K-r & manual focus lenses - Live view vs viewfinder

figmental1978 · 03-17-2011, 05:31 AM

I've been having FF issues with my K-r since I bought it a few months ago and like the rest of you have been waiting for a K-5 like fix. I have kept my K10D as a manual lens shooter and use the K-r for AF but today I though I'd run some basic tests with MF lenses on the K-r as I had a few inconsistencies in the past. All the photos were focusing on the largest font, indoors with no ambient light. I'll run the same type of tests tomorrow outdoors.

Jupiter 9 (85mm) @ f/2 - live view

Jupiter 9 (85mm) @ f/2 - viewfinder

Super Takumar 55mm @ f/1.8 - live view

Super Takumar 55mm @ f/1.8 - viewfinder

Super Multi Coated Takumar 28mm @ f/3.5 - live view

Super Multi Coated Takumar 28mm @ f/3.5 - viewfinder

Helios 44M (58mm) @ f/2 - live view

Helios 44M (58mm) @ f/2 - viewfinder

From the evidence here, all photos taken with live view are much sharper than taken from the viewfinder and I'm not sure why. If anyone else has had issues like this, looking forward to hearing from you.

AstraNine · 03-17-2011, 05:43 AM

I too have been having focus problems....outdoors. Sometimes it nails it and other times not. For me this mostly using the viewfinder. Will have to try some shots to compare LV with the viewfinder. But hopefully this can be fixed with a firmware update, yes?

figmental1978 · 03-17-2011, 06:29 AM

fingers crossed

**Deimos** · 03-17-2011, 06:32 AM

are you using the focus confirm light (the red ones) to decide on focus with the VF? I find they are off a bit on mine (supposedly the green hex at the bottom is better). Its also pretty easy to just miss focus with the small and dim viewfinder, that miss above could just be shake or slightly missed focus.

I do find it easier and more accurate to MF using LV (especially at f1.2!) but I would say that has more to do with the K-r viewfinder than anything wonky going on. I want to get a microprism focusing screen myself.

figmental1978 · 03-17-2011, 06:57 AM

I'm using the red as a guide and then the green hex to lock it in

apexlunat · 03-17-2011, 07:07 AM

figmental1978 hello,can u test the lens thats ff the most (from your example) in greater distance(3 or more metres)?My kr was front focusing A LOT with a asahi 50mm 1.7 in manual focus although the focus indicator was red and the green hex was stable green.Liveview was very sharp but the proccedure of focusing via LV ( alot of gestures =slow) and the fact that drains the battery was way far of ideal focusing solution.

analyze7 · 03-17-2011, 07:17 AM

my k-r has almost the same problem. The green hex confirmation in the viewfinder doesn't bring me a picture as clear as one using LV.

robroy · 03-17-2011, 07:24 AM

Same thing also here.

GrinMode · 03-17-2011, 07:33 AM

If you are using the confirmation beep, or green hex, or red dot in MF, it doesn't help in Tungsten light. Because the only difference with autofocus is you are manually turning the focus ring, and the camera still decides if it has focus or not.

So the camera still uses the AF module, but you're the one turning the lens.

Hypocorism · 03-17-2011, 07:45 AM

Originally posted by figmental1978

I have kept my K10D as a manual lens shooter and use the K-r for AF but today I though I'd run some basic tests with MF lenses on the K-r as I had a few inconsistencies in the past.

Thanks for the reminder about the upcoming market next sunday.

Good test anyway. Sheesh, I was blissfully unaware that this P.O.S was garbage at manual focusing too.

Bingo! That explains why so many of my pix over the past week were completely stuffed up for no apparent reason.

.R.

apexlunat · 03-17-2011, 08:08 AM

For close distance (after taking many photos and having a bit of experience of the prob) one can shoot right after the green stable hex or by moving the torso abit closer to the subject but with small f in great distance the problem is severe.My kr was ff about 30cm in a distance of 4-5 metres (very annoying) and as the distance from the subject getting bigger, the bigger the prob was.

AstraNine · 03-17-2011, 08:18 AM

Glad it's not just me then. Will there be a firmware fix for this?

doozer · 03-17-2011, 09:06 AM

Are you guys serious?? Obviously if you rely on the focus indicator by the camera, it will have the same problems as AF - WHY should it be any different? And of course any fix for the AF problem will fix that, too.

Besides, it is often easier to focus with liveview, as you can zoom and thereby better decide, when the right area of the image is sharp.

Hypocorism · 03-17-2011, 10:05 AM

Originally posted by doozer

Besides, it is often easier to focus with liveview, as you can zoom and thereby better decide, when the right area of the image is sharp.

YMBJ, surely. Never heard of the TTL viewfinder revolution that happened back in '49?

I don't think anyone else here wasted their money on a DSLR to use it a glorified P&S.
Yeah right! Arms length is really stable for focusing.

.R.

**Deimos** · 03-17-2011, 12:58 PM

I havent had any problem MF, I just dont trust the AF lights thats all. They are close so you can use them to get near to focus and then for me at least its just a mm one way or another and its dead on focused.

You guys cant go blaming everything on the K-r. Manual focus is manual, if its not working for you its likely the operator, or you are still relying on AF lights to tell you when its in focus

03-17-2011, 05:31 AM	#1
figmental1978 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 789	K-r & manual focus lenses - Live view vs viewfinder I've been having FF issues with my K-r since I bought it a few months ago and like the rest of you have been waiting for a K-5 like fix. I have kept my K10D as a manual lens shooter and use the K-r for AF but today I though I'd run some basic tests with MF lenses on the K-r as I had a few inconsistencies in the past. All the photos were focusing on the largest font, indoors with no ambient light. I'll run the same type of tests tomorrow outdoors. Jupiter 9 (85mm) @ f/2 - live view Jupiter 9 (85mm) @ f/2 - viewfinder Super Takumar 55mm @ f/1.8 - live view Super Takumar 55mm @ f/1.8 - viewfinder Super Multi Coated Takumar 28mm @ f/3.5 - live view Super Multi Coated Takumar 28mm @ f/3.5 - viewfinder Helios 44M (58mm) @ f/2 - live view Helios 44M (58mm) @ f/2 - viewfinder From the evidence here, all photos taken with live view are much sharper than taken from the viewfinder and I'm not sure why. If anyone else has had issues like this, looking forward to hearing from you.

03-17-2011, 07:07 AM	#6
apexlunat New Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 22	figmental1978 hello,can u test the lens thats ff the most (from your example) in greater distance(3 or more metres)?My kr was front focusing A LOT with a asahi 50mm 1.7 in manual focus although the focus indicator was red and the green hex was stable green.Liveview was very sharp but the proccedure of focusing via LV ( alot of gestures =slow) and the fact that drains the battery was way far of ideal focusing solution. Last edited by apexlunat; 03-17-2011 at 07:36 AM.

03-17-2011, 12:58 PM	#15
Deimos Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Kingdom of Wonder Posts: 1,777	I havent had any problem MF, I just dont trust the AF lights thats all. They are close so you can use them to get near to focus and then for me at least its just a mm one way or another and its dead on focused. You guys cant go blaming everything on the K-r. Manual focus is manual, if its not working for you its likely the operator, or you are still relying on AF lights to tell you when its in focus Last edited by Deimos; 03-17-2011 at 01:13 PM.

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03-17-2011, 05:43 AM	#2
AstraNine Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 45	I too have been having focus problems....outdoors. Sometimes it nails it and other times not. For me this mostly using the viewfinder. Will have to try some shots to compare LV with the viewfinder. But hopefully this can be fixed with a firmware update, yes?

03-17-2011, 06:29 AM	#3
figmental1978 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 789 Original Poster	fingers crossed

03-17-2011, 06:32 AM	#4
Deimos Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Kingdom of Wonder Posts: 1,777	are you using the focus confirm light (the red ones) to decide on focus with the VF? I find they are off a bit on mine (supposedly the green hex at the bottom is better). Its also pretty easy to just miss focus with the small and dim viewfinder, that miss above could just be shake or slightly missed focus. I do find it easier and more accurate to MF using LV (especially at f1.2!) but I would say that has more to do with the K-r viewfinder than anything wonky going on. I want to get a microprism focusing screen myself.

03-17-2011, 06:57 AM	#5
figmental1978 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 789 Original Poster	I'm using the red as a guide and then the green hex to lock it in

03-17-2011, 07:17 AM	#7
analyze7 New Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: London Posts: 10	my k-r has almost the same problem. The green hex confirmation in the viewfinder doesn't bring me a picture as clear as one using LV.

03-17-2011, 07:24 AM	#8
robroy Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 34	Same thing also here.

03-17-2011, 07:33 AM	#9
GrinMode Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 249	If you are using the confirmation beep, or green hex, or red dot in MF, it doesn't help in Tungsten light. Because the only difference with autofocus is you are manually turning the focus ring, and the camera still decides if it has focus or not. So the camera still uses the AF module, but you're the one turning the lens.

03-17-2011, 07:45 AM	#10
Hypocorism Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Melbourne .au Posts: 623	Originally posted by figmental1978 I have kept my K10D as a manual lens shooter and use the K-r for AF but today I though I'd run some basic tests with MF lenses on the K-r as I had a few inconsistencies in the past. Thanks for the reminder about the upcoming market next sunday. Good test anyway. Sheesh, I was blissfully unaware that this P.O.S was garbage at *manual focusing* too. Bingo! That explains why so many of my pix over the past week were completely stuffed up for no apparent reason. .R.

03-17-2011, 08:08 AM	#11
apexlunat New Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 22	For close distance (after taking many photos and having a bit of experience of the prob) one can shoot right after the green stable hex or by moving the torso abit closer to the subject but with small f in great distance the problem is severe.My kr was ff about 30cm in a distance of 4-5 metres (very annoying) and as the distance from the subject getting bigger, the bigger the prob was.

03-17-2011, 08:18 AM	#12
AstraNine Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 45	Glad it's not just me then. Will there be a firmware fix for this?

03-17-2011, 09:06 AM	#13
doozer Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 31	Are you guys serious?? Obviously if you rely on the focus indicator by the camera, it will have the same problems as AF - WHY should it be any different? And of course any fix for the AF problem will fix that, too. Besides, it is often easier to focus with liveview, as you can zoom and thereby better decide, when the right area of the image is sharp.

03-17-2011, 10:05 AM	#14
Hypocorism Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Melbourne .au Posts: 623	Originally posted by doozer Besides, it is often easier to focus with liveview, as you can zoom and thereby better decide, when the right area of the image is sharp. YMBJ, surely. Never heard of the TTL viewfinder revolution that happened back in '49? I don't think anyone else here wasted their money on a DSLR to use it a glorified P&S. Yeah right! Arms length is really stable for focusing. .R.