[Clavius]

This is a weird issue. Today I noticed that my K-1mkII is clearly missing focus in liveview only. When I take the same picture twice, once in normal mode and once in liveview, then the latter one is unsharp. And it seems to do in consistently too. It does it with all lenses.

What my be causing this? Anything I can do?

[i_trax]

It is dark outside so in the darkish kitchen,
Lens SMC DA 40 Limited + K-1ll
1/40 F2.8 ISO 6400
via OVF nice and sharp
via LV not so sharp
via LV ( resting my elbow on something ) nice and sharp
There is much more vibration while taking photo via LV , it might be just that

[Clavius]

Here's the same uninteresting picture on a tripod. Left is normal, right is via live view. Both with the same lens. F4, 1/4sec, ISO100.

[Bertrand3000]

Do you use self timer?

If you increase speed and iso significantly, do you see improvement?

[Adam]

There are quite a few live view AF settings- which mode are you in? The default (multi-point) is faster but not guaranteed to focus on the center of the image.

Also, a few sanity checks: if you're using a lens newer than the camera, have you updated to the latest firmware? To rule out lens-specific issues, have you tried the same test with an SDM/DC lens (if this one was screwdrive) or vice versa?

[Clavius]

Do you use self timer?

If you increase speed and iso significantly, do you see improvement?

Yes, I did use the self timer on 2 seconds for the above pictures.

When increasing speed and iso it does not improve.

---------- Post added 01-06-21 at 17:12 ----------

There are quite a few live view AF settings- which mode are you in? The default (multi-point) is faster but not guaranteed to focus on the center of the image.

Also, a few sanity checks: if you're using a lens newer than the camera, have you updated to the latest firmware? To rule out lens-specific issues, have you tried the same test with an SDM/DC lens (if this one was screwdrive) or vice versa?

I used spot focus in both modes.

In this case I was using the new FA HD 43 limited. But the same difference occurs when using my DFA 28-105.

I have the latest firmware 1.20

[Adam]

Shutter vibrations might also be an issue. I'd try EFCS or forcing a shutter speed >= 1/250s to see if that improves anything.

Adam
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[Clavius]

Shutter vibrations might also be an issue. I'd try EFCS or forcing a shutter speed >= 1/250s to see if that improves anything.

I don't know what EFCS is. If it's the electronic shutter option then I've already tried that which doesn't help. I just now tried setting it to 1/250s. Also no improvement over focusing via the OVF.

[Clavius]

Another test with a different uninteresting subject. Outside this time. Tripod, 2 seconds timer, SR off, 1/2000s, F4.0, ISO100. Both focus types in spot focus. Left is OVF, right is liveview. It seems like it's focusing behind the center spot.

[Medex]

Did you try central spot focus only in Live View? How about "Select" focus mode and using another area to auto focus? Same missed focus?

[pschlute]

Left is OVF, right is liveview. It seems like it's focusing behind the center spot.

What is your AF setting for LV ? Can you post some pictures of your menu settings.

[BarryE]

Did you try central spot focus only in Live View? How about "Select" focus mode and using another area to auto focus? Same missed focus?

This is what I was thinking. Spot focus might just be on an ill-defined area. Select focus to ensure there's sufficient contrast at the point of focus.

[Pentax Syntax]

Focus peaking might be a help here so you can nail down the focus in live view. I agree this is very odd.

[Bob 256]

I think BarryE may be onto something. If the contrast focus system of Liveview is seeing a white area only, it can't get a good focus because there's nothing to optimize contrast on. VF focusing uses a more precise phase focus which may explain why it's getting a good focus. Try this. Switch to manual focus in Liveview mode. Using a magnified view, obtain a critical focus and take a shot. Now switch to AF and depress the shutter button halfway and see if the camera changes the focus setting. Take a shot here also so you can compare it with the manually focused shot. Repeat this process for a subject which has details everywhere (like a halftone photo) and see if the focus changes with Liveview after manually getting a critical focus point. If not BarryE is probably right and the lack of focusable detail in the image (where the focus point is located) is your most likely cause.

[sbc]

Finally someone share a similar problem. My K5IIs and K3III do that, but only with certain lenses. There must be some communication deviation between the body and lens. I believe it can be calibrated in the factory but that means a trip to the service centre.