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myquelp · 04-21-2011, 06:05 PM - **1 Like**

I just got my new K-5. I'm using several Tamaron lenses which are 4-6 years old. I cannot get the User Selected Focal point feature to work. I've followed the manual carefully and all the settings are correct but I can't get the red focus point off the center.

Are my lenses too old to use this feature (they are D mounts)? Will the feature only work with Pentax lenses? Am I not pressing the right buttons at the right time????

Thanks for any advice or additional things to try.

Adam · 04-21-2011, 06:12 PM

Just put it in SEL mode and make press the arrow keys to shift the focus point. Pressing the OK button will reset the point to the center. Also, make sure you enable superimposing of the AF area in the viewfinder.

This feature should have nothing to do with what lens you're using

**darylk** · 04-21-2011, 07:11 PM

I've noticed with my K-5 that the switch needs to be "tweaked" a little sometimes to get it into the select mode. It has to be in exactly the right position. I suggest you play around with the switch a little to see if that makes a difference. Hasn't been a problem for me - just a quirk of my camera - maybe yours is the same. I don't think the lenses are the issue. Good luck.

mrjamesabels · 04-21-2011, 07:19 PM

My af select switch is a little tight for my taste but I rarely use selective point focus. Maybe it will loosen up over time.

myquelp · 04-22-2011, 03:36 AM

Thanks folks. The switch just needed to be tweaked. Worked on it for a minute or so... Now it works. Much appreciate the help.

Anthony Lee · 04-22-2011, 06:26 AM

When you turn the switch to SEL, you need to hold down the OK button for a split second to see the SEL icon appearing on your VF, then it's on.

**bjdavey** · 04-22-2011, 08:19 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Anthony Lee

When you turn the switch to SEL, you need to hold down the OK button for a split second to see the SEL icon appearing on your VF, then it's on.

Mine doesn't work like that. The moment I turn the switch to SEL, the icon appears in the viewfinder immediately - no need to also push the OK button. The sequence of possibilities is:

- Turn AF switch to SEL
- The 4-way controller buttons are now enabled to move the AF point as desired;
- A short push on the OK button returns the AF point to centre;
- A long push on the OK button disables AF select, and returns the 4-way controller buttons to their usual functions (WB, flash, drive mode & custom image);
- Another long push on the OK button returns four-way controller to AF point control.

Before I learned the above, I thought the AF point move function was intermittently faulty. In fact it was just the changing mode, due to longer pushes on the OK button. If you find the AF point not moving when you push the 4-way controller buttons, just give a long push on the OK button to return the mode to AF point control.

AlexJ · 04-22-2011, 04:50 PM

@bjdavey: Thanks for the tip, very handy. The shortcut does speeds up shooting with my new K-5.

**dadipentak** · 04-22-2011, 05:17 PM

Ok so when I follow bjdavey's instructions, everything worked fine but there have been times I thought I was doing things right and it wasn't working for me. I hope I've got this puzzlement resolved because I'm planning to use that function a lot going forward.

Thanks for the thread, myquelp.

Anthony Lee · 04-22-2011, 10:36 PM

Originally posted by dadipentak

Ok so when I follow bjdavey's instructions, everything worked fine but there have been times I thought I was doing things right and it wasn't working for me. I hope I've got this puzzlement resolved because I'm planning to use that function a lot going forward.

Thanks for the thread, myquelp.

When you lose the control of the AF points at SEL mode, check your VF and if the SEL icon is not there, just depress the OK button, hold it for a while until the SEL icon comes back, then you are on again. You can switch on or off by doing the same thing with the OK button.

**dadipentak** · 04-23-2011, 03:15 AM

Originally posted by Anthony Lee

When you lose the control of the AF points at SEL mode, check your VF and if the SEL icon is not there, just depress the OK button, hold it for a while until the SEL icon comes back, then you are on again. You can switch on or off by doing the same thing with the OK button.

Well, that's precisely what didn't seem to work reliably.

**dadipentak** · 04-25-2011, 06:50 AM

[slaps forehead] Mystery solved! Focus-point selection only works with AF. I've been trying to use it for catch-in-focus with MF lenses. It seems to me this should be possible but it ain't.

Col · 04-25-2011, 08:06 AM

Originally posted by dadipentak

[slaps forehead] Mystery solved! Focus-point selection only works with AF. I've been trying to use it for catch-in-focus with MF lenses. It seems to me this should be possible but it ain't.

Actually it is Lens dependent see manual p337, only centre point focus is available with MF lens. I have no idea why. All points are available when I'm using the DA*300 switched to MF for focus trapping.

04-21-2011, 06:05 PM - 1 Like	#1
myquelp New Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Driftwood Texas Posts: 4	User Selected Focal Point not working I just got my new K-5. I'm using several Tamaron lenses which are 4-6 years old. I cannot get the User Selected Focal point feature to work. I've followed the manual carefully and all the settings are correct but I can't get the red focus point off the center. Are my lenses too old to use this feature (they are D mounts)? Will the feature only work with Pentax lenses? Am I not pressing the right buttons at the right time???? Thanks for any advice or additional things to try.

04-21-2011, 06:12 PM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,609	Just put it in SEL mode and make press the arrow keys to shift the focus point. Pressing the OK button will reset the point to the center. Also, make sure you enable superimposing of the AF area in the viewfinder. This feature should have nothing to do with what lens you're using Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

04-22-2011, 03:36 AM	#5
myquelp New Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Driftwood Texas Posts: 4 Original Poster	user selected focus now working Thanks folks. The switch just needed to be tweaked. Worked on it for a minute or so... Now it works. Much appreciate the help.

04-25-2011, 06:50 AM	#12
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	DOH! [slaps forehead] Mystery solved! Focus-point selection only works with AF. I've been trying to use it for catch-in-focus with MF lenses. It seems to me this should be possible but it ain't.

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04-21-2011, 07:11 PM	#3
darylk Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Blue Hill, Nebraska Photos: Gallery Posts: 494	I've noticed with my K-5 that the switch needs to be "tweaked" a little sometimes to get it into the select mode. It has to be in exactly the right position. I suggest you play around with the switch a little to see if that makes a difference. Hasn't been a problem for me - just a quirk of my camera - maybe yours is the same. I don't think the lenses are the issue. Good luck.

04-21-2011, 07:19 PM	#4
mrjamesabels Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NEW JERSEY USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 198	My af select switch is a little tight for my taste but I rarely use selective point focus. Maybe it will loosen up over time.

04-22-2011, 06:26 AM	#6
Anthony Lee Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: S E Asia Posts: 31	When you turn the switch to SEL, you need to hold down the OK button for a split second to see the SEL icon appearing on your VF, then it's on.

04-22-2011, 08:19 AM - 1 Like	#7
bjdavey Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Alexandria, VA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 162	Originally posted by Anthony Lee When you turn the switch to SEL, you need to hold down the OK button for a split second to see the SEL icon appearing on your VF, then it's on. Mine doesn't work like that. The moment I turn the switch to SEL, the icon appears in the viewfinder immediately - no need to also push the OK button. The sequence of possibilities is: - Turn AF switch to SEL - The 4-way controller buttons are now enabled to move the AF point as desired; - A short push on the OK button returns the AF point to centre; - A long push on the OK button disables AF select, and returns the 4-way controller buttons to their usual functions (WB, flash, drive mode & custom image); - Another long push on the OK button returns four-way controller to AF point control. Before I learned the above, I thought the AF point move function was intermittently faulty. In fact it was just the changing mode, due to longer pushes on the OK button. If you find the AF point not moving when you push the 4-way controller buttons, just give a long push on the OK button to return the mode to AF point control.

04-22-2011, 04:50 PM	#8
AlexJ Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 32	@bjdavey: Thanks for the tip, very handy. The shortcut does speeds up shooting with my new K-5.

04-22-2011, 05:17 PM	#9
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Ok so when I follow bjdavey's instructions, everything worked fine but there have been times I thought I was doing things right and it wasn't working for me. I hope I've got this puzzlement resolved because I'm planning to use that function a lot going forward. Thanks for the thread, myquelp.

04-22-2011, 10:36 PM	#10
Anthony Lee Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: S E Asia Posts: 31	Originally posted by dadipentak Ok so when I follow bjdavey's instructions, everything worked fine but there have been times I thought I was doing things right and it wasn't working for me. I hope I've got this puzzlement resolved because I'm planning to use that function a lot going forward. Thanks for the thread, myquelp. When you lose the control of the AF points at SEL mode, check your VF and if the SEL icon is not there, just depress the OK button, hold it for a while until the SEL icon comes back, then you are on again. You can switch on or off by doing the same thing with the OK button.

04-23-2011, 03:15 AM	#11
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Originally posted by Anthony Lee When you lose the control of the AF points at SEL mode, check your VF and if the SEL icon is not there, just depress the OK button, hold it for a while until the SEL icon comes back, then you are on again. You can switch on or off by doing the same thing with the OK button. Well, that's precisely what didn't seem to work reliably.

04-25-2011, 08:06 AM	#13
Col Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Stansted Essex Photos: Gallery Posts: 614	Originally posted by dadipentak [slaps forehead] Mystery solved! Focus-point selection only works with AF. I've been trying to use it for catch-in-focus with MF lenses. It seems to me this should be possible but it ain't. Actually it is Lens dependent see manual p337, only centre point focus is available with MF lens. I have no idea why. All points are available when I'm using the DA*300 switched to MF for focus trapping.

User Selected Focal Point not working

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