MKIII+300 How do you calibrate?

KIPAX

KIPAX

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KIPAX Lancashire UK
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I have my 300 on and I am pointing out the window to end of street people walking by.. they take up about an 8th of the screen or less.. shooting at 2.8 I change settings until I am getting good clear shots of peoples faces..

Sounds good eh?

But i get some good shots in all settings... arrgh
 
If you're talking about micro-calibration of the autofocus system, then surely you need to use a stationary target?
 
Do you have the camera on a tripod?
I think what I remember hearing is that you should have the camera on a tripod - point at a stationary item (or a chart of some sort) to get the most accurate results.

Although I've heard many say that calibrating on a stationary object isn't the same as shooting in 'real life' (as the case is with yourself KIPAX - shooting at hockey players at a dimly lit arena is different to a stationary flower in perfect light.)

I usually do my lenses from our porch and point at the birdfeeder and the birds. I do keep the camera on a tripod while doing it...
 
Kipax, for calibration purposes use the same sort of test you would use to check for back/front focussing issues with any lens.

Tripod, and focus at a test chart of some description at a 45 degree angle
 
Set up a target and do some shots starting with 0 micro adjustment then go -4 +5 -10 +10 and so on till you get the best sharpness.After having my 300 calibrated twice I still need +20:bang: I guess canon will be getting it back for a third time on monday.
 
Gary Coyle said:
Kipax, for calibration purposes use the same sort of test you would use to check for back/front focussing issues with any lens.

Tripod, and focus at a test chart of some description at a 45 degree angle
Click to expand...

The 45 degree angle wasn't that suitable for my needs - I know that is recommended. But I found it better/easier just to go for the birds...
But what works for me - might not always be the best way to do it :D
 
I just use a chart to do mine till I get best focus.
No Adjustment.
ef-300-0-micro-adjustment.jpg

+20 micro adjustment.
ef-300-20-micro.jpg

Now I am really p1ssed of with canon.
 
I amazed that they could return the body and lens in that condition. You may have already answered this somewhere but what happens when you stick the lens on another body?

Bob
 
Canon Bob said:
I amazed that they could return the body and lens in that condition. You may have already answered this somewhere but what happens when you stick the lens on another body?

Bob
Click to expand...
It is not very good to say the least, this is the secont time they have hat it and its going back, my 500 is fine. I am going to try my mates 300 later to compare them both on all my bodies.
 
I tried the test chart/45 degree method at closest focus distance as is recommended. Got everything looking nice on my 200-400, went out shooting and discovered I had introduced really bad back focus on further off subjects! Since then I have based my settings on real world use by looking at shots I've taken in the field and decided if they are focus corectly or not. Using this method, all my lenses are now spot on for near and far subjects.

I think there are too many variables to make the test chart method accurate for everyone. Lens focal length, zoom (a setting at 100mm might no work as well at 200mm) or prime, closest focus distance, teleconvertor usage etc etc. I'm conviced, as with 'most' camera settings, the best way to adjust them is to do so based on real world results and not staged tests.

My D3 requires settings of between -2 and -8 depending on the lens and TC setup but the D300 requires between no changes and -3 for the same lenses
 
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