ARRGHHH!! Focus Problems

lytrytyr · 09-06-2013, 03:19 PM

Originally posted by Wildbunch

Now I use it on my new K-01 (CDAF) and focus is spot on all the time.

The K-01 is like a foster home for a number of bad boys that don't show their best behavior on a DSLR.
The Tammy 17-50/2.8, with its random response to PDAF, is a very good example.

lytrytyr · 09-06-2013, 03:22 PM

Originally posted by richardstringer

I hope I don't get anymore problems, if this is the kind of problems you have everytime you use a different lens the what's the point un having more than one lens really. I can't be bothered to keep adjusting the AF fine adjustment for each lens.

On the K-x, I didn't have the luxury of any focus adjustment,
so I certainly appreciated the CDAF in live view option.

Study the manual and give it a try.

richardstringer · 09-06-2013, 03:33 PM

Unfortunately I doubt the manual is gonna cure anymore problems I have with lenses being crap at focusing.

K57XR · 09-06-2013, 04:36 PM

Originally posted by lytrytyr

On the K-x, I didn't have the luxury of any focus adjustment,

It wasn't an actual/advertised feature but the K-x actually had that option in debug mode with earlier firmwares. I had to adjust my K-x +120 with a DA35 f2.4. The problem was the adjustment was universal to all lenses.

Action Jackson · 09-06-2013, 05:21 PM

I had my copy of the Tammy 17-50 2.8 in recently for warranty repair when even at -10 it wouldn't focus anymore (and -10 was the best setting). Don't know what happened. One day it was spot on, then it was way, way off. It's a new lens that I barely use. There is a thread about problems with this lens on Pentax bodies. On my Canon it never gave me any problems.

lytrytyr · 09-06-2013, 05:24 PM

Originally posted by richardstringer

Unfortunately I doubt the manual is gonna cure anymore problems I have with lenses being crap at focusing.

Page 104 explains how to set Contrast AF during Live View.
If you set it for spot, you can point the center of the screen
at a contrasty area where you want the focus to be.
Then even a lens like the Tamron 17-50 will focus accurately,
just maybe not as fast as PDAF through the viewfinder.

richardstringer · 09-07-2013, 01:45 AM

So if I use the live view mode to focus I should be ok, ok i'll try that way.

TenZ.NL · 09-07-2013, 03:17 AM

Originally posted by richardstringer

I hope I don't get anymore problems, if this is the kind of problems you have everytime you use a different lens the what's the point un having more than one lens really. I can't be bothered to keep adjusting the AF fine adjustment for each lens.

I dunno for K30 but with the K5 you can store up to 10 different lenses. It`s a one time setup per lens and the body will recognise what lens you put on and apply your custom setting. But that`s something you have to check in your manual.

richardstringer · 09-07-2013, 06:16 AM

You can with the K30 but I thought you had to set it up again everytime you connect a new lens.

ignmar · 09-07-2013, 06:32 AM

i got same problem with my 17-50 and 28-75. but i was contact my local tamron dealer to check this problem they not even try to fix it they just give me brand new one yeah it fix after that. i think you got bad copy of it.

zapp · 09-07-2013, 08:26 AM

May I make the point that you should typically NOT adjust focus at the close range setting but rather at intermediate focus settings. Not easy to find a good target to do so.
Also, an offset of -10 does not mean that the lens is off, the camera may be off as well, but you can (officially) only adjust the settings used for the lens yourself.

richardstringer · 09-07-2013, 10:00 AM

The focus was spot on when I used my 18-55mm Pentax kit lens. I might just try and contact Tamrom, see what they say.

richardstringer · 09-07-2013, 02:20 PM

I just did a test of the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 and the standard 18-55mm kit lens, same aperteur and focal length and the kit lens produced much, much sharper and better image quality, it was actually quite shocking so unless the Tamrom 17-50mm f2/8 isn't as good as the kit lens, there's definately a problem with the Tamron. I've contacted Amazon and they're refunding me, so what i'll probably do is either keep the kit lens and use the refund money to buy myself a Pentax 35m f2.4 prime lens or buy myself another Tamron 17-55mm f2.8 from a shop instead so I can test it out in store.

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09-06-2013, 03:19 PM	#16
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by Wildbunch Now I use it on my new K-01 (CDAF) and focus is spot on all the time. The K-01 is like a foster home for a number of bad boys that don't show their best behavior on a DSLR. The Tammy 17-50/2.8, with its random response to PDAF, is a very good example.

09-06-2013, 03:22 PM	#17
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by richardstringer I hope I don't get anymore problems, if this is the kind of problems you have everytime you use a different lens the what's the point un having more than one lens really. I can't be bothered to keep adjusting the AF fine adjustment for each lens. On the K-x, I didn't have the luxury of any focus adjustment, so I certainly appreciated the CDAF in live view option. Study the manual and give it a try.

09-06-2013, 03:33 PM	#18
richardstringer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Boston, Lincolnshire Posts: 145 Original Poster	Unfortunately I doubt the manual is gonna cure anymore problems I have with lenses being crap at focusing.

09-06-2013, 04:36 PM	#19
K57XR Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 830	Originally posted by lytrytyr On the K-x, I didn't have the luxury of any focus adjustment, It wasn't an actual/advertised feature but the K-x actually had that option in debug mode with earlier firmwares. I had to adjust my K-x +120 with a DA35 f2.4. The problem was the adjustment was universal to all lenses.

09-06-2013, 05:21 PM	#20
Action Jackson Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Markham, Ontario, CANADA Posts: 243	I had my copy of the Tammy 17-50 2.8 in recently for warranty repair when even at -10 it wouldn't focus anymore (and -10 was the best setting). Don't know what happened. One day it was spot on, then it was way, way off. It's a new lens that I barely use. There is a thread about problems with this lens on Pentax bodies. On my Canon it never gave me any problems.

09-06-2013, 05:24 PM	#21
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by richardstringer Unfortunately I doubt the manual is gonna cure anymore problems I have with lenses being crap at focusing. Page 104 explains how to set Contrast AF during Live View. If you set it for spot, you can point the center of the screen at a contrasty area where you want the focus to be. Then even a lens like the Tamron 17-50 will focus accurately, just maybe not as fast as PDAF through the viewfinder.

09-07-2013, 01:45 AM	#22
richardstringer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Boston, Lincolnshire Posts: 145 Original Poster	So if I use the live view mode to focus I should be ok, ok i'll try that way.

09-07-2013, 03:17 AM	#23
TenZ.NL Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Below sealevel Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,100	Originally posted by richardstringer I hope I don't get anymore problems, if this is the kind of problems you have everytime you use a different lens the what's the point un having more than one lens really. I can't be bothered to keep adjusting the AF fine adjustment for each lens. I dunno for K30 but with the K5 you can store up to 10 different lenses. It`s a one time setup per lens and the body will recognise what lens you put on and apply your custom setting. But that`s something you have to check in your manual.

09-07-2013, 06:16 AM	#24
richardstringer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Boston, Lincolnshire Posts: 145 Original Poster	You can with the K30 but I thought you had to set it up again everytime you connect a new lens.

09-07-2013, 06:32 AM	#25
ignmar Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Batam Posts: 43	i got same problem with my 17-50 and 28-75. but i was contact my local tamron dealer to check this problem they not even try to fix it they just give me brand new one yeah it fix after that. i think you got bad copy of it.

09-07-2013, 08:26 AM	#26
zapp Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,385	May I make the point that you should typically NOT adjust focus at the close range setting but rather at intermediate focus settings. Not easy to find a good target to do so. Also, an offset of -10 does not mean that the lens is off, the camera may be off as well, but you can (officially) only adjust the settings used for the lens yourself.

09-07-2013, 10:00 AM	#27
richardstringer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Boston, Lincolnshire Posts: 145 Original Poster	The focus was spot on when I used my 18-55mm Pentax kit lens. I might just try and contact Tamrom, see what they say.

09-07-2013, 02:20 PM	#28
richardstringer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Boston, Lincolnshire Posts: 145 Original Poster	I just did a test of the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 and the standard 18-55mm kit lens, same aperteur and focal length and the kit lens produced much, much sharper and better image quality, it was actually quite shocking so unless the Tamrom 17-50mm f2/8 isn't as good as the kit lens, there's definately a problem with the Tamron. I've contacted Amazon and they're refunding me, so what i'll probably do is either keep the kit lens and use the refund money to buy myself a Pentax 35m f2.4 prime lens or buy myself another Tamron 17-55mm f2.8 from a shop instead so I can test it out in store.