Archive 2012 · Canon 1D Mk3 - Is it normal to MA every lens?
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #1 · Canon 1D Mk3 - Is it normal to MA every lens?
Mescalamba wrote:
Sure, but 1DMK2 vs 1DMK3 is just 2 mpix difference and that really isnt a lot.
I own and owned 1DmkII, 1DmkII N and 1DmkIII. And there is/was not a ny real difference between those bodies when it comes to the need "of adjusting your lenses". It's just that before the MA in the body existed, nobody talked about this.
p.2 #2 · Canon 1D Mk3 - Is it normal to MA every lens?
Skibum, It is odd indeed... before 7D, I had 40D and 5Dc. All the mentioned lenses were used with these bodies with NO front/back focus issues - zero, zilch, nada. That's why I was shocked when the images were out of focus at default MA. Here's a picture after setting my 100-400L to +15:
p.2 #3 · Canon 1D Mk3 - Is it normal to MA every lens?
Lars, I'm not sure I agree 100% since as I stated in my OP that 7D doesn't require any MA on any of the lenses that now require for the 1D MK3. Incidentally, I didn't even know that the MK3 even could MA and I was about to send my camera to Canon service for calibration. So, it's definitely not a psychological factor as you seem to paint the issue...
Sep 28, 2012 at 10:07 AM
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p.2 #4 · Canon 1D Mk3 - Is it normal to MA every lens?
Gonemad wrote:
Lars, I'm not sure I agree 100% since as I stated in my OP that 7D doesn't require any MA on any of the lenses that now require for the 1D MK3. Incidentally, I didn't even know that the MK3 even could MA and I was about to send my camera to Canon service for calibration. So, it's definitely not a psychological factor as you seem to paint the issue...
You even confirm it That the older bodies wasn't better than the new. Your mk III is much older than your 7D. And the 7D doesn't need any MA
p.2 #5 · Canon 1D Mk3 - Is it normal to MA every lens?
I was under the impression you had indicated the reason there are so many reports of MA tweaking required is because the new bodies have MA available. I was disagreeing with that statement because 7D does have MA but I never needed to use it. Sorry if I misunderstood your claim.
p.2 #6 · Canon 1D Mk3 - Is it normal to MA every lens?
I am not sure you would see such a variance with fixed focal length lenses as you are seeing with zooms. I am not so sure there is an exact MA setting that will work in all the ranges of each zoom though the best suggestion is doing the MA at the focal length most commonly used for each zoom.
A recent MA on my MKIII body with a fixed Canon 400 5.6L yielded a -11 where as the same lens with 1.4TC added was a -2 but the results were impressive.
Closer distances and wider aperatures will reveal the the inaccuracies in focus the most.
p.2 #7 · Canon 1D Mk3 - Is it normal to MA every lens?
Thanks Karl. My strategy is to MA all my lenses wide open using the longest focal length at the minimum AF distance. For example, to MA my 100-400L, I extended it all the way to 400mm @ 1.8m AF distance @ f/5.6. The theory, at least in my mind, is that the longest focal length at widest aperture yields the shallowest DOF. So, if I can get sharp images at the worst possible setting, then all other settings (aperture, focal length and AF distance) will yield bigger DOF - hence my subject will appear sharp within the DOF. Doing this test, I only spent no more than 10 min to MA all my lenses and they're all giving really excellent results. Anyone agree or disagree with my method? Thanks for any input.
Sep 28, 2012 at 12:41 PM
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p.2 #8 · Canon 1D Mk3 - Is it normal to MA every lens?
Gonemad wrote:
Thanks Karl. My strategy is to MA all my lenses wide open using the longest focal length at the minimum AF distance. For example, to MA my 100-400L, I extended it all the way to 400mm @ 1.8m AF distance @ f/5.6. The theory, at least in my mind, is that the longest focal length at widest aperture yields the shallowest DOF. So, if I can get sharp images at the worst possible setting, then all other settings (aperture, focal length and AF distance) will yield bigger DOF - hence my subject will appear sharp within the DOF. Doing this test, I only spent no more than 10 min to MA all my lenses and they're all giving really excellent results. Anyone agree or disagree with my method? Thanks for any input....Show more →
I don't think that's a very good way to do it. Your zoom lens need different MA at different focals lengths. That's why it's best to do it at the focal length that you use most. (if not doing it at more than one focal length) And it's not so good to do it at MFD either. FoCal software and Canon recommend a distance between about 25x – 50x the focal length of the lens. You can also get strange result if doing at at the minimum focal distance all the time with every lens. Especially lenses with short MFD like macro or wide angle lenses. It's better to do it at the recommended distance. Or the distance you usually shoot with when using that lens.
p.2 #9 · Canon 1D Mk3 - Is it normal to MA every lens?
Thanks Lars. I see how macro lenses could be affected by my method. Luckily, I don't have macros. I guess I'll need to do more shooting to see if my method holds up or not for my lenses...
Sep 28, 2012 at 01:49 PM
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p.2 #10 · Canon 1D Mk3 - Is it normal to MA every lens?
I MA my 1D3 today. Last weekend I did it with my 1Ds3 and 1D4. I have bought the FoCal software to do it quick and automatic. I did it with 8 lenses. Most of them where between -6 to -9. But two where on the + side
p.2 #12 · Canon 1D Mk3 - Is it normal to MA every lens?
I used FoCal today on my 7D and a couple of lenses. It took a while getting everybog setup the first time but I would say no more than 5 min for a prime lens once setup and maybe 5-10 for a zoom lens depending on how many focus lengths you want to do the test at.
FoCal did NOT like my Sigma 50mm though and set it at -20 after it could not do a succesful test.
p.2 #14 · Canon 1D Mk3 - Is it normal to MA every lens?
There is no limit on the number of lenses as far as I know, and usually it is one AFMA value per lens unless you got a body that can do multiple such as the 5D 3.
p.2 #17 · Canon 1D Mk3 - Is it normal to MA every lens?
Gonemad wrote:
Thanks Karl. My strategy is to MA all my lenses wide open using the longest focal length at the minimum AF distance. For example, to MA my 100-400L, I extended it all the way to 400mm @ 1.8m AF distance @ f/5.6. The theory, at least in my mind, is that the longest focal length at widest aperture yields the shallowest DOF. So, if I can get sharp images at the worst possible setting, then all other settings (aperture, focal length and AF distance) will yield bigger DOF - hence my subject will appear sharp within the DOF. Doing this test, I only spent no more than 10 min to MA all my lenses and they're all giving really excellent results. Anyone agree or disagree with my method? Thanks for any input....Show more →
One thing they always say is to never do MFA at the MFD. That might be your issue perhaps.
Sep 30, 2012 at 11:53 PM
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p.2 #18 · Canon 1D Mk3 - Is it normal to MA every lens?
andyz wrote:
How long does it take to set it up and complete a test and the MA?
Maybe 30-40 minutes for my 8 lenses. The software do everything after you have set it up. Even changing the MA in the camera.
Oct 01, 2012 at 12:08 AM
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p.2 #19 · Canon 1D Mk3 - Is it normal to MA every lens?
vsg28 wrote:
I used FoCal today on my 7D and a couple of lenses. It took a while getting everybog setup the first time but I would say no more than 5 min for a prime lens once setup and maybe 5-10 for a zoom lens depending on how many focus lengths you want to do the test at.
FoCal did NOT like my Sigma 50mm though and set it at -20 after it could not do a succesful test.
I don't think you can do it with Sigma lenses. I tried two sigma lenses and it didn't work. My Sigma 50 macro, it belived was a Canon 50 macro
p.2 #20 · Canon 1D Mk3 - Is it normal to MA every lens?
Hi everyone, I too want to do some MFA on my 1D III with my 70-200 2.8 II and 100-400 and wanted to ask if it should be done at the short or long end of the zoom. Have searchrd for answers but have found nothing. Thanks for any input.
That the older bodies wasn't better than the new. Your mk III is much older than your 7D. And the 7D doesn't need any MA