Pretty cool K5 capability!!

fccwpe · 02-23-2012, 07:25 AM - **2 Likes**

Maybe this is widely known, maybe not. I could not find it anywhere in the manual.

I was messing around with live view the other day and set the K5 up as follows:

Live view to contrast AF
AF to constant (C)
Focus select to SEL

When you focus on something, as long as you keep pressing the shutter release half-way, the camera will track it and keep the focus box locked to whatever you initially focused on until it comes close to the outside of the Live view area or out of focus then it re-focuses.

This works as you move closer or farther away as well.

This may be common info, but I found it to be a pretty cool trick. I think it would be great for sports or street photography.

mrjamesabels · 02-23-2012, 07:41 AM

I love this! Thanks.

JohnBee · 02-23-2012, 08:03 AM

Excellent!

Ubuntu_user · 02-23-2012, 08:56 AM

Hmm... I don't use liveview much, but I'll have to remember this!

Thanks for sharing!

johnyates · 02-23-2012, 09:31 AM

The K7 has this too.

parsons · 02-23-2012, 09:43 AM

does the K-01 have this though?

Biro · 02-23-2012, 09:48 AM

Originally posted by parsons

does the K-01 have this though?

While I don't know for sure... I can't imagine that it doesn't.

vloris · 02-23-2012, 09:48 AM

This also works in non-liveview mode, or am I missing something extra-special here?

elho_cid · 02-23-2012, 09:51 AM

Yes, AF tracking is nowdays considered a normal behavior.

fccwpe · 02-23-2012, 09:56 AM

Originally posted by vloris

This also works in non-liveview mode, or am I missing something extra-special here?

I just tried this with the same setup except no live view and the focus indicator does not track/follow the last focused on item. So, no I don't think so.

falconeye · 02-23-2012, 07:26 PM

Originally posted by fccwpe

Maybe this is widely known, maybe not. I could not find it anywhere in the manual.

Thanks for bringing this up again. IMHO it is not widely known. I mentioned it once or twice, e.g. in the context of questions if K-01 would have AF tracking.

IMHO, object tracking is a side effect of PhotoNation's face detection library built in into the firmware which tracks faces by default. As soon as the target is identified, this library must be able to track it.

Unfortunately, at least in the K-5, it is unreliable (looses tack) and slow. I don't think t is useful in real life. I never actually used it...

fccwpe · 02-24-2012, 07:48 AM

Originally posted by falconeye

Thanks for bringing this up again. IMHO it is not widely known. I mentioned it once or twice, e.g. in the context of questions if K-01 would have AF tracking.

IMHO, object tracking is a side effect of PhotoNation's face detection library built in into the firmware which tracks faces by default. As soon as the target is identified, this library must be able to track it.

Unfortunately, at least in the K-5, it is unreliable (looses tack) and slow. I don't think t is useful in real life. I never actually used it...

Yes, I agree it is not perfect and probably not functional enough for any real world application. I just found it to be cool.

Thanks, also for the technical explanation of how it works!!! Extremely interesting!!!

02-23-2012, 07:25 AM - 2 Likes	#1
fccwpe Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Perris, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 380	Pretty cool K5 capability!! Maybe this is widely known, maybe not. I could not find it anywhere in the manual. I was messing around with live view the other day and set the K5 up as follows: Live view to contrast AF AF to constant (C) Focus select to SEL When you focus on something, as long as you keep pressing the shutter release half-way, the camera will track it and keep the focus box locked to whatever you initially focused on until it comes close to the outside of the Live view area or out of focus then it re-focuses. This works as you move closer or farther away as well. This may be common info, but I found it to be a pretty cool trick. I think it would be great for sports or street photography.

02-23-2012, 09:56 AM	#10
fccwpe Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Perris, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 380 Original Poster	Originally posted by vloris This also works in non-liveview mode, or am I missing something extra-special here? I just tried this with the same setup except no live view and the focus indicator does not track/follow the last focused on item. So, no I don't think so. Last edited by fccwpe; 02-23-2012 at 10:02 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
will Pentax make an Optio with RAW capability?	Loren E	Pentax Compact Cameras	5	11-11-2010 04:33 PM
Tripod horizontal capability, e.g Manfrotto 190xPro	philbaum	Pentax Camera and Field Accessories	12	04-03-2010 10:44 AM
FYI - PRETTY COOL	THAN THE SWORD	General Talk	6	01-09-2010 11:03 PM
Pretty cool Nikon lens roadmap links	jsherman999	Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands	1	12-15-2009 07:37 PM
I am really amazed with the SR capability of the K-7	brosen	Pentax DSLR Discussion	9	11-02-2009 07:37 PM

02-23-2012, 07:41 AM	#2
mrjamesabels Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NEW JERSEY USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 198	I love this! Thanks.

02-23-2012, 08:03 AM	#3
JohnBee Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Newrfoundland Photos: Albums Posts: 4,667	Excellent!

02-23-2012, 08:56 AM	#4
Ubuntu_user Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,545	Hmm... I don't use liveview much, but I'll have to remember this! Thanks for sharing!

02-23-2012, 09:31 AM	#5
johnyates Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Saskatoon, SK Photos: Albums Posts: 1,345	The K7 has this too.

02-23-2012, 09:43 AM	#6
parsons Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: ENGLAND Posts: 389	does the K-01 have this though?

02-23-2012, 09:48 AM	#7
Biro Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,200	Originally posted by parsons does the K-01 have this though? While I don't know for sure... I can't imagine that it doesn't.

02-23-2012, 09:48 AM	#8
vloris New Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 18	This also works in non-liveview mode, or am I missing something extra-special here?

02-23-2012, 09:51 AM	#9
elho_cid Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Prague Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,199	Yes, AF tracking is nowdays considered a normal behavior.

02-23-2012, 07:26 PM	#11
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	Originally posted by fccwpe Maybe this is widely known, maybe not. I could not find it anywhere in the manual. Thanks for bringing this up again. IMHO it is not widely known. I mentioned it once or twice, e.g. in the context of questions if K-01 would have AF tracking. IMHO, object tracking is a side effect of PhotoNation's face detection library built in into the firmware which tracks faces by default. As soon as the target is identified, this library must be able to track it. Unfortunately, at least in the K-5, it is unreliable (looses tack) and slow. I don't think t is useful in real life. I never actually used it...

02-24-2012, 07:48 AM	#12
fccwpe Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Perris, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 380 Original Poster	Originally posted by falconeye Thanks for bringing this up again. IMHO it is not widely known. I mentioned it once or twice, e.g. in the context of questions if K-01 would have AF tracking. IMHO, object tracking is a side effect of PhotoNation's face detection library built in into the firmware which tracks faces by default. As soon as the target is identified, this library must be able to track it. Unfortunately, at least in the K-5, it is unreliable (looses tack) and slow. I don't think t is useful in real life. I never actually used it... Yes, I agree it is not perfect and probably not functional enough for any real world application. I just found it to be cool. Thanks, also for the technical explanation of how it works!!! Extremely interesting!!!