Zenon Char
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
|
 p.11 #4 · Dot-Tune: Autofocus Fine Tuning in under 5 minutes | |
Jeff1010 wrote:
Here is my result on 5D3 & 70-200 f/2.8 II.
@200mm, white LED light (~5000K)
-9 to +7, avg = -1
@200mm, halogen light (~3000K)
-7 to +9, avg = +1
@70mm, white LED light
-11 to +5, avg = -3
@70mm, halogen light
-5 to +11, avg = +3
I used the same target, brightness, tripod, etc. I just turned on one light, and switched off the other light. These numbers were very consistent and reproducible.
I have known this but phase detection focus shifts with light temperature. A couple of years ago, I returned 3 camera bodies and after months of frustration testing 6 camera bodies and lenses, I finally realized that focus shifts depending on light temperature. Under warm incandescent light, cameras front-focuses (or move in that direction). Under whiter light such as LEDs and florescent lights, cameras back-focus. Even outdoors, there is a shift going from sunlight to shade, mid-day to dawn/dusk. I don't know why this can't be compensated in camera electronics since auto-balance sensor can measure color temperature.
I have to say the 5D3 focus accuracy in various conditions is much, much better than the 7D for example but if you examine closely, you can get frustrated with any camera. I am happy with my camera/lens combination in this case. The MFA average is exactly zero.
The Dot-tune method seems to work well but I don't believe in the MFA since the value changes with light temperature, distance, and with focal length (in case of zoom lens). If you set the MFA to any value other than 0, it will make things worse in some other conditions. If my camera/lens need MFA, I would send them back and get them calibrated. I do understand that it can be beneficial if your camera/lens is offset to one direction but in my experience, focus consistency gets worse when MFA is enabled and set to a non-zero value.
I stopped using MFA a few years ago myself. First off I was always second guessing myself with older methods. I always got different results the next day. Also different results at different distances which is normal. I just decided to send my gear in as well and currently all of my gear is at zero. For the money I spend on gear I just feel more comfortable having a trained technician with all the equipment to calibrate to specifications even knowing there is variation. I have sent very little to Canon.
I had been contemplating getting FoCal until DotTune came out. I still may. I like DotTune for it's simplicity and it gives me a good picture of my gears performance and suspicions. People have posted that MFA is very useful for third party lenses.
One thing I do know we are definitely a minority. I would not be upset if the next generation of cameras came without it. After posting that on another site the majority of responses were people would not buy a body without it. The 60D does not have it and there was a real stir before release but it has proven to be quite good. No complaints from the masses. Mind you it is not a pro body.
Even the manual states not to MFA unless you really need it because it can effect AF. One Canon technician told was it was a temporary fix, another to use it. First one probably got fired because he costed Canon money  . I can see a few ticks either way but anything over 5 I would send to Canon. This is not written in stone. Things do change.
|
