Datacolor SpyderLensCal - Optimize Your DSLR's Auto-Focus. Essential Tool for Razor-Sharp Focus and Outstanding Images

One of my camera lenses, bought second had some years ago, has always had a tendency to back-focus (subject is out of focus, with sharp focus falling on a point behind the subject) . That's not such an issue with images shot at a distance, but its irritating when trying to take close-ups. My camera has the facility to pair with a given lens and, with the right tools, or by simple experimentation, trial and error, this can be corrected. I've tried to do this in the past with home-made focus calibration devices, but never with much success. I spotted this tool while looking for some lens-caps and thought I would give it a try. It's easy to set up, and with the bit of research (there's a number of YouTube videos' that demonstrate how to use this tool), I was able to calibrate all of my lenses in a few hours. Having gone through the calibration procedure, I've found that all of my lenses back-focused to a greater or lesser degree, and the one lens that was clearly a long way out of whack is back in trim again and now focuses to perfection. So, five stars for Accuracy, and five stars for ease of use. It takes a bit of practice, but within a few tens of minutes, I was able to able to make adjustments on my camera quickly and accurately based on the information gleaned from using the tool. Four stars for value for money. It's a damn good tool, no question, but it's very expensive for what is only a bit of moulded plastic with stickers on. Having said that , it's a fraction of the cost of several of my lenses, so I guess it's not a ridiculous price to pay. If you absolutely must have pin-sharp images and your camera is capable of retaining the micro-focus adjustments necessary to get the best out of the lenses, then this is a great little gadget.

One of those items that you need in your home kit to pull out every now and then when doubting your lenses. It's a decent plastic, maybe ABS, but that's all it needs to be. It is well made, the pattern is somehow printed on, not just stickers. It also has a tripod thread and level. Expensive at full price(I paid 1/2 price), but if your into photography with changeable lenses your used to paying for stuff.

First thing to say is it does "do what it says on the tin" as they say. I have made myself all kinds of gadgets to do this same job but this extremely well made product encompasses them all very tidily. The blurb says you can adjust your lens calibration by looking at the camera screen, I found it much more accurate to take 3 shots at each number from +20 through to -20 and then select the sharpest one on the PC monitor via Lightroom. One very slight gremlin is the ruler does not lock, if a breeze gets behind the LensCal it will blow the target screen towards you, that will upset the whole test of course but knowing this and tacking a bit of Sellotape behind it to lock the whole thing made for a perfect tool to calibrate your lenses. A product I am pleased I bought and will certainly use regularly. WWW.FOTOLINCS.COM

This only arrived on my door mat this morning. It was a literally a snap to set it up. I had my camera, lenses and Lenscal all ready within 10mins of it's arrival. I have checked every lens I poses which is 12 of them ranging from 24mm f/1.8 wide angle prime through to a 70-200mm f/2.8 with Nikon, Sony & Samsung Lenses for my 3 full frame cameras. I was fairly sure that at least two of my lenses where not performing as they should do but as they are both over 10yrs old it wasn't a surprise. Anyway, it's just a matter of setting it up on a level, taking a photo of the image, zooming in to the image as far as you to look for accuracy. Then using the plus/minus lens calibration in the cameras menu to alter it as required. 3 of my lenses needed alteration albeit slightly but having taken a second image with each lens once changed there was an obvious improvement. This took me a total of about 30mins and has saved be a fortune as Sony alone wanted £150 just to check out one lens. I can now check my lenses when ever I wish, the item folds flat so it can be carried anywhere with you on a shoot just in case you may need it and it's so simple to do. But do remember, unless you have a camera that is able to re-calibrate the lens whilst it is mounted to your camera obviously, there is no point in purchasing this item. It would probably work out cheaper to upgrade your camera to one that does than send all your lenses away for checking. Pro-Photographer Mark Eddiford, Blackpool, UK.

I essentially purchased this to go with a USB hub that enables adjustments to be made to the lens data tables with a certain range of lenses from one manufacturer. It has been a useful tool to help in adjusting the in-lens data tables to give more accurate focus. I had been angling a ruler and ................... to test lenses / focusing but this makes the process much more straightforward and more informative. I now KNOW why my 135mm F2 lens is so poor wide open on a DSLR in a way that I did not notice on film and I know what I need to stop the lens down to in order to get suitable sharpness and lose the fringing. I have used this more for 'analysing lens performance' than any of the front / back focus 'issues'. NB: ALERT: in-camera focus corrections are for one focal length at a given distance ( some cameras do have 3 focal length settings for zooms ). In-camera focus micro-adjust was introduced for professional photographers 'in the field' who had a problem develop and no service centre available. If your lens is truly out on its focusing and you use that lens at more than one distance / focal length then micro-adjust is not a replacement for a full calibration service that will re-write the lens data tables.

If you are looking to calibrate a lens or identify an issue with a lens this is an invaluable piece of kit. I have used it in combination with a Sigma Dock to calibrate my lens, which was not focussing correctly. When you’re dealing with lenses worth hundreds of pounds, £49 for a calibration tool is a drop in the ocean, if you’re on the fence, go for it. The sharpness of my photos now is perfect.

I will keep this short, and sweet. Yes, people might say, it's a bit of plastic. But this is quick to set up, and does a very accurate job, if you have a dslr with fine tune. At the end of the day, every lens, and body will be different, with some slight tolerance. And to check that yourself, is not rocket science. If you send it away to be done, you can expect to double the cost of this thing. If your lens is new, with some problems anyway. Erm! straight back to the retailer, for refund, or replacement!

Like all the Datacolor products, it is pricey but extremely handy. Especially if you own a collection of lenses, and want to tweak the Autofocus yourself.

Le prix a bien augmenté mais l'article est conforme et très utile pour l'usage requis. La qualité est bonne.

Het product doet waar het voor is en is daarvoor een aanrader. Maar, het is gewoon veel te duur voor wat je krijgt. Een simpele, in een hoek te plaatsen, plastic liniaal. De verpakking is volledig geseald dus die moet je open knippen aan de randen en is daardoor bijna niet meer bruikbaar. Aangezien er geen opbergdoos is meegeleverd (?) had het zeer wenselijk geweest dat de verpakking daarvoor gebruikt kon worden maar die moet je open knippen en werkt daarvoor dan echt minder. Zelf in de aanbieding gekocht voor 37,95 (wat ik al (te)veel vind) maar de adviesprijs van 64,99 is echt veel te veel. Enfin, voor kalibratie een prima product.

Worked great!!

El material es resistente y de buena calidad, por el precio menor a 800 pesos se me hizo una buena opción ya que no es de cartón y los números están nítidos. En especial para la calibración de los sigma

This Lens Calibration System is one of the best available in the market. If your DSLR supports AFMA (Auto Focus Micro Adjustment), then this Calibration System is a must buy. No camera or lens s perfect and if you are a avid photographer, you will find that most camera-lens combinations either have front-focus or back-focus problems. This Calibration System helps you calibrate your camera-lens combination for perfect focus every time. Recommended calibration once every 3 months or so, depending on the performance of the camera-lens system.