I finally had an evening to seriously look at my new K-r that I picked up at the Photo Show on Saturday. I am really liking this camera ... not perfect, but really good.
I had suspected I wasn't seeing the full sharpness of the K-r, but I haven't pixel peeped at all. Mostly just chimping the back of the camera. So last night I methodically put the K-r through the paces alongside my K20D, mounting each of my most-used lenses. I shot a series of test shots, closeups, mid distance and long (about 25 feet) distance. I haven't checked infinity.
I double checked the AF fine tuning that I use for the K20D. Those numbers are:
- Pentax FA 77/1.8 (+- 0 lens adjust, +- 0 body adjust)
- Pentax DA 35/2.4 (yes the new one!) (+- 0 lens adjust, +- 0 body adjust)
- Sigma 24-135/2.8-4 (+ 4 lens adjust, +- 0 body adjust)
- Sigma 28-70/2.8 EX DG (+ 4 lens adjust, +- 0 body adjust)
The K-r has AF fine tuning, but one setting only (unlike the K20D which allows a universal plus memorizes individual lenses.)
Setting up the K-r to focus as well as the K20D required:
- Pentax FA 77/1.8 (-9 adjust)
- Pentax DA 35/2.4 (-9 adjust)
- Sigma 24-135/2.8-4 (-5 adjust)
- Sigma 28-70/2.8 EX DG (-5 adjust)
My concern is... should I have to enter such serious front focus correction on a new body for Pentax-branded lenses? This K-r in stock configuration is clearly front-focussing. Yes, I can adjust it into sharpness. But is this within tolerances?
My K10D was also off, especially with the Sigma glass (which I really like.) Not being able to fine tune AF was the major reason I moved to the K20D. With the K20D, the Pentax glass seems great -- factory tolerances on both the bodies and lenses line up. Having to tweak the Sigmas is no surprise, but I am glad I can do so.
My concern is that the K-r is 9 points off the K20D. There are only 10 steps of correction! If my FA 77 and DA 35 are "factory correct" and match my K20D, then I am tempted to think of them as closer to the "norm." What if I buy another lens (even a Pentax Limited) and it's out just a bit in the other direction? Say, requiring
-3 adjust on the K20D? Then ... I'll never be able to get it properly set on the K-r.
One further wrinkle, is that I want to recheck all my testing with good daylight. I am suspicious about AF performance under different wavelengths of light. And most important to me is AF accuracy in daylight.
So.... sanity check time. Should I return the K-r and get another body? Am I being too picky, and this if within spec? Should I be happy because I was wise and bought the K-r because it has AF fine tune? Or should I be unhappy because I need to adjust it to
-9 with good Pentax glass?
Last edited by filmamigo; 10-21-2010 at 11:46 AM.