Katz-eye installed now the K-5 front focuses badly!

DanielT74 · 11-02-2011, 03:27 PM

Well, I thought this was meant to be a trivial procedure, so what have I screwed up?

When I put the original focusing screen in - same thing - front focuses. I mean in MF the object that ends up in focus is in front of what appeared to be in focus through the viewfinder. Live view focusing is of course correct. But not the viewfinder.

When installing, I wiped the mirror gently and used the tool to put the screen in. Nothing special (I thought).

Help!

aT0Mx · 11-02-2011, 03:57 PM

Might be a silly question but is your diopter set right?

**GregK8** · 11-02-2011, 04:07 PM

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-k-5-forum/142225-focus-adjustment-...nt-images.html

creampuff · 11-03-2011, 03:32 AM

You need to install the correct shim to ensure the focusing screen focuses at the same focal plane as the camera's AF module.

DanielT74 · 11-03-2011, 03:43 AM

I am afraid you are right. Why don't Katzeye say anything about this?? They said it was a trivial procedure. Shims... Anyone got any spare shims????

dragon132312 · 11-03-2011, 03:51 AM

Have not any shims , but have been thinking about a katzeye for my K5 as my manual lenses all front focus a lot with the k5 . did not have that with the Kx.I Don't have any problem with the DA* lenses they focus spot on.

dave216 · 11-03-2011, 04:01 AM

Katz-eye screen can't help with front focusing, you have to replace existing focusing screnn adjusting shim to correct it (doesn't affect AF function)
You have to buy shims from pentax, if you are in US it's easy
77240.M02200A - 0.10mm
77240.M02200B - 0.15mm
77240.M02200C - 0.20mm
77240.M02200D - 0.25mm
77240.M02200E - 0.30mm
77240.M02200F - 0.35mm
77240.M02200G - 0.40mm
77240.M02200H - 0.45mm
77240.M02200I - 0.50mm
part numbers for shims and this is pentax parts dep phone (720) 988-2653
usually K5 came with .45 ot .4 mm shim so in case of front focusing you need probably .25 or .35mm shim

Last edited by dave216; 11-03-2011 at 04:09 AM.

Clavius · 11-03-2011, 04:12 AM

Even when it operates correctly: Are you really sure you want one?

I had one installed on my K20d. Focussing luckily wasn't affected. But the centre of the focussing screen, wasn't the aligned with the centre af point. There was no way to correct that. So, I reinstalled the original screen asap.

I am much more content with the ME53 eyepiece enlarger I have on my K5.

dragon132312 · 11-03-2011, 04:24 AM

Have not heard of the ME53 eyepiece, when i spoke to pentax they said it would be better to have the camera and the lenses calibrated, when the screen looks in focus and indicates that its in focus , they are all front focus and the faster the lens the worse it is .

DanielT74 · 11-03-2011, 04:41 AM

Hmmm... looks like another trip to Camera Clinic... Any Melbournians with advice?

mikeSF · 11-03-2011, 03:06 PM

my take is that when upgrading the stock screen to a prism type, expect that the improved precision will reveal FF or BF issues that were already there but not detectable with the stock; thus, some shimming should be needed.
Moreover, who's to say any replacement screen truly is 100% the same thickness as the stock one?
good luck. the toughest part is figuring out what shim(s) to order.

**GregK8** · 11-03-2011, 06:27 PM

Originally posted by mikeSF

my take is that when upgrading the stock screen to a prism type, expect that the improved precision will reveal FF or BF issues that were already there but not detectable with the stock; thus, some shimming should be needed.

I think this is exactly right. All lenses and cameras have some amount of error, with the stock screen I always used the AF system to confirm focus with my manual lenses, so I didn't have a prblem. With the split screen I could be more precise with the manual focus which made the slight FF noticeable.

**GregK8** · 11-03-2011, 06:30 PM

Originally posted by dragon132312

when the screen looks in focus and indicates that its in focus , they are all front focus and the faster the lens the worse it is .

They all FF the same amount, you just notice it on the fast lenses because of the shallow depth of field. Stop them down and it will be far less noticeable.

NotaxPen · 11-03-2011, 08:39 PM

When I installed the Katzeye screen, mine front-focussed also. It probably front-focussed with the original screen, you just can't tell because the screen is useless for manual focus.
I had them calibrate it for me, and sure enough, it needed a different shim.
My theory is that camera manufacturers expect that most users these days just use the auto focus, so they don't really care about calibrating the screen properly for manual focus.
My friend has the same problem with his Canon. Auto focus works fine, but manual focus is useless.

After I had them install the proper shim, the difference is like night and day using this camera.

dosdan · 11-03-2011, 09:03 PM

Originally posted by mikeSF

the toughest part is figuring out what shim(s) to order.

If they're cheap, order 3:

77240.M02200A - 0.10mm
77240.M02200B - 0.15mm
77240.M02200C - 0.20mm

By using various combinations (after all they're only shims) that covers 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30, 0.35, 0.45mm. It does not cover 0.40mm.

If the K-5 comes with a 0.40mm or 0.45mm shim, then with the 3 extra shims above, you've got just about everything covered.

Dan.

11-02-2011, 03:27 PM	#1
DanielT74 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,377	Katz-eye installed now the K-5 front focuses badly! Well, I thought this was meant to be a trivial procedure, so what have I screwed up? When I put the original focusing screen in - same thing - front focuses. I mean in MF the object that ends up in focus is in front of what appeared to be in focus through the viewfinder. Live view focusing is of course correct. But not the viewfinder. When installing, I wiped the mirror gently and used the tool to put the screen in. Nothing special (I thought). Help!

11-03-2011, 08:39 PM	#14
NotaxPen Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 123	Mine used to front-focus also When I installed the Katzeye screen, mine front-focussed also. It probably front-focussed with the original screen, you just can't tell because the screen is useless for manual focus. I had them calibrate it for me, and sure enough, it needed a different shim. My theory is that camera manufacturers expect that most users these days just use the auto focus, so they don't really care about calibrating the screen properly for manual focus. My friend has the same problem with his Canon. Auto focus works fine, but manual focus is useless. After I had them install the proper shim, the difference is like night and day using this camera.

11-03-2011, 09:03 PM	#15
dosdan Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,741	Originally posted by mikeSF the toughest part is figuring out what shim(s) to order. If they're cheap, order 3: 77240.M02200A - 0.10mm 77240.M02200B - 0.15mm 77240.M02200C - 0.20mm By using various combinations (after all they're only shims) that covers 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30, 0.35, 0.45mm. It does not cover 0.40mm. If the K-5 comes with a 0.40mm or 0.45mm shim, then with the 3 extra shims above, you've got just about everything covered. Dan. Last edited by dosdan; 11-03-2011 at 09:17 PM.

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11-02-2011, 03:57 PM	#2
aT0Mx Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Nova Scotia Photos: Albums Posts: 387	Might be a silly question but is your diopter set right?

11-02-2011, 04:07 PM	#3
GregK8 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Western New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 614	https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-k-5-forum/142225-focus-adjustment-...nt-images.html

11-03-2011, 03:32 AM	#4
creampuff Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,953	You need to install the correct shim to ensure the focusing screen focuses at the same focal plane as the camera's AF module.

11-03-2011, 03:43 AM	#5
DanielT74 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,377 Original Poster	I am afraid you are right. Why don't Katzeye say anything about this?? They said it was a trivial procedure. Shims... Anyone got any spare shims????

11-03-2011, 03:51 AM	#6
dragon132312 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 813	Have not any shims , but have been thinking about a katzeye for my K5 as my manual lenses all front focus a lot with the k5 . did not have that with the Kx.I Don't have any problem with the DA* lenses they focus spot on.

11-03-2011, 04:01 AM	#7
dave216 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Republic of Georgia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 46	Katz-eye screen can't help with front focusing, you have to replace existing focusing screnn adjusting shim to correct it (doesn't affect AF function) You have to buy shims from pentax, if you are in US it's easy 77240.M02200A - 0.10mm 77240.M02200B - 0.15mm 77240.M02200C - 0.20mm 77240.M02200D - 0.25mm 77240.M02200E - 0.30mm 77240.M02200F - 0.35mm 77240.M02200G - 0.40mm 77240.M02200H - 0.45mm 77240.M02200I - 0.50mm part numbers for shims and this is pentax parts dep phone (720) 988-2653 usually K5 came with .45 ot .4 mm shim so in case of front focusing you need probably .25 or .35mm shim Last edited by dave216; 11-03-2011 at 04:09 AM.

11-03-2011, 04:12 AM	#8
Clavius Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: De Klundert Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,150	Even when it operates correctly: Are you really sure you want one? I had one installed on my K20d. Focussing luckily wasn't affected. But the centre of the focussing screen, wasn't the aligned with the centre af point. There was no way to correct that. So, I reinstalled the original screen asap. I am much more content with the ME53 eyepiece enlarger I have on my K5.

11-03-2011, 04:24 AM	#9
dragon132312 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 813	Have not heard of the ME53 eyepiece, when i spoke to pentax they said it would be better to have the camera and the lenses calibrated, when the screen looks in focus and indicates that its in focus , they are all front focus and the faster the lens the worse it is .

11-03-2011, 04:41 AM	#10
DanielT74 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,377 Original Poster	Hmmm... looks like another trip to Camera Clinic... Any Melbournians with advice?

11-03-2011, 03:06 PM	#11
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,620	my take is that when upgrading the stock screen to a prism type, expect that the improved precision will reveal FF or BF issues that were already there but not detectable with the stock; thus, some shimming should be needed. Moreover, who's to say any replacement screen truly is 100% the same thickness as the stock one? good luck. the toughest part is figuring out what shim(s) to order.

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11-03-2011, 06:27 PM	#12
GregK8 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Western New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 614	Originally posted by mikeSF my take is that when upgrading the stock screen to a prism type, expect that the improved precision will reveal FF or BF issues that were already there but not detectable with the stock; thus, some shimming should be needed. I think this is exactly right. All lenses and cameras have some amount of error, with the stock screen I always used the AF system to confirm focus with my manual lenses, so I didn't have a prblem. With the split screen I could be more precise with the manual focus which made the slight FF noticeable.

11-03-2011, 06:30 PM	#13
GregK8 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Western New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 614	Originally posted by dragon132312 when the screen looks in focus and indicates that its in focus , they are all front focus and the faster the lens the worse it is . They all FF the same amount, you just notice it on the fast lenses because of the shallow depth of field. Stop them down and it will be far less noticeable.