Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
09-28-2011, 07:16 AM   #1
Junior Member




Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Suffolk, UK
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 49
Electronic Horizon

I have just had my K-5 returned from jpservice solutions, having sent it back under warrantee for recalibration. The problem I had was that the electronic horizon was out of alignment with the viewfinder by about two degrees of rotation. Just before returning it, the pop up flash also failed to recharge, so I included that on the report.

It has come back this morning and the flash is working but the horizon is still out of alignment. They have replaced the main pcb and recalibrated it according to the repair slip. What is going on here? What is the point of having an electronic horizon that tells me to put the camera on a slope of 2 degrees? The viewfinder and the sensor are correctly aligned, but with the camera level the displayed horizon in the viewfinder and on the back screen is not.

Has anyone else seen this problem with their K-5?

Thank you.

09-28-2011, 07:24 AM   #2
Veteran Member
Otis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis Fan
Rupert's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Texas
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 25,123
I've never used it......I crop almost every shot and level in processing to suit my taste. I guess I am just not too particular when shooting, the large images have made me a cropping addict.Sometimes I crop the crop of a crop.......quite often in fact. It is a sort of disease, I think?

Anyhow, I regret your problem...have you called them for an explanation?
Regards
09-28-2011, 08:01 AM   #3
Junior Member




Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Suffolk, UK
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 49
Original Poster
Yes, I have, but the technician was not available. I am waiting for them to call back, but I'm not holding my breath. perhaps you should check yours, it might be a 'feature'.
09-28-2011, 08:27 AM   #4
New Member




Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Greece
Posts: 22
Mine is working OK in the viewfinder ..it's a usefull feature witch you paid for .

09-28-2011, 08:31 AM   #5
Inactive Account




Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Michigan, USA
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 7,484
The electronic levels on both the K7 and the K5 have typically been out of kilter. I've never bothered to check mine but I do use it to 'level' the tripod head when I'm using one with pretty satisfactory results. I believe the Horizon correction is based, on the level. It's really a shame that they can't (or won't) give US the option of adjusting them. Dive in around here and you'll find plenty of discussion about it.

09-28-2011, 08:36 AM   #6
Veteran Member
Otis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis Fan
Rupert's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Texas
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 25,123
I checked mine...appears to be working, but I can see it is for tripod use, and I almost never use a tripod. If I did, I would want it to work properly. Hand holding the Bigma and getting the levels to line up is not easy, I have very steady hands, but that is pushing my limits!
Regards!
09-28-2011, 08:42 AM   #7
Pentaxian
SpecialK's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: So California
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 16,479
Known problem. Unknown answer.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-k-5-forum/149797-how-adjust-calibrate-auto-level.html

09-28-2011, 08:47 AM   #8
Inactive Account




Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Michigan, USA
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 7,484
K5JSPano_DetRiver1_m35105_SiJ_July25_2011 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!



It's most useful to me when I'm doing something like this. A 14 shot Panorama. Having each shot level helps in putting them together. A Tripod or Monopod (as with the above Pano) are the only times I use the level. For most regular shots, I rely on the lines on the focus screen in the viewfinder. When I get it wrong, there's always room to crop.

09-28-2011, 09:33 AM   #9
Veteran Member




Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Orlando Florida
Posts: 487
mine is right on the money. Send it back. My K7 was off about 2 degrees as well.
09-28-2011, 10:35 AM   #10
Moderator
Loyal Site Supporter
Wheatfield's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: The wheatfields of Canada
Posts: 15,903
QuoteOriginally posted by Tony3d Quote
mine is right on the money. Send it back. My K7 was off about 2 degrees as well.
Looks like you got lucky second time around.
To the OP, how are you deciding that your level is off?
09-28-2011, 02:16 PM   #11
Veteran Member




Join Date: Aug 2007
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 1,563
I have one of the first K-5's in the Benelux, when I received it in december last year, the level was off as well.
I did send it in for service and spoke with the engineer at the Beukelaer in Belgium who did the level calibration.
It took him 2 weeks then, because they had to wait for special K-5 calibration software from Japan.
If this is true, a change of the main PC board is not the type of repair needed for level adjustment.

Many posters have rightfully suggested Pentax to make the level user calibrated, like the AF fine adjustment in the custom menu.

Bert
09-29-2011, 07:47 AM   #12
Forum Member
Ofer Hadas's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Israel
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 96
I‘ve sent my K-5 for stain issue – after 9 weeks got a newer body Ser 401XX. The new body came with the horizontal error about 2deg'
After 600 frame I faced the mirror issue. I guess I should have stayed with the original problem
09-29-2011, 10:29 AM   #13
Pentaxian
mikeSF's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: East Bay Area, CA
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 6,612
QuoteOriginally posted by Wheatfield Quote
Looks like you got lucky second time around.
To the OP, how are you deciding that your level is off?
that's what pentax asked me too and my reply was that all my pics using the level look like this:


not my best work, obviously. the processed final pano is here: http://mikeoria.zenfolio.com/img/v24/p129253323-6.jpg

of course it has been postulated that one day California will break off into the ocean; perhaps my camera is just accurately depicting the first signs here.

at least it is a left leaning liberal K-5 and not tending the OTHER way.

Last edited by mikeSF; 09-29-2011 at 10:43 AM.
09-29-2011, 06:44 PM   #14
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
ManuH's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Montreal
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,249
QuoteOriginally posted by Wheatfield Quote
Looks like you got lucky second time around.
To the OP, how are you deciding that your level is off?
That's quite easy to see. My K-7 was visibly off, I sent it for repair and Pentax Canada fixed it to my satisfaction. My K-5 is OK.
09-30-2011, 01:38 AM   #15
Veteran Member
philippe's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Flanders Fields
Posts: 463
QuoteOriginally posted by Monobod Quote
I have just had my K-5 returned from jpservice solutions, having sent it back under warrantee for recalibration. The problem I had was that the electronic horizon was out of alignment with the viewfinder by about two degrees of rotation. Just before returning it, the pop up flash also failed to recharge, so I included that on the report.

It has come back this morning and the flash is working but the horizon is still out of alignment. They have replaced the main pcb and recalibrated it according to the repair slip. What is going on here? What is the point of having an electronic horizon that tells me to put the camera on a slope of 2 degrees? The viewfinder and the sensor are correctly aligned, but with the camera level the displayed horizon in the viewfinder and on the back screen is not.

Has anyone else seen this problem with their K-5?

Thank you.
To what are you comparing the electronic horizon to, is it a bubble level slipped in to the flash shoe?
If so, check if that shoe is correctly aligned with the body, or if that level is well made...
BTW, I would not know how to check the hot shoe's alignment, but sometimes I doubt that thing is well assembled, I had that issue with a LX, rather a long time ago...
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
alignment, camera, degrees, dslr, flash, k-5, k-5 ii, k-5 iis, k5, pentax k-5, viewfinder
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
K-7 electronic level gavro Pentax DSLR Discussion 51 02-25-2011 03:51 AM
K-7 horizon misaligned? starbase218 Pentax DSLR Discussion 12 02-16-2011 01:16 PM
Landscape Sun on the Horizon LucyGoosey Photo Critique 11 08-26-2010 03:29 AM
K-7 Horizon correction. LeDave Pentax DSLR Discussion 2 12-11-2009 11:41 PM
Pentax K-7 'automatic horizon correction' feature ! Confused Pentax DSLR Discussion 5 06-17-2009 03:45 AM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:54 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top