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Using Reikan FoCAL?

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bobkoure

bobkoure

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I'm considering buyingReikan FoCAL. Are you using it? What do you think? Which version are you using? Whichever one, do you wish you'd bought the other one? I'm just looking for user evaluations, and they don't seem to have a user forum on their site.

I'd be evaluating / fixing auto focus for a number of film-era lenses on a D600 and D7000. I don't think I have issues with most of them (got a Tokina that's a tad iffy) but my eyesight isn't what it used to be - and manual focus seems harder on digital than with with film (separate issue).

Thanks!
 
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I used many different focus adjustments from charts to rulers. I just could never get it to work and I didn't trust my results. That's when i bought FoCAL and love it. It honestly made my life easier because it gave me actual numbers that made sense and I could see why it suggested those numbers. Also when it's done it gives you a before and after of the focus on your lens.

Only thing that gets annoying is if you're using a sigma lens and dock, I always forget to set the camera focus adjustment back to zero and end up having to restart the test.

I went with the more expensive version, pro I believe it was.
 
I use (and have used it) with my canon 5d mk3, nikon d810 and nikon d750 i currently own. its great!! very easy to use and gets the job done perfectly!! they update is very often and are always adding some cool new features
 
Have to agree with the other posters, very happy with it...bit of a pain doing a 500 with a 1.4 tc but going to be that way with any focusing system. I know when I use it I can be confident in the results.
 
I've used this software very successfully for a couple of years,

Last year I bought the charts from Reikan rather than print the PDFs they supply and found the results slightly better again.

Dave
 
Seems like I am on my own as I find this software frustratingly inconsistent over a large range of lenses.

it appears that to make it work you need a very tightly controlled environment which may work for smaller focal length lenses but is a challenge when trying to adjust long lenses as most people don't have studios or houses big enough to provide the required length.

using FOCal outside only works if you have a cloudless sky and the sun is in a constant position relative to the target.

your mileage may vary.
 
bobkoure said:
I'm considering buyingReikan FoCAL. Are you using it? What do you think? Which version are you using? Whichever one, do you wish you'd bought the other one? I'm just looking for user evaluations, and they don't seem to have a user forum on their site.

I'd be evaluating / fixing auto focus for a number of film-era lenses on a D600 and D7000. I don't think I have issues with most of them (got a Tokina that's a tad iffy) but my eyesight isn't what it used to be - and manual focus seems harder on digital than with with film (separate issue).

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I bought it to essentially confirm I didn't have any issues :) It seemed to work well.
 
WIMorrison said:
Seems like I am on my own as I find this software frustratingly inconsistent over a large range of lenses.

it appears that to make it work you need a very tightly controlled environment which may work for smaller focal length lenses but is a challenge when trying to adjust long lenses as most people don't have studios or houses big enough to provide the required length.

using FOCal outside only works if you have a cloudless sky and the sun is in a constant position relative to the target.

your mileage may vary.
Click to expand...
 
herbymel said:
WIMorrison said:
Seems like I am on my own as I find this software frustratingly inconsistent over a large range of lenses.

it appears that to make it work you need a very tightly controlled environment which may work for smaller focal length lenses but is a challenge when trying to adjust long lenses as most people don't have studios or houses big enough to provide the required length.

using FOCal outside only works if you have a cloudless sky and the sun is in a constant position relative to the target.

your mileage may vary.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
WIMorrison said:
Seems like I am on my own as I find this software frustratingly inconsistent over a large range of lenses.

it appears that to make it work you need a very tightly controlled environment which may work for smaller focal length lenses but is a challenge when trying to adjust long lenses as most people don't have studios or houses big enough to provide the required length.

using FOCal outside only works if you have a cloudless sky and the sun is in a constant position relative to the target.

your mileage may vary.
Click to expand...
 
WIMorrison said:
herbymel said:
WIMorrison said:
Seems like I am on my own as I find this software frustratingly inconsistent over a large range of lenses.

it appears that to make it work you need a very tightly controlled environment which may work for smaller focal length lenses but is a challenge when trying to adjust long lenses as most people don't have studios or houses big enough to provide the required length.

using FOCal outside only works if you have a cloudless sky and the sun is in a constant position relative to the target.

your mileage may vary.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
WIMorrison said:
it appears that to make it work you need a very tightly controlled environment
Click to expand...
You need to make sure that the camera is on a solid tripod, on a stable floor.

But other than that ...
It worked well for me in the days I had a camera which required adjustment with every single lens.
 
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