Firstly and importantly, a huge thanks to all FoCal users who have tried out the test releases and provided feedback via the ticket system. Your comments, suggestions and help have enabled us to massively improve FoCal. Thank you very much for your support!
FoCal 2.0 is ready for prime time, we’re excited to release FoCal 2.0 to users and believe it’s the most stable, easiest to use and provides the most accurate calibrations of any version of FoCal to date. Development and testing have put in a huge amount of time to re-write and re-design much of the underlying software as well as updates to the user interface to make FoCal more user friendly.
A host a new features and enhancements to existing features mean that FoCal 2.0 is the most comprehensive way to test and calibrate autofocus on modern Canon and Nikon dSLRs available.
FoCal 2 Headline Features
- Compare your results with other FoCal users – with FoCal 2, you can now compare the results of your tests with the results from thousands of other FoCal users to see how your equipment is really performing. Pro only feature, this area is one we expect to expand on in future FoCal releases.
- Review your previous tests – you can review the detailed results of previous tests you’ve run for comparison. This includes most of the tests you’ve run with FoCal 1 as well. Pro only feature
- Improved Reports – the reports are now more concise, grouping relevant information together and showing more information that matters. Pro only feature
- Faster Results – get accurate results in less time with the new analysis algorithms in FoCal 2. FoCal Plus and Focal Pro both benefit from the same improved Automatic Focus Calibration processing.
- More Information – dig deeper into the performance of your camera and lens with extra information, as well as reviewing more details about each shot taken. FoCal Plus inherits the “Lens Profile” graph display from Focal Pro to make it easier for users to understand what’s happening during the calibration process. FoCal Pro has the following extra information available during calibration, Historic Results, Focus Consistency, Astigmatism Factor, Result Convergence and Image Motion.
- Target Optimisation Added to FoCal Plus – previously a FoCal Pro only feature we’ve extended this option to work in FoCal Plus. FoCal will compensate for slight camera movement during a test, helping ensure the same target region is analysed for each test shot.
- User Interface Improvements – the user interface is easier to understand, with new tabbed windows, more logical operation and comprehensive keyboard control.
- Voice Prompts – FoCal 2 even talks to you! Calibrate any camera without needing to sit looking at the computer screen, changes you might need to make at the camera are spoken out loud.
- Free Upgrade – FoCal 2.0 is a free upgrade for all FoCal 1 license holders, so there’s nothing more to pay to get all these new features!
FoCal 2 Mac Specific Improvements
- No Mono Framework Install – FoCal 2 for Mac is now a standalone application with no requirement to install any third party frameworks. Easier installation for users and it’s impossible to install an untested version of Mono!
- Digital Signing and Easy Install – FoCal 2 for Mac is now fully digitally signed and the install is graphically guided (just drag and drop from the DMG file!).
- Huge focus on reliability – A lot of the work on getting FoCal 2 for Mac ready has been in improving reliability and stability. Changes to the internal code structure, a new development tool chain and extensive pre-release testing.
- No need to select camera manufacturer – gone is the need to choose between Canon and Nikon before connecting a camera.
Things You Should Know…
There are a few things to be aware of for FoCal 2.0:
If you’ve run the FoCal 2 Test Releases on Windows…
If you’ve tried out the Test Releases of FoCal 2 on Windows, we strongly recommend that you uninstall your version of FoCal 2 before installing this final release. This is just a precaution for the transition from Test Release to Final Release to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Recent OS Support
FoCal 2.0 Mac is supported on OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) and OS X 10.10 (Yosemite) but not currently supported on OS X 10.11 (El Capitan). This is something we are working to address and will be releasing a 2.0 maintenance release on Mac that adds El Capitan support.
FoCal 2.0 Windows is fully supported on Windows 10, this OS was released early within the development phase and changes made to FoCal to include this OS (FoCal on Windows supports Windows 7 and later).
Giving Feedback
Thank you again to all the users of the test releases for help in improving FoCal. It’s been brilliant to see many early FoCal users return and also hear from new users in areas we’re doing well and areas we can improve. As always your comments are very much welcomed and great for the blog and facebook, anything that may require investigation please raise a support ticket in the normal way.
Updated Manual
One of the changes from previous versions of FoCal to help speed up development and ensure more thoroughly tested releases was to make more of the user interface similar between Mac and Windows. This has enabled us to combine the user manual, much of the functionality has always been similar but presented on the user interface differently. With more commonality we’ve been able to provide one manual that combines the Mac and Windows versions of FoCal 2.0 with the small number of differences noted as required.
Just Some of the New Features
The FoCal Main Window
The main FoCal window has been redesigned using tabs to aid usability. You’ll see the tab concept used throughout the software, clicking on any of the titles (Information, Calibration, Tools or Analysis) will show a new page of options.
Target Setup
We’ve added a new focus quality indicator to help you find perfect focus before using tests like the Aperture Sharpness test (Pro only). The graph shows you the quality achieved after autofocus or manual focus operations and lets you adjust for the best possible quality.
The buttons and charts are colour coded as follows:
- green is Phase Detect autofocus
- blue is Contrast Detect autofocus
- purple is FoCal autofocus
- orange shows the effect of a focus step towards the camera (Near)
- red shows the effect of a focus step away from the camera (Far)
- yellow takes another sample and adds to the chart
New Charts
We’ve added a number of new charts which provide more information about your cameras and lenses.
Lens Profile Added to FoCal Plus
The Lens Profile chart is one of the most useful graphs FoCal provides, it shows how the image quality changes as the AF Microadjustment value changes. The orange line represents how the sharpness is expected to change through all values, so the highest point on this line corresponds to the best predicted AF Microadjustment value. Adding this feature for FoCal Plus users gives a greater understanding of how the calibration is progressing and a greater feel for the quality of the calibration result.
Image Motion
The Image Motion chart is available in Fully Auto Calibration, AF Consistency and Aperture Sharpness, and shows how the captured image moves on the sensor as the test is run. This can give feedback about environmental upsets (e.g. shutter vibration, tripod movement etc) as well as lens element issues which can cause the image to shift as the internal elements are moved (FoCal Pro only)
Corner Brightness Profile
The Corner Brightness Profile chart is available for the Aperture Sharpness test and gives an idea of how the brightness in the corner of the images changes as the aperture changes (FoCal Pro only)
Results History
The history window shows details about previously run tests without having to open the test window, and you can also save the PDF report and/or CSV information from the test here too (FoCal Pro only). The CSV saving has been re-implemented and improved FoCal 2.0 across the tests too.
Changes from Test Release 4.1
The following changes have been made since Test Release 4.1:
– FIX: Fixed an issue where an occasional crash occurred on Windows with Canon cameras
– FIX: Fail to focus warning sometimes shown on Target Setup startup for Canon cameras
– FIX: Fixed an issue where the 1Dmk3 could not be opened with FoCal for some users
– FIX: Fixed an issue where the Quit menu was disabled on Mac after a test was run
– FIX: Fix to allow usernames to be used for Commercial/Non-Profit Licenses
– FIX: Fix to stop an error being produced on Mac when Raw Image Capture Mode was used in conjunction with Target Optimisation
– FIX: Leave the AFMA value at the correct value at the end of UAM camera calibration.
– FIX: (Mac) Show report-not-saved warning on window close after test run
– FIX: 1Dmk3 and 1Dsmk3 camera communication issues
– FIX: (Mac) Target Setup would not start with 1Dmk4 for some users
– MOD: Only show settings that need changing in pre-test validation step – simplified test setup
– MOD: Improvements to 1Dmk3 control
– MOD: Clearer information messages if there is a problem connecting to a camera
– MOD: Properly handle the case where Live View is manually enabled before a test is started
– MOD: Reduction of unnecessary information messages
– MOD: Inform the user early in a test if they are not at the W or T end of the zoom range.
– MOD: Better handling of initial test setup when non-electronic lens is on camera
How do I get FoCal 2?
FoCal 2.0 is available for ALL FoCal license holders running the Windows (Windows 7 and newer) and Mac (OS X 10.9 and OS X 10.10) operating systems.
The installation package contains the software, target images and a reference manual (also available on the Documents Download page).
Download FoCal 2.0 by logging in to the LMS at lms.fo-cal.co.uk. You will see a download link to the software.
58 comments on “Reikan FoCal 2.0 Final Released!”
I upgraded to El Capitan on my Mac. I am running Focal in “Manual Mode” and it seems to run OK. Where is the incompatibility that you mention?
Hi Marc,
Glad to hear it’s working for you with El Capitan for Manual Mode. We aren’t guaranteeing it won’t work at all on El Capitan 🙂
We believe there are issues when directly connecting certain cameras (particularly Nikon) for Automatic Focus Calibration etc but rather than try to specify what might or might not work it’s safer to say we have work to do and explicitly say “not currently supported”.
Best Regards,
Dave
Hi Dave and Mark,
the caution with regards to FoCal / El Capitan is very appropriate. I raised the original issue experienced when testing beta versions. Even with the now released versions of OSX and FoCal 2, camera connectivity (at least for Nikon) and thereby automatic calibration isn’t working yet.
Raised as a ticket for awareness / relevant details in support of the resolution in a future update.
Best Regards,
Roland
Thanks Roland,
We have a fair idea of what we need to do but wanted to get FoCal 2.0 released first because it has a lot of useful improvements. We know there are issues with El Capitan but haven’t yet enumerated all the cameras which have problems or parts which might work and in which circumstance. That’s the next job 🙂
Best Regards,
Dave
Hi,
How do I get a data subscription on FoCal 2.0 for Mac?
Thanks,
Mike
Hi Mike,
The data subscription was put in as a stand alone option to purchase just the subscription. Feedback from users and trying to keep things simple it’s now changed a little, see https://blog.reikanfocal.com/2015/08/focal-2-0-and-beyond-new-licence-terms/
Essentially FoCal Pro users inside their “included updates period” have access to the subscription data.
Best Regards,
Dave
I just upgraded to El Capitan yesterday so I will guess I will wait until the maintenance release is out. Is it an update or a complete reinstall is required?
If it is an update I can give the current version a shot with my D810 and see if it works.
Thanks for providing us with the free update.
Hi Aniv,
The maintenance release will look like a standard release but having said that the install between versions is very simple on Mac. FoCal 2 is very much self-contained (there’s no third party library to install) and so it’s totally fine to go ahead an try it out. When the maintenance release comes out for El Capitan the update will be simply copying across the application contained in the dmg to the local application folder (as normal).
We believe FoCal 2.0 will work for some users on El Capitan but not all (depending on camera) but Manual / File Mode should work. The D810 likely won’t connect directly as the underlying connection method has to be changed for El Capitan (even though it worked fine on earlier El Capitan beta versions!).
Best Regards,
Dave
Thank you for the detailed response Dave. I will wait for the maintenance update then 🙂
Please could you advise if in the new version 2 it is possible to analysize the results manually, as was possible in version 1.9, (ie by going into Tools,Manual, then adding all the files). I have many hundreds of files I added to the manual calcultions in version 1.9, but I can not see where to do the same in version 2.
Thanks
Michael Stallwood.
Hi Michael,
Yes, the feature is there but is accessed in a slightly different way.
If you start FoCal without a camera attached you will see some of the calibration and test buttons are not grey’d out. If you click on them (for example Automatic Focus Calibration) you get the option to select files at the top rather than “Target Setup”.
Best Regards,
Dave
Hi there, I have a similar issue to Michael and when I tried to follow your instructions of operating off-line, I received an error message about licensing information and that I should update my license.
This cant be correct – as to get FoCal2 I had to log in the first place.
I also wanted to use stored file information to calibrate rather than go through the whole process again. Am I doing something incorrect or is this somehow a BUG that remains even after all the beta testing
Hi Danny,
If you can login to the LMS http://lms.fo-cal.co.uk then enter those details in to you local running copy of FoCal and it should all line up (FoCal software needs itself to login to the LMS to check the licence when adding a new camera or system).
If you’re still having an issue please raise a ticket and we can investigate further (I don’t think it’s a bug just need to check the licence details on the system).
Best Regards,
Dave
When running the Aperture sharpness for example, the Y-axis of the graph has numbers such as say 1900 that show the image quality.
1. Is there a correlation between the image quality and signal to noise ratio?
2. If I test one lens and it peaks at 1950 and another lens peaks at say 1750, is the 1950 IQ lens better or are they just relative scales for each lens? From tests I have done on different lenses, it would seem that a real good lens runs around a 2000 IQ and a poor lens about say 1500 IQ peak and drops at high aperture numbers.
Thanks and keep up the good work.
Hi Gordon. Great questions, I’ve answered them below:
1. There will be a correlation between the QoF value and the SNR. Like MTF calculations, the QoF is calculated by analysing edges and an increase in noise will lead to an effective softening of the edges. However, as the analysis works independently in the 3 colour channels (and noise is likely to mostly affect a single channel at a single demosaiced pixel), the QoF won’t be affected by noise as much as other methods.
2. We don’t categorically state that QoF is comparable across cameras and lenses, but under most conditions you will get a value that can be compared across lenses to within a few 10’s of units on the QoF scale. For example, if you test two copies of the same lens on the same camera (sensor), then if the QoF values are within, say, 50 units you can consider the lenses very similar, but if there’s a difference of a few hundred QoF units then there is a definite quality difference between them.
Here’s a link to a bit of a technical overview of the RGB analysis method that we use in FoCal – it might help with some of the details: https://blog.reikanfocal.com/2014/02/reikan-focal-rgb-analysis/
I hope this helps
Rich
I just installed 2.0.5W on Windows. I thought I was installing 2.0 Final but it shows ‘(Test Release)’ in Task manager.
Is this correct / needs changing?
Hi Derek,
Not sure what’s happening there, looking on task manager on here it’s showing as “Reikan FoCal Pro 2.0.5W”, if you go to the “About” section and pick “Versions” (tab) it should show as 2.0.5.2366W ?
In the LMS area the release for FoCal 2.0 is listed as FoCal-2.0.5.2366.zip
PS, if that doesn’t help it might be worth raising a ticket so we can investigate further.
Best Regards,
Dave
Hi Dave
Thanks for your quick reply.
My info was probably a bit misleading. To clarify:
In Win10 Task manager, running executables and associated tasks are listed in their own group under the ‘Apps’ section.
The running exe shows as “Reikan FoCal Pro 2.0.5W”, it’s the group header that shows “FoCal 2 (Test Release)”
I’ll assume all is well then. It does also show as version “2.0.5.2366W” in ‘about’, so that’s good 🙂
Thanks!
Good stuff, we’ll have to check that, if it’s showing Reikan FoCal Pro 2.0.5W in the main bit all is well 🙂
Hi, any idea when it will be usable on El Capitan?
Cheers.
Hi Andy,
This is something we are working on as our main task, for some background see also the response to Mark below.
Timescale is always a difficult thing to estimate as we have to code round the issue rather than be able to use the normal interface. We hope to have something in place in the next couple of weeks.
Best Regards,
Dave
Page 17.2 of the manual…
“Note that the history information does not include any images, so although you will be able to see the numeric data and charts for the results, you will not be able to review any images.”
Is it a planned future enhancement to be able to view the images, possibly in conjunction with the option to “save all captured images” in section 26.3.
Thanks
Hi Phil,
Thank you for your comment, in a single word “yes” 🙂
I’m not going to put a timescale on it as there’s quite a lot we want to get done post 2.0. The ability to be able to review historic results including image crops is something we’d like to provide for sure 🙂
Best Regards,
Dave
Is there a recommended older version of FoCal for those of us already on El Capitan in the meantime? Or are no versions of FoCal currently supported on El Capitan? Thanks,
-Mark
Hi Mark,
The issue with El Capitan is that Apple removed an important function that restricts the ability to directly interact with the camera at a low level. It’s the same reason that Lightroom and other software can’t tether to Nikon cameras. Hopefully Apple will add back in this necessary feature.
In the meantime we think we have a way round that will allow FoCal to connect to Nikon cameras and hope to have that ready in the next couple of weeks.
Sadly no previous version of FoCal will allow tethering on El Capitan.
Best Regards,
Dave
Fully Automated CAL without User Assist.
I completely understand why user assist is required,
that manufactures don’t make that adjustment available.
What I don’t understand is their reasoning for removing this from their SDK.
Would be interested on your comment on their logic behind their decision.
Hi Phil,
I think it’s unlikely we will know the motivation behind their decision, one of the things we want to do is change their position, whether and when that could happen is less certain(!). I could speculate but if we want to change the current situation it probably wouldn’t help 🙂
Best Regards,
Dave
What is the purpose of the zoom button on the Target Set up page? I get the green check mark when I’m within the minimum and maximum suggested target search and analysis distance (closer to minimum). When I press the zoom I get the red X. Should it be a green check as well? This also happened on your standard sized target I recently purchased. I just continued to do the analysis without any apparent issues. The results appeared to be accurate.
Thanks in advance.
I found the answer under Test and Features – Target Set Up. No need to reply.
Hello,
Is it possible to do a tutorial on how to use FoCal to calibrate Sigma lenses with Sigma USB dock? This would be very helpful indeed.
Hi Ioannis,
Thanks for your comment.
Yes, more information for using the Sigma Dock with FoCal is definitely something we want to provide, won’t be immediately but hopefully soon 🙂
Best Regards,
Dave
Very happy to hear you guys are looking at it! Please let me know when you guys have figured out a solution, I didn’t know which solution to opt for but I’m holding off my purchase of calibration tools until I hear more from you and hopefully use Focal with my Sigma lens / USB dock…
Have you guys figured anything with regards to the Sigma dock? I am too deciding on a solution to purchase for calibrating my len’s with the dock.
Hi Ken,
On the Sigma Dock calibration process I will include some notes that might help.
FoCal can be used with the Sigma Dock. Easiest way to think of it is this (I have simplified it a little) the normal camera/lens calibration is a fine tune setting held in the camera and FoCal can be used to work out the best value for this setting. With the Sigma Dock you now have a lot more points of adjustment and they must be set inside the lens rather than inside the camera.
To get an idea of what is involved take a look at this as an example of a user calibrating his Sigma lens with the help of FoCal, http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3809354 and the related thread linked by tektrader where they talk in more detail about the steps. Another thread which talks about dock calibration using FoCal is https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4031928
We don’t have an official written down procedure or tutorial video (yet!) but from what we understand FoCal can be useful for Sigma lens calibration. We’ll need to do our own tests and more research using multiple different Sigma lenses before we’ll have an official procedure that we guarantee will work in all cases.
You have a couple of options for the nearer distances, FoCal generally expects the target to take up between 20%-90% of the vertical frame, that way when you run target setup and select validate target you see the ‘green tick’. With all the near distances you might find a the standard target works fine for this (or possibly re-print smaller as needed to ensure that it still fits inside the 90% with the closest distance).
With further distances and indeed with the ‘infinity’ setting it’s unlikely you can print a FoCal target large enough for this calibration. The “infinity question” as I’m calling it is an interesting one(!)
I think the best way round is to find a natural or environmental target and use that instead. So turn off the function where FoCal expects a target (“Preferences” > “Tests” you can tell FoCal not to look for the specific target design at all by setting “Target Validation” to “No Target Validation”).
A ‘natural target’ would be anything with high contrast edges in both the vertical and horizontal axis. Perhaps a large road sign with text on it, or a high rise apartment block that has strong defined lines (say window frames).
This is the approach we’ve come up with as a suggestion for now, one of the things we want to do is provide more information to users and this will be happening soon.
Essentially the expected process would be the calibrate (using FoCal) the lens at a specific distance (as given by Sigma in their user interface) and then try to dial out that adjustment such that the AFMA ends up at 0 and the adjustment is entered instead within the Sigma Dock settings.
It’s hopeful (and there is some evidence to suggest) that once a relationship is found between AFMA / camera fine tune value and Sigma Dock calibration units that relationship holds true for further adjustments on that same lens.
Best Regards,
Dave
Several years ago I bought Focal to use on my 2 x Nikon D3S cameras and I couldn’t get it to complete a test on either camera. I ditched the software and obtained a refund and couldn’t think of anything good to say about it.
However I recently saw that Focal had been updated to Version 2 and so I decided to give it another try, as my old eyes aren’t as sharp as they used to be!
I found the new Version 2 to be easy to use and most importantly for me it worked, successfully calibrating my Nikon D810 and Nikon D7200 and adding a new ‘edge’ to my images.
Hi Roger,
Thank you for your kind comments, we’re really happy with the progress we’ve made with FoCal 2.0 and it’s great that users (both old, new and returning!) are seeing improvements.
We aren’t resting on our laurels, there is more we want to do, both to make FoCal easier to use and also add features users will find useful 🙂
Best Regards,
Dave
I just updated to 2.0 / using Mac OS 10.9.5 with my Nikon d750. I can get the target set up but when I go to the semi auto calibration section it seems to get stuck. It takes the first shot. Then nothing else happens. Under the graph and under Test info: it shows as “Running”. On my camera, it shows PC and a dotted line that runs back and forth. Nothing else happens. I’ve tried disconnecting and starting over. Same result. Any ideas?
Hi Kristi,
The semi-automatic calibration is user driven and not automated in the same way as the normal automatic calibration (I think what you’re seeing is expected!).
Instead I would suggest you run the Automatic Focus Calibration, see the video at Nikon D800 FoCal Calibration – which shows a full overview of a Nikon D800 calibration (watch till end as it shows also the FoCal screens and steps)
If you’re still having issues please do raise a ticket and we can help 🙂
Best Regards,
Dave
Hi,
Does this supports Canon 60D?
Hi Guoyong,
Thank you for you interest in purchasing FoCal.
The Canon 60D does not support autofocus calibration so there is no way for a user to focus adjust the camera to a specific lens. List of supported cameras is on the FoCal Supported Cameras.
Best Regards,
Dave
I had the Beta version installed before and it seemed to work OK. I have removed the beta version and installed 2.0.5.2366.
I have a Nikon D810 with 1.11 firmware.
I can no longer use the software. The software either crashes or says that it cant initiate live view.
Any suggestions? It was working before the ‘real’ version was installed.
Hi Robert,
Not sure what might cause that (it is definitely not expected and not something we are seeing in general). Can you raise a support ticket and we can investigate.
Best Regards,
Dave
Hello
Dimonis of version in Spanish ??????
Hi Fernando,
Thank you for your interest in FoCal.
We currently only provide FoCal documentation and the software itself in English. We have a longer term goal to be able to offer at least some translation to support more languages but it is a longer term plan, rather than something that would happen quickly.
Best Regards,
Dave
Error: “a shot was taken but no focus points reported focus confirmation. You should ensure you are using single point AF mode and that you have an appropriate focus point.”
This was received on the final release of 2.05.2336. The settings were triple checked and no success. I did receive a response back from Dave in support who stated the following on September 14, 2017:
“..issue we’ve been looking at and understand now why it happens.
The 7D mark II, 1DX mark II and 80D will report this in some cases depending on camera settings.
Setting is on the camera menu (red) under Lens aberration > Distortion correction
Turn the distortion setting so it’s off / disabled.
We’ve changed this message since FoCal 2.3 release, now it specifically suggests to turn off Distortion correction 🙂
Best Regards,
Dave”
Thanks Anthony,
It’s an odd quirk of the distortion correction function, if you open Canon RAW readers they can show which focus point was used. As soon as distortion correction is turned on that functionality disappears (and same reason FoCal can’t know which focus point was used with distortion correction on).
The 2.4 release doesn’t “fix” the underlying issue as such, what we did provide in 2.4 was a more meaningful error message for the user to check whether distortion correction was on.
Best,
Dave
When will you be updating for use on a Mac with OS Sierra 10.12.6?
Hi Charles,
Thank you for your interest in FoCal.
FoCal is supported on Sierra, support was in FoCal 2.4, full requirements listed in Which versions of Mac and Windows are supported? 🙂
Best Regards,
Dave