Originally posted by cristianmiu Hello guys,
I have a DA 35mm/2.4. The problem is that most of the shots are out of focus. Is not a rule... sometimes back focus, sometimes front focus, and if I’m lucky the focus is done correctly.
This lens can be calibrated?
Tested on k5ii and k5iis. On the k5ii from 10 pics 2 are out of focus. On k5iis from 10pics 5 or more are out of focus.
How can I fix this?
Thank you!
I don't think you can. I would chalk down that failure rate to being the limit of PDAF technology in conjunction with wider angle lenses.
I too ran into a focusing issue this past weekend. The shot below (large vertical panorama), I chose the main rock on the middle bottom of the frame as the focusing point, and would pan up from that. Continually whilst using the OVF to get focus of the rock, because I have a Tenpa 1.22 mounted I could see with my own eyes that the AF system failed to get a good lock on the large boulder, it appeared soft to my eyes. I put my hand in front of the lens, got it to focus on my hand and then tried to get focus on the boulder again, yup nop, failed a second time. A third time I tried and this time it was a better focus but I still knew I could do better, so used manual focus to get that extra sharpness on the rock.
I've come to the conclusion that PDAF is not great. I have no opinion as to whether it's a Pentax thing or just the technology involved, I have no experience in shooting other brands. Live view is far more superior to getting focus right first time. Furthermore, I believe that with portrait or telephoto lenses you get better success than using OVF and AF with wider angle lenses, they just struggle that little bit more.
Glenbrook Gorge
K-1+HD DA 35 Macro, crop mode, vertical panorama processed with Nik Collection Analog Efex Pro 2
This shot below got into Explore yesterday.
K-1+ HD DA 35 Macro, FF mode (but cropped slightly). WB temp 10,000k, Cactus RF60x ocf left of subject with blue flash gel via Magmod.