Z9 + FTZ 2 + F-Mount lenses: AF-Fine Tune with Focal Pro 3.5

[Johan Schmidt]

The theory is that lenses on mirrorless cameras don't need AF Fine tune. I decided to buy the Reikan Focal Pro v.3.5 when I got the Z9 as the 'green dot' method I used on DSLR didn't seem an option. As many people on this website still have much invested in F-Mount lenses I wanted to share what I've found.

My experience with F-mount lenses has been that the FTZ 2 adaptor has definitely introduced a variable.

Every single lens I tested (except 1) needed a -3 or -4 adjustment for the prime or wide & tele ends for the zooms.

70-200 f2.8​

16-35 f4​

24-70 f2.8​

24-85 f4.5-5.6​

200-400 f4 (AF Fine tune of +1 on Tele/400 end)​

400 f2.8​

400 f2.8 with 1.4TC​

​

Even though -3 or -4 are regarded as negligible, I have more confidence now that I'll get the best focus possible with my gear.

Sounds like this isn't happening on Z lenses

​

 

[Strodav]

Interesting, I’ll have to do some testing given your findings. Thanks for sharing.

 

[agrumpyoldsod]

Even though -3 or -4 are regarded as negligible, I have more confidence now that I'll get the best focus possible with my gear.

Sounds like this isn't happening on Z lenses

​

My results agree in the round to your results. I posted the results of my 22 lens calibration a while ago but here they are again. My "finding" is that superteles "need" +2/+3 whereas every ofther F-mount needs -2/-3.. I believe my AF-S 35mm is a bad copy.

Focal Len	F/max	Nearest Zoom	Furthest Zoom	Used
Z 70-200	2.8	(1.0)	(1.0)	BOTH
Z 24-70	2.8	0.0	(1.0)	BOTH
Z 24-70	4.0	0.0	(1.0)	BOTH
Z 12-24	2.8	(1.0)	(2.0)	BOTH
Z 105	2.8	0.0	0.0	0.0
Z 40	2.0	(2.0)	(2.0)	(2.0)
Z 28	2.8	(2.0)	(2.0)	(2.0)
F 600	4.0	3.0	3.0	3.0
F 400	2.8	2.0	2.0	2.0
F 300	2.8	2.0	2.0	2.0
F 300	4.0	2.0	2.0	2.0
F 200	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0
F 105	1.4	(2.0)	(2.0)	(2.0)
F 85	1.4	(2.0)	(2.0)	(2.0)
F 58	1.4	(2.0)	(2.0)	(2.0)
F 50	1.4	(1.0)	(1.0)	(1.0)
F 35	1.4	(5.0)	(5.0)	(5.0)
F 20	1.8	(3.0)	(3.0)	(3.0)
F Sigma 135	1.8	(2.0)	(2.0)	(2.0)
F Sigma 14	1.8	(3.0)	(3.0)	(3.0)
F 16-35	4	(1.0)	(3.0)	BOTH
F 8-15	3.5-4.5	(2.0)	(3.0)	BOTH

 

[agrumpyoldsod]

Are you using Focal Version 3.5.3.10600 - see the release notes

Headline Features​

• Calibration Check: completely new algorithm allowing operation with mirrorless cameras (e.g. Nikon Z series which support autofocus calibration).
• Improvements to Wireless Camera Module integration – ability to set country, over-the-air updates, restore a reset unit and queuing of licensing/results when the internet is unavailable.
• Huge speed improvement to Wireless Module
• Lots of usability improvements and bug fixes

Known Issues -- Note that Raw is not yet supported on the Z9 due to Nikon introducing a new raw compression format. This will be supported as soon as possible.​

I was surprised w.r.t to this known issue and so will be re-running my Focal tests with Focal Version 3.5.3.10600 to see if there are any differences as a result of the other changes in what I found back in March. Focal worked fine with Lossless RAW and I did not try it with either of the HE format.s

 

[Johan Schmidt]

Are you using Focal Version 3.5.3.10600 - see the release notes

Headline Features​

• Calibration Check: completely new algorithm allowing operation with mirrorless cameras (e.g. Nikon Z series which support autofocus calibration).
• Improvements to Wireless Camera Module integration – ability to set country, over-the-air updates, restore a reset unit and queuing of licensing/results when the internet is unavailable.
• Huge speed improvement to Wireless Module
• Lots of usability improvements and bug fixes

Known Issues -- Note that Raw is not yet supported on the Z9 due to Nikon introducing a new raw compression format. This will be supported as soon as possible.​

I was surprised w.r.t to this known issue and so will be re-running my Focal tests with Focal Version 3.5.3.10600 to see if there are any differences as a result of the other changes in what I found back in March. Focal worked fine with Lossless RAW and I did not try it with either of the HE format.s

Correct - that's the version I'm using

 

[Johan Schmidt]

My results agree in the round to your results. I posted the results of my 22 lens calibration a while ago but here they are again. My "finding" is that superteles "need" +2/+3 whereas every ofther F-mount needs -2/-3.. I believe my AF-S 35mm is a bad copy.

Focal Len	F/max	Nearest Zoom	Furthest Zoom	Used
Z 70-200	2.8	(1.0)	(1.0)	BOTH
Z 24-70	2.8	0.0	(1.0)	BOTH
Z 24-70	4.0	0.0	(1.0)	BOTH
Z 12-24	2.8	(1.0)	(2.0)	BOTH
Z 105	2.8	0.0	0.0	0.0
Z 40	2.0	(2.0)	(2.0)	(2.0)
Z 28	2.8	(2.0)	(2.0)	(2.0)
F 600	4.0	3.0	3.0	3.0
F 400	2.8	2.0	2.0	2.0
F 300	2.8	2.0	2.0	2.0
F 300	4.0	2.0	2.0	2.0
F 200	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0
F 105	1.4	(2.0)	(2.0)	(2.0)
F 85	1.4	(2.0)	(2.0)	(2.0)
F 58	1.4	(2.0)	(2.0)	(2.0)
F 50	1.4	(1.0)	(1.0)	(1.0)
F 35	1.4	(5.0)	(5.0)	(5.0)
F 20	1.8	(3.0)	(3.0)	(3.0)
F Sigma 135	1.8	(2.0)	(2.0)	(2.0)
F Sigma 14	1.8	(3.0)	(3.0)	(3.0)
F 16-35	4	(1.0)	(3.0)	BOTH
F 8-15	3.5-4.5	(2.0)	(3.0)	BOTH

Nice collection of glass!

 

[Wes Peterson]

Does the software look at peak sharpness in the center of image or does it try to give the best average sharpness across the frame? These results seem to fall in line with the tendencies of longer focal lengths to have pincushion and shorter lenses to have barrel distortion.