LensAlign...

Ric Grupe · December 13, 2008

...focus calibration system is now available...at RawWorkflow.

Looks good to me...links on page for reviews.

kdog · December 13, 2008

Ric Grupe wrote:

...focus calibration system is now available...at RawWorkflow.

Looks good to me...links on page for reviews.

Interesting. I built something very similar several years ago from a bit of scrap MDF and a freebie test chart downloaded off the internet. (Disregard the kid's blocks and tape measure, as they're not relevant).

There's no magic to it. You simply need a vertical flat target to focus on, and place it next to any sort of graduated rule held at a 45 angle to the vertical target.

Ric Grupe · December 13, 2008

kdog wrote:

Interesting. I built something very similar

Unless I'm missing something, the only problem with your setup is that it there is no way of knowing if the lens is perfectly perpendicular and parallel to the target. That is why you need the rear bulls-eye to line up with the hole in the center of the front target. Look at the video...it will make it clearer than my words.

kdog · December 13, 2008

Ric Grupe wrote:

Unless I'm missing something, the only problem with your setup is that it there is no way of knowing if the lens is perfectly perpendicular and parallel to the target. That is why you need the rear bulls-eye to line up with the hole in the center of the front target. Look at the video...it will make it clearer than my words.

What you say is true. However, it's not that hard to get your camera square to the target. Level the camera using a camera level (duh), and level the target using a spirit level. That'll get you vertical alignment. For horizontal, you can take a few measurements off your setup to get things aligned. You could of course steal this guy's idea and drill a hole in the vertical board and suspend a little target behind it to make it repeatable.

Of course just getting his setup would be a hell of a lot more convenient. I'm just saying you can cobble up something at home today that will do just as well if you spend the time.

Ric Grupe · December 13, 2008

kdog wrote:

drill a hole in the vertical board and suspend a little target behind it to make it repeatable

Can I borrow your drill press?

Actually a verticle mill would be better...along with precise measuring instruments.

That alignment is doable...but not for most people. The rear target has to be perfectly aligned with the front hole and the front hole perpendicular to the target plane or it's garbage.

kdog · December 13, 2008

"Perfectly aligned"? Perhaps you missed the comment in the video where he said "good enough". Neither the tool, nor the usage of it are going to be perfect. Neither is your camera or lens going to be perfectly repeatable either. However, DOF gives you a fudge factor in all of this.

I used my setup to determine which if any of my lenses were out of calibration. Based on my results, I sent equipment back to Canon and they agreed and calibrated it. I then verified their work on my setup and found it satisfactory. So it worked for me. If I'd had micro-focus adjustment on my camera body, I have no doubt that I could have calibrated my lenses to my body myself. No garbage here, just facts.

-joel

dlplumer · December 13, 2008

kdog wrote:

Interesting. I built something very similar several years ago from a bit of scrap MDF and a freebie test chart downloaded off the internet. (Disregard the kid's blocks and tape measure, as they're not relevant).

There's no magic to it. You simply need a vertical flat target to focus on, and place it next to any sort of graduated rule held at a 45 angle to the vertical target.

Impressive.

Ric, I can't tell what the difference is between the pro version and the lite version? This looks like something I could use.

cmason · December 13, 2008

dlplumer wrote:

Impressive.

Ric, I can't tell what the difference is between the pro version and the lite version? Yhis looks like something I could use.

It looks like the lite version doesn't have red dot aligning thingy that the first video describes.

Manfr3d · December 13, 2008

This looks like another expensive toy for the ones who have too much money to print a focusing chart themselves and mount it on a cardboard.

Osprey · December 15, 2008

Lens Align Pro
I came across this reletively inexpensive device that is an excellent way to make sure your autofocus is working to give your the sharpest focus possible.

It is called lens align pro and can be seen at http://www.rawworkflow.com/

Let me know what your thoughts are.

ziggy53 · December 15, 2008

I merged 2 threads. Carry on.

20DNoob · December 16, 2008

You can save a bit of money and just rent it instead. No affiliation what so ever with the site, just passing it along.

Nickerjo · January 20, 2009

The great "FOCUS OFF" (hopefully not off too much

)

Manfr3d wrote:

This looks like another expensive toy for the ones who have too much money to print a focusing chart themselves and mount it on a cardboard.

I applaud KDOG for what looks like a great tool. If you research the latest on AF adjustment you will find that focus charts alone or the "ole slanted tape measure" techinques may do more harm than good. So KDOG was right on target with his aligned focusing chart in conjunction with the tape measure.

However - as others have mentioned - we might not have KDOG's skills or shop equipment, so the Lens Align seems to be just what we need. Considering my investment in lenses and camera bodies - it seems to be a fairly economical choice.

I should receive the product next week -

Please give me the address for the site that has your favorite focusing chart available for download. I will be happy to check out the focusing accuracy of my two bodies and 4-5 of my lenses using your chart of preference as well as the Lens Align product.

So it's kind of like "put you chart where your comments are" - I'm providing the dinero - so what do you have to lose? (I might just be the "fool" separated from his money?).

All the best,

nickerjo

ziggy53 · January 20, 2009

Nickerjo, Welcome to the Digital Grin.

Thanks for offering to test and compare.

KED · January 20, 2009

Nickerjo wrote:

I applaud KDOG for what looks like a great tool. If you research the latest on AF adjustment you will find that focus charts alone or the "ole slanted tape measure" techinques may do more harm than good. So KDOG was right on target with his aligned focusing chart in conjunction with the tape measure.

However - as others have mentioned - we might not have KDOG's skills or shop equipment, so the Lens Align seems to be just what we need. Considering my investment in lenses and camera bodies - it seems to be a fairly economical choice.

I should receive the product next week -

Please give me the address for the site that has your favorite focusing chart available for download. I will be happy to check out the focusing accuracy of my two bodies and 4-5 of my lenses using your chart of preference as well as the Lens Align product.

So it's kind of like "put you chart where your comments are" - I'm providing the dinero - so what do you have to lose? (I might just be the "fool" separated from his money?).

All the best,

nickerjo

Welcome to Dgrin! I got my LAPro recently, but haven't had a chance to put it to the test yet -- I'm especially interested in calibrating some very long lenses, and it's too cold here in NY to bother with for now.

Your "challenge' is very interesting and I hope that someone provides you with the address you asked for -- it will be great to see your comparison of results between that and the LA once you receive it.

I think the LAPro cost $139. I value my time at way more than that per hour, so it wouldn't have been worth it for me to try to rig a homemade setup such as that pictured, even if I had the skills and tools to do so. I guess that the only frustration with the LA investment is that once you've calibrated all your lens combinations, you're done with the thing, at least until you buy your next lens (which in my case should be NEVER). Which makes another poster's suggestion of "renting" a pretty good one.

ziggy53 · January 20, 2009

Nickerjo wrote:

...

Please give me the address for the site that has your favorite focusing chart available for download. I will be happy to check out the focusing accuracy of my two bodies and 4-5 of my lenses using your chart of preference as well as the Lens Align product.

So it's kind of like "put you chart where your comments are" - I'm providing the dinero - so what do you have to lose? (I might just be the "fool" separated from his money?).

...

My current favorite recommendation for a test chart is here (recommended by another DGrinner but I can't remember who or I would give them credit):

http://regex.info/blog/photo-tech/focus-chart

LensAlign...

Comments