We’re excited to share news of the new FoCal YouTube channel along with the first two new FoCal videos.
We’ve been working on updates to the website as part of FoCal V2, things to make it easier for those getting started with FoCal and to help experienced users to get the most from using FoCal.
We’ve just updated the website with a new version of the Supported Cameras Page. Linked at the bottom of the updated page are two new FoCal videos.
The idea behind the videos is to show how FoCal is used to calibrate in both “User Assisted Mode” (previously known as MSC) as well as “Hands Free Mode” in an easy to understand way. We do occasionally see tickets from users with say a Nikon D800 asking if they are able to run the full automated calibration (yes it’s totally possible and the new video shows how!).
Both new videos are linked below:
Reikan FoCal, AF Fine Tune Calibration on Nikon D800 (User Assisted Mode):
Reikan FoCal, AFMA Calibration on Canon 5D mark II (Hands Free Mode):
We’d love your feedback and ideas for future FoCal videos, we want to build up a library of videos that show FoCal being used and help explain how to get the best calibration for different equipment setups.
If you have FoCal videos you’ve made please add a link in the comments, we’d love to see what others have created and do please share ideas for new FoCal videos you’d like to see created 🙂
8 comments on “New FoCal YouTube Channel and Videos”
I have a 200-400 and 600mm lens which I calibrated with Focal any tips you could share or a tutorial video showing use with longer lenses would be useful.
Hi Matt,
I’m contemplating buying this product, but like you, have a 200-400 and a 600mm.
Will this calibrator work with big glass?
Regards Charlie
Hi Charlie,
I will add a FoCal perspective, longer lenses tend to require more care to use in general shooting (e.g. decent support system and practised technique etc).
This translates to increased technique on how best to calibrate longer lenses. Calibration of long focal lengths (>400mm) requires a very stable environment as slight vibrations can cause the results to become inaccurate. It’s not just a case of having a sturdy tripod, but also of making sure there is no vibration introduced from mirror slap, ground vibrations etc.
As FoCal Pro provides more data about what is happening and the ability to review every point, it’s possible to determine if vibration might be affecting the results. In FoCal Pro, you can also change the test settings (e.g. raise ISO) to compensate for certain conditions. That being the case FoCal Pro is required for lenses over 400mm focal length, is also provides PDF reports so that users can save their results and have a record of previous calibrations.
Simple approach is to ensure plenty of light on the target (increases cameras ability to AF accurately and the resultant faster shutter speed reduces possibility of shot vibration) and then pick a target distance that makes sense for your general shooting (see “What’s the correct distance to run tests at?” doc from the website at http://www.reikan.co.uk/focalweb/index.php/why/documents-to-download/ )
Best Regards,
Dave
Hi Matt,
Thanks for your idea, longer lenses can be tricky and we’ll definitely add that to the list! 🙂
Best Regards,
Dave
Wonderful. Thanks.
It would be very helpful if you could share a video of the details of target set up.
Hi Nick,
Thanks for your comments. Hopefully these two videos are just the start.
I tend to agree, target set up is an area that is fundamental to how FoCal works and it’s an area that can be explained well by video. Will make that a priority 🙂
Best Regards,
Dave
I find it easier to set up all the equipment and then looking through the view finder (before blocking it) having another person set up the target on the wall. Moving the camera to find the target centre is difficult when such a small change of camera angle means a large distance change on the wall.
Hi William,
That’s a good tip to share, thank you 🙂
As you say, setting up the camera and looking through the viewfinder at the start is often how we set up the target. It’s the sort of handy information we should show in the videos. Very likely we’re making a video soon dedicated just to target setup as that’s an area which can raise a lot of questions!
Thanks!
Dave