backfocusing). As I stated above, most consumer zoom lenses have narrow apertures and thus such a deep depth of field that you'd never notice the problem (unless the lens has a close MFD and you shoot at the close distance).

I have many lenses with wider apertures, meaning shallow DoF wide open, and in unadjusted lenses, I do notice a difference. Even on some lenses with variable/slow apertures, such as the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO, there are issues solved by adjustment - my copy of that lens was noticeably backfocusing (i.e. I'd focus on the eye of a frog in a pond, and the area of critical focus would be somewhere along his back, with his eye a little soft). With lenses like the 85mm f/1.2L II, DoF is so shallow that you immediately notice an AF problem.

I've calibrated 12 lenses on my 7D, and 11 of them have had some amount of adjustment applied. Obviously, the amount of AF microadjustment needed will be different for each unique camera and lens combo, so these numbers are useless to anyone else, but to give you an idea here they are:

–5 EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
+1 EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
+2 EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
+2 EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
+6 EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM + 1.4x
–7 EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM
–3 EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM
–1 EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
–1 EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
±0 EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
–2 EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM
+2 EF 300mm f/4L IS USM

I use the LensAlign Pro to do my AF microadjustment calibrations. DataColor is coming out with something similar. Going back to the statement above, about AF microadjustment messing up AF, I suspect if you were 'just eyeballing it' when doing the adjustment, it might not be very effective.

 

[Rocky]

Neuroanatomist, Thanks . Someone in this thread also claims that for zoom lens, when you adjust for one focal length and distance, the other focal length, even distance may get messed up. Have you seen that happened to you? Excuse me for asking too much question. After waiting for my 20D/40D replacement for awhile, I am ready for another body. So far I do not "see" focusing problem on my 40D. I do have a slight problem with the 20D. I can either buy the 7D or the 60D. Therefore I try to get as much information as I can. Is there anything that you do not like the 7D??? Thanks again.

 

[Loswr]

Neuroanatomist, Thanks . Someone in this thread also claims that for zoom lens, when you adjust for one focal length and distance, the other focal length, even distance may get messed up. Have you seen that happened to you? Excuse me for asking too much question. After waiting for my 20D/40D replacement for awhile, I am ready for another body. So far I do not "see" focusing problem on my 40D. I do have a slight problem with the 20D. I can either buy the 7D or the 60D. Therefore I try to get as much information as I can. Is there anything that you do not like the 7D??? Thanks again.

My pleasure. I have read that calibration of zooms can be an issue, but I haven't had a problem. The usual method is to calibrate at the long end (which is where the DoF will be shallowest for a given subject distance) - that's what I do. On some lenses (17-55, 70-200 II), I have checked the wide end and found it to be the same adjustment as the long end.

Anything I don't like about the 7D? It's not full frame. Otherwise, it's a great camera.

 

[Grendel]

For a zoom I usually take measurements across the range and eyeball what MFA would benefit (if necessary. Using LensAlign Pro as well.) Putting more weight on the long end makes sense for short to medium distance shooting since the DOF will be thinner.

 

[Rocky]

Neuroanatomist, Thanks again. So far you have given the most complete REAL experience and insight on microadjustment in this forum. Thanks

 

[Loswr]

Neuroanatomist, Thanks again. So far you have given the most complete REAL experience and insight on microadjustment in this forum. Thanks

Glad to help, Rocky. Good luck with your decision!

 

[ShotsForPassion]

The Nikon D7000 has AF micro adjust or as Nikon calls it finetune along with a whole host of other things the 60D does not. Canon is going to have to do something to compete, most likely drop the price.

We should keep the pressure on them to add back AF micro adjust.

Yeah, and it also has LESS megapixel, that is good 'cause will give better performance in hi-iso.
Now I' really start to think about switching to nikon, after all I only have 400D + Sigma 17-70mm + Flash Metz 48-AF1...
If I switch to a D7000+18-105mm I'm only going to lose my flash... about 200€, not too much.
Let's wait some real deep D7000 review...

 

[gkreis]

Yeah, and it also has LESS megapixel, that is good 'cause will give better performance in hi-iso.
Now I' really start to think about switching to nikon, after all I only have 400D + Sigma 17-70mm + Flash Metz 48-AF1...
If I switch to a D7000+18-105mm I'm only going to lose my flash... about 200€, not too much.
Let's wait some real deep D7000 review...

Well.. the DP review at http://www.dpreview.com/news/1012/10120104nikond7000review.asp makes it clear that this is a camera with IQ to be reckoned with! Oh... the images are lovely. I mean really clean! Canon, look out. The dark shadows at high ISO hold up very well in in the D7000, especially well in the RAW shots. Nice.

I just have too much in lenses (for my budget) to hop over to Nikon just yet, so I'll wait for an upgrade from my 40D. The 50D wasn't it and they left out MF in the 60D! Oh well... keeps more money in the bank I guess.

 

[canonman]

The Microadjustment feature is only useful with wide aperture prime lenses. One good example is the Sigma 30mm 1.4 EX. If you use the microadjust feature with a zoom, then you will probably mess up the focus even more. As you zoom the lens in and out the variables of focus change.

However, companies like Sigma will oftentimes help you out if you send both the camera and lens to them. They will calibrate it to perfection.

 

[Loswr]

The Microadjustment feature is only useful with wide aperture prime lenses. One good example is the Sigma 30mm 1.4 EX. If you use the microadjust feature with a zoom, then you will probably mess up the focus even more. As you zoom the lens in and out the variables of focus change.

Wide aperture primes only? Shhhhhhhh...don't tell that to my 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS lens that was noticeably backfocusing throughout the zoom range on my 7D, and was optimally corrected over the whole range by an AFMA of -7. Actually, there's no need for hush-hush, since I sold the lens so it'll never know.