Auto-focus in low light

badtux · 06-13-2014, 06:46 PM

I noted in a previous message that my brand new K-50 seemed to have issues with auto-focusing in low light situations. It would hunt a lot. Today I updated its firmware from version 1.00 to version 1.02. And the auto-focus issues seem to have gone away, it pretty much just goes bam, right to the correct focus.

Anybody else noticed this? Or am I imagining things?

Steve.Ledger · 06-13-2014, 07:18 PM

Is this a bad thing?

badtux · 06-13-2014, 07:27 PM

Originally posted by Steve.Ledger

Is this a bad thing?

Not bad at all, if it's real. Just wondering if I'm imagining things

.

Adam · 06-13-2014, 07:35 PM

Originally posted by badtux

I noted in a previous message that my brand new K-50 seemed to have issues with auto-focusing in low light situations. It would hunt a lot. Today I updated its firmware from version 1.00 to version 1.02. And the auto-focus issues seem to have gone away, it pretty much just goes bam, right to the correct focus.

Anybody else noticed this? Or am I imagining things?

You might be imagining things, as firmware updates sometimes reset certain camera settings. Did you have the AF assist light before? With the light on, the AF is pretty darn good even in low light.

Adam
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badtux · 06-13-2014, 07:54 PM

Originally posted by Adam

You might be imagining things, as firmware updates sometimes reset certain camera settings. Did you have the AF assist light before? With the light on, the AF is pretty darn good even in low light.

Nevermind, turned out to be a lens thing. The 18-55 kit lens zoomed to 55 needs more light than the 55-300 unzoomed at 55. As you'd expect, given the relative aperture numbers at those zoom levels of the respective lenses.

tuggie76 · 06-17-2014, 04:42 PM - **1 Like**

I had my K30 at a night airshow last year and the focus was terrible, I've updated the firmware twice since then and attended the same type of event over the last weekend and found the focusing acceptable

badtux · 06-17-2014, 10:57 PM

Nice. Most of my work is in full daylight. I'm liking that 55-300 lens a lot, it's sharp fast and bright even at the far end while not being ridiculously bulky, definitely worth the $400 that it costs.

The next one shows the limits of the kit lens. My living room is not brightly lit. If you look at the EXIF info on Flickr you'll see the results of that with the kit lens. The 55-300 would have done a lot better but this was about 45 minutes after me unboxing the camera for the first time and picking the first subject at hand, before I had the 55-300.

06-13-2014, 06:46 PM	#1
badtux Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 30	Auto-focus in low light I noted in a previous message that my brand new K-50 seemed to have issues with auto-focusing in low light situations. It would hunt a lot. Today I updated its firmware from version 1.00 to version 1.02. And the auto-focus issues seem to have gone away, it pretty much just goes bam, right to the correct focus. Anybody else noticed this? Or am I imagining things?

06-17-2014, 04:42 PM - 1 Like	#6
tuggie76 Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,215	I had my K30 at a night airshow last year and the focus was terrible, I've updated the firmware twice since then and attended the same type of event over the last weekend and found the focusing acceptable Last edited by tuggie76; 02-02-2015 at 02:43 PM.

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06-13-2014, 07:18 PM	#2
Steve.Ledger Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Far North Qld Posts: 3,301	Is this a bad thing?

06-13-2014, 07:27 PM	#3
badtux Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 30 Original Poster	Originally posted by Steve.Ledger Is this a bad thing? Not bad at all, if it's real. Just wondering if I'm imagining things .

06-13-2014, 07:35 PM	#4
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,594	Originally posted by badtux I noted in a previous message that my brand new K-50 seemed to have issues with auto-focusing in low light situations. It would hunt a lot. Today I updated its firmware from version 1.00 to version 1.02. And the auto-focus issues seem to have gone away, it pretty much just goes bam, right to the correct focus. Anybody else noticed this? Or am I imagining things? You might be imagining things, as firmware updates sometimes reset certain camera settings. Did you have the AF assist light before? With the light on, the AF is pretty darn good even in low light. 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:

06-13-2014, 07:54 PM	#5
badtux Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 30 Original Poster	Originally posted by Adam You might be imagining things, as firmware updates sometimes reset certain camera settings. Did you have the AF assist light before? With the light on, the AF is pretty darn good even in low light. Nevermind, turned out to be a lens thing. The 18-55 kit lens zoomed to 55 needs more light than the 55-300 unzoomed at 55. As you'd expect, given the relative aperture numbers at those zoom levels of the respective lenses.

06-17-2014, 10:57 PM	#7
badtux Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 30 Original Poster	Nice. Most of my work is in full daylight. I'm liking that 55-300 lens a lot, it's sharp fast and bright even at the far end while not being ridiculously bulky, definitely worth the $400 that it costs. The next one shows the limits of the kit lens. My living room is not brightly lit. If you look at the EXIF info on Flickr you'll see the results of that with the kit lens. The 55-300 would have done a lot better but this was about 45 minutes after me unboxing the camera for the first time and picking the first subject at hand, before I had the 55-300.