LensAlign Pro

[tspore]

For those with a E-30, or E-620 may be interested in LensAlign Pro, overall it looks like a very good alternative to any self-built options I have made myself.
I found this a PPmag.com.
For those who may doubt the exact focal spot of a particular lens/camera combo, this can really clear up the situation in my opinion.

Support this site by ordering from:
Amazon $179 - OR - B&HPhoto Which has many versions including a LensAlign Lite version from $79.95

[Cathy1973]

Question for ya- I have an E-30 and it doesn't focus well.. I haven't had time to read my manual so is there a way to re-adjust how the camera focuses? It always focuses too far away and all my pictures are blurry. I was going to read the manual soon and then call tech support but maybe you can enlighten me a little in the meantime?

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

Cathy, your description above would be called "back focusing" if the focus point is behind your intended focus point and yes the newer cameras have a feature to allow you to fine tune the focus. I do not have this feature, or know how to go about it. Others here have and should be along soon enough

Tony, that looks like a nifte gadget!

[tspore]

It really looks like it is a cool tool for cameras such as the E-30 and E-620. To adjust the AF on the E-30 with a specific lens which seems to be focusing incorrectly see page 105 of the E-30's manual
(you can download the manual here. )

[Johannes]

Not yet use the AF adjustment function of my E-620 yet, as it looks like the AF is accurate. However, this function can use for correcting the curve of field when making portrait photos, fine adjust the AF in order the AF falls on the right spot.

Originally Posted by from Olympus

What is the purpose of AF FOCUS ADJ?
AF FOCUS ADJ (Autofocus Focus Adjust) enables the user to adjust the focus plane of a lens to the user's preference. For example, if a 50mm lens is being used as a portrait lens, when the lens is focused on the eyes, the actual plane of focus can be moved a bit forward to keep the tip of the nose in focus.

[BL3]

Just finished checking the focus on my E620 kit, I found that I needed a +3 correction for my PL 25/f1.4, while the focus on the DZ 50/f2.0 and the 70-300 was spot on, near as I could tell. I used the LensAlign Lite version because I am, well, cheap and it was the most inexpensive version, at $79.95 from Amazon. The Lite version is supposedly more difficult to align than its more expensive cousins, it uses a magnetically mounted mirror to help the user ensure that the camera sensor is parallel with the target. I had some trouble finding the proper correction factor for the PL lens, as the final value I settled on was a compromise setting--I wanted a +2.5 for perfection, but the little 620 only allows whole number correction values. Just a slight caution for prospective buyers: The instructions for assembly and use are on the internet and not in the box, just Google Lensalign.com. I noted in the review section of Amazon's product offering that one disgruntled reviewer claimed that he could do as well with a piece of newsprint taped to a wall, but I have to disagree. I found the process fairly straightforward and sufficiently precise, for my needs. On a final note, the actual testing and evaluation was somewhat disruptive as it involved temporarily banning the wife and dogs from the studio/laboratory, otherwise known as the living and dining rooms.



E620 70-300 @ F5.6. Taken indoors at about16 feet, not due to adherence to proscribed formula, but that was all the room I had available at the time.

[wayne dupuis]

Originally Posted by Cathy1973

Question for ya- I have an E-30 and it doesn't focus well.. I haven't had time to read my manual so is there a way to re-adjust how the camera focuses? It always focuses too far away and all my pictures are blurry. I was going to read the manual soon and then call tech support but maybe you can enlighten me a little in the meantime?

You are doing focus then a half press (hold) on the shutter release; then recomposing before shooting right?

[Rand47]

I would suggest that folk do a search on this product and read the forum discussion at the web site before putting down hard cash. While it works, there are a bunch of variables, and for longer lenses you need the big ruler that is another bunch of cash.

I bought one, the "Pro" model, and don't feel it was worth the money. After reading all the "issues" e.g. do you test a zoom at the long or short end or in the middle. What if the results are all different? How far from the target should the camera be? Some say 25x the focal lenght, others 50x.

The bottom line from the mfg. (which is true) is that the best this thing will do is tell you 'if' your lens has a problem, and document it. If you have a camera with micro focus adjustment capability, as mentioned above, and "IF" you have a lens of nominal focal length that has a consistent AF focus error across the whole zoom range, and of focus from minimum to infinity, "THEN" this thing would be of some real help. But I also suspect I could rig my own target for a lens like that, and figure how to dial out the error in camera, for a whole lot less money.

Again, there are even warnings that if you correct a front or back focus at a relatively close focusing distance, you may induce focus errors at further distances.

Given how deep the dof is with 4/3, at most working apertures... well you make up your own mind. I guess my final word is that the use / value of this device isn't as straightforward as it appears.

I can say that it is well made. It is a serious attempt at a good product. It is just that the issues connected with AF adjustment are not straight forward at all.

[akfreak]

You Know I cant remember seeing lens correction in my e-3 menu like I did in my 620 menu. It is a shame We cannot upgrade the firmware of the e-3 to get everything including art filters. The 620 does alot of little things that I want the e-3 to do.

[tomascal]

I purchased the Lens Align Pro last fall to use with my e620 and e30 and my Sigma 30 mm f1.4 lens which had been giving me erratic results. The price of the Lens Align Pro seemed to me to be a lot just to check out one lens so while I was at it, I decided to test some of my other lenses at their fullest extension and at the widest aperture. I was glad I did.

Zuikos: the 70-300 at 25', the 50 f2.0 at 4', the 12-60 at 5';
Sigmas: 55-200 at 17', and 30 at 2.5'. I took the recommendations for distance from the Lens Align website.

I did not test my Zuiko 9-18--my only other lens-- because its dof is so wide to begin with and I have had no trouble at all with the focus on this lens--although I had not noticed any problems with any of my Zuiko lenses.

Your own experience will mostly likely vary from mine. Each lens and body are different. I had to arrive at the adjustments through trial and error since I had no information about what a +1 or -2 adjustment meant for a particular lens. At the following adjustments, the focus was right in the middle of the ruler:
Zuiko lenses
12-60 no adjustment needed for either body
70-300 -10 for both the e30 and e620
50 +4 for the e30; +5 for the e620
Sigma lenses
55-200 -1 for the e30; no adjustment for the e620
30 +10 for the e30; -10 for the e620

I have not used the 50 much since then, but I have used the other lenses on three major trips as well as moderate shooting on my home turf. The focus on all of the lenses has been excellent--whether at full extension or not. Any problems, and there have been few, I attribute to my own faulty technique.

Especially with the Sigma lenses, and the 30 in particular, it is great to have lenses I can trust, especially with all of the back and front focus discussion about that lens on the internet. I have been particularly impressed with the performance of the 55-200 at full extension.

IMHO it would probably benefit most owners of lenses and camera bodies with AF adjustment to check out the depth of focus on their various bodies and lenses.

I recently bought the 14-54 II for a backup lens and the 50-200 for its faster capabilities. I intend to check the focus on those lenses as soon as the weather around here improves.

To summarize: In my own particular case, testing and adjusting for focus with the lens at extreme extension, has lead to improved results. There has been no need for me to test the lenses at other extensions.