Brands Guides About
Datacolor DC SLC100 SpyderLensCal Lens Focus Calibration Tool — main product image
Datacolor DC SLC100 SpyderLensCal Lens Focus Calibration Tool
Datacolor DC SLC100 SpyderLensCal Lens Focus Calibration Tool
Datacolor DC SLC100 SpyderLensCal Lens Focus Calibration Tool
Datacolor DC SLC100 SpyderLensCal Lens Focus Calibration Tool
Datacolor

Datacolor DC SLC100 SpyderLensCal Lens Focus Calibration Tool

★★★★★2.9 (23 reviews)

Stop losing shots to front- or back-focus — the SpyderLensCal gives you a fast, repeatable method for dialing in autofocus calibration on every lens in your bag.

$68.95*
Check availability

*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jul 14, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

Affiliate Disclosure: Studio Supplies may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you. This helps support our editorial team.

Notice a mistake? Let Us Know

Overview

The Datacolor SpyderLensCal is a purpose-built calibration target for photographers who shoot wide open and can't afford to have autofocus variance blurring what should be tack-sharp images. Portrait shooters, wedding photographers, and anyone who relies on shallow depth of field to separate a subject from the background will recognize the problem immediately: a lens that tests sharp at f/8 can still consistently front- or back-focus at f/1.8, robbing you of the keeper rate you need in fast-paced sessions. The SpyderLensCal gives you a systematic way to measure that error and correct it using your camera body's AF micro-adjustment setting — a fix that stays stored per-lens-per-body combination.

The tool itself is a ruled, angled calibration target with two practical design details that matter in use: a built-in bubble level ensures the target face is square to the lens, and a standard tripod thread lets you mount it on any support you already carry. Both features make results repeatable, which is the difference between a calibration that holds and one you have to redo. The SpyderLensCal is lightweight and packs flat, making it easy to bring to a studio booking or on-location job for a quick pre-shoot verification. It requires no software, batteries, or proprietary tools — just your camera, a tripod, and good ambient light to read the focal plane clearly.

Key Features

Fast, reliable method of measuring focus on camera and lens combinations

Integrated level and tri-pod mount

Specifications

Compatibility
DSLR or camera with autofocus fine-tune/micro-adjustment
Tripod Mount
Integrated standard tripod thread
Level
Integrated bubble level

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • The integrated bubble level ensures the calibration target is perfectly perpendicular to the lens axis every time, removing setup error from the calibration process.
  • The built-in tripod mount provides a stable, repeatable positioning platform — critical for getting consistent results across multiple test shots.
  • Compact and lightweight, so it travels easily in a camera bag and can be used for a quick calibration check on location before an important shoot.
  • The angled calibration ruler makes front- and back-focus error immediately readable in the frame, so you can see the direction and magnitude of the offset at a glance.
  • Works with any lens brand or focal length as long as the camera body supports AF micro-adjustment, making it a universal tool across a mixed-lens kit.

👎 Cons

  • Only useful if your camera body has an AF fine-tune or micro-adjustment menu option — cameras without this feature make the tool's diagnosis irrelevant.
  • The calibration process requires shooting in controlled, consistent lighting to accurately read the focal plane; outdoor or variable-light environments complicate the process.
  • Provides no software analysis or guided workflow — interpreting the results and dialing in the correct offset value requires some experience with AF calibration methodology.
  • The tool itself is small, and at longer focal lengths where working distance is large, precise physical leveling becomes more critical and slightly more cumbersome to manage solo.

Frequently Asked Questions

You need a DSLR or mirrorless camera that has an autofocus fine-tune or micro-adjustment setting in the menu. Without that in-camera correction capability, the tool can identify focus error but you won't have a way to correct it.
It works as a focus target with mirrorless cameras, but AF micro-adjustment is less commonly needed on mirrorless systems since they focus directly on the sensor plane. Its primary value is for DSLR phase-detect calibration where front/back focus is a recurring issue.
Set up the SpyderLensCal on a tripod using its integrated tripod mount, level it with the built-in bubble level, position your camera at the recommended distance for the focal length being tested, shoot wide open, and read the focus plane against the calibration ruler. Adjust the camera's AF fine-tune setting and repeat until the focal plane lands precisely at the target mark.
Yes — AF calibration is a per-lens-per-body combination. A lens that calibrates correctly on one body may need a different offset value on another. The SpyderLensCal lets you run each pairing independently and store separate offset values in your camera.
The tool itself is mount-agnostic — it's a physical target, not an electronic device. As long as your camera body supports AF fine-tune/micro-adjustment, you can use it with any lens on any system.

Related Products