p.32 #1 · Dot-Tune: Autofocus Fine Tuning in under 5 minutes
The 7dii never fully powers down. Sleep and off are the same except that the buttons can awake from sleep. If you look thru the view finder, it is always "not dark" until you remove the battery. Most folks I know, hot swap the new on battery and never heard a problem with it being done that way.
p.32 #2 · Dot-Tune: Autofocus Fine Tuning in under 5 minutes
Hi I found this DOT method via a google search and have spent some time trying it.
I have a Nikon D7000, I know the one with the focus problems, and a Nikon 35mm f1.8 G lens which I am trying to tune.
After using Live view to focus the lens and then turning to MF. I then turn off live view. I get to +15 and the DOT and arrow start to flicker. But I can set -20 and not a flicker. Am I ding something wrong or is the D7000 faulty.
I can not seem to get sharp focus with this lens and even at -20 it is defiantly better but I feel it could need some more focus adjustment. I have the same problems with a Nikon 50mm f1.8D.
I have the standard kit lens Nikon 18-55mm and 55-200mm they are defiantly sharper with more contrast that the other 2 and don't seem to have the same problems.
p.32 #3 · Dot-Tune: Autofocus Fine Tuning in under 5 minutes
Hi I found this DOT method via a google search and have spent some time trying it.
I have a Nikon D7000, I know the one with the focus problems, and a Nikon 35mm f1.8 G lens which I am trying to tune.
After using AF Live view to focus the lens I then turn off AF and then live view and start adjusting the Fine tune. I get to +15 and the DOT and arrow start to flicker. But I can set -20 and not a flicker. Am I doing something wrong or is the D7000 faulty.
I can not seem to get sharp focus with this lens and even at -20 it is defiantly better but I feel it could need some more focus adjustment. I have the same problems with a Nikon 50mm f1.8D.
I have the standard kit lens Nikon 18-55mm and 55-200mm they are defiantly sharper with more contrast that the other 2 and don't seem to have the same problems.
p.32 #4 · Dot-Tune: Autofocus Fine Tuning in under 5 minutes
davidbr wrote:
Hi I found this DOT method via a google search and have spent some time trying it.
I have a Nikon D7000, I know the one with the focus problems, and a Nikon 35mm f1.8 G lens which I am trying to tune.
After using AF Live view to focus the lens I then turn off AF and then live view and start adjusting the Fine tune. I get to +15 and the DOT and arrow start to flicker. But I can set -20 and not a flicker. Am I doing something wrong or is the D7000 faulty.
I can not seem to get sharp focus with this lens and even at -20 it is defiantly better but I feel it could need some more focus adjustment. I have the same problems with a Nikon 50mm f1.8D.
I have the standard kit lens Nikon 18-55mm and 55-200mm they are defiantly sharper with more contrast that the other 2 and don't seem to have the same problems.
Hi David, unfortunately it may be that the combination of your D7000 and 35mm tune beyond the +/- 20 scale. To get an idea of how far it may be off I suggest trying the dual-DotTune procedure I describe here.
p.32 #6 · Dot-Tune: Autofocus Fine Tuning in under 5 minutes
If you have Magic Lantern on a supported camera Dot Tune is now built in as a module. It will automatically assign the proper AF value providing your initial image is properly focused in Live View.
p.32 #7 · Dot-Tune: Autofocus Fine Tuning in under 5 minutes
I know people seem to like this AFMA method but honestly I've not had good luck with it. I've followed every step, watched every video, read every thread, taken my time and used the procedures as described, correct distance, lighting, etc, yet I go out afterwards in the real world and the focus is off. I end up using photos in the field or at the game to set the AFMA correctly. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, IDK, but I've given up with dot tune.
p.32 #8 · Dot-Tune: Autofocus Fine Tuning in under 5 minutes
thepiecesfit wrote:
If you have Magic Lantern on a supported camera Dot Tune is now built in as a module. It will automatically assign the proper AF value providing your initial image is properly focused in Live View.
Just to clarify, as previously indicated, the Dot Tune in ML a month shy of three years old like this video.
So I'll take the opportunity it to say WTF Canon and Nikon? You should be embarrassed that you haven't released this same algorithm as part of your AFMA Firmware!!!
p.32 #9 · Dot-Tune: Autofocus Fine Tuning in under 5 minutes
gschlact wrote:
Just to clarify, as previously indicated, the Dot Tune in ML a month shy of three years old like this video.
So I'll take the opportunity it to say WTF Canon and Nikon? You should be embarrassed that you haven't released this same algorithm as part of your AFMA Firmware!!!
p.32 #10 · Dot-Tune: Autofocus Fine Tuning in under 5 minutes
NCAndy wrote:
I know people seem to like this AFMA method but honestly I've not had good luck with it. I've followed every step, watched every video, read every thread, taken my time and used the procedures as described, correct distance, lighting, etc, yet I go out afterwards in the real world and the focus is off. I end up using photos in the field or at the game to set the AFMA correctly. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, IDK, but I've given up with dot tune.
Andy,
Your experience seems a bit odd. Would you mind providing some more details such as body and lens you've attempted it on?
p.32 #11 · Dot-Tune: Autofocus Fine Tuning in under 5 minutes
Got to agree with NCAndy. I was thrilled to find the Dot Tune method. Told all of my friends, etc. After the MA, everything seemed good, then I'd go out shooting and yuk - soft. After trying multiple times over months, I gave up. I had FoCal which was buggy. So, I pretty much just "eyeballed" it. Then version 2 of FoCal came out and Perfect!!!!
If you use Dot Tune and get reliable results - good for you. I won't argue with you. I would get different results with Dot Tune EVERY time I tried it. Usually small differences but enough to not get the razor sharpness that I expected. As of now, my friends have stopped using it as well. Just get too much variability with Dot Tune. I wish the Dot Tune method worked for me - it's cheap and easy.
(PS I am not affiliated with any software company. (Canon 7D, then 7D2's, 1Dx, 600 II, 100-400 II, 70-200, Sigma 18-35 1.4, etc))
p.32 #12 · Dot-Tune: Autofocus Fine Tuning in under 5 minutes
DotTune on Canon bodies is a bit more difficult to perform vs Nikon due to the limited feedback provided in the VF. Nikon bodies have a digital rangefinder that makes it easier to determine when you're outside the confirmed range. On Canon bodies you have to monitor the confirmation dot very carefully, including watching for any small lag/delays and then any on-off pulses once the confirmation is displayed. Failing to do so is the most common cause of arriving at a non-optimal tuning value. If you're having trouble but own a body with Magic Lantern (ML) support then I suggest using the automated version of DotTune in ML - its fully automated evaluation of focus confirmation eliminates the need to monitor the VF feedback and produces results within one AF tune point across multiple invocations.
p.32 #13 · Dot-Tune: Autofocus Fine Tuning in under 5 minutes
schlotz wrote:
Andy,
Your experience seems a bit odd. Would you mind providing some more details such as body and lens you've attempted it on?
I've tried it on my 1Dx, 5D3, 7D, 7D2 with most all of the lenses in my profile. For example, I dot tuned the 1Dx and my 70-200 f2.8 IS II. Seemed correct until I took it to the BB game and all the pictures that first half were soft. I adjusted the MFA at halftime shooting the lines on the court and it's been perfect since. The difference was about 5 steps on the MFA scale as I remember. I've had similar problems with other combos. I spent yesterday adjusting my 7D2 and 100-400 II on birds at the feeder. I couldn't get reliably sharp photos after dot tune and now it's great after field adjustment. Maybe I'm doing something wrong with dot tune IDK, but it has been frustrating and inaccurate.
p.32 #14 · Dot-Tune: Autofocus Fine Tuning in under 5 minutes
snapsy wrote:
DotTune on Canon bodies is a bit more difficult to perform vs Nikon due to the limited feedback provided in the VF. Nikon bodies have a digital rangefinder that makes it easier to determine when you're outside the confirmed range. On Canon bodies you have to monitor the confirmation dot very carefully, including watching for any small lag/delays and then any on-off pulses once the confirmation is displayed. Failing to do so is the most common cause of arriving at a non-optimal tuning value. If you're having trouble but own a body with Magic Lantern (ML) support then I suggest using the automated version of DotTune in ML - its fully automated evaluation of focus confirmation eliminates the need to monitor the VF feedback and produces results within one AF tune point across multiple invocations....Show more →
I'm not the type to hack my cameras with ML firmware. I'm not as tech savvy as some and would rather not screw something up. I don't shoot video anyway with my DSLRs so ML hasn't really been an interest.
p.32 #15 · Dot-Tune: Autofocus Fine Tuning in under 5 minutes
snapsy wrote:
DotTune on Canon bodies is a bit more difficult to perform vs Nikon due to the limited feedback provided in the VF. Nikon bodies have a digital rangefinder that makes it easier to determine when you're outside the confirmed range. On Canon bodies you have to monitor the confirmation dot very carefully, including watching for any small lag/delays and then any on-off pulses once the confirmation is displayed. Failing to do so is the most common cause of arriving at a non-optimal tuning value. If you're having trouble but own a body with Magic Lantern (ML) support then I suggest using the automated version of DotTune in ML - its fully automated evaluation of focus confirmation eliminates the need to monitor the VF feedback and produces results within one AF tune point across multiple invocations....Show more →
To this point, I highly suggest using the audio beep Af confirmation. It seemingly is much easier to notice lag, or even in/out rebeeping at the edges which should be discarded out of the valid range.
p.32 #16 · Dot-Tune: Autofocus Fine Tuning in under 5 minutes
EGrav wrote:
Got to agree with schlotz. I was thrilled to find the Dot Tune method. Told all of my friends, etc. After the MA, everything seemed good, then I'd go out shooting and yuk - soft. After trying multiple times over months, I gave up. I had FoCal which was buggy. So, I pretty much just "eyeballed" it. Then version 2 of FoCal came out and Perfect!!!!
If you use Dot Tune and get reliable results - good for you. I won't argue with you. I would get different results with Dot Tune EVERY time I tried it. Usually small differences but enough to not get the razor sharpness that I expected. As of now, my friends have stopped using it as well. Just get too much variability with Dot Tune. I wish the Dot Tune method worked for me - it's cheap and easy.
(PS I am not affiliated with any software company. (Canon 7D, then 7D2's, 1Dx, 600 II, 100-400 II, 70-200, Sigma 18-35 1.4, etc))...Show more →
Pretty much sums up my experience. I haven't tried Focal software.
p.32 #17 · Dot-Tune: Autofocus Fine Tuning in under 5 minutes
It is hard to diagnose any potential error if a final decision has already been made. The process does work. I've successfully done it to my 1DXs, 5D3 and a friend's 7D2. While its simple, that's only if it's strictly followed. Miss or veer from a step and the results are subpar. Distance to target, Live view fine tune, putting lens into MF, recognizing a missed AF confirmation etc... all important. One very common miss, is in doing the math at the end.
EX) a determined range -5 to +13. Total range is 18, half is 9, so the MA to be put into the body is 4 (-5+9=4 or 13-9=4)
p.32 #18 · Dot-Tune: Autofocus Fine Tuning in under 5 minutes
schlotz wrote:
It is hard to diagnose any potential errors if a final decision has already been made. The process does work. I've successfully done it my 1DXs, 5D3 and a friend's 7D2. While its simple, that's only if it's strictly followed. Miss or veer from a step and the results are subpar. Distances, Live view, recognizing is missed AF confirmation etc... all important. One very common miss, is in doing the math at the end.
EX) a determined range -5 to +13. Total range is 18, half is 9, so the MA to be put into the body is 4 (-5+9=4 or 13-9=4)
I did all that. I'm glad it works for some people, but I've not had the same success. When I get out taking photos the focus is soft and needs further adjustment. What else can I say? I've followed the video word for word. I hold the focus button for over 5 seconds waiting for any waiver in the confirmation light or beep. I do the correct math. It seems correct, all until I take it to the game and get soft photos. So I focus on a line on the court and review it on the lcd and correct until it works. The lcd isn't the best for determining sharp focus but it gets me closer than dot tune has. That's just my experience. I've spent too much time trying dot tune with poor results once out in the field so I won't be doing it anymore.
p.32 #20 · Dot-Tune: Autofocus Fine Tuning in under 5 minutes
NCAndy wrote:
I did all that. I'm glad it works for some people, but I've not had the same success. When I get out taking photos the focus is soft and needs further adjustment. What else can I say? I've followed the video word for word. I hold the focus button for over 5 seconds waiting for any waiver in the confirmation light or beep. I do the correct math. It seems correct, all until I take it to the game and get soft photos. So I focus on a line on the court and review it on the lcd and correct until it works. The lcd isn't the best for determining sharp focus but it gets me closer than dot tune has. That's just my experience. I've spent too much time trying dot tune with poor results once out in the field so I won't be doing it anymore. ...Show more →
Give this a try if you have the time - tune your body+lens using an alternate method that works for you. Then with that same setup and focus distance try performing a DotTune. Start with the optimal AF tune value you arrived at by your other method and then go up/down the tuning scale to see what your full +/- confirmed range is
