LA Pro - Lense Distances and Ruler Angle

[Mark Osborne - (ozphoto)]

I would like to know the physical distance between the following lens and the LA Pro plus the angle of the ruler?

17-40 f4
24-70 f2.8
24-105 f4
100-400 f4.5-5.6

[Michael Tapes - (MichaelT)]

Hi Mark,

You can use these distances as a starting point. They are 25 multiplied by the focal length of the lens. This is a generalized distance. if you shoot all the time at a specific distance than that is the distance you should use. But be aware that setting at a very short distance can adversely affect longer distances. Always confirm your micro adjustment settings (using LA or real world shots) at all distances that you plan to shoot. I will be writing more about this in our White Paper (April 2009).

I have noted the DOF (inches) for each lens/distance

• 17mm f4 - Unless you shoot VERY close (less than 5 feet) this lens will not gain by adjustment. It has very wide DOF. For example at just 5 feet DOF is greater than 5 feet.
• 24mm f2.8 - same as above. DOF at 5 feet is 2 feet. (f4 has even more DOF)
• 70mm 2.8 - 6 feet (4.1)
• 100mm f4.5 - 8 feet (5.7)
• 105mm f4 - 10 feet (7.9)
• 400mm f5.6 - 25/50 feet (4.2/17.5)

The above is only a guideline. Note that in absence of any information about what distances that you will be shooting at, Canon recommends at least 50xFL which is 16.4 feet for each 100mm of focal length. This is their do no harm setting, so that you will not have to worry about confirming at all distances. But from a practical point of view, this recommendation is difficult to deal with for even 100mm lenses because of the space required.

Also see this post.

[Mark Osborne - (ozphoto)]

Michael Reichman says to set a zoom lens to its longest focal length so I need more detail on these lenses in terms of distance to the LA Pro

17-40 f4 ( do I set this to 40?)
24-70 f2.8 ( do I set this to 70?)
24-105 f4 ( do I set this to 105?)
100-400 f4.5-5.6 ( do I set this to 400?)

Thanks

[Michael Tapes - (MichaelT)]

Mark,

As a general guideline, yes, adjust zooms at their longest focal length and at a distance of 25x the focal length of the lens in its longest zoom setting. This is so that the lens is exhibiting its shortest (smallest) depth of field (DOF), so that the setting can be seen and adjusted more easily.

MT

[Brian Mackey - (fineartdigital)]

Originally Posted by MichaelT

Mark,

As a general guideline, yes, adjust zooms at their longest focal length and at a distance of 25x the focal length of the lens in its longest zoom setting. This is so that the lens is exhibiting its shortest (smallest) depth of field (DOF), so that the setting can be seen and adjusted more easily.

MT

Us older folk are jaded I guess. We want/hope/expect maybe, the products we buy to be a bit more complete. Like included documentation and new user starting guide. Are there any plans to make a chart/list of Nikon and canon lenses with the proper starting points?

I have NIKON - 17-55 2.8, a 105 2.8 vr, and the 70-200 2.8

It would be great and I hope I’m not alone here, to have a guide as a starting point. I don’t want to get so involved in all the technical x factors and sideways aberrations, square roots of the lens hood factors and more :)

I just want to, set the pro on a stand, set the camera to the right (f-stop) or recommended f-stop and the recommended starting distance and get busy.

Regards

[Michael Tapes - (MichaelT)]

Hi Brian,

I am in total agreement in terms of you deserving complete and thoughtful documentation. I apologize that the huge demand for lensAlign has swamped our ability to get all things done in a timely manner.

We have recently hired a Marketing Manager who will be able to assist greatly in our abilities to complete our documentation projects, including the White paper which will be published within April.

Regarding you specific questions. Always test at the wide open aperture, where the DOF is smallest and most subject to error, and easiest to adjust to.

In terms of distance, use this as your starting guide.....8 feet per 100mm, such that your 17-55 would be tested at 55mm or ~4 feet, the 105 at 8 feet and the 70-200 at 16 feet as a starting point. I often use the 200mm setting for tight portraits so i would tend to adjust a little closer than the guideline of 16 feet.

Hope this gets you started and thanks for your patience and understanding.

[Brian Mackey - (fineartdigital)]

I'm so dissapointed to spend my hard earned money, and then have to search the web, post on a forum, make a phone call, and then watch some really BAD video's to try and understand how to use, what i gave YOU my money for, that I'm posting the thing on Ebay!

I won't run around and poor mouth the thing and the lack of (above) for 150 bucks - but if asked I really cant say anything positive about the rawworkflow.com experience..

best of luck in the future..

[Michael Tapes - (MichaelT)]

Brian,

I cannot dispute your experience and it pains me that it has been a bad one for you. From the many customers that I have met and talked to, and heard from, they were able to look past the late documentation based on the gain to them from having the LensAlign in their hands rather than waiting for us to work on documentation rather than production. They are trilled with the product cna contact me to say thanks. So what I am saying is that you appear to be in the minority.

Having said that, that does not make you wrong or us right, it is just a situation for a small business where I had to make a decision. The same thing is happening with the Long Ruler Option. I get emails everyday from people wanting the Long Ruler Option *today*, so again I am diverted from the documentation. Right choice or wrong choice....each of us may have a different opinion.

I know that LensAlign is helping 100s and soon thousands of photographers with their focus issues and that is gratifying, and that is what steers my decisions. I have just hired a long time associate as our marketing manager which will take some of the burden off of me and we are also working hard on the documentation and a White Paper on the subject of focus issues in general.

I regret your experience with us, and I hope that you will accept a phone call from us later today to discuss and hopefully rectify your situation.

Thanks for posting...

[Brian Mackey - (fineartdigital)]

As with all things in life, you can please everyone. Some of us just don't voice their unhappiness. They spend money on soemthing and then put it on the shelf. Im IRISH LOL Im vocal!

Photography me is pure joy, and in all things I dont want drama. And, I don't mind being a minority most artistic types are. The value to you should be my voice.

The item works as described, no question, but, us non scientifc types, (or the minority) ;) dont want to have to work so hard to buy something and make it work.

Documentation should have been availabe before the first unit shipped. You know that, and I know that, some dont care some do. Im one that does. And Im one that doesnt really understand why, there isnt any. From what I have soent lots of hours of my own life learning baout your product I could have already writen the users guide for the pro, based on reseacrh from the forums here, dpreview, and those videos here and lum landscape.

Keeping this in mind, My isssue is NOT with you Michael or the product, and that needs to be said and heard -- it's the incomplete process chosen to get the thing out.

Anyway Ill get off my soap box :) and let you get some real work done (on the manual LOL ) and not divert your time talking to me ..

note:
Ummm, long ruler option? Guess I need to read some more.. Im still working on the basic starting point for the ruler that came with it..

Anway, thanks for your time, and what will be wonderful product, but the joys gone this round for me.

Ps, Are there local dealers with you WB cards in new england? I would like to see one of the kits.

regards

Brian

Originally Posted by MichaelT

Brian,

I cannot dispute your experience and it pains me that it has been a bad one for you. From the many customers that I have met and talked to, and heard from, they were able to look past the late documentation based on the gain to them from having the LensAlign in their hands rather than waiting for us to work on documentation rather than production. They are trilled with the product cna contact me to say thanks. So what I am saying is that you appear to be in the minority.

Having said that, that does not make you wrong or us right, it is just a situation for a small business where I had to make a decision. The same thing is happening with the Long Ruler Option. I get emails everyday from people wanting the Long Ruler Option *today*, so again I am diverted from the documentation. Right choice or wrong choice....each of us may have a different opinion.

I know that LensAlign is helping 100s and soon thousands of photographers with their focus issues and that is gratifying, and that is what steers my decisions. I have just hired a long time associate as our marketing manager which will take some of the burden off of me and we are also working hard on the documentation and a White Paper on the subject of focus issues in general.

I regret your experience with us, and I hope that you will accept a phone call from us later today to discuss and hopefully rectify your situation.

Thanks for posting...

[Michael Tapes - (MichaelT)]

Hi Brian,

As Steve discussed on the phone, we are aligned with you and have the documentation set as a high priority. We will be in touch. Thanks for your candid feedback. It is very helpful whenever we hear from our customers, positive or negative. It is our job to eliminate the negative.

One point...regarding the math. While we speak of 25xFL and sounds like you need a calculator for figures that out (because you do!) an easy way to think of it is 8.5 feet per 100mm of focal length.

Thanks again for your constructive feedback.

[John Clark - (jaclarkaus)]

[Michael Tapes - (MichaelT)]

Thanks John,

I was waiting until my chart and explanation was complete, but in the spirit of giving, here it is and I will finish it and make it it's own post later this week.

Green = DOF < 12" (for short ruler)
Yellow = DOF > 12" AND < 48" (Long Ruler)

[Dennys Bisogno - (dennys bisogno)]

Michael, is the white paper out yet, if not, when do you think it will be out?

Thanks!


[QUOTE=MichaelT;43924]Hi Brian,


.......We have recently hired a Marketing Manager who will be able to assist greatly in our abilities to complete our documentation projects, including the White paper which will be published within April.......

[Michael Tapes - (MichaelT)]

Would you believe within May?* <g>

Seriously, we are making good progress, but it is not yet in a publishable form. We are making a bunch of announcements tomorrow, and as you will see, I hope we can have all major aspects of the LensAlign project completed within May, and some by mid May.

Thanks for your patience...

(*for you Get Smart fans.)

[Dennys Bisogno - (dennys bisogno)]

Michael,

Thanks for you prompt response.

Look forward to all the announcements :)

Originally Posted by MichaelT

Would you believe within May?* <g>

Seriously, we are making good progress, but it is not yet in a publishable form. We are making a bunch of announcements tomorrow, and as you will see, I hope we can have all major aspects of the LensAlign project completed within May, and some by mid May.

Thanks for your patience...

(*for you Get Smart fans.)