K3 AF micro-adjust does nothing??!!

**RedBoomer** · 12-06-2016, 05:24 PM

I've had my K3 for several years, taken 1000's of photos with it and its been a great camera. However, I recently tried to fine tune the AF on my lenses and seem to have a AF micro-adjust that does nothing. I'm wondering if anyone else has had this problem and found a solution (assuming the problem is with the camera and not me being stupid).

I ran a test with my DA* 300mm, the setup was: TAv set at 1/350s, F4 to give an ISO of 140 (outside in nice light). I created a target and placed it at an incline (~45deg) to the K3 at about 8' from the camera (which should be a dof of about 1/2"). Focus was AFS spot aimed at the centre of my target (hatched area). I then changed the AF micro adj to -10, focussed the camera AF and took the shot. I then only changed the micro adjust to +10 without refocus or change to any other parameters and took a second shot.

I expect this to show the plane of focus to move up the photo but both photos are identical - ie no movement of the in-focus plane. I repeated this resetting the AF (option in the AF adjust screen) between changes with no difference and I also repeated this procedure with my DA* 50-135 @ 135mm and also found the micro-adjust changes nothing.

I compared the 300mm shots in Lightroom and attached a screen shot of the comparison which shows both photos with the same slight back-focus. It means that the micro-adjust simply does not work?

Any one else found this - is it me or the camera not behaving properly??

Attached Images

mee · 12-06-2016, 05:34 PM

Are you resetting the lens' focus back to minimum focus and letting the camera refocus ? Also try it at f/2.8 not f/4

aaacb · 12-06-2016, 05:46 PM

Even changes of 1 or 2 show with sharp lenses, but as mee said, you need to actually move the focus ring on the lens so that it actively refocuses.

**RedBoomer** · 12-06-2016, 05:47 PM

Originally posted by mee

Are you resetting the lens' focus back to minimum focus and letting the camera refocus ? Also try it at f/2.8 not f/4

Thx for your reply mee. I tried adjusting the AF from -10 to +10 both with the reset and with out the reset. The reset seems to just take the setpoint back to 0. I refocussed the lens using the viewfinder AF between each set of shots ie refocus AF, take the shots at -10 & +10 then tried with reset, refocus and take both shots. No difference to any of the photos.

The DA* 300 has maximum aperture of F4 (no ability for F2.8). When I tested with the DA50-135 I used F2.8 but same result.

---------- Post added 07-12-16 at 11:52 AM ----------

Originally posted by aaacb

Even changes of 1 or 2 show with sharp lenses, but as mee said, you need to actually move the focus ring on the lens so that it actively refocuses.

OK that is something I need to check: adjust to -10, manual unfocus, re-focus with AF, take the shot then change micro-adjust to +10, manual unfocus, AF refocus and take the shot - whilst no other changes. I will give it a try thanks!

Unregistered User 8 · 12-06-2016, 06:18 PM

Just a thought. Are you " saving " the corrections before you press menu to leave. If you do not save, it defaults to what ever value was there. As this is a different lens and you are using Apply One, the starting point is zero, so the default is zero if the change is not saved. +10 to -10 is a lot of movement. Just thinking out loud !!

**c.a.m** · 12-06-2016, 06:27 PM

Are you using a tripod?

**jpzk** · 12-06-2016, 07:05 PM

Originally posted by pjv

Are you " saving " the corrections before you press menu to leave

I was going to mention that ... Glad you did.

**RedBoomer** · 12-06-2016, 07:26 PM

Originally posted by RedBoomer

Thx for your reply mee. I tried adjusting the AF from -10 to +10 both with the reset and with out the reset. The reset seems to just take the setpoint back to 0. I refocussed the lens using the viewfinder AF between each set of shots ie refocus AF, take the shots at -10 & +10 then tried with reset, refocus and take both shots. No difference to any of the photos.

The DA* 300 has maximum aperture of F4 (no ability for F2.8). When I tested with the DA50-135 I used F2.8 but same result.

---------- Post added 07-12-16 at 11:52 AM ----------

OK that is something I need to check: adjust to -10, manual unfocus, re-focus with AF, take the shot then change micro-adjust to +10, manual unfocus, AF refocus and take the shot - whilst no other changes. I will give it a try thanks!

Thanks guys. When I manually un-focussed the lens after a micro-adjustment and then re-focussed with the AF, the micro-adjust worked. I have now calibrated all my lenses. Thx for your help

Unregistered User 8 · 12-06-2016, 10:56 PM

Originally posted by jpzk

I was going to mention that ... Glad you did.

Hi Jacques. Yes, I only had to remember back to my 1st ( frustrating !! ) attempt at AF adjustment. " NOT " saving the correction was my issue then.

**RedBoomer** · 12-06-2016, 11:46 PM

Originally posted by pjv

Just a thought. Are you " saving " the corrections before you press menu to leave. If you do not save, it defaults to what ever value was there. As this is a different lens and you are using Apply One, the starting point is zero, so the default is zero if the change is not saved. +10 to -10 is a lot of movement. Just thinking out loud !!

Yes, I was saving the changes

---------- Post added 07-12-16 at 05:47 PM ----------

Originally posted by c.a.m

Are you using a tripod?

Sorry, should have mentioned that it was all done on a tripod

---------- Post added 07-12-16 at 05:48 PM ----------

THanks again everyone - just love the forum

Gerards · 12-07-2016, 06:50 AM

Thnx for the explanations was also for me very help full.

After reading the the explanations regarding the AF- micro adjust i was wondering how much lenses you can adjust.
Is it only one ? or is it 20 ? In the manual they are talking about 20 values but is it refering to 1 lens or to 20 lenses

normhead · 12-07-2016, 06:57 AM

Originally posted by Gerards

Thnx for the explanations was also for me very help full.

After reading the the explanations regarding the AF- micro adjust i was wondering how much lenses you can adjust.
Is it only one ? or is it 20 ? In the manual they are talking about 20 values but is it refering to 1 lens or to 20 lenses

I believe the camera will remember th setting for up to 20 Pentax lenses, and has one additional setting for lenses it ca't identify.

Gerards · 12-07-2016, 11:50 AM

Originally posted by normhead

I believe the camera will remember th setting for up to 20 Pentax lenses, and has one additional setting for lenses it ca't identify.

That is nice to hear.
Luckely i don't have that much lenses at the moment :-)

12-06-2016, 05:24 PM	#1
RedBoomer Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 148	K3 AF micro-adjust does nothing??!! I've had my K3 for several years, taken 1000's of photos with it and its been a great camera. However, I recently tried to fine tune the AF on my lenses and seem to have a AF micro-adjust that does nothing. I'm wondering if anyone else has had this problem and found a solution (assuming the problem is with the camera and not me being stupid). I ran a test with my DA* 300mm, the setup was: TAv set at 1/350s, F4 to give an ISO of 140 (outside in nice light). I created a target and placed it at an incline (~45deg) to the K3 at about 8' from the camera (which should be a dof of about 1/2"). Focus was AFS spot aimed at the centre of my target (hatched area). I then changed the AF micro adj to -10, focussed the camera AF and took the shot. I then only changed the micro adjust to +10 without refocus or change to any other parameters and took a second shot. I expect this to show the plane of focus to move up the photo but both photos are identical - ie no movement of the in-focus plane. I repeated this resetting the AF (option in the AF adjust screen) between changes with no difference and I also repeated this procedure with my DA* 50-135 @ 135mm and also found the micro-adjust changes nothing. I compared the 300mm shots in Lightroom and attached a screen shot of the comparison which shows both photos with the same slight back-focus. It means that the micro-adjust simply does not work? Any one else found this - is it me or the camera not behaving properly?? Attached Images

12-07-2016, 06:50 AM	#11
Gerards New Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 2	How many lenses can you adjust with AF micro -adjust Thnx for the explanations was also for me very help full. After reading the the explanations regarding the AF- micro adjust i was wondering how much lenses you can adjust. Is it only one ? or is it 20 ? In the manual they are talking about 20 values but is it refering to 1 lens or to 20 lenses

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12-06-2016, 05:34 PM	#2
mee Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 7,403	Are you resetting the lens' focus back to minimum focus and letting the camera refocus ? Also try it at f/2.8 not f/4

12-06-2016, 05:46 PM	#3
aaacb Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,726	Even changes of 1 or 2 show with sharp lenses, but as mee said, you need to actually move the focus ring on the lens so that it actively refocuses.

12-06-2016, 05:47 PM	#4
RedBoomer Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 148 Original Poster	Originally posted by mee Are you resetting the lens' focus back to minimum focus and letting the camera refocus ? Also try it at f/2.8 not f/4 Thx for your reply mee. I tried adjusting the AF from -10 to +10 both with the reset and with out the reset. The reset seems to just take the setpoint back to 0. I refocussed the lens using the viewfinder AF between each set of shots ie refocus AF, take the shots at -10 & +10 then tried with reset, refocus and take both shots. No difference to any of the photos. The DA* 300 has maximum aperture of F4 (no ability for F2.8). When I tested with the DA50-135 I used F2.8 but same result. ---------- Post added 07-12-16 at 11:52 AM ---------- Originally posted by aaacb Even changes of 1 or 2 show with sharp lenses, but as mee said, you need to actually move the focus ring on the lens so that it actively refocuses. OK that is something I need to check: adjust to -10, manual unfocus, re-focus with AF, take the shot then change micro-adjust to +10, manual unfocus, AF refocus and take the shot - whilst no other changes. I will give it a try thanks!

12-06-2016, 06:18 PM	#5
Unregistered User 8 Closed Account Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,694	Just a thought. Are you " saving " the corrections before you press menu to leave. If you do not save, it defaults to what ever value was there. As this is a different lens and you are using Apply One, the starting point is zero, so the default is zero if the change is not saved. +10 to -10 is a lot of movement. Just thinking out loud !!

12-06-2016, 06:27 PM	#6
c.a.m Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,191	Are you using a tripod?

12-06-2016, 07:05 PM	#7
jpzk Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Québec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,251	Originally posted by pjv Are you " saving " the corrections before you press menu to leave I was going to mention that ... Glad you did.

12-06-2016, 07:26 PM	#8
RedBoomer Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 148 Original Poster	Originally posted by RedBoomer Thx for your reply mee. I tried adjusting the AF from -10 to +10 both with the reset and with out the reset. The reset seems to just take the setpoint back to 0. I refocussed the lens using the viewfinder AF between each set of shots ie refocus AF, take the shots at -10 & +10 then tried with reset, refocus and take both shots. No difference to any of the photos. The DA* 300 has maximum aperture of F4 (no ability for F2.8). When I tested with the DA50-135 I used F2.8 but same result. ---------- Post added 07-12-16 at 11:52 AM ---------- OK that is something I need to check: adjust to -10, manual unfocus, re-focus with AF, take the shot then change micro-adjust to +10, manual unfocus, AF refocus and take the shot - whilst no other changes. I will give it a try thanks! Thanks guys. When I manually un-focussed the lens after a micro-adjustment and then re-focussed with the AF, the micro-adjust worked. I have now calibrated all my lenses. Thx for your help

12-06-2016, 10:56 PM	#9
Unregistered User 8 Closed Account Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,694	Originally posted by jpzk I was going to mention that ... Glad you did. Hi Jacques. Yes, I only had to remember back to my 1st ( frustrating !! ) attempt at AF adjustment. " NOT " saving the correction was my issue then.

12-06-2016, 11:46 PM	#10
RedBoomer Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 148 Original Poster	Originally posted by pjv Just a thought. Are you " saving " the corrections before you press menu to leave. If you do not save, it defaults to what ever value was there. As this is a different lens and you are using Apply One, the starting point is zero, so the default is zero if the change is not saved. +10 to -10 is a lot of movement. Just thinking out loud !! Yes, I was saving the changes ---------- Post added 07-12-16 at 05:47 PM ---------- Originally posted by c.a.m Are you using a tripod? Sorry, should have mentioned that it was all done on a tripod ---------- Post added 07-12-16 at 05:48 PM ---------- THanks again everyone - just love the forum

12-07-2016, 06:57 AM	#12
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by Gerards Thnx for the explanations was also for me very help full. After reading the the explanations regarding the AF- micro adjust i was wondering how much lenses you can adjust. Is it only one ? or is it 20 ? In the manual they are talking about 20 values but is it refering to 1 lens or to 20 lenses I believe the camera will remember th setting for up to 20 Pentax lenses, and has one additional setting for lenses it ca't identify.

12-07-2016, 11:50 AM	#13
Gerards New Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 2	Originally posted by normhead I believe the camera will remember th setting for up to 20 Pentax lenses, and has one additional setting for lenses it ca't identify. That is nice to hear. Luckely i don't have that much lenses at the moment :-)