No battery = dark and blurry viewfinder

JBox · 05-09-2016, 08:15 PM

It seems like this thread is going to happen one way or another so I might as well start it.

The K-1 has an interesting behavior, which is that without a battery, the optical viewfinder is somewhat dark and blurry. This is immediately fixed by inserting the battery. Whether the camera is on or off has no effect. When I first saw it, I thought it was a one-time thing maybe caused by the mirror position, but some other discussions here indicated the correlation to the battery. One can observe it quite easily by looking in the viewfinder while removing and replacing the battery.

The question is: why is this? It seems safe to assume that it is related to the new LCD viewfinder overlay screen. But why exactly? And possibly more importantly, does this mean that some small current is being drawn from the battery at all times, even when the camera is off? I personally don't have a big theory to answer these questions, but am interested what others think about this interesting property of the K-1.

Paul the Sunman · 05-09-2016, 08:25 PM

What is the state of the lens aperture when the battery is removed; full open, fully stopped down, ...?

stevebrot · 05-09-2016, 08:29 PM

LCD overlay goes dark without power?

Steve

Fogel70 · 05-09-2016, 09:25 PM

Originally posted by JBox

The question is: why is this? It seems safe to assume that it is related to the new LCD viewfinder overlay screen. But why exactly? And possibly more importantly, does this mean that some small current is being drawn from the battery at all times, even when the camera is off? I personally don't have a big theory to answer these questions, but am interested what others think about this interesting property of the K-1.

It's the same on all cameras having LCD overlay in OVF. The LCD need power for full transparency.
A LCD consume very little power so it's probably powered regardless if camera is on or off.

If I remember correctly a LCD use polarizing filters for displaying pixels, and when power is off the polarizing filter turn dark.

Unregistered User · 05-10-2016, 01:56 AM

The Nikon cameras does this aswell.

Adam · 05-10-2016, 02:12 AM

Another important thing is to have a fast lens. The K-1's viewfinder looks so much better with a F1.4 prime compared to a F3.5 or F5.6 variable zoom!

**Digitalis** · 05-10-2016, 02:33 AM

Originally posted by Fogel70

If I remember correctly a LCD use polarizing filters for displaying pixels, and when power is off the polarizing filter turn dark.

Also if you are wearing polarized sunglasses this effect will be prominent due to the polarising elements in the VF.

JBox · 05-10-2016, 05:24 AM

Originally posted by Paul the Sunman

What is the state of the lens aperture when the battery is removed; full open, fully stopped down, ...?

The aperture stays open as expected with or without the battery.

Thanks for all of the replies! I was not aware there are already other DSLRs that do this as well. I mainly brought it up because it gave me quite a fright when I first looked in the viewfinder!

I find the viewfinder brightness to be pretty good for the lenses I have. Better than the K-5, not as good as the LX FA-1, but I suppose that was expected.

**darylk** · 05-10-2016, 08:35 AM

Originally posted by Fogel70

It's the same on all cameras having LCD overlay in OVF. The LCD need power for full transparency.
A LCD consume very little power so it's probably powered regardless if camera is on or off.

If I remember correctly a LCD use polarizing filters for displaying pixels, and when power is off the polarizing filter turn dark.

Well, that explains my experience at my local camera store last week. I went in to get my hands-on with the K-1. They kindly unboxed their one unspoken for K-1 and allowed me mount my 77 Limited. I tried manually focussing (with my pinkie pressing the lens mount button to avoid stressing the focus drive) and couldn't get anything to appear in focus at all. They gave me permission to install my battery from my K-3, after which everything worked great and appeared nice and sharp in the viewfinder.
Daryl

tariq · 05-10-2016, 09:07 AM

I received my K-1 in a battered box that looked like it had been drop kicked by UPS all the way to my doorstep. The first thing I did was attach a lens and shockingly found that the finder was dark and blurry regardless of the diopter setting. For about five minutes I panicked thinking the camera must have been damaged in shipping. Finally, I turned it on and all was well

. I imagine a number of Pentaxians will go through the same thing...

Dr_who · 05-10-2016, 09:33 AM

Originally posted by tariq

I received my K-1 in a battered box that looked like it had been drop kicked by UPS all the way to my doorstep. The first thing I did was attach a lens and shockingly found that the finder was dark and blurry regardless of the diopter setting. For about five minutes I panicked thinking the camera must have been damaged in shipping. Finally, I turned it on and all was well

. I imagine a number of Pentaxians will go through the same thing...

UPS drop kicking it made me think of the intro to Ace Ventura lol.

You Tube

**darylk** · 05-10-2016, 09:33 AM

Originally posted by tariq

I imagine a number of Pentaxians will go through the same thing...

Hopefully not the delivery in a battered box same thing...

Daryl

tariq · 05-10-2016, 11:11 AM

Originally posted by Dr_who

UPS drop kicking it made me think of the intro to Ace Ventura lol.

Ace Ventura Smashes Package - YouTube

Funny, that association was probably in my subconscious somewhere...

seanix · 05-25-2016, 03:03 PM

Originally posted by darylk

I tried manually focusing (with my pinkie pressing the lens mount button to avoid stressing the focus drive) and couldn't get anything to appear in focus at all.

If the camera was set to MF, allowing you to manually focus a screw drive lens, why would the focus drive be stressed?

05-09-2016, 08:15 PM	#1
JBox Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 109	No battery = dark and blurry viewfinder It seems like this thread is going to happen one way or another so I might as well start it. The K-1 has an interesting behavior, which is that without a battery, the optical viewfinder is somewhat dark and blurry. This is immediately fixed by inserting the battery. Whether the camera is on or off has no effect. When I first saw it, I thought it was a one-time thing maybe caused by the mirror position, but some other discussions here indicated the correlation to the battery. One can observe it quite easily by looking in the viewfinder while removing and replacing the battery. The question is: why is this? It seems safe to assume that it is related to the new LCD viewfinder overlay screen. But why exactly? And possibly more importantly, does this mean that some small current is being drawn from the battery at all times, even when the camera is off? I personally don't have a big theory to answer these questions, but am interested what others think about this interesting property of the K-1.

05-10-2016, 02:12 AM	#6
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	Another important thing is to have a fast lens. The K-1's viewfinder looks so much better with a F1.4 prime compared to a F3.5 or F5.6 variable zoom! 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:

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05-09-2016, 08:25 PM	#2
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,843	What is the state of the lens aperture when the battery is removed; full open, fully stopped down, ...?

05-09-2016, 08:29 PM	#3
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	LCD overlay goes dark without power? Steve

05-09-2016, 09:25 PM	#4
Fogel70 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Photos: Albums Posts: 3,062	Originally posted by JBox The question is: why is this? It seems safe to assume that it is related to the new LCD viewfinder overlay screen. But why exactly? And possibly more importantly, does this mean that some small current is being drawn from the battery at all times, even when the camera is off? I personally don't have a big theory to answer these questions, but am interested what others think about this interesting property of the K-1. It's the same on all cameras having LCD overlay in OVF. The LCD need power for full transparency. A LCD consume very little power so it's probably powered regardless if camera is on or off. If I remember correctly a LCD use polarizing filters for displaying pixels, and when power is off the polarizing filter turn dark.

05-10-2016, 01:56 AM	#5
Unregistered User Guest	The Nikon cameras does this aswell.

05-10-2016, 02:33 AM	#7
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by Fogel70 If I remember correctly a LCD use polarizing filters for displaying pixels, and when power is off the polarizing filter turn dark. Also if you are wearing polarized sunglasses this effect will be prominent due to the polarising elements in the VF.

05-10-2016, 05:24 AM	#8
JBox Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 109 Original Poster	Originally posted by Paul the Sunman What is the state of the lens aperture when the battery is removed; full open, fully stopped down, ...? The aperture stays open as expected with or without the battery. Thanks for all of the replies! I was not aware there are already other DSLRs that do this as well. I mainly brought it up because it gave me quite a fright when I first looked in the viewfinder! I find the viewfinder brightness to be pretty good for the lenses I have. Better than the K-5, not as good as the LX FA-1, but I suppose that was expected.

05-10-2016, 08:35 AM	#9
darylk Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Blue Hill, Nebraska Photos: Gallery Posts: 494	Originally posted by Fogel70 It's the same on all cameras having LCD overlay in OVF. The LCD need power for full transparency. A LCD consume very little power so it's probably powered regardless if camera is on or off. If I remember correctly a LCD use polarizing filters for displaying pixels, and when power is off the polarizing filter turn dark. Well, that explains my experience at my local camera store last week. I went in to get my hands-on with the K-1. They kindly unboxed their one unspoken for K-1 and allowed me mount my 77 Limited. I tried manually focussing (with my pinkie pressing the lens mount button to avoid stressing the focus drive) and couldn't get anything to appear in focus at all. They gave me permission to install my battery from my K-3, after which everything worked great and appeared nice and sharp in the viewfinder. Daryl

05-10-2016, 09:07 AM	#10
tariq New Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 19	I received my K-1 in a battered box that looked like it had been drop kicked by UPS all the way to my doorstep. The first thing I did was attach a lens and shockingly found that the finder was dark and blurry regardless of the diopter setting. For about five minutes I panicked thinking the camera must have been damaged in shipping. Finally, I turned it on and all was well . I imagine a number of Pentaxians will go through the same thing...

05-10-2016, 09:33 AM	#12
darylk Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Blue Hill, Nebraska Photos: Gallery Posts: 494	Originally posted by tariq I imagine a number of Pentaxians will go through the same thing... Hopefully not the delivery in a battered box same thing... Daryl

05-10-2016, 11:11 AM	#13
tariq New Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 19	Originally posted by Dr_who UPS drop kicking it made me think of the intro to Ace Ventura lol. Ace Ventura Smashes Package - YouTube Funny, that association was probably in my subconscious somewhere...

05-25-2016, 03:03 PM	#14
seanix Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Victoria, BC Photos: Albums Posts: 92	Originally posted by darylk I tried manually focusing (with my pinkie pressing the lens mount button to avoid stressing the focus drive) and couldn't get anything to appear in focus at all. If the camera was set to MF, allowing you to manually focus a screw drive lens, why would the focus drive be stressed?