AF fine tuning for a macro lens

pieterv · 23 Dec 2014

Hi,

When I adjust the auto focus fine tune (on a D7000) for a macro lens I am assuming I disregard the usual advice of doing this at a distance of 50x focal length and go much closer as I would for a macro? (Unless of course I wanted to use the lens for non-macro work)

Thanks for any feedback.

Nawty · 23 Dec 2014

One would typically use AF adjust at the subject distance you would be using the lens for.

Not sure I'd do it with a macro lens though - user error is by far a bigger factor when dealing with the wafer thin depths of field you encounter with macro. And besides, a lot of macro work is done with MF.

All I'd say is be sure it isn't your technique before using the fine tune.

pieterv · 23 Dec 2014

Thanks, that's what I thought.

I agree that MF is often better for Macro given the shallow DoF, but I have been trying to take pics of bees (see below), and since they don't sit still for long AF is handy.

_DSC0368 by pieterv on Talk Photography

_DSC0384 by pieterv on Talk Photography

BillN_33 · 23 Dec 2014

I tried with my 105 Nikon and got mixed results ……. -11 seemed to be the same as 0

pieterv · 23 Dec 2014

That is strange, I do notice the difference with my Sigma. On what camera is that?

BillN_33 · 23 Dec 2014

BillN_33 said:
I tried with my 105 Nikon and got mixed results ……. -11 seemed to be the same as 0

Nikon D700 ……….. at the recommended distance using the test chart …….. but it could be me needing a new pair of specs ……. but maybe the nearer you get with a lens like a macro, the lessor the fine tuning is effective, don't know?

pieterv · 23 Dec 2014

I found this method quite good http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1187247
Saves the need for new specs.

BillN_33 · 23 Dec 2014

pieterv said:
I found this method quite good http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1187247
Saves the need for new specs.

that's the one I used Pieter, although I have FoCal

far more easy to understand and logical

pieterv · 23 Dec 2014

Yeah, I quite liked it as well. I had previously done just the one lens I use most, with the usual method of taking lots of pics, etc. This dottune method gave me a result very close to what I had, so this encouraged me to use the "new" (to me) method for other lenses, as it is quite quick and efficient.