catch in focus

Ken Glasson · 09-17-2014, 05:42 AM

The manual has no comments on this feature. Can anyone explain how it works please?

kp0c · 09-17-2014, 07:44 AM

I don't know what camera you have, but your manual should say something about it, I know my K5 ii's manual does talk about it.
Anyway, google.com is a fantastic tool : https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/53-pentax-dslr-camera-articles/51036-how-...tch-focus.html
enjoy.

Stone G. · 09-17-2014, 07:53 AM

You do not mention your specific camera model, but it works like this:

In the Custom Settings menu you activate Catch In Focus
Your AF-mode must be set to AF.S
Your lens will have to be in manual focus mode (for AF-lenses with a focus switch) or it will have to be a manual focus lens by design
The lens base must be electrically conductive.

With this in place, the shutter release will only activate the shutter, when your subject is in focus. This brilliant feature can be used in a number of ways: With a remote or cable release that can lock the shutter you can turn your camera into a camera trap; you can preset a distance and moving objects will trigger the shutter as they move into focus; for ordinary shooting you can point at your subject and turn the focus ring slowly until your subject comes into focus (for example good for certain types of close-up photography) etc.

Have fun!

**todd** · 09-17-2014, 08:45 AM

Originally posted by Stone G.

Your lens will have to be in manual focus mode (for AF-lenses with a focus switch) or it will have to be a manual focus lens by design

I wonder why they didn't make CIF to work in M mode, so that one could conceivably use it with AF (that don't have focus switches, like all of mine) lenses as well.

Ken Glasson · 09-17-2014, 10:28 PM

Originally posted by Ken Glasson

The manual has no comments on this feature. Can anyone explain how it works please?

Many thanks for the reply. The camera manual I was referring to was the K3 and it has no comments other than #25 in the function list. On reading other comments I inspected my K5iis manual and was surprised to find it there with instructions. Thanks for all advice.
Ken

stillshot2 · 12-05-2014, 05:50 PM

I currently have a Pentax M 55mm 1.8 mounted on my K30 with AF-S selected on the AF switch, focus priority selected in the menu, and catch in focus turned on, yet the shutter continues to fire the instant I push it regardless of the subject being in focus or not. Am I doing something wrong?

Stone G. · 12-06-2014, 05:18 AM

Originally posted by stillshot2

I currently have a Pentax M 55mm 1.8

I've never heard about an smc Pentax-M 55mm lens - are you sure it is a genuine Pentax lens with metallic, conductive K-mount?

There is an smc Pentax ("K") 1:1.8 55mm and if that's the one you have, it ought to work with the settings you have desribed.

stillshot2 · 12-06-2014, 09:41 AM

Sorry, you are right I meant K 55mm 1.8. It is genuine, the mount is metal, but it won't work under these settings. Any other suggestions?

aleonx3 · 12-06-2014, 10:02 AM

Originally posted by stillshot2

I currently have a Pentax M 55mm 1.8 mounted on my K30 with AF-S selected on the AF switch, focus priority selected in the menu, and catch in focus turned on, yet the shutter continues to fire the instant I push it regardless of the subject being in focus or not. Am I doing something wrong?

In the custom menu setting, you have set AF-S to focus priority instead of release priority; and catch-in-focus to ON (as you indicated).

stillshot2 · 12-06-2014, 10:18 AM

Originally posted by aleonx3

In the custom menu setting, you have set AF-S to focus priority instead of release priority; and catch-in-focus to ON (as you indicated).

Correct. And the shutter releases even if subject isn't in focus. Is my camera malfunctioning?

Stone G. · 12-06-2014, 11:15 AM

Originally posted by stillshot2

Correct. And the shutter releases even if subject isn't in focus. Is my camera malfunctioning?

It really should work - that is: If you aren't using liveview? If you turn on liveview you will have AF.C no matter what.

So, next question: I believe the K-30 has focus peak in liveview. Does focuspeak work with your lens? And, without liveview: Do you get focus confirmation (beep and green hexagon lit in your viewfinder) when you subject is in focus?

stillshot2 · 12-06-2014, 11:31 AM

I am using the viewfinder, and it will beep and have the red center af indicator light up when in focus. Focus peaking works in live view also. Even tried removing and reinserting the battery and lens. For some reason the camera is acting like focus priority was never selected, so the only thing I can think at this point is to reset the camera and lose all my saved custom settings.

09-17-2014, 05:42 AM	#1
Ken Glasson New Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8	catch in focus The manual has no comments on this feature. Can anyone explain how it works please?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Catch in Focus K-3 problem	TCerbo	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	27	10-08-2018 02:19 AM
Catch in focus help	Halftufish	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	6	03-31-2013 03:27 PM
Catch in Focus and Lens Resolution [k-x]	Alec [k-x]	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	20	03-17-2013 12:55 AM
Catch-in-focus & burst	hcc	Pentax DSLR Discussion	10	05-25-2011 06:52 AM
Catch in Focus Battery life	clippy3	Pentax DSLR Discussion	5	11-17-2010 07:42 PM

09-17-2014, 07:44 AM	#2
kp0c Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Montreal Photos: Gallery Posts: 761	I don't know what camera you have, but your manual should say something about it, I know my K5 ii's manual does talk about it. Anyway, google.com is a fantastic tool : https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/53-pentax-dslr-camera-articles/51036-how-...tch-focus.html enjoy.

09-17-2014, 07:53 AM	#3
Stone G. Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Zealand, Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,516	You do not mention your specific camera model, but it works like this: In the Custom Settings menu you activate Catch In Focus Your AF-mode must be set to AF.S Your lens will have to be in manual focus mode (for AF-lenses with a focus switch) or it will have to be a manual focus lens by design The lens base must be electrically conductive. With this in place, the shutter release will only activate the shutter, when your subject is in focus. This brilliant feature can be used in a number of ways: With a remote or cable release that can lock the shutter you can turn your camera into a camera trap; you can preset a distance and moving objects will trigger the shutter as they move into focus; for ordinary shooting you can point at your subject and turn the focus ring slowly until your subject comes into focus (for example good for certain types of close-up photography) etc. Have fun!

09-17-2014, 08:45 AM	#4
todd Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,791	Originally posted by Stone G. Your lens will have to be in manual focus mode (for AF-lenses with a focus switch) or it will have to be a manual focus lens by design I wonder why they didn't make CIF to work in M mode, so that one could conceivably use it with AF (that don't have focus switches, like all of mine) lenses as well.

09-17-2014, 10:28 PM	#5
Ken Glasson New Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8 Original Poster	Originally posted by Ken Glasson The manual has no comments on this feature. Can anyone explain how it works please? Many thanks for the reply. The camera manual I was referring to was the K3 and it has no comments other than #25 in the function list. On reading other comments I inspected my K5iis manual and was surprised to find it there with instructions. Thanks for all advice. Ken

12-05-2014, 05:50 PM	#6
stillshot2 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Phoenix, AZ Photos: Albums Posts: 1,070	I currently have a Pentax M 55mm 1.8 mounted on my K30 with AF-S selected on the AF switch, focus priority selected in the menu, and catch in focus turned on, yet the shutter continues to fire the instant I push it regardless of the subject being in focus or not. Am I doing something wrong?

12-06-2014, 05:18 AM	#7
Stone G. Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Zealand, Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,516	Originally posted by stillshot2 I currently have a Pentax M 55mm 1.8 I've never heard about an smc Pentax-M 55mm lens - are you sure it is a genuine Pentax lens with metallic, conductive K-mount? There is an smc Pentax ("K") 1:1.8 55mm and if that's the one you have, it ought to work with the settings you have desribed.

12-06-2014, 09:41 AM	#8
stillshot2 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Phoenix, AZ Photos: Albums Posts: 1,070	Sorry, you are right I meant K 55mm 1.8. It is genuine, the mount is metal, but it won't work under these settings. Any other suggestions?

12-06-2014, 10:02 AM	#9
aleonx3 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brampton, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,996	Originally posted by stillshot2 I currently have a Pentax M 55mm 1.8 mounted on my K30 with AF-S selected on the AF switch, focus priority selected in the menu, and catch in focus turned on, yet the shutter continues to fire the instant I push it regardless of the subject being in focus or not. Am I doing something wrong? In the custom menu setting, you have set AF-S to focus priority instead of release priority; and catch-in-focus to ON (as you indicated).

12-06-2014, 10:18 AM	#10
stillshot2 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Phoenix, AZ Photos: Albums Posts: 1,070	Originally posted by aleonx3 In the custom menu setting, you have set AF-S to focus priority instead of release priority; and catch-in-focus to ON (as you indicated). Correct. And the shutter releases even if subject isn't in focus. Is my camera malfunctioning?

12-06-2014, 11:15 AM	#11
Stone G. Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Zealand, Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,516	Originally posted by stillshot2 Correct. And the shutter releases even if subject isn't in focus. Is my camera malfunctioning? It really should work - that is: If you aren't using liveview? If you turn on liveview you will have AF.C no matter what. So, next question: I believe the K-30 has focus peak in liveview. Does focuspeak work with your lens? And, without liveview: Do you get focus confirmation (beep and green hexagon lit in your viewfinder) when you subject is in focus?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

12-06-2014, 11:31 AM	#12
stillshot2 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Phoenix, AZ Photos: Albums Posts: 1,070	I am using the viewfinder, and it will beep and have the red center af indicator light up when in focus. Focus peaking works in live view also. Even tried removing and reinserting the battery and lens. For some reason the camera is acting like focus priority was never selected, so the only thing I can think at this point is to reset the camera and lose all my saved custom settings.