K5's Shake Reduction

billylh · 01-24-2012, 05:33 PM

What are your thoughts/experience with SR and how effective it is on the K5?

My issue is that it doesnt seem very effective as taking hand shots(keeping it as steady as possible) will still produce a ghost. This is really noticeable for me when I tried taking pictures of some text on paper.

I have an Olympus E-420 with no iamge stabilization and it seems to be able to take much clearer and sharper pictures. I know this isnt supposed to be the case but it is.

I also suspect a back focusing issue but the above problem isnt a blur, its a second image offset.

JinDesu · 01-24-2012, 05:36 PM

The question comes down to, are the settings the same? Lenses? What lens are you using?

Anvh · 01-24-2012, 05:37 PM

A picture is worth a thousand words, and even more if you leave the EXIF in it.

Beside that was it handheld?

vonBaloney · 01-24-2012, 05:37 PM

It won't help with front-back issues -- like macros where a millimeter of difference will unfocus the image, so if you're talking about text where you are jamming the lens right up to the target a tripod (or more light and faster shutter) will serve you better. And of course it does have limits (gives you a couple of extra stops at best off of focal length/shutter speed rule).

I was wondering if it had improved since the K-7 -- someone did a study showing that around 1/100 sec, the SR wasn't effective. Anybody know about that?

**jatrax** · 01-24-2012, 05:57 PM - **1 Like**

Shake reduction works well on the k-5 within it's limits. It will give 1 or 2 stops advantage sometimes a bit more. But it is not a replacement for good technique nor does it work miracles. It is not going to magically make 1/2 second shots look good. What settings are you using? Aperture, speed, lens and ISO.

Also keep in mind that Pentax SR takes a moment (well seconds anyway) to "spin up" or "lock in" or whatever. The SR is only working when the little green hand shows in the viewfinder.

calsan · 01-24-2012, 06:38 PM

One possible theory is that the E420 is 'only' 10MP - therefore shots will appear sharper at 100% (pixel peeping) than shots taken with a higher resolution camera. This was something I noticed going from the K10 to K7.
If you view shots at the same actual size (ie printed) then the difference is non existent.

My K7 did seem to have the 1/100th problem mentioned by vonBaloney above, but when I consciously paid attention to the little green hand in the view finder, I realized that I was clicking the shutter before shake reduction had kicked in. I had imagined there was a problem with my K7 giving mirror slap and double images, but with more attention to my technique, the double image problem went away. Just my experience with my camera, your mileage may vary.

Rupert · 01-24-2012, 06:49 PM

Seems as good as or slightly better than on my K20D...which I found to be very useful and mostly excellent...within reason. It won't cure all that can give a shot the jitters.....but it is a definite advantage over not having it.
Regards!

imtheguy · 01-24-2012, 06:56 PM

Yes, the SR is good as long as its turned on and working. I have no problem picking out my shots where I forgot to switch it back on after a BIF or tripod session and then took some 300mm hand-held shots at 1/250.

derekkite · 01-24-2012, 07:05 PM

I'd look at the lens. Ghosting a high contrast subject could mean misalignment or haze.

I would think an SR problem would show some blurred images among sharp ones. Are you getting the same results with SR off?

I haven't used short lenses very much at all but with long ones hand held SR definitely works.

telly0050 · 01-24-2012, 07:17 PM

i have same problem.
when i am using a 50mm focal length, i will always have to make sure my shutter speed is over 1/50 even with SR on...
with 1/30 it sometimes produce ok picture, with 1/20 i hardly get any keeper, and with 1/15 i never make it to work. (i did try to keep my hand as sturdy as i can)
am i doing something wrong or my camera has some problem?

derekkite · 01-24-2012, 07:56 PM

telly: what results do you get without SR?

telly0050 · 01-24-2012, 08:02 PM

Originally posted by derekkite

telly: what results do you get without SR?

without SR, nothing works if lower than safe shutter.
that said, the SR does help, but still hardly useful...

(i still remember i have a low end nikon d60 with a kit stabilization lens, and i go 1/15 with all focal length)

vonBaloney · 01-24-2012, 08:09 PM

Originally posted by telly0050

without SR, nothing works if lower than safe shutter.
that said, the SR does help, but still hardly useful...

You are doing something wrong. Or have shaky hands.

telly0050 · 01-24-2012, 08:33 PM

Originally posted by vonBaloney

You are doing something wrong. Or have shaky hands.

yea, that's why i am trying to find out what did i do wrong.

hcc · 01-24-2012, 08:34 PM

I would not comment on the shots without SR. But with SR, you need to wait for the SR confirmation (xxxhexagonxxx shaking hand symbol in the view finder) before your shoot to get the full benefit of SR. Simply, focus, half-press the shutter button and wait (1-2 s typicaly) for the SR confirmation symbol to appear.

Hope that the info may help.

01-24-2012, 05:33 PM	#1
billylh New Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Central Texas Posts: 21	K5's Shake Reduction What are your thoughts/experience with SR and how effective it is on the K5? My issue is that it doesnt seem very effective as taking hand shots(keeping it as steady as possible) will still produce a ghost. This is really noticeable for me when I tried taking pictures of some text on paper. I have an Olympus E-420 with no iamge stabilization and it seems to be able to take much clearer and sharper pictures. I know this isnt supposed to be the case but it is. I also suspect a back focusing issue but the above problem isnt a blur, its a second image offset.

01-24-2012, 08:34 PM	#15
hcc Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,002	I would not comment on the shots without SR. But with SR, you need to wait for the SR confirmation (xxxhexagonxxx shaking hand symbol in the view finder) before your shoot to get the full benefit of SR. Simply, focus, half-press the shutter button and wait (1-2 s typicaly) for the SR confirmation symbol to appear. Hope that the info may help. Last edited by hcc; 01-25-2012 at 01:58 PM.

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01-24-2012, 05:36 PM	#2
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	The question comes down to, are the settings the same? Lenses? What lens are you using?

01-24-2012, 05:37 PM	#3
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	A picture is worth a thousand words, and even more if you leave the EXIF in it. Beside that was it handheld?

01-24-2012, 05:37 PM	#4
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	It won't help with front-back issues -- like macros where a millimeter of difference will unfocus the image, so if you're talking about text where you are jamming the lens right up to the target a tripod (or more light and faster shutter) will serve you better. And of course it does have limits (gives you a couple of extra stops at best off of focal length/shutter speed rule). I was wondering if it had improved since the K-7 -- someone did a study showing that around 1/100 sec, the SR wasn't effective. Anybody know about that?

01-24-2012, 05:57 PM - 1 Like	#5
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Shake reduction works well on the k-5 within it's limits. It will give 1 or 2 stops advantage sometimes a bit more. But it is not a replacement for good technique nor does it work miracles. It is not going to magically make 1/2 second shots look good. What settings are you using? Aperture, speed, lens and ISO. Also keep in mind that Pentax SR takes a moment (well seconds anyway) to "spin up" or "lock in" or whatever. The SR is only working when the little green hand shows in the viewfinder.

01-24-2012, 06:38 PM	#6
calsan Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,548	One possible theory is that the E420 is 'only' 10MP - therefore shots will appear sharper at 100% (pixel peeping) than shots taken with a higher resolution camera. This was something I noticed going from the K10 to K7. If you view shots at the same actual size (ie printed) then the difference is non existent. My K7 did seem to have the 1/100th problem mentioned by vonBaloney above, but when I consciously paid attention to the little green hand in the view finder, I realized that I was clicking the shutter before shake reduction had kicked in. I had imagined there was a problem with my K7 giving mirror slap and double images, but with more attention to my technique, the double image problem went away. Just my experience with my camera, your mileage may vary.

01-24-2012, 06:49 PM	#7
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	Seems as good as or slightly better than on my K20D...which I found to be very useful and mostly excellent...within reason. It won't cure all that can give a shot the jitters.....but it is a definite advantage over not having it. Regards!

01-24-2012, 06:56 PM	#8
imtheguy Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,950	Yes, the SR is good as long as its turned on and working. I have no problem picking out my shots where I forgot to switch it back on after a BIF or tripod session and then took some 300mm hand-held shots at 1/250.

01-24-2012, 07:05 PM	#9
derekkite Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Nelson B.C. Posts: 3,782	I'd look at the lens. Ghosting a high contrast subject could mean misalignment or haze. I would think an SR problem would show some blurred images among sharp ones. Are you getting the same results with SR off? I haven't used short lenses very much at all but with long ones hand held SR definitely works.

01-24-2012, 07:17 PM	#10
telly0050 Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 233	i have same problem. when i am using a 50mm focal length, i will always have to make sure my shutter speed is over 1/50 even with SR on... with 1/30 it sometimes produce ok picture, with 1/20 i hardly get any keeper, and with 1/15 i never make it to work. (i did try to keep my hand as sturdy as i can) am i doing something wrong or my camera has some problem?

01-24-2012, 07:56 PM	#11
derekkite Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Nelson B.C. Posts: 3,782	telly: what results do you get without SR?

01-24-2012, 08:02 PM	#12
telly0050 Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 233	Originally posted by derekkite telly: what results do you get without SR? without SR, nothing works if lower than safe shutter. that said, the SR does help, but still hardly useful... (i still remember i have a low end nikon d60 with a kit stabilization lens, and i go 1/15 with all focal length)

01-24-2012, 08:09 PM	#13
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	Originally posted by telly0050 without SR, nothing works if lower than safe shutter. that said, the SR does help, but still hardly useful... You are doing something wrong. Or have shaky hands.

01-24-2012, 08:33 PM	#14
telly0050 Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 233	Originally posted by vonBaloney You are doing something wrong. Or have shaky hands. yea, that's why i am trying to find out what did i do wrong.