To high demands on focus?

farmer's racer · 10-29-2012, 01:05 PM

Hello.
Have been using my K-5 for 6 months, but find it difficult to get good focus. Have allready got a Katzeye prism screen - skipping autofocus all together.

I´m using a manual M 1:2 85mm lens for most of my pictures. Keeping aperture at 2 - 4.5.

Finding focus at long distance is tricky (8meters and up). It often takes 20-30 pics to get one focus where I want it. Is this something I have to get use to if I use fast lenses at long distance?

I'm a beginner when it comes to dslr´s - do I have to high expectations?

How many pictures do You need to get this right??

I often end up taking a few extra pics with random focus, just in case...

Thanks

rockmaster1964 · 10-29-2012, 01:08 PM

Maybe your Katzeye screen needs shims. It could be off in accuracy.

farmer's racer · 10-29-2012, 01:18 PM

Yes - I agree. It might be the catzeye that need shims. Can it be anything else?

Doanh · 10-29-2012, 01:43 PM

I assume you already checked your camera/lens focus accuracy. A few options that I could think of:
* stop down a bit to Increase depth of field
* Use a different focusing screen, eg. Canon ee-S, or split prism Nikon K-3 (both need shims) to assist with your manual focus. I ordered mine from focusingscreen.com and very happy.

Regards,

Peter

vonBaloney · 10-29-2012, 01:56 PM - **1 Like**

If the shims are off, it is impossible to get accurate manual focus on a fast lens through the viewfinder. Just focus on a ruler or page of text at a extreme angle with a wide aperture (so that only one number or letter or line is in focus in the viewfinder). Then take the shot and see if the actual focus is in-front of or behind that point you focused on. Then adjust shims until it is spot-on...

farmer's racer · 10-30-2012, 11:54 AM

Thanks every one - I will do some tests with a book or a ruler.
regards
Lars
Farmer's racer

10-29-2012, 01:05 PM	#1
farmer's racer New Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 7	To high demands on focus? Hello. Have been using my K-5 for 6 months, but find it difficult to get good focus. Have allready got a Katzeye prism screen - skipping autofocus all together. I´m using a manual M 1:2 85mm lens for most of my pictures. Keeping aperture at 2 - 4.5. Finding focus at long distance is tricky (8meters and up). It often takes 20-30 pics to get one focus where I want it. Is this something I have to get use to if I use fast lenses at long distance? I'm a beginner when it comes to dslr´s - do I have to high expectations? How many pictures do You need to get this right?? I often end up taking a few extra pics with random focus, just in case... Thanks

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10-29-2012, 01:08 PM	#2
rockmaster1964 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Frisco Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 382	Maybe your Katzeye screen needs shims. It could be off in accuracy.

10-29-2012, 01:18 PM	#3
farmer's racer New Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 7 Original Poster	Yes - I agree. It might be the catzeye that need shims. Can it be anything else?

10-29-2012, 01:43 PM	#4
Doanh Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 247	I assume you already checked your camera/lens focus accuracy. A few options that I could think of: * stop down a bit to Increase depth of field * Use a different focusing screen, eg. Canon ee-S, or split prism Nikon K-3 (both need shims) to assist with your manual focus. I ordered mine from focusingscreen.com and very happy. Regards, Peter

10-29-2012, 01:56 PM - 1 Like	#5
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	If the shims are off, it is impossible to get accurate manual focus on a fast lens through the viewfinder. Just focus on a ruler or page of text at a extreme angle with a wide aperture (so that only one number or letter or line is in focus in the viewfinder). Then take the shot and see if the actual focus is in-front of or behind that point you focused on. Then adjust shims until it is spot-on...

10-30-2012, 11:54 AM	#6
farmer's racer New Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 7 Original Poster	Thanks every one - I will do some tests with a book or a ruler. regards Lars Farmer's racer

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