Review on 📷 Datacolor SpyderLensCal Optical Calibration Tool SLC100 by Mark Hanson

In order for focus calibration results to be reliable, the camera must be accurately aimed at the target when performing tests. The built in level on this target makes this easy. You set up the target on a tripod and level the target. You then place the camera on another tripod a reasonable distance from the target, level the camera, and then use the center post of that tripod to vertically center the target in the camera's viewfinder. You can then use the parallax between the target's focus bar on the right and the target's main body to align the camera properly, moving it left or right on the tripod as needed to eliminate parallax - this way shows the camera directly on the target in both horizontal and vertical directions. It's all a lot easier than it sounds, and you can line things up quickly and accurately. The entire unit folds easily for storage, although you'll need to practice unfolding it a few times before you get the hang of it. The only gripe I have with the SpyderLensCal is that the main body of the target is just the big squares that you can use to judge how accurate your camera's focus is. While this makes a good target for locking your camera's autofocus sensor in place, it would be easier to judge by eye the accuracy of that focus in the resulting photos if this part of the target included some finer details like resolution. Bars. I might attach one of those "USAF 1951" histograms to that part of the target to provide that kind of reference. But even if you don't do anything of the sort, you can still properly judge focus by looking at the thin lines on the numbered focus bar on the right.