Manual AF Assist

rainwilds · 08-06-2011, 08:11 PM

Can you turn on the AF assist lamp manually so you can use it to illuminate objects when shooting with a manual lens?

rainwilds · 08-07-2011, 12:06 AM

#BUMP - 66 views and no replies! C'mon people!

**interested_observer** · 08-07-2011, 12:56 AM

I am guessing that you have the K5, so I went to your bodies user manual on line...

http://www.pentaximaging.com/images/temp/63425761001435112798312manual_k-5_en_official.pdf

Then I clicked on the binoculars symbol (search over in the left hand vertical) and put in the term "AF assist light" - without the "s

That brought up 15 instances of the term through out the manual.
If you click twice on one of the results, it will go to the page and highlight the first instance of the phrase found.
It appears that on page 74 & 123 the light comes on as needed in dark or back-lit situations.

rainwilds · 08-07-2011, 01:54 AM

I had already checked the manual. I was hoping that perhaps their was a way that was not directly covered by it that some K-5 user had worked out. Hopeful thinking maybe.

No I don't have the K-5 yet (getting it very soon). I need to know if manual focus will be an issue with a lens I want to purchase.

philbaum · 08-07-2011, 02:16 AM

Originally posted by rainwilds

I had already checked the manual. I was hoping that perhaps their was a way that was not directly covered by it that some K-5 user had worked out. Hopeful thinking maybe.

No I don't have the K-5 yet (getting it very soon). I need to know if manual focus will be an issue with a lens I want to purchase.

Not sure what you mean by manual focus being an issue. You can get a split lens focusing screen for the camera. You can also use a flashlight to highlight the area you want to focus on. that just about means that you need to have the camera in a tripod as otherwise you will run out of hands, i'm thinking.

rainwilds · 08-07-2011, 02:38 AM

Yeah that's what I've been thinking... getting a KatzEye; or another arm!

adr1an · 08-07-2011, 02:44 AM

LiveView and QuickZoom work wonders.... especially in low-light... just open the lens up as much as possible - DoF is only going to get deeper as you close it up anyway...

I'm lead to believe that the K-5 also has a much brighter 'matte' focus screen, and its 100% crop - so its actually pretty good compared to the VF on the K10/K20...

rainwilds · 08-07-2011, 02:56 AM

Originally posted by adr1an

LiveView and QuickZoom work wonders.... especially in low-light... just open the lens up as much as possible - DoF is only going to get deeper as you close it up anyway...

I'm lead to believe that the K-5 also has a much brighter 'matte' focus screen, and its 100% crop - so its actually pretty good compared to the VF on the K10/K20...

I'm going to try the K-5 with the manual lens first and see how it goes. Might not need the Katz.

JeffJS · 08-07-2011, 07:34 AM

Unless your scene is absolutely dark with No contrast, Catch In Focus is your friend. Your Next best friend with manual lenses (a tripod makes it friendlier) is Live View. If both of those fail you, then get a screen. With the K10/20 I had a Katzeye installed. With the K7 and now the K5, I feel no need for it and my eyesight has not improved over the years.

I would suggest using the camera before buying a bunch of expensive stuff that you may not need (I almost made the same mistake).

rainwilds · 08-07-2011, 07:02 PM

Originally posted by JeffJS

Unless your scene is absolutely dark with No contrast, Catch In Focus is your friend. Your Next best friend with manual lenses (a tripod makes it friendlier) is Live View. If both of those fail you, then get a screen. With the K10/20 I had a Katzeye installed. With the K7 and now the K5, I feel no need for it and my eyesight has not improved over the years.

I would suggest using the camera before buying a bunch of expensive stuff that you may not need (I almost made the same mistake).

Great response. Thanks.

rainwilds · 08-07-2011, 07:02 PM

Originally posted by JeffJS

Unless your scene is absolutely dark with No contrast, Catch In Focus is your friend. Your Next best friend with manual lenses (a tripod makes it friendlier) is Live View. If both of those fail you, then get a screen. With the K10/20 I had a Katzeye installed. With the K7 and now the K5, I feel no need for it and my eyesight has not improved over the years.

I would suggest using the camera before buying a bunch of expensive stuff that you may not need (I almost made the same mistake).

Great response. Thanks.

George Lama · 08-07-2011, 07:53 PM

There is no way to turn on the AF focus light manually - it basically turns on as the camera sees fit. There is an option however to turn it off completely (in Menu options).

If you really want this, what you probably want is a hot-shoe mounted LED light that you can turn on and off as needed. B&H has these, so do many other online vendors. If you still want to use a hotshoe mounted flash, then you can always get a small bracket to mount it on the side.

Rupert · 08-07-2011, 08:10 PM

I use a very bright small LED flashlight when using my 645 120Macro on my K20D or K5 since you can't stop down without losing all the light in full manual like it is with the 645 lenses on the K bodies.

Works great for Macro, and you can make a mount that will mount it on the tripod mount with ease. Might work for what you want? I have not found the assist lamp to be very predictable on the K5, however, I do very little severe low light shooting.
Best Regards!

rainwilds · 08-07-2011, 08:24 PM

Good idea regarding the LED hot shoe light. Might help me find my keys too!

philbaum · 08-08-2011, 01:48 PM

I'd like a third option in the present button customization AF button -

The option would be to have the assist light turn on with the AF function for the AF button. Or not.

I'm thinking of getting one of these fluorescent arm or legbands that runners or bicyclists use. with the idea of strapping it on my tripod at night. I was out doing some painting with a flash and had a difficult time finding my tripod when i returned from the subject - black on black on a moonless night

. off topic - sorry.

08-06-2011, 08:11 PM	#1
rainwilds Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Queensland Posts: 35	Manual AF Assist Can you turn on the AF assist lamp manually so you can use it to illuminate objects when shooting with a manual lens?

08-07-2011, 12:56 AM	#3
interested_observer Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tumbleweed, Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,707	I am guessing that you have the K5, so I went to your bodies user manual on line... http://www.pentaximaging.com/images/temp/63425761001435112798312manual_k-5_en_official.pdf Then I clicked on the binoculars symbol (search over in the left hand vertical) and put in the term "AF assist light" - without the "s That brought up 15 instances of the term through out the manual. If you click twice on one of the results, it will go to the page and highlight the first instance of the phrase found. It appears that on page 74 & 123 the light comes on as needed in dark or back-lit situations.

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08-07-2011, 12:06 AM	#2
rainwilds Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Queensland Posts: 35 Original Poster	#BUMP - 66 views and no replies! C'mon people!

08-07-2011, 01:54 AM	#4
rainwilds Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Queensland Posts: 35 Original Poster	I had already checked the manual. I was hoping that perhaps their was a way that was not directly covered by it that some K-5 user had worked out. Hopeful thinking maybe. No I don't have the K-5 yet (getting it very soon). I need to know if manual focus will be an issue with a lens I want to purchase.

08-07-2011, 02:16 AM	#5
philbaum Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Port Townsend, Washington State, USA Posts: 3,659	Originally posted by rainwilds I had already checked the manual. I was hoping that perhaps their was a way that was not directly covered by it that some K-5 user had worked out. Hopeful thinking maybe. No I don't have the K-5 yet (getting it very soon). I need to know if manual focus will be an issue with a lens I want to purchase. Not sure what you mean by manual focus being an issue. You can get a split lens focusing screen for the camera. You can also use a flashlight to highlight the area you want to focus on. that just about means that you need to have the camera in a tripod as otherwise you will run out of hands, i'm thinking.

08-07-2011, 02:38 AM	#6
rainwilds Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Queensland Posts: 35 Original Poster	Yeah that's what I've been thinking... getting a KatzEye; or another arm!

08-07-2011, 02:44 AM	#7
adr1an Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 739	LiveView and QuickZoom work wonders.... especially in low-light... just open the lens up as much as possible - DoF is only going to get deeper as you close it up anyway... I'm lead to believe that the K-5 also has a much brighter 'matte' focus screen, and its 100% crop - so its actually pretty good compared to the VF on the K10/K20...

08-07-2011, 02:56 AM	#8
rainwilds Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Queensland Posts: 35 Original Poster	Originally posted by adr1an LiveView and QuickZoom work wonders.... especially in low-light... just open the lens up as much as possible - DoF is only going to get deeper as you close it up anyway... I'm lead to believe that the K-5 also has a much brighter 'matte' focus screen, and its 100% crop - so its actually pretty good compared to the VF on the K10/K20... I'm going to try the K-5 with the manual lens first and see how it goes. Might not need the Katz.

08-07-2011, 07:34 AM	#9
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Unless your scene is absolutely dark with No contrast, Catch In Focus is your friend. Your Next best friend with manual lenses (a tripod makes it friendlier) is Live View. If both of those fail you, then get a screen. With the K10/20 I had a Katzeye installed. With the K7 and now the K5, I feel no need for it and my eyesight has not improved over the years. I would suggest using the camera before buying a bunch of expensive stuff that you may not need (I almost made the same mistake).

08-07-2011, 07:02 PM	#10
rainwilds Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Queensland Posts: 35 Original Poster	Originally posted by JeffJS Unless your scene is absolutely dark with No contrast, Catch In Focus is your friend. Your Next best friend with manual lenses (a tripod makes it friendlier) is Live View. If both of those fail you, then get a screen. With the K10/20 I had a Katzeye installed. With the K7 and now the K5, I feel no need for it and my eyesight has not improved over the years. I would suggest using the camera before buying a bunch of expensive stuff that you may not need (I almost made the same mistake). Great response. Thanks.

08-07-2011, 07:02 PM	#11
rainwilds Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Queensland Posts: 35 Original Poster	Originally posted by JeffJS Unless your scene is absolutely dark with No contrast, Catch In Focus is your friend. Your Next best friend with manual lenses (a tripod makes it friendlier) is Live View. If both of those fail you, then get a screen. With the K10/20 I had a Katzeye installed. With the K7 and now the K5, I feel no need for it and my eyesight has not improved over the years. I would suggest using the camera before buying a bunch of expensive stuff that you may not need (I almost made the same mistake). Great response. Thanks.

08-07-2011, 07:53 PM	#12
George Lama Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Buffalo/Rochester, NY Photos: Albums Posts: 1,133	There is no way to turn on the AF focus light manually - it basically turns on as the camera sees fit. There is an option however to turn it off completely (in Menu options). If you really want this, what you probably want is a hot-shoe mounted LED light that you can turn on and off as needed. B&H has these, so do many other online vendors. If you still want to use a hotshoe mounted flash, then you can always get a small bracket to mount it on the side.

08-07-2011, 08:10 PM	#13
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	I use a very bright small LED flashlight when using my 645 120Macro on my K20D or K5 since you can't stop down without losing all the light in full manual like it is with the 645 lenses on the K bodies. Works great for Macro, and you can make a mount that will mount it on the tripod mount with ease. Might work for what you want? I have not found the assist lamp to be very predictable on the K5, however, I do very little severe low light shooting. Best Regards!

08-07-2011, 08:24 PM	#14
rainwilds Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Queensland Posts: 35 Original Poster	Good idea regarding the LED hot shoe light. Might help me find my keys too!

08-08-2011, 01:48 PM	#15
philbaum Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Port Townsend, Washington State, USA Posts: 3,659	I'd like a third option in the present button customization AF button - The option would be to have the assist light turn on with the AF function for the AF button. Or not. I'm thinking of getting one of these fluorescent arm or legbands that runners or bicyclists use. with the idea of strapping it on my tripod at night. I was out doing some painting with a flash and had a difficult time finding my tripod when i returned from the subject - black on black on a moonless night . off topic - sorry.