K-5 and DA*50-135 won't focus in LIVE VIEW.

bossa · 03-07-2012, 06:11 PM

Hi all,

I've been experimenting with Live View on both my K-5s with a few of my faster lenses to see if I can get more controlled results re' focus. Thus far I've tried my 31LTD, DA* 50-135, DA* 200 & Sigma 50 F1.4. Apart from the DA* 50-135, the other lenses focus very well every time. The 50-135 has only managed to shift the focus once in LV and gain accurate focus whereas on the other occasions the camera appears to give up trying, possibly after some time out period that I'm not aware of. If focus is 'close' prior to the attempt it may or may not be successful. When using the normal Phase Detect AF system it works perfectly.

My settings are for contrast detect.

Is anyone having similar issues and can they offer some advice please?

Cheers

Last edited by bossa; 03-07-2012 at 06:26 PM.

Adam · 03-07-2012, 07:20 PM

You could be below the minimum focusing distance for that lens.

bossa · 03-07-2012, 08:00 PM

Thanks for the reply Adam but that's not it. All of my targets focused nicely using the VF and PDAF.

twitch · 03-07-2012, 08:18 PM

The 50-135 can be a reluctant focuser even in phase detect. I'm not sure if it's a sign of SDM problems or just a "feature" of the lens.

bossa · 03-07-2012, 08:23 PM

Mine focuses fine using the standard method, albeit a touch slower than my DA 200. But this just fails to move most of the time in LV and when it does it almost always stops with the image still OOF. I was wondering if there is a time-out period with the K-5. If the image is only slightly OOF when LV attempts to focus then it seems to have a little more success.

drougge · 03-08-2012, 03:13 AM

Focusing (both PD and CD) certainly give up after some time/attempts/something, with any lens. Try focusing on something featureless or with very little light and you can easily get it with any lens. My DA*50-135 doesn't seem more prone to this in LV than I remember my FA31 being (I only have the DA*50-135 with me right now).

bossa · 03-08-2012, 04:02 AM

Originally posted by drougge

Focusing (both PD and CD) certainly give up after some time/attempts/something, with any lens. Try focusing on something featureless or with very little light and you can easily get it with any lens. My DA*50-135 doesn't seem more prone to this in LV than I remember my FA31 being (I only have the DA*50-135 with me right now).

My DA 50-135 just doesn't do anything most of the time in LV but focuses perfectly using PD though. I can only blame the camera/firmware for this I suppose.

03-07-2012, 06:11 PM	#1
bossa Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Adelaide Posts: 4,546	*K-5 and DA50-135 won't focus in LIVE VIEW.** Hi all, I've been experimenting with Live View on both my K-5s with a few of my faster lenses to see if I can get more controlled results re' focus. Thus far I've tried my 31LTD, DA* 50-135, DA* 200 & Sigma 50 F1.4. Apart from the DA* 50-135, the other lenses focus very well every time. The 50-135 has only managed to shift the focus once in LV and gain accurate focus whereas on the other occasions the camera appears to give up trying, possibly after some time out period that I'm not aware of. If focus is 'close' prior to the attempt it may or may not be successful. When using the normal Phase Detect AF system it works perfectly. My settings are for contrast detect. Is anyone having similar issues and can they offer some advice please? Cheers Last edited by bossa; 03-07-2012 at 06:26 PM.

03-07-2012, 07:20 PM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	You could be below the minimum focusing distance for that lens. 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:

03-07-2012, 08:23 PM	#5
bossa Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Adelaide Posts: 4,546 Original Poster	Mine focuses fine using the standard method, albeit a touch slower than my DA 200. But this just fails to move most of the time in LV and when it does it almost always stops with the image still OOF. I was wondering if there is a time-out period with the K-5. If the image is only slightly OOF when LV attempts to focus then it seems to have a little more success. Last edited by bossa; 03-07-2012 at 09:29 PM.

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03-07-2012, 08:00 PM	#3
bossa Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Adelaide Posts: 4,546 Original Poster	Thanks for the reply Adam but that's not it. All of my targets focused nicely using the VF and PDAF.

03-07-2012, 08:18 PM	#4
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	The 50-135 can be a reluctant focuser even in phase detect. I'm not sure if it's a sign of SDM problems or just a "feature" of the lens.

03-08-2012, 03:13 AM	#6
drougge Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Malmö Photos: Gallery Posts: 787	Focusing (both PD and CD) certainly give up after some time/attempts/something, with any lens. Try focusing on something featureless or with very little light and you can easily get it with any lens. My DA50-135 doesn't seem more prone to this in LV than I remember my FA31 being (I only have the DA50-135 with me right now).

03-08-2012, 04:02 AM	#7
bossa Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Adelaide Posts: 4,546 Original Poster	Originally posted by drougge Focusing (both PD and CD) certainly give up after some time/attempts/something, with any lens. Try focusing on something featureless or with very little light and you can easily get it with any lens. My DA50-135 doesn't seem more prone to this in LV than I remember my FA31 being (I only have the DA50-135 with me right now). My DA 50-135 just doesn't do anything most of the time in LV but focuses perfectly using PD though. I can only blame the camera/firmware for this I suppose.