FoCal

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Requirements

Computer Requirements

At present FoCal is only available for computers running Windows operating system.

The recommended minimum specification of PC is:

  • Core 2 Duo at 2GHz or above (or equivalent)
  • At least 3GB RAM
  • A screen size of at least 1024x768 (although at least 1280x1024 is recommended)
  • Windows XP SP3 or later (note this software will not work on Windows XP SP2 or earlier, or any Windows XP MCE edition, Reduced edition or Tablet PC edition)
  • Nikon support requires Windows Vista or Windows 7 (it is disabled on Windows XP due to lack of support for necessary functions).

Some of the image analysis algorithms are very computationally intensive, and although FoCal will run with a slower machine, operations such as Target Setup may run very slowly.

Future versions are planned for Linux and Mac (the Mac version is under development and is planned for first release in Q2 2012). However, a Virtual Machine environment (e.g. VMWare, VirtualBox or Parallels) should allow FoCal to run on other computers as long as the Canon EOS Utility can be made to work (FoCal is used by many people on the Mac with Parallels 7)

Supported Cameras

This Camera Support Matrix document (PDF) can be downloaded and shows the state of camera support for FoCal 1.4.

At present the software supports the following cameras:

  • Canon EOS 1D Mark III (Some limitations: see here)
  • Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III (Some limitations: see here)
  • Canon EOS 1D Mark IV
  • Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Canon EOS 7D
  • Canon EOS 50D
  • Canon EOS 5D Mark III - now supported in Manual Setting Change (MSC) mode

In order to ensure correct, reliable and safe operation with a camera, the software is validated with each camera model before release.

In order to be used with FoCal, the camera must support the AF Microadjustment/AF Fine Tune setting, and the above list completes the range of Canon cameras (currently available) that could work with this software.

FoCal 1.3 saw the first Nikon support added. Unfortunately, Nikon have crippled the computer interface with regards to AF Fine Tune on many of their cameras, so most are supported in MSC (Manual Setting Change) mode (see here) which requires a small amount of prompted user intervention. Whilst this means some tests cannot be run unattended, you still benefit from the AF consistency validation, statistical analysis and prediction of FoCal and can complete a Fully Automatic AF Fine Tune test in less then 4 minutes typically.


Manual Setting Change (MSC) Mode

Certain cameras have had their PC interface crippled such that FoCal cannot completely automate the AF Microadjustment/AF Fine Tune calibration. Manual Setting Change mode allows you to still calibrate these cameras and run all the other tests in as quick and easy was as possible.

MSC mode works by showing an on-screen prompt at any point where the AF Microadjustment/AF Fine Tune setting needs to be changed, telling you which value to specify on the camera. FoCal enables the camera menu system so you can quickly and carefully adjust the setting on the camera, click OK on the FoCal prompt and the test will continue.

In real terms, this changes the time taken for a fully automatic calibration form 1-2 minutes up to about 3-4 minutes - still a very quick time for AF validation, statistical analysis and prediction of the best real-world settings to apply to the camera!

In MSC mode, the only difference is that you are prompted when the AF Microadjustment/AF Fine Tune setting should be changed - all other features (e.g. analysis information, report generation etc) are still available. And any tests that don't require change of AF Microadjustment/AF Fine Tune will run automatically as normal.

It's important to realise that while MSC mode is slightly less automated, you still benefit from the critical features of FoCal - the AF consistency analysis for each microadjustment value in order to determine what's likely to be a suitable real-world example of focusing, the statistical analysis across the tested range and the prediction based on our analysed lens performance to give you the best value for your setup. And by best, we mean the one that works outside shooting what you love, not inside shooting test targets!

MSC only affects the Semi Automatic and the Fully Automatic AF Microadjustment/Fine Tune test. The Target Setup utility and the Aperture Sharpness, AF Consistency and Dust Analysis tests are completely unaffected and run completely automated.

Manual Mode

Manual Mode allows analysis of images captured by you and then supplied to the software. Currently, there is support for Canon and Nikon cameras that support AF Microadjustment/AF Fine Tune

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III and EOS-1D Mark III Limitations

The Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III was first released in August 2007, and is quite an old camera. As such, it does not support all of the SDK functions the later cameras support. In FoCal 1.1, you could not use the Semi Automatic test with this camera, but from FoCal 1.2 onwards we are pleased to announce that it is available!

The other changes with the 1Ds Mark III - which also apply to the 1D Mark III - still stand: for each test point in the Fully Automatic test, 2 shutter actuations are required. Also, mirror lockup CANNOT be used during the test.

You should be aware that mirror vibration can cause problems with shutter speeds between about 1/4s and 1/250s (these figures are approximate), so you may find the results more variable between these limits.

Please be aware of these limitations before purchasing FoCal for the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III or the Canon EOS-1D Mark III