Composition Adjsutment, huh?

Tobman · 12-08-2011, 12:40 PM

I purchased a K-5 about a month ago, and feel pretty competent with all its features at this point, except Composition Adjustment, even after reading the manual.

Can someone please explain exactly what it is, and how and when one would use it?

SpecialK · 12-08-2011, 12:43 PM

If your camera is on a tripod you can still shift the sensor a little to "adjust the composition".

Tobman · 12-08-2011, 12:49 PM

why not just move the camera? i can't imagine that you could use the Comp Adjust to change the composition significantly enough to notice. we're talking millimeters here, right?

Mareket · 12-08-2011, 01:58 PM

It's a few degrees of rotation or a tiny bit of movement yeah, I'm not overly sure why it's there, but my tripod head kinda sucks so it's useful every now and then. Just a way to show off the capabilities of the in body SR really.

excanonfd · 12-08-2011, 02:01 PM

Originally posted by SpecialK

If your camera is on a tripod you can still shift the sensor a little to "adjust the composition".

Does the sensor tilt as well?

I think you could have fun shifting the sensor around to get a feel for what a shift lens might do for the image. Mount a full frame lens on the K-5, the coverage circle should be more than adequate for the maximum shift possible.

Philoslothical · 12-08-2011, 02:15 PM

I think the sensor in the K-5 and K-r can tilt a bit, as this would be how it works with the GPS unit to get the 5 minute tracking of stellar bodies and such. I don't think there's any way to use it for tilt shift type stuff though.

cbope · 12-08-2011, 02:17 PM

Originally posted by excanonfd

Does the sensor tilt as well?

I think you could have fun shifting the sensor around to get a feel for what a shift lens might do for the image. Mount a full frame lens on the K-5, the coverage circle should be more than adequate for the maximum shift possible.

Unfortunately, no. You can only shift up-down, left-right and rotate.

pxpaulx · 12-08-2011, 02:20 PM

If you don't have a higher end head, it can be difficult to get the camera into the perfectly desired position, so this could come in handy, especially for something like macro work where making small shifts of the camera can result in big changes compositionally.

Toe Excanonfd - yes, it does in fact move then sensor, as it takes advantage of the shake reduction movement (which is recommended to be turned off on a tripod); as was noted this is the same shifting that is used for the GPS astro tracking feature, although it doesn't rotate as with the gps tracking.

excanonfd · 12-08-2011, 05:02 PM

I didn't think there would be tilt but how much can the sensor move in each direction (maximum)?

**pentaman** · 12-08-2011, 05:38 PM

I used this once - especially doing some macro work on K7 - where a small shift in camera can produce big shift in composition.

This link is what I relied on when I looked into this feature -

Pentax K-7 Sensor shift (Composition adjust) | Wallace Koopmans Artlog

LightSpeed · 12-08-2011, 07:00 PM

Originally posted by pentaman

I used this once - especially doing some macro work on K7 - where a small shift in camera can produce big shift in composition.

This link is what I relied on when I looked into this feature -

Pentax K-7 Sensor shift (Composition adjust) | Wallace Koopmans Artlog

I'm new here so take me with a grain of salt.

I do quite a bit of macro work. The suggestion that the composition tool enhances macro work, may be so when photographing a still subject off a tripod.
I would think it's better suited for landscape work, or possibly some studio work.

On subjects that are small and constantly moving, the feature is utterly useless for macro work. So is a tripod.
Focus rails may come in handy from time to time, but not very often.

The image below is some kind of bug, I have no idea what it is.
It was shot in a position that a tripod can't go. He's on a blade of grass at ground level.

**TER-OR** · 12-13-2011, 01:23 PM

Looks like a leafhopper nymph. Great shot, and I'll have to read up on the composition adjustment.

Painter · 01-31-2012, 03:13 PM

It's nice to see that someone read my blog post

Originally posted by pentaman

I used this once - especially doing some macro work on K7 - where a small shift in camera can produce big shift in composition.

This link is what I relied on when I looked into this feature -

Pentax K-7 Sensor shift (Composition adjust) | Wallace Koopmans Artlog

Verglace · 01-31-2012, 07:18 PM

Its more for really fine fine-tuning. You can just move the tripod really but if its too hard you can use composition adjust. I guess its just one of those features pentax put in to take advantage of the SR allowing the sensor to move. Some of it is really useful like horizon correction which is great for hand held.

vrrattko · 02-02-2012, 02:33 AM

one fine application of this is that you can use it as a digital shift lens to some extent

.....nice feature

to illustrate it...here's the photo made quickly from 4 stitched images using sensor shift - red rectangle shows original image, so you can see how much area sensor shift can add
all photos taken with da 70 - landscape shot with some 28mm lens would be better example, but i was lazy to get out to make a proof

12-08-2011, 12:40 PM	#1
Tobman New Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Steamboat Springs, CO Posts: 13	Composition Adjsutment, huh? I purchased a K-5 about a month ago, and feel pretty competent with all its features at this point, except Composition Adjustment, even after reading the manual. Can someone please explain exactly what it is, and how and when one would use it?

01-31-2012, 03:13 PM	#13
Painter Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 348	Thanks It's nice to see that someone read my blog post Originally posted by pentaman I used this once - especially doing some macro work on K7 - where a small shift in camera can produce big shift in composition. This link is what I relied on when I looked into this feature - Pentax K-7 Sensor shift (Composition adjust) \| Wallace Koopmans Artlog

01-31-2012, 07:18 PM	#14
Verglace Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 468	Its more for really fine fine-tuning. You can just move the tripod really but if its too hard you can use composition adjust. I guess its just one of those features pentax put in to take advantage of the SR allowing the sensor to move. Some of it is really useful like horizon correction which is great for hand held. Last edited by Verglace; 02-01-2012 at 03:26 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
So you want to work for Nat Geo huh	eddie1960	General Talk	11	12-01-2011 05:43 PM
Macro Huh?	tails	Post Your Photos!	3	10-04-2011 06:26 PM
Huh! I got K-5 Kit for $1350 from Amazon	sagar	Pentax K-5 & K-5 II	4	12-16-2010 12:17 PM
K-7 Focus adjsutment	milesy	Photographic Technique	6	07-07-2010 09:59 AM
Huh?	TYOsborn	Post Your Photos!	3	08-24-2008 01:30 PM

12-08-2011, 12:43 PM	#2
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,481	If your camera is on a tripod you can still shift the sensor a little to "adjust the composition".

12-08-2011, 12:49 PM	#3
Tobman New Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Steamboat Springs, CO Posts: 13 Original Poster	why not just move the camera? i can't imagine that you could use the Comp Adjust to change the composition significantly enough to notice. we're talking millimeters here, right?

12-08-2011, 01:58 PM	#4
Mareket Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Chester Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 719	It's a few degrees of rotation or a tiny bit of movement yeah, I'm not overly sure why it's there, but my tripod head kinda sucks so it's useful every now and then. Just a way to show off the capabilities of the in body SR really.

12-08-2011, 02:01 PM	#5
excanonfd Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,421	Originally posted by SpecialK If your camera is on a tripod you can still shift the sensor a little to "adjust the composition". Does the sensor tilt as well? I think you could have fun shifting the sensor around to get a feel for what a shift lens might do for the image. Mount a full frame lens on the K-5, the coverage circle should be more than adequate for the maximum shift possible.

12-08-2011, 02:15 PM	#6
Philoslothical Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1,889	I think the sensor in the K-5 and K-r can tilt a bit, as this would be how it works with the GPS unit to get the 5 minute tracking of stellar bodies and such. I don't think there's any way to use it for tilt shift type stuff though.

12-08-2011, 02:17 PM	#7
cbope Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Helsinki Posts: 664	Originally posted by excanonfd Does the sensor tilt as well? I think you could have fun shifting the sensor around to get a feel for what a shift lens might do for the image. Mount a full frame lens on the K-5, the coverage circle should be more than adequate for the maximum shift possible. Unfortunately, no. You can only shift up-down, left-right and rotate.

12-08-2011, 02:20 PM	#8
pxpaulx Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 2,867	If you don't have a higher end head, it can be difficult to get the camera into the perfectly desired position, so this could come in handy, especially for something like macro work where making small shifts of the camera can result in big changes compositionally. Toe Excanonfd - yes, it does in fact move then sensor, as it takes advantage of the shake reduction movement (which is recommended to be turned off on a tripod); as was noted this is the same shifting that is used for the GPS astro tracking feature, although it doesn't rotate as with the gps tracking.

12-08-2011, 05:02 PM	#9
excanonfd Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,421	I didn't think there would be tilt but how much can the sensor move in each direction (maximum)?

12-08-2011, 05:38 PM	#10
pentaman Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 253	I used this once - especially doing some macro work on K7 - where a small shift in camera can produce big shift in composition. This link is what I relied on when I looked into this feature - Pentax K-7 Sensor shift (Composition adjust) \| Wallace Koopmans Artlog

12-08-2011, 07:00 PM	#11
LightSpeed Banned Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 639	Originally posted by pentaman I used this once - especially doing some macro work on K7 - where a small shift in camera can produce big shift in composition. This link is what I relied on when I looked into this feature - Pentax K-7 Sensor shift (Composition adjust) \| Wallace Koopmans Artlog I'm new here so take me with a grain of salt. I do quite a bit of macro work. The suggestion that the composition tool enhances macro work, may be so when photographing a still subject off a tripod. I would think it's better suited for landscape work, or possibly some studio work. On subjects that are small and constantly moving, the feature is utterly useless for macro work. So is a tripod. Focus rails may come in handy from time to time, but not very often. The image below is some kind of bug, I have no idea what it is. It was shot in a position that a tripod can't go. He's on a blade of grass at ground level.

12-13-2011, 01:23 PM	#12
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	Looks like a leafhopper nymph. Great shot, and I'll have to read up on the composition adjustment.