Reikan FoCal - Automatic AF Micro adjustment software

[Joel Eade]

That doesn’t sound like much testing, since I have thousands of shots just getting my camera set using lensalign.
.

I was considering getting a Lens Align but if it takes thousands of shots to adjust a lens I wouldn't consider it. This really surprises me.

[HDNitehawk]

I was considering getting a Lens Align but if it takes thousands of shots to adjust a lens I wouldn't consider it. This really surprises me.

Joel

It depends on how obsessive you are.

Honestly it isn't that bad, because how I evolved in to using it I don’t fuss over specific pictures. I do a group and do a quick scan of the pictures, maybe less than a few seconds looking at each frame to determine where it hit. I go through them on full screen view, pick a number on the outside edges of the DOF front and back then scan them and mark them with stars, like one for front focus, two for on and three for back. I use Adobe Bridge and just look at the number count to see the averages.

How many times have we seen someone post three pictures and think there lens is front focusing? Honestly if I do a group of 40 pictures there maybe four or five in a row that front focus slightly then the rest go behind. What I have found is the cameras AF system is not at all as accurate and consistent as we would hope. I think it is more accurate and faster to quickly review a thousand shots than it is to over analyze 40. I can do a lens in less than an hour, it doesn’t take that long.

I like the idea of this software. Tested with 1000's of shots seems to be kind of light for testing a new product.

[Reikanphoto]

Hi

I'm Rich - the author of the FoCal software. I'm guessing the forum rules are very strict about any kind of promotion, so I hope I'm not overstepping any mark by replying here.

I just wanted to clarify the "thousand of shots" comment in the FAQ mentioned above. When I started, each attempt took 41 shots (for obvious reasons), then I started honing the prediction algorithm and fine tuning which points were taken to drop the numbers. My guess is that I probably ran 20-30 tests a day when I was working with this.

However, so as not to wear the shutter out completely, I did a lot of UI and image analysis development with a simulated mode which used around 1000 captured images to simulate various situations.

Add to my testing the worldwide beta test (over 1000 people downloaded the public betas, and the closed betas involved around 60 people), I would say that my comment of "thousands" is a bit of an underestimate

I've updated the FAQ to reflect this.

Oh, and for the Mac version - it's definitely in the pipeline!

Rich

[HDNitehawk]

Hi

I'm Rich - the author of the FoCal software. I'm guessing the forum rules are very strict about any kind of promotion, so I hope I'm not overstepping any mark by replying here.

Rich

Rich

Welcome to the forums. I would think you are not breaking any rules here, provided you don't try and sell us Viagra. In fact I think any time we can get a developer / manufacture on the forums it is a good thing.

Thanks for the clarification. There is another question that pops in my head. What lenses have you tested, or does this software just work with any lens regardless? For me I would be just as interested and likely to be using something like this on my 500mm as well as my 24mm.

As a user of the 1D IV, until you get a release for that body I will not be able to try it. Any word on when you think the releases for the other bodies will be?

Rick

[neuroanatomist]

Second the welcome, Rich. We're glad to have you here!

Allow me to add a couple of followup timing questions to Rick's. Any idea when you'll have a Mac version available? Also, do you yet have a sense of the time frame for adding a body, i.e. once you get a 1D X in your hands, how long might it take to release a version of FoCal for that camera?

Thanks!

John

[bob williams]

Considering my doubts about my personal ability to accurately assess the performance of my lenses and af system, this looked like the right solution for me. So, I bit on this one and purchased the software. I haven't had a chance to start the adjustment process yet, but I thought I would give you an update on what I have discovered so far.

1. The purchase process was very easy and I paid $57.00 in USD
2. I ordered at about 6:30 am and had rec'd my download link and key code at 11:07 am
3. Install was smooth and without issue. (Windows 7)
4. The registration process was easy---simple cut and paste code from email to software
5. Now--here is the kicker---the software is only licensed for one camera body (by serial number) and it only looks for that camera body when opened. So, for me, its no big deal, I only have the one 7D; but for those with more than one body with af adjustment, this might be an issue.

EDIT: qwRad clarrified #5 for me, Thanks qwRad:

Bob, about your point number 5. Up to five bodies are supported. You just have to register all of the serial numbers. Check the bottom of the purchase page on the website for more info. This was a major factor to my decision of buying the software since I will most likely get a full frame camera at some point in the future (5D3 where are you!?!?!) to supplement my 7D.

That's as far as I have gotten with it so far---stay tuned, I will write more when I go through the adjustment process.

@Rich--thanks for your feedback and welcome to the forums---I really look forward to trying your software out.