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SteveB · 12-12-2010, 11:22 AM

Not a silly request, one of the reasons I may upgrade my K100D is to get more AF speed and low light AF abilities as the K100D & Sigma 17-70 can't AF on a black cat (no white patches allowed) in a fairly dark room even with my Sigma flash assist light working. With the K-5 AF assist light and much better AF it ought to be possible, but has anyone actually tried it?

By dark I mean you can just about see where you're walking but wouldn't think of reading a newspaper i.e. definitely flash territory.

dgaies · 12-12-2010, 11:30 AM

Yes, with the AF-assist light, the K-5 can focus on a black cat (or in my case a black dog) in complete darkness. Your success will, in part, depend on how close you are to the subject.

**NaClH2O** · 12-12-2010, 11:56 AM

Never mind, I misread the example I gave.

NaCl( sometimes I don't pay attention as well as I should)H2O

mokey · 12-12-2010, 01:10 PM

I'll try it out tonight with Sammy!

**zplus** · 12-12-2010, 05:26 PM

I can confirm that a K-r will focus on a black dog in dark room, it could possibly be a different story with a K-5 and a black cat, lol.

JeffJS · 12-12-2010, 05:33 PM

The cat passed away before I could try it with the K5 but if the K7 could do it, the K5 certainly can.

HeavyD · 12-12-2010, 06:16 PM

Originally posted by dgaies

Yes, with the AF-assist light, the K-5 can focus on a black cat (or in my case a black dog) in complete darkness. Your success will, in part, depend on how close you are to the subject.

One thing to think about is, the AF assist light doesn't work in AFC mode. It didn't on my K7 anyway.

dgaies · 12-12-2010, 08:00 PM

Originally posted by HeavyD

One thing to think about is, the AF assist light doesn't work in AFC mode. It didn't on my K7 anyway.

The AF-assist light doesn't function in AF-C mode on any of the Pentax bodies. I never used AF-C on the K-7 and other than trying it out when I first got the K-5, I haven't used it with the K-5 either. I'm more of an AF-S kind of guy

WerTicus · 12-12-2010, 10:47 PM

In a 'dark room' is not the test, it is in a 'coal cellar'.

So you probably need to be in a very cold climate in an old house that actually has a coal cellar.

hut234 · 12-12-2010, 10:55 PM

My K10D isn't the worst in the world, but on the subject of cats it simply CANNOT focus on a grey cat in a dimly lit room at all. I either have to get a K5 or another cat.

kalison · 12-12-2010, 11:03 PM

Originally posted by HeavyD

One thing to think about is, the AF assist light doesn't work in AFC mode. It didn't on my K7 anyway.

I don't think it works on any cameras. My D700 wont do it, the K-7 doesn't do it. My Dad's D90 wont either. My Canon's didn't either... but they use that ultra annoying built-in flash burst... so I guess that makes sense.

When you think about it though... it wouldn't make much sense to have an AF assist light with AF-C since... well it would just be on all the time to continually focus. You might as well just attach a tactical light to it

sterretje · 12-13-2010, 12:02 AM

It highly depends on the distance. I tried 10 meters (bush outside, dimly lit by a sodium (Na) streetlight) and the internal AF assist is not strong enough; needed to resort to the AF540 AF assist.

Gimbal · 12-13-2010, 02:07 AM

The built in AF-light is very powerful, last night I tried to focus on the moon and the light went on and I got focus. That's how strong it is.

Shashinki · 12-13-2010, 03:48 AM

Originally posted by Gimbal

The built in AF-light is very powerful, last night I tried to focus on the moon and the light went on and I got focus. That's how strong it is.

So that's why the moon was so green...

SteveB · 12-13-2010, 11:56 AM

Thanks everyone.

12-12-2010, 11:22 AM	#1
SteveB Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: U.K. Posts: 685	Can K-5 AF a black cat in a dark room? Not a silly request, one of the reasons I may upgrade my K100D is to get more AF speed and low light AF abilities as the K100D & Sigma 17-70 can't AF on a black cat (no white patches allowed) in a fairly dark room even with my Sigma flash assist light working. With the K-5 AF assist light and much better AF it ought to be possible, but has anyone actually tried it? By dark I mean you can just about see where you're walking but wouldn't think of reading a newspaper i.e. definitely flash territory.

12-12-2010, 11:56 AM	#3
NaClH2O Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bronx NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,631	don't know about a cat in a dark room Never mind, I misread the example I gave. NaCl( sometimes I don't pay attention as well as I should)H2O Last edited by NaClH2O; 12-12-2010 at 12:12 PM. Reason: mis read :(

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12-12-2010, 11:30 AM	#2
dgaies Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Maryland / Washington DC Posts: 3,917	Yes, with the AF-assist light, the K-5 can focus on a black cat (or in my case a black dog) in complete darkness. Your success will, in part, depend on how close you are to the subject.

12-12-2010, 01:10 PM	#4
mokey Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: BC Posts: 219	I'll try it out tonight with Sammy!

12-12-2010, 05:26 PM	#5
zplus Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Posts: 166	I can confirm that a K-r will focus on a black dog in dark room, it could possibly be a different story with a K-5 and a black cat, lol.

12-12-2010, 05:33 PM	#6
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	The cat passed away before I could try it with the K5 but if the K7 could do it, the K5 certainly can.

12-12-2010, 06:16 PM	#7
HeavyD Inactive Account Join Date: May 2009 Location: New York Posts: 155	Originally posted by dgaies Yes, with the AF-assist light, the K-5 can focus on a black cat (or in my case a black dog) in complete darkness. Your success will, in part, depend on how close you are to the subject. One thing to think about is, the AF assist light doesn't work in AFC mode. It didn't on my K7 anyway.

12-12-2010, 08:00 PM	#8
dgaies Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Maryland / Washington DC Posts: 3,917	Originally posted by HeavyD One thing to think about is, the AF assist light doesn't work in AFC mode. It didn't on my K7 anyway. The AF-assist light doesn't function in AF-C mode on any of the Pentax bodies. I never used AF-C on the K-7 and other than trying it out when I first got the K-5, I haven't used it with the K-5 either. I'm more of an AF-S kind of guy

12-12-2010, 10:47 PM	#9
WerTicus Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Perth Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,514	In a 'dark room' is not the test, it is in a 'coal cellar'. So you probably need to be in a very cold climate in an old house that actually has a coal cellar.

12-12-2010, 10:55 PM	#10
hut234 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 116	My K10D isn't the worst in the world, but on the subject of cats it simply CANNOT focus on a grey cat in a dimly lit room at all. I either have to get a K5 or another cat.

12-12-2010, 11:03 PM	#11
kalison Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Utah Posts: 376	Originally posted by HeavyD One thing to think about is, the AF assist light doesn't work in AFC mode. It didn't on my K7 anyway. I don't think it works on any cameras. My D700 wont do it, the K-7 doesn't do it. My Dad's D90 wont either. My Canon's didn't either... but they use that ultra annoying built-in flash burst... so I guess that makes sense. When you think about it though... it wouldn't make much sense to have an AF assist light with AF-C since... well it would just be on all the time to continually focus. You might as well just attach a tactical light to it

12-13-2010, 12:02 AM	#12
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	It highly depends on the distance. I tried 10 meters (bush outside, dimly lit by a sodium (Na) streetlight) and the internal AF assist is not strong enough; needed to resort to the AF540 AF assist.

12-13-2010, 02:07 AM	#13
Gimbal Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 2,106	The built in AF-light is very powerful, last night I tried to focus on the moon and the light went on and I got focus. That's how strong it is.

12-13-2010, 03:48 AM	#14
Shashinki Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norway Posts: 355	Originally posted by Gimbal The built in AF-light is very powerful, last night I tried to focus on the moon and the light went on and I got focus. That's how strong it is. So that's why the moon was so green...

12-13-2010, 11:56 AM	#15
SteveB Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: U.K. Posts: 685 Original Poster	Thanks everyone.

Can K-5 AF a black cat in a dark room?

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