Reikan has announced the release of version 2.0 of their FoCal focus tuning app. The app enables users to tune their camera and lens performance, with significant improvements in image quality, particularly with high resolution SLR cameras. The new version offers the ability to share results, more information about camera performance, improved speed and reports and voice prompts.

It is available as a free upgrade for existing v.1 owners or priced at £19.95 for the standard, £39.95 for the Plus and £69.95 for the Pro versions.

Press release

Reikan FoCal 2.0 Final Released

Reikan has released FoCal 2.0 Final, a major update to its automated focus tuning software FoCal, which provides autofocus calibration for both Nikon and Canon digital SLR cameras. 2.0 adds the unique ability for users to compare test results against results from other FoCal users around the world, helping to answer the age old question, “Is my camera/lens a good copy?”

FoCal 2.0 has many changes to both the user interface as well as the underlying software, ensuring that FoCal 2.0 is faster to use, more stable and provides the most accurate calibrations of any version of FoCal to date.

Other highlighted features are routines to determine lens optical performance with an astigmatism metric and a large number of changes to the user interface make FoCal 2.0 more user friendly

FoCal 2 Headline Features

• Compare your results with other FoCal users – with FoCal 2, you can now compare the results of your tests with the results from thousands of other FoCal users to see how your equipment is really performing. Pro only feature, this area is one we expect to expand on in future FoCal releases.
• Review your previous tests – you can review the detailed results of previous tests you’ve run for comparison. This includes most of the tests you’ve run with FoCal 1 as well. Pro only feature.
• Improved Reports – the reports are now more concise, grouping relevant information together and showing more information that matters. Pro only feature.
• Faster Results – get accurate results in less time with the new analysis algorithms in FoCal 2. FoCal Plus and Focal Pro both benefit from the same improved Automatic Focus Calibration processing.
• More Information – dig deeper into the performance of your camera and lens with extra information, as well as reviewing more details about each shot taken. FoCal Plus inherits the “Lens Profile” graph display from Focal Pro to make it easier for users to understand what’s happening during the calibration process. FoCal Pro has the following extra information available during calibration, Historic Results, Focus Consistency, Astigmatism Factor, Result Convergence and Image Motion.
• Target Optimization Added to FoCal Plus – previously a FoCal Pro only feature we’ve extended this option to work in FoCal Plus. FoCal will compensate for slight camera movement during a test, helping ensure the same target region is analyzed for each test shot.
• User Interface Improvements – the user interface is easier to understand, with new tabbed windows, more logical operation and comprehensive keyboard control.
• Voice Prompts – FoCal 2 even talks to you! Calibrate any camera without needing to sit looking at the computer screen, changes you might need to make at the camera are spoken out loud.
• Free Upgrade – FoCal 2.0 is a free upgrade for all FoCal 1 license holders, so there’s nothing more to pay to get all these new features!

FoCal 2 Mac Specific Improvements

• No Mono Framework Install – FoCal 2 for Mac is now a standalone application with no requirement to install any third party frameworks. Easier installation for users and it’s impossible to install an untested version of Mono! Digital Signing and Easy Install – FoCal 2 for Mac is now fully digitally signed and the install is graphically guided (just drag and drop from the DMG file!).
• Huge focus on reliability – A lot of the work on getting FoCal 2 for Mac ready has been in improving reliability and stability. Changes to the internal code structure, a new development tool chain and extensive pre-release testing.
• No need to select camera manufacturer – gone is the need to choose between Canon and Nikon before connecting a camera.