[bwDraco]

Is anyone able to post a demo of the new LCD overlay in the viewfinder of the new K-1? I'd like to get a sense of how it works, because I'm wondering how it behaves during focusing, when selecting AF points, etc. Is it similar to the Canon Intelligent Viewfinder?

[Adam]

It's very similar (in fact almost identical) to the viewfinder in the Nikon D800. The best I can do for now is offer you this diagram:



You can enable/disable the grid, change the way the grid looks, choose to show the crop area, and even hide the AF frame. Think of it as working kind of like the LCD screen of a calculator, except it's an overlay on top of the viewfinder itself.

[Adam]

Is anyone able to post a demo of the new LCD overlay in the viewfinder of the new K-1? I'd like to get a sense of how it works, because I'm wondering how it behaves during focusing, when selecting AF points, etc. Is it similar to the Canon Intelligent Viewfinder?

I lied, actually. Here's a video showing the viewfinder Skip to about 2 minutes in.

Hands-On with the Pentax K-1 - Hands-on Reviews | PentaxForums.com

[stevebrot]

It's very similar (in fact almost identical) to the viewfinder in the Nikon D800.

From descriptions, that has been my take as well. The D800 is a worthy target for emulation in this regard.


Steve

[bwDraco]

I'm most concerned about when the viewfinder overlay lights up and how the points are displayed during continuous AF and when selecting AF points (especially when in 9-point or 25-point modes). That's of potential significance during sports shooting. (I know the K-1 isn't ideal for sports but 6.5 fps in APS-C mode is adequate for many situations, and the improved AF and new AI metering algorithms should make it competent for fast action. The K-5 at 7 fps was already fast enough for my usage; I'm more concerned about the keeper rate.)

Keep it up, Pentax! Let's hope this new tech trickles down to APS-C with faster burst shooting and further AF improvements.

[Adam]

I'm most concerned about when the viewfinder overlay lights up and how the points are displayed during continuous AF and when selecting AF points (especially when in 9-point or 25-point modes). That's of potential significance during sports shooting. (I know the K-1 isn't ideal for sports but 6.5 fps in APS-C mode is adequate for many situations, and the improved AF and new AI metering algorithms should make it competent for fast action. The K-5 at 7 fps was already fast enough for my usage; I'm more concerned about the keeper rate.)

Keep it up, Pentax! Let's hope this new tech trickles down to APS-C with faster burst shooting and further AF improvements.

The points should be much less distracting than before. If you can go in to a store and pick up a D800, that should give you a good idea of what to expect.

There's an option that lets you customize when the point illumination comes on- I'd expect that to be a red light that essentially changes the color of the overlay.

[i5_david]

"Natural Bright Matt III focusing screen allows ease of focusing"

Does anyone know what this means? Is it the way to focus on older manual lens like I focus on my K1000' viewfinder? That would be fantastic but i don't think they meant that here

[kh1234567890]

"Natural Bright Matt III focusing screen allows ease of focusing"

Does anyone know what this means?

That is the standard stock Pentax focus screen - K-7, K-5, K-3 etc. Useless for manual focus with fast lenses. Non interchangeable in the K-1.

[bwDraco]

I've noticed two boxes for each of the AF points in the AF grid. Does this mean that the thinner inner box is used to indicate the points selected and the thicker outer box is used to indicate the point(s) actually in focus? (This is similar to the behavior I've seen on Canon DSLRs with Intelligent Viewfinders.)

[monochrome]

That is the standard stock Pentax focus screen - K-7, K-5, K-3 etc. Useless for manual focus with fast lenses. Non interchangeable in the K-1.

Actually, since the mirror is appreciably larger this can't be the stock K-3 focusing screen. It will be helpful if you refrain from speculative negative posts until the camera is released.

[kh1234567890]

Actually, since the mirror is appreciably larger this can't be the stock K-3 focusing screen. It will be helpful if you refrain from speculative negative posts until the camera is released.

OK, according to the spec it is the same type of screen and screen finish - "Natural Bright Matte III".

[monochrome]

OK, according to the spec it is the same type of screen and screen finish - "Natural Bright Matte III".

i'm going to hope the larger size makes manual focusing easier. I certainly have enough manual focus lenses to benefit if that turns out to be true.

Also, I spend enough time shooting matte / micro prism film cameras that I've developed a kind of knack for it.

Not saying you're necessarily wrong--just let's wait and see.

[stevebrot]

Non interchangeable in the K-1.

I beg to differ. The screen release latch is quite visible in the body-only product shots. Whether Pentax will offer additional screens has yet to be determined. One thing is clear, there will be no cut-down Canon or Nikon product for the K-1


Steve

[Not a Number]

According to the features page:

The focusing screen is fixed on the camera body, and is not interchangeable.

Features4 | PENTAX K-1 | RICOH IMAGING

However enlarging the photo available on B&H Photos catalog it does appear that there is the standard retaining clip for screen. It also appears that this is what some were speculating as electrical connectors for a new adapter for 645 lenses. It also seems this clip cannot be seen in some of the photos. Whether this is due to angle and lighting or the actual presence or absence of the clip remains to be seen. The photos after all are of pre-production models.

Perhaps one of the fortunate few that have been loaned a camera could look in there and tell us. Otherwise we'll just have to wait until someone has a production model in their hands.

[bertwert]

I beg to differ. The screen release latch is quite visible in the body-only product shots.

That's what I thought!

Good thing I'm not the only one seeing that, I thought I was going mad!