Today brings FoCal 2.4 MR3 (Maintenance Release 3) which we expect to be the final incarnation of FoCal 2.4 before moving on to FoCal 2.5 and beyond. This maintenance release includes a few small but important fixes to improve usability and operation. As before and because this is a 2.4 release if you had access to use 2.4 back in December you will have access to use this release as well.
This release builds upon earlier 2.4 releases, dedicated blog entries below:
- FoCal 2.4 – Adds “Dual Pixel Raw” Analysis and New Target Setup
- Reikan FoCal 2.4 MR1 – Canon macOS Sierra Support and Target Setup Enhancements
- Reikan FoCal 2.4 MR2 – General Bug Fixes
FoCal 2.4 MR3 Key Changes
Fixes:
- Fixed an occasional problem where Nikon cameras would sometimes not focus during a test
- Fixed a bug where fully auto calibration could terminate early if Included Update Period had expired
- Slight improvement in target distance calculation accuracy
- Improved reliability on some Canon cameras
- Improved clarity of some explanatory messages
- Some general minor fixes
Why Release 2.4 MR3 and not Release 2.5?
This is a relatively minor update addressed at fixing a few small bugs and does not add large amounts of new functionality.
FoCal 2.4 Maintenance Release 3 means if you had access to use FoCal 2.4 released on the 7th December 2016 you will also have access to use FoCal 2.4 MR3.
Software Support Status
Mac
The following table shows the support for FoCal for Mac:
| Operating System | Camera Manufacturer | Status |
|---|---|---|
| OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) | Canon & Nikon | Fully functional |
| OS X 10.10 (Yosemite) | Canon & Nikon | Fully functional |
| OS X 10.11 (El Capitan) | Canon & Nikon | Fully functional |
| macOS Sierra (OS X 10.12) | Canon & Nikon | Fully functional (please see here for instructions for using Canon 80D, 5D Mark IV and 1D X Mark II) |
Windows
The following table shows the support for FoCal for Windows:
| Operating System | Camera Manufacturer | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 7 | Canon & Nikon | Fully functional |
| Windows 8/8.1 | Canon & Nikon | Fully functional |
| Windows 10 | Canon & Nikon | Fully functional |
How do I get FoCal 2.4 MR3?
Download FoCal 2.4 MR3 by logging in to the LMS at lms.fo-cal.co.uk. Once logged in, you will see a download link to the software.
FoCal 2.4 is available for Windows (Windows 7 and newer) and Mac (OS X 10.9 – 10.12) operating systems, for users who are still within their Included Updates Period on the 7th December 2016 (2.4 release date). If your Included Updates Period had expired on the 7th December 2016, you can purchase another 12 months by logging in to the LMS at lms.fo-cal.co.uk.
If you don’t own FoCal, you can purchase the software as a download or boxed product, as well as Focal Hard Targets from the FoCal store.
The installation package contains the software, target images and a reference manual (also available on the Documents Download page).
15 comments on “FoCal 2.4 MR3 Released”
Hello!
Why is 5D IV MultiPoint focus disabled and when can we expect this functionality?
Hi,
At the moment it’s not possible to access (set or check) the status of the outer (non-center) focus points of the Canon 5D IV. I will mention even on cameras where it is possible to check the outer focus points it is not possible to calibrate those points (Canon and Nikon cameras only allow calibration on the center point). That’s not as bad as it seems, typically when the center point is calibrated the other focus points are also brought into alignment.
Whether/when non-center points might be accessible within FoCal on the 5D IV is harder to know. It’s something we’ll continue to investigate but very likely it would require a change from Canon to allow access to those settings across the USB connection.
Best Regards,
Dave
Is voice activation fixed? I only have some voice talking chinese backwards or kind of. Thought it was fixed with some of the MR before but wasn’t. Haven’t checked MR3 so far.
Hi Rudi,
FoCal makes use of the OS provided voice generation. Depending on your operating system to create the spoken words, it varies between OS’s but it’s a setting somewhere that’s got your system set to use a strange language. Likely you’d see the same issue if you turn on spoken text for your OS in accessibility settings (we’re using that same functionality).
PS, if that doesn’t help please do raise a support request, the blog is not so easy to keep track(!)
Best Regards,
Dave
buenas tardes cordial saludos mi compu me fue formateada que debo de realizar para intalar de nuevo focal
Hi Arnoldo,
You can download and re-install FoCal as needed. Please do raise a support request and we can help as needed.
Best Regards,
Dave
Please support canon 6d mark II
Thanks
hi, when will the Canon 6D markii be added to your software? As I am unable to do the lens calibration on my camera.
Hi Nicholas (and TRAN),
We are working on it with the plan being to release the update containing Canon 6D Mark II support coming later this month (fingers crossed!)
You can subscribe to the FoCal Newsletter, once the update is available we’ll drop you an email and/or keep up with FoCal news via Reikan FoCal on Facebook 🙂
Best Regards,
Dave
5DSR shutter count shows unavailable. Is this normal?
Hi Gordon,
Shutter count is definitely something we would like to provide. Current position is all Nikons are supported for shutter count and all Canon cameras except those made after the Canon 5D Mark III. Essentially Canon has prevented access to gain the shutter count on some of their newer cameras.
Best Regards,
Dave
I see that FOCAL 2.4 MR3 was the version I downloaded and in the description, it says that it has gone Imperial! (Yay!) Being in the USA,it gets difficult accessing the metric converter each time I want to convert a measurement from Meters to feet. Now…How does one go about accessing that feature? I am also having issues with lighting the target. Your instructions say to use an EV8 setting. I have done so but keep getting ‘The target is too dark…” warning? I am doing this in my basement and have ZERO ambient lighting and tungsten is not an option. I have to resort to 5000 lumen daylight LED work lights. Any tricks or suggestions? I would take it outside, but this is Wisconsin….it’s September…enough said?
Hi Dj,
Sorry for delay in response (took a little while to move the blog to it’s new home / new design!).
Imperial option, in Preferences > Tests (tab) select “Show distance in feet/inches” 🙂
Lighting can be important, especially more so with longer (200mm+) lenses. The other advantage to adding light, it can help AF system behave more consistently. The 5000 lumen daylight LED work lights sound really good option if it’s something you have already. A normal tungsten light / any old desk lamp pointed at the target should also be ok. The “EV8” requirement is something we should clarify in an updated doc, not many know what EV8 relates to and it’s easier to think in shutter speeds, aim for the 1/focal length or somewhere around that and all will be well.
Best Regards,
Dave
Hi there, just took home a new Nikon d850 and am wondering when you will be adding it to the list of supported camera bodies.
Hi Roger,
Thank you for your interest in FoCal.
At the moment the Nikon D850 is not supported by FoCal, but support is coming soon!
Nikon has not yet provided an update to their comms library module for the Nikon D850, this is needed by FoCal before we can provide support. The Nikon library is normally made available around a month or so of the camera being released.
Once we have the updated software from Nikon it usually takes 2-3 weeks for a new release of FoCal to provide support for the camera.
You can subscribe to the FoCal Newsletter, once the update is available we’ll drop you an email and/or keep up with FoCal news via Reikan FoCal on Facebook 🙂
Best Regards,
Dave