datacolor SpyderLensCal Photo Studio Instruction Manual
- June 14, 2024
- datacolor
Table of Contents
SpyderLensCal™
Your SpyderLENSCAL™ Guidebook
Congratulations
You now own a superior tool for measuring and adjusting the focus performance
of your camera and lens combinations. With your Datacolor SpyderLensCal™
you’ll enjoy accurate focus performance with crisp, clear and reliable
results.
A focus on accuracy
Imagine being able to significantly improve the number of usable shots from
each day’s session.
Your SpyderLensCal is designed to give you razor-sharp focusing using modern
DSLR autofocus micro-adjustment.
And because it’s completely portable, you can quickly calibrate your
interchangeable lenses and recent DSLR bodies anywhere at any time.
Quick set up
Please refer to the detailed instructions in this guidebook for each step in the setup procedure to assure the SpyderLensCal is properly positioned with your camera to accurately calibrate the lens.
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Get Set
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Check and Calibrate
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Test, Tweak, Repeat
**Get set
**
a Set Up Your SpyderLensCal
Unlock the SpyderLensCal and place the ruler in the correct orientation
with the main target. Use the tripod mount if desired. The bubble indicator
will let you level the tripod for most effective alignment with the camera.
You can also place the SpyderLensCal on a desk, table or shelf.
b Set Up Your Camera
Select the camera and lenses you want to calibrate and set them to autofocus
with the stabilizing function off. Make sure you’re in Aperture Priority or
Manual mode. Your camera should be set to the widest aperture (lowest number)
on the lens with an ISO 200 setting. Maximize the camera’s contrast and
sharpness settings to make the readings of the SpyderLensCal easy to see.
c
Set the Distance
To calibrate your lenses, it is recommended that you make the distance from
the camera to the SpyderLensCal the same distance at which you normally shoot
images with each lens. The SpyderLensCal and your camera should always be in
parallel positions, at the same height, with the front of the lens parallel to
the front target face of the SpyderLensCal. See the illustrations at right for
correct positioning.
d Shooting Environment
Choose a location with appropriate lighting. Be sure the environment is not
too dark, and does not have too much uncontrolled light directly behind the
camera. Light emanating from other angles in front of the target location from
one or more sources is acceptable. A studio shoot set up, while optimal, is
not necessary.
Check and calibrate
a Test Your Lens Accuracy
Aim your camera at the small bullseye of the SpyderLensCal at the right edge
of the vertical target and take one or more shots. Look through the viewfinder
to ensure no red indicator dots are targeting the ruler. A red dot in the
center square of the viewfinder will confirm that the autofocus system is
locking onto the target area. If your camera highlights the focus point
chosen, the target plane has been selected as the intended focal plane.
b Review Your Test Image
Choose your target shot on the camera’s LCD screen. Zoom in on the section of
the ruler next to the target. With the camera at maximum zoom, take a look at
the markings and numbers on the ruler to see which one is sharpest. This mark
represents the center of focus determined by your camera and lens autofocus
system. To see the test image in a larger format, you can transfer it to a
computer.
c Check Your Focus
If your camera and lens combination is correctly calibrated then the line at
“0” should be in sharp focus. If the picture is not sharp at “0” your
camera/lens combination is not on. Check the ruler to see whether the front or
the rear section is sharper. If the lines behind the “0” mark are sharper, the
lens is back focusing. If the lines in front are sharper, the lens is front
focusing.
d Correct Your Autofocus
To calibrate a back or front focusing issue, enter the autofocus correction
menu on your camera and select “adjust by lens.”
Calibration Settings: The numbers on your SpyderLensCal ruler indicate precisely how many centimeters the camera is front or back focusing. This will allow you to correct the focus millimeter by millimeter. If you need to correct a front focusing issue, go forward. Reverse for back focusing calibration. Note that the numbers on the ruler do not correlate to the numbers in the adjustment menu on the camera.
Test, tweak, repeat
a Check Your Adjustment
Make sure your adjustment was optimal. If not, increase or decrease your
adjustment until the sharpest zone is centered on the “0” mark on your
SpyderLensCal ruler.
b De-focus Then Autofocus
Before taking a new shot using autofocus, de-focus yourlens manually to make
sure the autofocus is working properly. (Sometimes, if the lens is almost
focused, it willnot autofocus again.)
c Recalibrate Each Lens
Repeat the calibration process for each of your lenses.
Recheck the settings annually, or whenever your lenses have been used
frequently, or exposed to extreme temperatures.
Also repeat the process each time you acquire a new lens.
Enhance your SpyderLensCal™ expertise
You can also learn how to use the SpyderLensCal by viewing our tutorial video.
Just click the link below.
Video Tutorial
http://spyder.datacolor.com/learn_videos_spyderlenscal1.php
©2011 Datacolor. Datacolor® and Spyder® are registered trademarks of Datacolor. All rights reserved. Canon® , Nikon® , Sony® , Olympus®, Pentax® , are registered trademarks of their respective owners.
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
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