IMPORTANT: 7D / 5D adjustment program (2186)

dudu75 wrote: Won't we need special dedicated tools in addtion to the provided program ?

This software (along with repair manuals) are only a part of tools / requirements needed to deal with our cameras. Some features can be tweaked just fine (as flash exposure), some may require additional tools or various DIY alternatives and some will require a lot more.
But, that's a good start to part with; now is the time to see if "our community" is knowledgeable, interested and willing to do something with these.
Unfortunately, Minolta users base isn't near that wide and powerful as Canon one for example, otherwise this may serve for some reverse engineering work as well which may eventually result in hacked firmware for example.
We certainly need more time to see if these will be of any help other than just pure curiosity.

Edited by Kiklop - 22 January 2007 at 16:30

Now I finished first testing of 2186 for 5D, function "EZ"
First, I must say, that 2186 is very dangerous program!
Some parameters I did not return to previous values. But my camera work :)

using MS Word I create document with series of lines (width 6 pt and length = paper length = standart A4) I have 4 copies (for diagonal AF points).

After clicking "EZ" we can choose mode: Adjust or Check.
I dont know how to work with mode named "Adjust", I can see error message (I dont remember, but something about "illegal R value")

Mode "Check" very interesting mode.
1st step. I setup camera, tripod, and chart 1 - paper with vertical lines
for "3,4,6 island", second step - I was rotate camera 90 degrees, for using horizontal lines (5 island)
and I was used 4 copies for 1,7 and 2,8 island groups.

After that I check FF/BF. It was very improbably. Central point is ok, but all diagonal can not focus to chart.

2nd step. I don't use focus ring for focusing, chart was unfocused, after that all AF points have FF.

3rd step. I change distance from camera to chart to 60 or 70 cm, for better manual focussing. After precise focusing and check all Island, I have good working central point, up|down point, left point with FF, top-left terrible FF, right point - small FF. And sometimes camera connot focus by using diagonal points.

Wow! I write it. Who want to repeat my experiment? :)

P.S. Shift values work. But I dont know how to use it. I think that we must use some values (not all) from calculated values to adjust AF.

I do not intend to try this program at all, by the way, my cameras work well enough as it is. The target distance you should use is approx 2 metres (just under) not 60-70cm - the curvature of field of the 50mm f1.7 lens at 60-70cm will mean that you can not possibly get a perfect response from the centre sensor and the outer ones at the same time.

The reason the 1.9xx metre focusing distance is used is that it's as far as they can get in a workshop, and the flatness of field is sufficiently close to its infinity/middle distance curvature to be accurate for calibration.

You can't possibly run tests at 60-70cm unless you use a slightly dished target, or calculate an amount to move the target BACK when you swing the camera to aim the outer sensors at it.

David

Hi,
Is there a way to improve AF speed using this program?
Sony A100 has a faster and more accurate AF as compare to KM5D or 7D. Is there any adjustment in this program to improve the AF speed and accuracy?

ahalilag wrote: So, is it possible to fix flash level (underexposure) with the program, without any tools? My KM5D constantly underexposes (my guess is 5 or 6 stops) with 3600 HS. I am not happy to send it to service (it takes too long).

5-6 stops ? that's not possible IMHO and if true than somethings wrong with either your camera or flash (or communication between them.

But, i can confirm that we can tweak flash exposure.
I done it with my 7D :) adjusted gain for +0.66 (as described in 2181 Supplementary Information) and i can report that my initial testing do show much, much better flash performance (Sony 5600 with 7D).
I will test this further but so far my wireless and on board flash performance is just about the same (i had good flash exposure in wireless but underexposure 1-2 ev stops with flash on the camera before the adjustement).

Then, something is wrong with the flash + camera combination but this certainly isn't what the adjustment program can fix IMHO.
Good luck and keep us informed.

Kiklop wrote: But, i can confirm that we can tweak flash exposure. I done it with my 7D :) adjusted gain for +0.66 (as described in 2181 Supplementary Information) and i can report that my initial testing do show much, much better flash performance (Sony 5600 with 7D). I will test this further but so far my wireless and on board flash performance is just about the same (i had good flash exposure in wireless but underexposure 1-2 ev stops with flash on the camera before the adjustement).

Wow, this is a great piece of news! My 5600 HS(D) works perfectly with A2 and underexposures with 7D, thus i did not want to send it for (re)calibration. Now we can recalibrate the body (and it is a reversible way)!
Thank you, Kiklop, for your excellent investigation in this topic!