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

This thing works much better than the folded paper charts that you have to assemble. I can calibrate my lenses with this one on top of any table, and always get accurate reference. The only thing is that this is a very simply item, there's nothing high tech about it, and for what it is, it could be sold cheaper and still be profitable to the company. If you're struggling with lens calibration, this chart will definitely help a lot. This is a must have for any Tamron G2 lens owner with the tap in console, as they require fine tune calibration 90% of the times. After good calibration, they're spectacular, but not before.

Until we all switch to mirrorless cameras, adjusting the focus with a tool like this is necessary. Every lens and camera is a bit different and if you want accurate focus you need this. However don't get fanatical with it. You really don't have to setup a tripod and perfectly level everything, just generally shoot at the target a few times, zoom in on the results from your camera screen, and adjust the settings in camera. This cost more than printing out a test chart, but it folds up, is easy to use, and has a great target for a focus system to lock on too.

I should have looked at the overall dimensions when I made the purchase. For some reason, I thought it would be bigger. When "assembled", the SpyderLensCAL SLC100 is nearly 6" square. Folded flat, it is approximately 8.5" x 5", easy enough to fit inside a camera bag if necessary. It is a nice piece of gear for calibrating lenses though, far better than my "MacGuyver'ed" attempts at one. I purchased it to calibrate my Canon EF 50mm F/1.2L since some of my images just seemed softer than I was expecting. It's made of a sturdy plastic that folds down flat for easy storage. The focusing surfaces of the device are covered in matte finish plastic stickers. On my copy, the vertical plane sticker was slightly askew, but I didn't feel that it would affect focusing accuracy. Overall, a great tool, but I deducted one star for price.

Worked great!!

What can I say, I love it! I had no idea how just a 'little off' a couple of my lenses were. I was really thinking of purchasing new ones when I came across this tool. Now my lenses are calibrated and back to "brand new" status - as far as I'm concerned! I highly recommend this if your object of focus (nose or eyes - your choice, obviously) is regularly not quite right and it leaves you unhappy with your focus point.

Just because they market it to "pros" they seem to be able to charge an arm and leg for virtually 2 pieces of plastic with some markings. You can make definitely DIY this with a ruler, printer and some boards and it would cost you virtually nothing. Price aside, it's well built and easy to use although the calibration process itself is painful but it gets easier with experience. It will last you forever (yay plastics!) and you can use it for any calibrate-able camera/slr so it's a long lasting investment in the hobby. Protip: DIY if you're not a professional. Only get this if you're a professional who can pass on the cost to your clients. Calibrate once a year at least and after lens servicing. Super protip: This will NOT help you take better pictures, sorry!

I got this to check out the autofocus on my new Nikon D850 DSLR. The design permits an extremely fine readout of the subject focal distance, perhaps too fine for a reliable adjustment. However, as you work with it, you can get a sense of where your autofocus sits, particularly with a very sharp lens used wide open. I'd guess most photographers could check/adjust their autofocus just fine without this device. But for very fussy photographers curious about how precise they could adjust their autofocus, this is it.

Already used to adjust 5 lenses and my pictures are more sharp. The ruler is hard to differentiate when calibrating (at least with my lenses). I have a hard time determining the sharpest point and the smaller lines between the main numbered lines are no help. I have to determine the out of focus numbers in front and in back and then adjust from there. I paid full price which means that this was a bit pricey, but I have kept this in my camera bag which I take with me every week as I travel (airline). Folds flat and very convenient to have with me as I switch lenses (Gear Acquisition Syndrome, I have way too many lenses). Seems to be holding up well and it is pretty durable for my needs. I usually set the Lenscal on the back of my rental car, so the built-in level comes in handy. It should be about $20 less to make it a good value for the money, but I would buy again.

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

Está bien diseñado y cumple con su función. El material básico es plástico, pero es de calidad, viene bien terminado y la pieza roscada de latón de cogida al trípode funciona perfectamente integrada en la base. El nivel es muy útil para comprobrar que la base está paralela al suelo en todas las direcciones. Considero , no obstante, que el precio es excesivo. de ahí que la relación calidad/precio la haya valorado con tres estrellas.

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.

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.

Decent build quality, made a difference as all my Nikkor lenses were forward focusing. Took a bit of time to set up, but worth it. Although, I can't see me using it too often, might be awesome if I could have just rented one (now it's sitting up in my closet for the next few years.)