I think I won't buy another camera without this feature. I have found micro-adjusting my lenses to yield peak results. It takes some patience to get it spot on but IMHO it is worth the time and effort. Here is an example:

Hi
I have to test my 85 1.2 which is 18 years old. Is it hard to do?
Denis

Hi Denis,

No it is not but just time-consuming if you want to do a good job as you need to iterate until you get the best result. I did the same for my 85mm f/1.2L II with great results.

Good luck.

What did you find to be the best method Henry?

Andy,
I'm not sure if the method described in Open Photography forums is the best but it works well (link).

I tried using those moire targets that have been posted on fora. In the end, I just focused on some Canon lens boxes on my desk and use them as targets. The final confirmation is usually to shoot a real world scene to make sure focus is correct. That simple.

Do you have to do a calibration for every lens you have? And then, each time you shoot with the camera, select that lens' calibraton?

I understand you are calibration the exact focus of lens. I am not quite sure how that is going to apply across a wide variety of lenses??

Once a lens is calibrated, its data is stored in the camera automatically. Whenever you use that lens, the camera remembers it has to adjust by that amount you have selected. Therefore if you have 6 or 8 lenses, it will store their data, even my Sigma 12-24mm is stored.

I've just used the graphic by Bart van der Wolf as shown HERE.

My lenses resulted in the following changes:

17-40L = +10
24-70L = +16
70-200L = +10
35L = +15
85L = +12
135L = +3

I'm now concerned that it appears the camera itself may actually need calibrating. What do people think?

For those considering using the above method, here are a couple of tips:

1) The lens must be wide open
2) The lens should be at its longest focal length

And what happens if you have 2 similar focal length lenses i.e. 70-200 L 2.8 and 70-200 L f4 IS. How will the camera recognise/know which lens you've attached?

The camera recognises up to 20 lenses from their model numbers (read by the camera circuitry). It should be able to differentiate between the 2.8 and 4.0 without issues.

I just purchased my 1Ds MkIII, but I also use the same "L" lenses on my 40D. If there is the need for large micro adjustments (that's an oxymoron, I think), does this mean that the lenses cannot be focusing at their optimal level on my 40D? If this is the case, wouldn't it be better to have the lenses recalibrated by Canon?

My current assortment of lenses (all Canon): 24-70 f2.8L, 24-105 f4 IS L, 70-200 f2.8 IS L, 100-400 f4.5/5.6 IS L, 16-35 f2.8 L, 100mm Macro, 10-22 f3.5/4.5 (40D only)

Bud James

Bud,

From my understanding the lens doesn't get altered in any way, the 1Ds just compensates when it knows X lens is attached.

In other words, nothing will change when you shoot with your 40D.

And the 1Ds sensor may be either more or less out of whack compared to the 40D so it's really apples and oranges. For completely consistent results across both bodies, get Canon to do it all with both bodies. If you just want to do it yourself, do the 1Ds and leave the 40D alone. The lens calibration won't change, only how the body adapts to the lens' existing calibration.

Canon Professional Services in Irvine, CA specifically told me when I sent in my 1dsm2 for shutter repair, that the lenses can be calibrated to 1 series bodies, but then would not be suitable for the rest of the line - or vice versa. I am not saying they cannot be used on other bodies, but apparently the specs for calibrating on the consumer cameras vs the pro bodies is different.
I am a member of CPS by the way, so I am not just making this up

Thanks!

*steve

Steve, the 1Ds 2 and 1Ds 3 are very different cameras in this instance. In the 1Ds 3 the alteration is a software alteration. That is, unless you go down the same path as you would the 1Ds 2 and have the camera physically altered.

The service rep actually said it in reference also to my 1dm3 that I in addition own... He had asked specifically if I was using any of the consumer grade bodies also... and if not they could do the calibration to suit each of my 1 series bodies, including my very dusty 1VHS.

*steve

What about older lenses from Zeiss? Is it possible to adjust them for 1Ds mark3 in the same way?
Or will the camera be unable to remember these lenses?

Henrik