[norwegianoutdoors]

Hey guys,

I bought a nearly unused CV 58mm 1.4 sl ii a few months ago.

Didn't fall for it on my K-1. Seemed very soft.

Then I decided to sell it. Only to try it once more to find some magic in the photos, actually some kind of colors or contrast or whatever, that I haven't seen in /on my other lenses.

So i decided to give it a new go. And I only use it with the optical viewfinder since that's the reason I still have my K-1. But when it beeps in focus, I this time checked my liveview and I think the focus comfirmation beep is wrong.

I have to calibrate it right? Darn, this is one thing you don't have to do on mirrorless.

Do people here have experience with K-1 and CV 58 1.4 sl? Soft wide open? Or sharp (hence me messing up the focusing)?

[pschlute]

I have to calibrate it right?

Maybe or maybe not.

One thing that may be causing your issue is Focus Shift. This usually only applies to fast lenses when stopped down. If you are seeing the softness at f1.4 then it is not going to be focus shift.

The focus confirmation may need calibrating as it relies on the AF system to beep/green hexagon. You can do this for manual lenses via the AF/FA menu APPLY ALL setting.

Do you notice any focus errors (FF/BF) with any autofocus lenses ?

[norwegianoutdoors]

Thanks a lot! I will check out this option. But it's weird, I havent had the issue with other manual focus lenses.

And not with AF lenses either. These days I only use the three amigos, they do fine.

[BigMackCam]

It's also worth remembering that focus confirmation doesn't appear at just one precise spot... there'll be a small range of focus movement throughout which you'll get the confirmation indicator and beep, and with a 50mm f/1.4 lens, either end of that range could produce slightly out-of-focus images. A technique that works for me is to find the limits by rocking the focus ring back and forth then moving it to a position half way between those limits. It takes a bit of practice, but you'll get there...

[norwegianoutdoors]

It's also worth remembering that focus confirmation doesn't appear at just one precise spot... there'll be a small range of focus movement throughout which you'll get the confirmation indicator and beep, and with a 50mm f/1.4 lens, either end of that range could produce slightly out-of-focus images. A technique that works for me is to find the limits by rocking the focus ring back and forth then moving it to a position half way between those limits. It takes a bit of practice, but you'll get there...

Thanks BigMackCam! I'll take this into consideration, but the thing is I haven't noticed problems with manual focusing on the K-1 until this lens. I used to shoot the Rokinon 135mm f2 a lot for example. And the Pentax 50mm m 50 1.7, plus a few others.

[BigMackCam]

Thanks BigMackCam! I'll take this into consideration, but the thing is I haven't noticed problems with manual focusing on the K-1 until this lens. I used to shoot the Rokinon 135mm f2 a lot for example. And the Pentax 50mm m 50 1.7, plus a few others.

Yes, I saw your first reply in the thread after I'd posted. Given your experience, I'm sure you've got your technique sorted It may, however, be that the softness (lower contrast?) wide open is causing focus confirmation to kick in over a wider range than some of your other lenses - in which case, what I mentioned about rocking the focus ring back and forth and estimating the mid-range point might still help. Worth a try

[pschlute]

It's also worth remembering that focus confirmation doesn't appear at just one precise spot... there'll be a small range of focus movement throughout which you'll get the confirmation indicator and beep, and with a 50mm f/1.4 lens, either end of that range could produce slightly out-of-focus images. A technique that works for me is to find the limits by rocking the focus ring back and forth then moving it to a position half way between those limits. It takes a bit of practice, but you'll get there...

Mike is correct, and the faster the lens, the more problematic it can be. Often you can find a difference depending whether you focus from infinity end of the focus throw compared to closest focus distance end.

ps. Mike.....are you still here ?

[norwegianoutdoors]

I am wondering if the unusual large focus throw on the cv 58 1.4 sl ii could be the reason why it is almost impossible to hit focus at 1.4 using the OVF. Don't suppose you guys have used it? Would be interesting to hear from someone who has

---------- Post added 09-21-23 at 08:19 AM ----------

If so I think I´ll only use it on my Canon R5 since it has focus peaking in its EVF.

Using Pentax K-1 for lcd with focus peaking is probably too much pain in the a.. for me.

[AstroDave]

Try live view focussing (don't forget that you can zoom in).

[norwegianoutdoors]

Thanks, Dave. It may be my poor English, but I was trying to say in the opening post, that the use of live view was what showed me I was getting the focus wrong in the OVF.

But this old and heavy (but also fantastic)camera isn't made to live view focus manual lenses - at least not for me. It is the only (digital) camera I own now except Leica M that has an OVF and that's what I love about it.

Hence why I am probably only using it on Fuji xt30 and canon r5 where I can at least focus peak in the (electronic) viewfinder

[77me]

I rock focus back and forth using focus confirmation as a hint, and use focus peaking with my o-me53 viewfinder magnifier to set focus.

[BigMackCam]

I rock focus back and forth using focus confirmation as a hint, and use focus peaking with my o-me53 viewfinder magnifier to set focus.

My method exactly - including the O-ME53 viewfinder magnifier

[hcc]

Then I decided to sell it. Only to try it once more to find some magic in the photos, actually some kind of colors or contrast or whatever, that I haven't seen in /on my other lenses.

I cannot agree more.
The VL58mm is a true gem. The VL58mm is very sturdy and perfect for harsh outdoor conditions. The IQ is superb. While I tend to prefer usually the IQ of the FA31mm Ltd and FA77mm Ltd, the VL58mm is extra-ordinary (IMHO) in poor lighting conditions: e.g., fog, smoke, smog. In these conditions, I prefer the VL58mm to my Limited lenses (and that says a lot IMHO). Lastly the VL58mm is superior to the FA Ltd and DA Ltd in very-very-low light when the AF does not lock. The MF ring of the VL58mm is very smooth and easy to use.

I share more on my opinion at:FA31mm f1.8 vs VL Nokton 58mm f1.4 - PentaxForums.com

Although a FF lens, I have used the VL58mm with a K-7, K-01, K-3 and K-3iii and it is fantastic with each camera body.
My 5 cents....

[pepperberry farm]

I use the Nokton 58/1.4 on my K-3 with no issues; granted, I wish I had focus-peaking in the viewfinder on the K-3....

[norwegianoutdoors]

Appreciate your input guys, but it's a full frame lens. That being said the focusing stuff is the same. I am still curious as to if ppl viewed the 58 as soft or sharp wide open and how they focus with the k1.