Anybody use the AF micro-adjust feature?

[GeorgeHudetz]

It's something I noticed when I was browsing the S1RII manual. Seems like all the bodies with phase detect AF all have it. Apparently, it's for AFC, as they tell you to use AFC when dialing in a lens.

I assume it's intended to make provisions for a non-Panasonic lens to focus more accurately when using AFC. Or perhaps any lens that isn't spot on. I know the old DSLR bodies had something similar, but I think it was for both AFC and AFS in those days.

Anyway, anybody try it?

 

[Pete_W]

Hi George,

I didn't know this existed. Just looked it up in the S5M2 manual and found the page below. Is the S1RM2 the same?

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

Yes, it's the same. They don't say exactly when you should use it, but I suppose if you point the camera at something not moving (subject detection off) and then grab 6 frames or so in one of the drives modes, and most are out of focus, you have a problem? Or maybe AFC but in single-shot mode? Not sure. I'll probably experiment on the 100-400. See if I can make it worse, LOL.

 

[CharlesH]

I know the old DSLR bodies had something similar, but I think it was for both AFC and AFS in those days.

Canon DSLRs had it. It would drive me crazy trying to calibrate long Canon lenses. You are trying to compensate for minor differences between the focal plane distance and the autofocus sensor distance, and in my experience this adjustment was required for telephoto lenses. This was across several Canon cameras I owned. I often resorted to focusing with 'Live View', which is much the same as focusing with a mirrorless camera. This is one reason I eventually switched to mirrorless cameras, where the focus is on the main sensor and the AF micro adjustment isn't needed. I know Lumix cameras have this function, but I have never seen a reason to use it, and I don't think it has the same function as with DSLR cameras. I'm looking forward to what you find.

 

[Andreas]

It's something I noticed when I was browsing the S1RII manual. Seems like all the bodies with phase detect AF all have it. Apparently, it's for AFC, as they tell you to use AFC when dialing in a lens.

I assume it's intended to make provisions for a non-Panasonic lens to focus more accurately when using AFC. Or perhaps any lens that isn't spot on. I know the old DSLR bodies had something similar, but I think it was for both AFC and AFS in those days.

Anyway, anybody try it?

As I understand things, this is an adjustment to the PDAF system which is only used for AFC. CDAF is still used with AFS, and so adjustments to the PDAF system will have no effect on AFS. With DSLRs, phase detect AF is used in all modes, so the adjustments will affect both.

I found micro-adjustments to be extremely valuable with my Pentax DSLRs. I haven't been tempted to try it with my Sigma 100-400 on my S1Rii because the AF at 400mm--where I tested it extensively--seems spot on. This seems true both in terms of the resulting images (when focus bracketing manually with tiny adjustments), and when testing it in the viewfinder with fully magnified manual focus on a tripod. The AF choice always seems the sharpest. It seems to nail the focus in both AFC and AFS, and the AFC and AFS focus results are consistent.