tonyhart wrote:
Retrofocus showed me that a FoCal thread already exists, so thought this would be most appropriate here. A video overview of the system:
arbitrage wrote:
Fingers crossed I think they said June for it??
Q2 2012, so anytime between now and June 30. But with software development, one never knows for sure... Windows version works wonderful within Parallels or VMWare Fusion though.
Got my Mac up and running with Parallels 7 (hint: google VMWare Parallels discount and if you can find/have a VMWare Serial, you get Parallels 7 for $30), ran a Virtual Machine of Windows XP, and downloaded FOCAL this weekend. Pleased to report that it's awesome, and worked great. Got my finicky 50L running smooth on the 1D4. Only a -1 adjustment, but at 1.2 that made the difference between a keeper and a miss!
My 5D2 doesn't seem to need MA, I wonder if the more sophisticated AF of the 1D4 creates more room for error?
Hank Endzelis wrote:
It's probably just luck that their tolerances balanced out.......perhaps another 5DII with the same lens would require more.......
Good point. Probably just fortunate with that body.
Just started using the software (I had bought it back in march).
I am getting inconsistent settings varying from 0 to +15 running the test in open shade, no breeze, 2pm. I also ran inside using studio lights to see if that would effect things.
+15 for my 85 1.4 is way off. The proper calibration is closer to +5 or +6 for this lens.
Also tried it with a 24-105L lens and it also produced wildly varying results.
Additionally, the last time I used it it did not restore the camera settings. I noticed mirror lockup and changing from raw to jpg. I went through every setting in the camera but might have missed a few. Is there a master list of what settings it changes?
Hank Endzelis wrote:
I would venture to guess that it's your "open shade" lighting that may be the culprit. I'd say proper lighting is a key element.......
I just bought FoCal and am running it on OS X with Parallels 7 and a 5D3. My 50/1.2 required a -3 adjustment, and now it nails focus every time. It's amazing what a difference it makes. Tomorrow I'm going to do my Tamron 24-70; not enough light now and don't want to bother setting up the LEDs.
It's kind of a hassle without full automatic on the 5D3. I hope they come out with that soon.
RobDickinson wrote:
Honestly much as I like the software...
Why isnt this included ON the camera.
Why isnt the camera an open software platform.
#1: THAT is a good question. Totally doable of course. And not even hard to do. But ... maybe next time you fork out $7k for a 1-series
#2: As a platform engineer I can't even begin to tell you why that is a can of worms that actually even you as a consumer probably don't want to have, certainly not on a mainstream consumer product. It looks good on paper, but it's playing with fire.
Oh I know what a can of worms it could be but you could do it, it'll happen with smartphone/camera convergence and consumers will (or already are) getting used to it.
