LensAlign MkII
Charley Blackmnore
via web
It would be nice if there were tutorials for the product I just spend $79.95..... there is plenty of information for the Pro, etc... but I guess I need help.... I cannot make heads or tails of this device beyond putting it together.....
I will probably just return it.... I am wondering anyway, why did I just spend $79.95 to check a camera that cost 2grand...? Why not just send it back to Nikon......?
If you plan to have as much instruct available for this product as the earlier products, why is the product available before the tutorials?
Thanks!
Comments are currently closed for this discussion. You can start a new one.
Support Staff 2 Posted by Michael Tapes Design on 21 Feb, 2012 02:59 PM
Hi Charley,
Hi Charley,
Thanks for your purchase. I apologize for MkII specific information no being available. We are in the process of making new video tutorials. But the Pro version works identically to the MkII version. Only the sight gate is not required and the ruler is optimized, so no ruler angle adjustment is required.
You do not send it back to Nikon because they may not change anything. In many cases the camera/lens combination may be "in spec" according to the mfg, but the focus is still not optimized. Also every lens is adjust separately so just sending the camera back to Nikon may not help things. Also, without LensAlign you cannot accurately test to see if they fixed the problem (if there is one).
The AF fune-tune is in the camera just for this purpose. If it were not needed then why does every enthusiast/pro DSLR have the AF adjustment.
Is there a specific question that you would like to ask?
Thanks for your understanding...
Michael Tapes Design closed this discussion on 21 Feb, 2012 02:59 PM.
charley re-opened this discussion on 21 Feb, 2012 09:22 PM
3 Posted by charley on 21 Feb, 2012 09:22 PM
THANKS!
Support Staff 4 Posted by Michael Tapes Design on 22 Feb, 2012 05:08 PM
Sure...I appreciate your support and understanding. I am pretty much a on-man show so thing cannot happen as fast as I would like. My priorities are a great product, great QC and great support. I am working hard to re-vamp the documentation.
Michael Tapes Design closed this discussion on 22 Feb, 2012 05:08 PM.
Charley Blackmore re-opened this discussion on 23 Feb, 2012 10:36 PM
5 Posted by Charley Blackmore on 23 Feb, 2012 10:36 PM
Michael, I am a 67 year old just tryin' to figure out DSLR cameras, who isn't happy with my Nikon D7000 after selling my D90.
Would you have time to look at my results of using your LensAlign and tell me what you think? Just help an ol' man out, Ha!!!!!
You can see my images sized down, for ease of uploading at http://mrkewpie.zenfolio.com/f651656766
They are labeled and shown with both full view and cropped view of just ruler view.
The correction best I could tell ranged from -13 to -20, for an average of 17.5.... my opinion from the 1st pictures I took with the D7000 after selling the D90 and purchasing the D7000, it needs to have focus re-calibrated, will Nikon buy that? Just your opinion, I won't quote you....! THANKS!!!!!!!!
Support Staff 6 Posted by Michael Tapes Design on 24 Feb, 2012 03:37 PM
Hi Charley,
Setup looks good.
10.5: Your -20 brings the lens into spec. The zero line is sharp, but I would prefer to have it centered within the DOF which would have the capability of rendering more sharp photos when the Af is not perfect. Nikon would call this in spec.
18-105 with -20 is good
18-200 is a bit too much correction at -17, but still not bad.
35: -20 is not enough correction
55-300: -13 is good
85: a little too much correction
Overall comments. You did just fine (for an old man :>)..I am not far behind you at 62.
You seem to understand what is going on, and yest I would suggest that, yes, overall the D7000 is biased towards back-focus, and think it should be fixed. I have a D7000. Your copy is an anomaly. it is a great camera, but it is on the edge of its AF bias.
But do not have regrets about dumping the D90. This is a world apart, but you seem to have gotten one on the edge of acceptability (or maybe over the line).
Let me know if I can help further...
Michael
Michael Tapes Design closed this discussion on 24 Feb, 2012 03:37 PM.
charley re-opened this discussion on 24 Feb, 2012 06:23 PM
7 Posted by charley on 24 Feb, 2012 06:23 PM
Mike,
Would you suggest sending in the D7000 to have it re-calibrated for the Auto-Focus? If I send them the results or just a couple of pictures showing the improvement with the -20 setting of the Fine-Tune, do you suppose they would take care of it? Or I'd be glad to pay if it improves the overall use of the D7000.
Do you have any info better than the web-rumors of a D400? If it's a DX, I will but it and have the D7000 as my extra body!
Mike I appreciate you taking the time to communicate and if you ever have a few minutes to visit, you guessed it been retired for almost 12 years, except for http://www.crazycharley.net and I still do several volunteer DJ jobs for seniors and a group of handicapped (but they call it adapted citizens) bi-monthly, so I stay up with music.....; take pictures, keep my yard mowed(my wife is a garden club and daylily club president) and play a little golf.. I am a lucky man..
Thanks! I'll take your advice on the D7000; use it with the setting I found to improve the focus or send it in; let me know!!!!
Charley
Support Staff 8 Posted by Michael Tapes Design on 25 Feb, 2012 05:41 PM
Hi Charley,
I would suggest showing them the 0 and -20 shots and asking them if they can improve this by biasing the camera better. They may or may not want to have your lenses. So I would leave it up to them. If the camera is new they should not charge you for it.
With the D4 and D800 coming out this next month, I would suggest that the D400 would not be until late this year, but this is a guess with no inside info. Given that the D7000 is already an "update" to the D300s (in terms of technology), I do not see how much better the D400 will be than the D7000 unless you want more controls and larger body and more MP. personally I sold my D300s and enjoy the D7000 better because of it more modern and smaller body and better technology and more MP.
I am going to get the Olympus OM-D when it arrives and I think I will discard my Nikon's if all turns out well. Or go for the D800 if I end up doing more studio work. And also I have to keep several bodies here for LensAlign testing in the lab.
Sounds like your life is good. I am also doing well, but am scared that I do not have enough $$ to sustain me for potential another 30 years. So I continue to work and make as much money as i can in the short term. I consider myself semi-retired but I work most of the time because I enjoy it and I am not the lawn mowing type :>)
BTW...I was in the music and pro audio industries up until 2000 when I changed my profession to my other main interest photography. I used to make what was called a disco mixer back in the day (attached).
Nice to chat with you. let me know what happens with your D7000.
Michael
Michael Tapes Design closed this discussion on 25 Feb, 2012 05:41 PM.