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snake · 02-07-2013, 03:30 AM

Originally posted by pakinjapan

see some people talk about FA35 above, my FA35 has no problem with front / back focus in low light both before and after update. Auto focus accuracy is also working as good / bad as before.

Cool.

Riv · 02-07-2013, 05:12 PM

Thought I'd add my 2 cents. V1.13 my AF fine adjustments were set between +4 and +10 for the three lenses I have left. The DA*55, DFA100mm/WR and the DA*300mm. Oddly they'd need re-adjustment at random intervals, sometimes the next day, no idea why and that part I'll continue to watch. However I updated today to 1.14, and so far with random testing of the three lenses (indoors, over a couple hrs with multiple lens changes) I've not had to manually refocus yet after AF lock. Currently option 26 is turned Off

for the first time since I've owned it! I'm hoping I can leave it that way and put this headache behind me

At this point I'm not prepared to say any of them focus faster, just a lot more accurately.

It shouldn't matter, but I did resets (all three places) before I upgraded, not after.

jephi · 02-08-2013, 04:51 AM

Updated my K-5 to V1.14. My DA 55-300mm focusses much better now, without the endless back-and-forth focussing :-)

Cheers from Berlin, jephi

kyteflyer · 02-08-2013, 04:55 AM

Originally posted by jephi

Updated my K-5 to V1.14. My DA 55-300mm focusses much better now, without the endless bad-and-forth focussing :-)

Cheers from Berlin, jephi

Oh thats good news. Must try mine out tomorrow, I had been finding it a bit disappointing. My DA35Ltd is behaving better too. But then, I was still running on 1.03. So I guess I would notice differences

jasonlel · 02-09-2013, 07:59 AM

Originally posted by Riv

It shouldn't matter, but I did resets (all three places) before I upgraded, not after.

may I know which all three places u reset? thanks....

Riv · 02-09-2013, 09:15 AM

Originally posted by jasonlel

may I know which all three places u reset? thanks....

1- Reset Custom Functions (tab C4)
2- Reset (tab Wrench 3)
3- Reset AF Fine Adjustment (tab C26 sub of On)

greg57 · 02-10-2013, 04:19 AM

Ok, I have been very happy about AF improvements, but low light photography is where the magic stops :P
(with sigma 17-50 2.8)

treebeard · 02-10-2013, 07:37 AM

Originally posted by greg57

Ok, I have been very happy about AF improvements, but low light photography is where the magic stops :P
(with sigma 17-50 2.8)

I am not sure about this but I have noticed that my lenses still struggle in extremely low light. When I say low light I mean in a pitch dark nightclub with hundreds of people. When there is enough light for the AF to lock on quickly it's fine, when there is any delay and the lens takes a moment to lock on most of the time the image is out of focus. This type of behavior was frequently experienced with my D700 using a Tamron 28-75 and SB-700 so I can't blame it all on Pentax.

vonBaloney · 02-10-2013, 09:07 AM

There is only so much firmware can do -- if the sensors can't handle the low level of light, then they can't handle it. Firmware can't work magic.

treebeard · 02-10-2013, 09:24 AM

Originally posted by vonBaloney

There is only so much firmware can do -- if the sensors can't handle it the low level of light, then they can't handle it. Firmware can't work magic.

I agree, that's why I don't think the firmware has anything to do with that issue. However, I really think the AF speed has increased after applying the latest firmware, which is fine with me.

HSV · 02-12-2013, 06:34 PM

Just updated today...and for the 1st time in history, my K-5 is able to function with AF calibration OFF!

Sounds like a great achievement, but in reality it's sort of dumb since my k10d and k20d never needed any AF adjustment, they were just magically correct.

The low light AF has not changed, some lenses are good with it, some are terrible with it.

greg57 · 02-13-2013, 06:26 AM

Just out of curiosity, which ones are good?

Originally posted by HSV

The low light AF has not changed, some lenses are good with it, some are terrible with it.

HSV · 02-13-2013, 07:45 AM

Just to mention a few good ones: Tamron 90mm macro, most of the limiteds (have not used the 15 and 21 indoors, so I can't really tell on those), Sigma 50 1.4, DA*55 1.4. The last 2 are sort of obvious because of the speed.

So far, in my experience, the Tamron 90 macro has been my most reliable (and used) lens. It's got a pretty nice FL for me, good for portraits and macro, AF never fails to lock, and the AF is highly accurate.

dlacouture · 02-13-2013, 08:49 AM

While I was testing the AF with my lenses, I noticed something strange...

I was testing AF-C, using a Tamron 70-200/2.8 @ 200mm, and I was quite blown away by the speed and frequency of the AF. The camera was constantly on the move, the AF motor always whirring and quite nailing the focus, without hardly a heartbeat between focus updates... Felt like a machine gun!
But when I tried with shorter focal lengths (@70mm and with a FA50/1.4 and a sigma 30/1.4), AF-C became very reluctant to move, doing updates every half seconds at best...

Don't know if it was that way before 1.14 (never really tried), but I don't understand why there is such a difference... I'll try some more tonight...

VisualDarkness · 02-15-2013, 12:13 PM

I just updated and think my Sigma 70-200/2.8 HSM II focuses a little more accurately and far more distinct in a really dimly lit room. It feels a bit as the searching range is smaller when it's close to in focus. I can't say that this is the real case but my gut feel says it is. I upgraded from 1.12.

02-08-2013, 04:51 AM	#78
jephi Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berlin Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 103	Updated my K-5 to V1.14. My DA 55-300mm focusses much better now, without the endless back-and-forth focussing :-) Cheers from Berlin, jephi Last edited by jephi; 02-08-2013 at 04:33 PM.

02-10-2013, 04:19 AM	#82
greg57 New Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 22	Nothing new in low light Ok, I have been very happy about AF improvements, but low light photography is where the magic stops :P (with sigma 17-50 2.8)

02-10-2013, 09:07 AM	#84
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	There is only so much firmware can do -- if the sensors can't handle the low level of light, then they can't handle it. Firmware can't work magic. Last edited by vonBaloney; 02-10-2013 at 09:44 AM.

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02-07-2013, 03:30 AM	#76
snake Banned Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: NY/Germany Posts: 1,183	Originally posted by pakinjapan see some people talk about FA35 above, my FA35 has no problem with front / back focus in low light both before and after update. Auto focus accuracy is also working as good / bad as before. Cool.

02-07-2013, 05:12 PM	#77
Riv Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Michigan Photos: Albums Posts: 142	Thought I'd add my 2 cents. V1.13 my AF fine adjustments were set between +4 and +10 for the three lenses I have left. The DA55, DFA100mm/WR and the DA300mm. Oddly they'd need re-adjustment at random intervals, sometimes the next day, no idea why and that part I'll continue to watch. However I updated today to 1.14, and so far with random testing of the three lenses (indoors, over a couple hrs with multiple lens changes) I've not had to manually refocus yet after AF lock. Currently option 26 is turned Off for the first time since I've owned it! I'm hoping I can leave it that way and put this headache behind me At this point I'm not prepared to say any of them focus faster, just a lot more accurately. It shouldn't matter, but I did resets (all three places) before I upgraded, not after.

02-08-2013, 04:55 AM	#79
kyteflyer Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Newcastle, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,444	Originally posted by jephi Updated my K-5 to V1.14. My DA 55-300mm focusses much better now, without the endless bad-and-forth focussing :-) Cheers from Berlin, jephi Oh thats good news. Must try mine out tomorrow, I had been finding it a bit disappointing. My DA35Ltd is behaving better too. But then, I was still running on 1.03. So I guess I would notice differences

02-09-2013, 07:59 AM	#80
jasonlel New Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Singapore Posts: 16	Originally posted by Riv It shouldn't matter, but I did resets (all three places) before I upgraded, not after. may I know which all three places u reset? thanks....

02-09-2013, 09:15 AM	#81
Riv Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Michigan Photos: Albums Posts: 142	Originally posted by jasonlel may I know which all three places u reset? thanks.... 1- Reset Custom Functions (tab C4) 2- Reset (tab Wrench 3) 3- Reset AF Fine Adjustment (tab C26 sub of On)

02-10-2013, 07:37 AM	#83
treebeard Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Windham, NH Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 793	Originally posted by greg57 Ok, I have been very happy about AF improvements, but low light photography is where the magic stops :P (with sigma 17-50 2.8) I am not sure about this but I have noticed that my lenses still struggle in extremely low light. When I say low light I mean in a pitch dark nightclub with hundreds of people. When there is enough light for the AF to lock on quickly it's fine, when there is any delay and the lens takes a moment to lock on most of the time the image is out of focus. This type of behavior was frequently experienced with my D700 using a Tamron 28-75 and SB-700 so I can't blame it all on Pentax.

02-10-2013, 09:24 AM	#85
treebeard Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Windham, NH Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 793	Originally posted by vonBaloney There is only so much firmware can do -- if the sensors can't handle it the low level of light, then they can't handle it. Firmware can't work magic. I agree, that's why I don't think the firmware has anything to do with that issue. However, I really think the AF speed has increased after applying the latest firmware, which is fine with me.

02-12-2013, 06:34 PM	#86
HSV Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 321	Just updated today...and for the 1st time in history, my K-5 is able to function with AF calibration OFF! Sounds like a great achievement, but in reality it's sort of dumb since my k10d and k20d never needed any AF adjustment, they were just magically correct. The low light AF has not changed, some lenses are good with it, some are terrible with it.

02-13-2013, 06:26 AM	#87
greg57 New Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 22	Just out of curiosity, which ones are good? Originally posted by HSV The low light AF has not changed, some lenses are good with it, some are terrible with it.

02-13-2013, 07:45 AM	#88
HSV Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 321	Just to mention a few good ones: Tamron 90mm macro, most of the limiteds (have not used the 15 and 21 indoors, so I can't really tell on those), Sigma 50 1.4, DA*55 1.4. The last 2 are sort of obvious because of the speed. So far, in my experience, the Tamron 90 macro has been my most reliable (and used) lens. It's got a pretty nice FL for me, good for portraits and macro, AF never fails to lock, and the AF is highly accurate.

02-13-2013, 08:49 AM	#89
dlacouture Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Var, South of France Photos: Albums Posts: 1,074	While I was testing the AF with my lenses, I noticed something strange... I was testing AF-C, using a Tamron 70-200/2.8 @ 200mm, and I was quite blown away by the speed and frequency of the AF. The camera was constantly on the move, the AF motor always whirring and quite nailing the focus, without hardly a heartbeat between focus updates... Felt like a machine gun! But when I tried with shorter focal lengths (@70mm and with a FA50/1.4 and a sigma 30/1.4), AF-C became very reluctant to move, doing updates every half seconds at best... Don't know if it was that way before 1.14 (never really tried), but I don't understand why there is such a difference... I'll try some more tonight...

02-15-2013, 12:13 PM	#90
VisualDarkness Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,439	I just updated and think my Sigma 70-200/2.8 HSM II focuses a little more accurately and far more distinct in a really dimly lit room. It feels a bit as the searching range is smaller when it's close to in focus. I can't say that this is the real case but my gut feel says it is. I upgraded from 1.12.

Firmware Update K-5 V1.14

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