AF Cancel and Viewfinder brightness

ckoehler · 03-09-2011, 01:20 PM

Hi there!

Just got my K-r and loving it! A few things I noticed and wanted to pass by some pros just in case it's just me:

1. The AF/AE-L button can be mapped to "Cancel AF." I thought that was pretty useful: Hold the button and you can quickly use MF without flipping the switch, but alas, it doesn't work like that. It still seems to try and move the motor when I rotate the focus ring. Just me, or is there a trick? It'd just be nice to quickly MF that way.

2. The info in the viewfinder is nice, but during a sunny day trip today I noticed that it's barely visible. I thought it was my (polarized) sun glasses first, but even without them it was hard to see. Is there a way to make that brighter?

Thanks!

gp1806 · 03-09-2011, 07:37 PM

You can 'cancel AF' then push the lens release button and move the focus ring, release the button and take the picture, no motor grind.

**jeffshaddix** · 03-09-2011, 10:08 PM

For non-"quick shift" lenses you need to do as stated above. For "quick shift" lenses (all but one of the DA series, and perhaps Sigma HSM lenses), the "Cancel AF" button works as you expect it.

Basically all it's doing is preventing the camera from starting the autofocus operation at shutter half-press. If the autofocus is screw-drive (FA, DA L, etc.), the motor will still be engaged at all times, just not operating.

As for your second question...that's not an option on the K-7, so I doubt it would be for the K-r.

ckoehler · 03-10-2011, 07:48 PM

Thanks guys, that's good to know! I will be looking for those quick shift lenses!

AstraNine · 03-11-2011, 06:13 AM

Also find the info in the viewfinder difficult to see. Anybody any ideas?

**jeffshaddix** · 03-11-2011, 07:43 AM

Originally posted by AstraNine

Also find the info in the viewfinder difficult to see. Anybody any ideas?

Is it too dim or does it get cropped off? If the primer, I don't think there's much you can do; if the latter, do you wear glasses? If so your eye is farther from the viewfinder than intended. Depending on your prescription you can try adjusting the diopter, adding additional diopter adjustment lenses, or getting contacts/lasik.

v3t0 · 03-11-2011, 08:48 AM

if you find the viewfinder is quite dim, i think it is because it use pentamirror..pentamirror is less bright and smaller than pentaprism..

model using pentaprism : *istD, *istDS2, K10D, K20D, K-5, K-7

**jeffshaddix** · 03-11-2011, 10:18 AM

Originally posted by v3t0

if you find the viewfinder is quite dim, i think it is because it use pentamirror..pentamirror is less bright and smaller than pentaprism..

model using pentaprism : *istD, *istDS2, K10D, K20D, K-5, K-7

I don't think that affects the info in the viewfinder though...just the image. Perhaps I am mistaken?

ckoehler · 03-12-2011, 09:53 PM

I think some of it is the angle. When I kind of look up into the viewfinder, I see it quite well. That's necessary with sun glasses, and not so bad without. I still think it's somewhat dim in bright sunlight, but ah well. It's a great camera!

torpesco · 03-12-2011, 11:01 PM

It's too bad they didn't couple the exposure sensors to the brightness of the viewfinder display. Still, I have no trouble seeing those values on the LCD screen in bright sunlight, which is impressive. I'd rather leave it off to use less battery power, but it's a very nice back-up.

03-09-2011, 01:20 PM	#1
ckoehler New Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 10	AF Cancel and Viewfinder brightness Hi there! Just got my K-r and loving it! A few things I noticed and wanted to pass by some pros just in case it's just me: 1. The AF/AE-L button can be mapped to "Cancel AF." I thought that was pretty useful: Hold the button and you can quickly use MF without flipping the switch, but alas, it doesn't work like that. It still seems to try and move the motor when I rotate the focus ring. Just me, or is there a trick? It'd just be nice to quickly MF that way. 2. The info in the viewfinder is nice, but during a sunny day trip today I noticed that it's barely visible. I thought it was my (polarized) sun glasses first, but even without them it was hard to see. Is there a way to make that brighter? Thanks!

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03-09-2011, 07:37 PM	#2
gp1806 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chicago suburbs Photos: Albums Posts: 848	You can 'cancel AF' then push the lens release button and move the focus ring, release the button and take the picture, no motor grind.

03-09-2011, 10:08 PM	#3
jeffshaddix Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,473	For non-"quick shift" lenses you need to do as stated above. For "quick shift" lenses (all but one of the DA series, and perhaps Sigma HSM lenses), the "Cancel AF" button works as you expect it. Basically all it's doing is preventing the camera from starting the autofocus operation at shutter half-press. If the autofocus is screw-drive (FA, DA L, etc.), the motor will still be engaged at all times, just not operating. As for your second question...that's not an option on the K-7, so I doubt it would be for the K-r.

03-10-2011, 07:48 PM	#4
ckoehler New Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 10 Original Poster	Thanks guys, that's good to know! I will be looking for those quick shift lenses!

03-11-2011, 06:13 AM	#5
AstraNine Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 45	Also find the info in the viewfinder difficult to see. Anybody any ideas?

03-11-2011, 07:43 AM	#6
jeffshaddix Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,473	Originally posted by AstraNine Also find the info in the viewfinder difficult to see. Anybody any ideas? Is it too dim or does it get cropped off? If the primer, I don't think there's much you can do; if the latter, do you wear glasses? If so your eye is farther from the viewfinder than intended. Depending on your prescription you can try adjusting the diopter, adding additional diopter adjustment lenses, or getting contacts/lasik.

03-11-2011, 08:48 AM	#7
v3t0 Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 54	if you find the viewfinder is quite dim, i think it is because it use pentamirror..pentamirror is less bright and smaller than pentaprism.. model using pentaprism : istD, istDS2, K10D, K20D, K-5, K-7

03-11-2011, 10:18 AM	#8
jeffshaddix Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,473	Originally posted by v3t0 if you find the viewfinder is quite dim, i think it is because it use pentamirror..pentamirror is less bright and smaller than pentaprism.. model using pentaprism : istD, istDS2, K10D, K20D, K-5, K-7 I don't think that affects the info in the viewfinder though...just the image. Perhaps I am mistaken?

03-12-2011, 09:53 PM	#9
ckoehler New Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 10 Original Poster	I think some of it is the angle. When I kind of look up into the viewfinder, I see it quite well. That's necessary with sun glasses, and not so bad without. I still think it's somewhat dim in bright sunlight, but ah well. It's a great camera!

03-12-2011, 11:01 PM	#10
torpesco Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 87	It's too bad they didn't couple the exposure sensors to the brightness of the viewfinder display. Still, I have no trouble seeing those values on the LCD screen in bright sunlight, which is impressive. I'd rather leave it off to use less battery power, but it's a very nice back-up.

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