Approaching the Scene 088: How to Calibrate Autofocus For DSLR & Mirrorless

(Links Below) Most of us have some down time ahead. While I abide by Oregon's shelter in place law, I'm going to focus on things to do with extra time around the studio. This week I'll show you the easiest, most accurate way I've found to calibrate autofocus. I'll showcase Reican's FoCal system for both mirrorless and DSLR cameras. I'll also respond to a question about Nikon Z6 & Z7 autofocus settings and showcase a tiny, cool new remote camera control and bulb ramping system I'm testing.

Quick Covid 19 note: 00:20
Free interactive office hour meeting invitation: 02:10
Setting up the FoCal autofocus calibration system: 02:50
DSLR autofocus calibration (D850): 06:20
Mirrorless autofocus calibration (Z7): 15:46
DSLR vs mirrorless calibration differences: 23:09
Aperture sharpness testing (FoCal Pro): 27:20
Nikon Z6/Z7 FW 3.0 auto-area subject tracking AF method: 31:30
Introducing the Unleashed bluetooth controller: 34:13

Using my links helps support this video series. Thank you!

Thanks to everyone for the great questions you are sending in. Keep them coming either in the comments below or by emailing me directly. I hope to see you in the Tuesday Office Hours Session next week.

[xlcoldj]

Thanks for the public service announcement and the tips.

[RichardBirchett]

Good Morning Hudson, just found you on YouTube and I’m looking forward to working through some of your awesome videos for tips and tricks to help me improve mine:-) I’m a Wildlife & Nature photographer based in the United Kingdom and I’d just like to say well said on your opening lines, so true:-) thanks and I wish you and your family all the best and stay safe👍. Regards Richard

[cjgetreal]

Enjoyed this weeks "office hours" - good content and the restricted zoom meeting worked much better than I expected it would.

[propertyonephotography]

I just received the Reikan FoCal software and target. I will be calibrating my Z6 and Z7 with my new and old lenses. I have felt that my older 70-200 is not as sharp as it should be, and this software will help me get it as good as it can be. I have ordered the Z 70–200 and, like others, am still waiting. Thank you for providing the insight and tutorial for this tool.

[StevePorter_au]

I downloaded FoCal the other day, after watching this video. Couldn't get it to connect to my camera, no matter what I tried. Turns out Reikan have really good support and now it works like a charm. It was something to do with permissions.

[PatrickHochner]

Thanks a lot for another great instructional video. One question - how would this Focal thing work with a Zoom. A 24 - 70 mm or a 70 - 200 mm offers a large variety of focal options...! Thanks in advance for your time. Best, --P

[gscharlach]

Hudson, great video on Focal. I have the software and it is great. It is a little hard to use with long lenses with the distance that is needed. I also would be very interested in a short course on the Z cameras set up and autofocus. Thank you

[mariusdocea]

NICE VIDEO !!! is necessary to calibrate lens on new Nikon Z6II ? TX

[michaelginsberg]

Hi Hudson, short corse on set up and autofocus for Z6 and Z7 - Yes please!!!!

[jakesdewet]

Thanks, for good video, been using FoCul for a number of years and have Sean great benefit especially on the DSLR's. With Nikon DSLR's I found most of them to back focusD850, D500, D810 and D5. The only DSLR I used that required no calibration was the Nikon D4. I have run it on my Z6ii with 300f2.8 vrii and 70-200 f2.8 vrii with FTZ and the adjustments were negligible. The DSLR that had the most difficulty calibrating is my D850. After returning it to Nikon agents the found the focus sensor to be fitted slightly off plain. after this it was fantastic. Great software

[douglasmichel]

I think Focal software is great, been using it for a couple of years. To you and family, stay healthy and safe.

[JgHobley]

I've had this software for a few years. I recently calibrated my Z9 and it also needed around -2.

[robino]

I've been banging my head against the wall trying to do this with my Z7 + FoCal + Tamron tap-in console. I can't get a straight answer as to whether I'm supposed to shoot at the Tamron distances and focal lengths in the Tamron software, or the FoCal default. I like the idea of being able to fine tune to each focal lenth.

[jwally]

Interesting photo topic and great message about Covid19

[macmcmillen]

Good AF fine tuning video. I'm guessing that the center of the target and the center of the lens should be lined-up exactly for best results. That would require that the target face is perpendicular to the floor, the lens face is perpendicular to the floor, and that the axis of the lens is at the same height as the center of the target. Does FoCal recommend being that anal about the setup?

[stevetqp]

Hi Hudson, I always enjoy your informative videos! However, this one REALLY surprised me, for the simple reason that when I ventured into the mirrorless realm about 10 years ago, I was under the impression that AF-Fine Tune is ONLY required for DSLR systems (as it was for my prior Nikon and Pentax DSLRs) because the AF was done through the mirror box and reflected into an AF module. Thus, if the mirror was even very slightly misaligned, it would affect critical focus for a particular lens, hence the need for AF- Fine Tune. In a mirrorless camera though, since there is obviously no mirrorbox, the AF is acquired directly from the lens onto the sensor. There is nothing to "misalign", hence your image is either in perfect focus (for a given lens), or its not. In fact, this NIkon Z7 is the first mirrorless camera I've even heard of that has the "AF-Fine Tune" option!! Thus, I am a bit confused as to why that option even exists in a mirrorless camera, though you have demonstrated its' usefulness for a particular lens when the FTZ adapter is used. In any case, thanks again, sir, and be safe!

[charlierivera]

Hi Hudson, yes please for the autofocus video settings. Please thank you sir

[darkangel]

Hi Hudson just purchased Unleashed would love to see your final thoughts on this small device! Loving Approaching the Scene learn so much from watching and you made me a convert to Manfrotto Fluid Head with Kirk upgrade awesome piece of kit.

[rickverbanec]

Is there any way to calibrate a DSLR using live view? Wouldn't that be similar to mirrorless?

[robinlikeslearn]

Your header says AF calibration for mirrorless, but I can't find any Mirrorless camera manual that has AF calibration? I was told it doesn't need it because focusing is done straight off the sensor - so what gives Hudson?