Does the K-X have manual focus confirm with ......

dude163 · 05-15-2010, 09:05 AM

Legacy M42 lenses and the official Pentax k-m42 adapter?

I ordered one but it hasnt arrived yet and wont be here until tuesday

**boriscleto** · 05-15-2010, 09:28 AM

Not unless you short out a pin with foil tape. I'm sure Ira will be around to tell you how to do it.

hangu · 05-15-2010, 10:16 AM

Yes it has focal confirmation. You don't need to do anything. No need to short anything out....

**boriscleto** · 05-15-2010, 10:47 AM

Originally posted by hangu

Yes it has focal confirmation. You don't need to do anything. No need to short anything out....

It only works if you have it set to AF. If you switch to MF it does not work.

Eruditass · 05-15-2010, 10:56 AM

Originally posted by boriscleto

It only works if you have it set to AF. If you switch to MF it does not work.

With the body set to AF and a M42 lens, it still is MF...

Yes it works, but you don't get trap-AF, which is what shorting the pins enables.

**boriscleto** · 05-15-2010, 11:00 AM

I knew you had to short out the pins to do something

dude163 · 05-15-2010, 03:07 PM

Thanks

Im new to pentax , what is Trap-AF?

Ira · 05-15-2010, 03:29 PM

I don't use catch focus--where the shutter will only release when you get the focus confirmation (beep and viewfinder icon). And with manual lenses, you have to put aluminum tape on the base of the lenses to fool the camera.

dude163 · 05-17-2010, 11:16 AM

Focus Trap or Catch In Focus |Photography Rulez

that looks cool!

Ira · 05-17-2010, 11:57 AM

Dude, even without catch focus, the confirmation works just fine on old M42s. I always have center focus point selected, but I think if you select one of the other focusing modes, it gives you center anyway.

I also don't think it even matters if the camera is set for M or F. Don't remember, because I shoot 99% M42s.

dude163 · 05-17-2010, 01:44 PM

Good to hear, the adapter should be here tomorrow, and my S M C 135mm Takumar got here today......

Ira · 05-17-2010, 06:30 PM

My experiences with M42s on the KX, briefly stated:

1) Av mode on the Kx works with M42, but not K lenses--they'll only shoot wide open. However, I get severe underexposure on my Taks with M42 in Av mode that I don't even bother with it any more. You can set a standard Ev compensation for this, but I just don't like this approach. Not saying it's wrong, but it's not for me.

2) On the Kx, in M mode, hitting the Ev button once will lock your exposure based on your selected aperture and manual ISO. You don't need the green button for this.

3)I use center-weighted metering, which makes it real easy to move my composition to lock in the exposure, and then move to focus and pull the trigger for the final composition.

dude163 · 05-18-2010, 08:53 AM

Great tips Ira, thanks a lot

dude163 · 05-22-2010, 02:46 PM

Picked up my adapter yesterday and amazed the young things at the camera store when I hooked up a Helios 44 and a Super Takumar 35mm to the K-X and the pictures came out great with a little tweaking on my part, what a great little camera!

It wasnt until afterwards that I realised I was taking pictures indoors under crappy fluro lights and they look pretty nice! I havent even goofed with the camera that much, but the high ISO shots were shot in JPG and they are way better than my rebel XTs ones and the rebel was using RAW

Really excited for the arrival of my Tak 1.4 50mm now!

PS: the focus confirmation on older lenses is worth the price of the camera in itself, what a revelation!!

05-15-2010, 09:05 AM	#1
dude163 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 824	Does the K-X have manual focus confirm with ...... Legacy M42 lenses and the official Pentax k-m42 adapter? I ordered one but it hasnt arrived yet and wont be here until tuesday

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05-15-2010, 09:28 AM	#2
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Not unless you short out a pin with foil tape. I'm sure Ira will be around to tell you how to do it.

05-15-2010, 10:16 AM	#3
hangu Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NYC Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,071	Yes it has focal confirmation. You don't need to do anything. No need to short anything out....

05-15-2010, 10:47 AM	#4
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by hangu Yes it has focal confirmation. You don't need to do anything. No need to short anything out.... It only works if you have it set to AF. If you switch to MF it does not work.

05-15-2010, 10:56 AM	#5
Eruditass Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,207	Originally posted by boriscleto It only works if you have it set to AF. If you switch to MF it does not work. With the body set to AF and a M42 lens, it still is MF... Yes it works, but you don't get trap-AF, which is what shorting the pins enables.

05-15-2010, 11:00 AM	#6
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	I knew you had to short out the pins to do something

05-15-2010, 03:07 PM	#7
dude163 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 824 Original Poster	Thanks Im new to pentax , what is Trap-AF?

05-15-2010, 03:29 PM	#8
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	I don't use catch focus--where the shutter will only release when you get the focus confirmation (beep and viewfinder icon). And with manual lenses, you have to put aluminum tape on the base of the lenses to fool the camera.

05-17-2010, 11:16 AM	#9
dude163 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 824 Original Poster	Focus Trap or Catch In Focus \|Photography Rulez that looks cool!

05-17-2010, 11:57 AM	#10
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	Dude, even without catch focus, the confirmation works just fine on old M42s. I always have center focus point selected, but I think if you select one of the other focusing modes, it gives you center anyway. I also don't think it even matters if the camera is set for M or F. Don't remember, because I shoot 99% M42s.

05-17-2010, 01:44 PM	#11
dude163 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 824 Original Poster	Good to hear, the adapter should be here tomorrow, and my S M C 135mm Takumar got here today......

05-17-2010, 06:30 PM	#12
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	My experiences with M42s on the KX, briefly stated: 1) Av mode on the Kx works with M42, but not K lenses--they'll only shoot wide open. However, I get severe underexposure on my Taks with M42 in Av mode that I don't even bother with it any more. You can set a standard Ev compensation for this, but I just don't like this approach. Not saying it's wrong, but it's not for me. 2) On the Kx, in M mode, hitting the Ev button once will lock your exposure based on your selected aperture and manual ISO. You don't need the green button for this. 3)I use center-weighted metering, which makes it real easy to move my composition to lock in the exposure, and then move to focus and pull the trigger for the final composition.

05-18-2010, 08:53 AM	#13
dude163 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 824 Original Poster	Great tips Ira, thanks a lot

05-22-2010, 02:46 PM	#14
dude163 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 824 Original Poster	Picked up my adapter yesterday and amazed the young things at the camera store when I hooked up a Helios 44 and a Super Takumar 35mm to the K-X and the pictures came out great with a little tweaking on my part, what a great little camera! It wasnt until afterwards that I realised I was taking pictures indoors under crappy fluro lights and they look pretty nice! I havent even goofed with the camera that much, but the high ISO shots were shot in JPG and they are way better than my rebel XTs ones and the rebel was using RAW Really excited for the arrival of my Tak 1.4 50mm now! PS: the focus confirmation on older lenses is worth the price of the camera in itself, what a revelation!!