Micro focusing on the 50d, do much?
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CT
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Micro focusing is without doubt a great facility to have in your camera to be able to sort out minor focusing calibration issues yourself rather than returning the kit to Canon.
In truth though, you're actually talking about very minor adjustments and you need to approach the photographing of your test target in a very controlled manner to establish with any certainty that you have a problem to begin with. Also if you regularly use a converter on any lens you'll need to calibrate the lens with and without the converter fitted.
Having spent more time than I wanted to calibrating my two most used lenses and converters on both the 7D and the 50D, I came to the conclusion that there wasn't any problem worth worrying about.
If you think you're getting soft images and you've eliminated all the other likely causes, then think about calibration - otherwise I really wouldn't bother.
In truth though, you're actually talking about very minor adjustments and you need to approach the photographing of your test target in a very controlled manner to establish with any certainty that you have a problem to begin with. Also if you regularly use a converter on any lens you'll need to calibrate the lens with and without the converter fitted.
Having spent more time than I wanted to calibrating my two most used lenses and converters on both the 7D and the 50D, I came to the conclusion that there wasn't any problem worth worrying about.
If you think you're getting soft images and you've eliminated all the other likely causes, then think about calibration - otherwise I really wouldn't bother.
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I would say heed CT's advice and approach micro adjustment with some caution. It really shouldn't be necessary, though I guess sometimes it is.
My experience is, know exactly what you're doing, do not make adjustments at an artificially close distance (it will probably throw everything out at normal range), bear in mind that the whole system is subject to variable tolerances according to zoom focal length and focus distance, and that the adjustments made are very fine indeed relative to actual general use.
Since getting micro adjust on my 5D2, I have checked all my lenses till my eyes bled (as you do
) and my conclusion is a) it's really not necessary, and b) the 5D2's AF system is incredibly accurate and very consistent - like within a few mms in ten feet, bang on every time!
Most of the time, you just can't target the focus that accurately in practise, there is no need to anyway, and depth of field more than covers any small discrepencies.
Here's what Canon's Chuck Westfall has to say on doing it - second post down http://www.digitaljournalist.org/issue0812/tech-tips.html
My experience is, know exactly what you're doing, do not make adjustments at an artificially close distance (it will probably throw everything out at normal range), bear in mind that the whole system is subject to variable tolerances according to zoom focal length and focus distance, and that the adjustments made are very fine indeed relative to actual general use.
Since getting micro adjust on my 5D2, I have checked all my lenses till my eyes bled (as you do
) and my conclusion is a) it's really not necessary, and b) the 5D2's AF system is incredibly accurate and very consistent - like within a few mms in ten feet, bang on every time!Most of the time, you just can't target the focus that accurately in practise, there is no need to anyway, and depth of field more than covers any small discrepencies.
Here's what Canon's Chuck Westfall has to say on doing it - second post down http://www.digitaljournalist.org/issue0812/tech-tips.html
Mike Jackson
Billy Brownnose
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My 100-400 was front focussing slightly but enough to show up in images so the micro adjustment was very useful.