NikonShutterBug
Senior Member
Good evening Nikonites, I hope all is well. Dose anyone have any experience with Reikan FoCal 2.0 Pro Lens Calibration Software? If so what is your impression? Thanks.
Most likely I'm an outlier when it comes to using FoCal but my experience was not good. I really, REALLY wanted FoCal to work because I'm a *big* believer in fine-tuning the auto-focus on my lenses. I started working with FoCal at home but I kept getting horrible results and wild variations in suggested auto-focus adjustments. All of my lenses had been manually adjusted prior to using FoCal so went in having some idea of what was needed. My biggest issue was that FoCal would not give consistent results. After getting fed up with such piss-poor results I packed up my laptop and camera kit and hauled everything to the college campus where I work and have arguably ideal conditions to do this sort of testing: huge interior spaces with concrete floors, lots and lots of natural light, no shortage of 500-watt daylight-balanced lamps (should additional light be required) and a proven-reliable tripod.Good evening Nikonites, I hope all is well. Dose anyone have any experience with Reikan FoCal 2.0 Pro Lens Calibration Software? If so what is your impression? Thanks.
I have used it on a D7100, D7200, D750 and a yesterday a friend's Canon 5D MkIV . He was so happy he ordered the software to use on his other two Canons.
I would not own a camera or lens without using FoCal on it.
Now you have two totally opposite opinions.
I have found that anything other than natural light does not work well. Open shade tends to be the best. distance from the target is critical but the software will tell you if you are to far away or to close. 50 times the focal length is a good place to start. It will warn you and tell you to correct it. Printing the target is important. I bought MATTE Photo Paper and printed it in high quality. I then went to to Office Depot and bought form core board that is sticky on one side. Mounting it keeps it flat.
Follow the directions and figure out the way your camera works and it is great.
Don, what do you think if I were to do this process out doors on a sunny day? Its winter and the days are usually sunny here in Florida. I understand I don't want a partially cloudy day.