Photographing fireworks with SMC 31mm

csandeep · 07-05-2018, 02:33 PM

Hello all,
Yesterday being July 4th I was excited to try out my pentax K-1 mark II + SMC Pentax-FA 31mm . I have shot plenty of fireworks photos with my old Canon gear, so I felt I knew the general setup (a tripod, remote trigger, manual focus to infinity and wait).

However try as I may I could not get the 31mm to focus to infinity. All the shots came out blurry and unfocused. Im not sure what Im missing. Has anyone shot fireworks with 31mm + Pentax k-1 ? Can the SMC Pentax-FA 31mm focus to infinity ? Whats your secret ?

bschriver11 · 07-05-2018, 02:42 PM

Maybe try going full manual and setting the aperture on the lens itself and use the focus scale on the lens.

Paul the Sunman · 07-05-2018, 02:46 PM - **1 Like**

I never use AF for fireworks.

Position, position, position (get a good position!)
Tripod
f/11
ISO 100
MF; focus on a feature (building say) at similar distance to the fireworks
B mode
IR trigger, 1-6 sec exposure to deliver length of trails to your taste.

Works every time for me.

If you are using MF, I don't understand your statement "I could not get the 31mm to focus to infinity".

https://www.flickr.com/gp/63496775@N05/829h44

mikeSF · 07-05-2018, 02:48 PM

perhaps your infinity focus is slighty out of calibration. You may try stopping down a few clicks to increase depth of field until you can get it dialed in. good luck

**UncleVanya** · 07-05-2018, 02:49 PM - **3 Likes**

I've done handheld fireworks at ISO 3200 with the FA 35 and like the people above I simply put it in manual focus mode and focused on something close to the fireworks or focused on the lighted clouds of smoke from the previous explosions. Some lenses are misadjusted - do you have any problems getting infinity focus outside of this context with that lens?

**hyyz** · 07-05-2018, 04:01 PM

I too found that sometimes I could not auto focus at infinity when using FA31 and FA24 on K-1. I couldn't figure out why. But this did surprise me. Both lenses work fine at infinity on K-3.

richandfleur · 07-05-2018, 04:20 PM

SR still on whilst on a tripod?

honey bo bo · 07-05-2018, 04:35 PM

No Pixel Peeping just trying for a different affect to make a small private Canada Day Display look like downtown Bejing on May Day !

DA 10-17 mm ED IF @ 17mm / Manual infinity focus, / holding manually / multiple exposure (4) / f8 for star affect /see exif for rest of exposure details

Note: bonus creepy smoke pressure patterns.

**eyrr** · 07-05-2018, 04:55 PM - **1 Like**

I have neither this lens nor that camera, but I do like to photograph fireworks. I use a tripod and bulb mode, autofocus during the first salvo and check the result on playback to make sure it's in focus and I'm stopped down far enough. Assuming it is, I then switch the control on the camera to manual focus so it doesn't change. Even if you miss the second salvo, the time to figure it out and make adjustments is at the beginning. Focusing on the fireworks gets you in-focus fireworks.

**Mallee Boy** · 07-05-2018, 05:00 PM

Originally posted by eyrr

I have neither this lens nor that camera, but I do like to photograph fireworks. I use a tripod and bulb mode, autofocus during the first salvo and check the result on playback to make sure it's in focus and I'm stopped down far enough. Assuming it is, I then switch the control on the camera to manual focus so it doesn't change. Even if you miss the second salvo, the time to figure it out and make adjustments is at the beginning. Focusing on the fireworks gets you in-focus fireworks.

ditto to what eyrr said. Not with the 31, but cant see how that should produce anything other than great results.

KDD · 07-05-2018, 05:33 PM

When you set up AF to focus to pole with light about 100 feet then change from AF to MF. Take pictures. Easy.

stevebrot · 07-05-2018, 06:26 PM

Originally posted by csandeep

a tripod, remote trigger, manual focus to infinity and wait

With the FA 31 on the K-1 what you describe should work just fine from a focus point of view. Attaining infinity on the lens without AF is as simple as turning the focus ring to the right until it stops (opposite direction of Canon). Do you have an example that you could share? Intact EXIF would be nice, but since that is sort of hard to do with a Web-size file, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO along with the image file would be helpful.

Steve

**Mallee Boy** · 07-05-2018, 08:03 PM - **1 Like**

Shot these with the DA* 50-135. tripod. f8 bulb exposure times varied from 1.3 > 3.1 secs. Can not see why that would not work with FA 31.

Initial shot at 50mm to get my focus and approximate range.... then got in tighter, missed a few, but results not too bad I think.

The rangefinder and general check everything shot.

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Then I get in tighter, sometimes it works, sometimes not, takes a few to work out whats happening, wind, smoke etc etc.

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**Mikesul** · 07-06-2018, 07:32 AM

Very interesting fireworks set!

MJKoski · 07-06-2018, 02:05 PM

Even with some wide angles fireworks may be too close to the camera for infinity focusing to produce best results. Modern sharp designs shot with nearly open aperture are very tricky. Thus, always manually focus at known distance where the fireworks are beforehand and you are set. This means magnified liveview. OVF is not enough.

07-05-2018, 02:33 PM	#1
csandeep New Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 6	Photographing fireworks with SMC 31mm Hello all, Yesterday being July 4th I was excited to try out my pentax K-1 mark II + SMC Pentax-FA 31mm . I have shot plenty of fireworks photos with my old Canon gear, so I felt I knew the general setup (a tripod, remote trigger, manual focus to infinity and wait). However try as I may I could not get the 31mm to focus to infinity. All the shots came out blurry and unfocused. Im not sure what Im missing. Has anyone shot fireworks with 31mm + Pentax k-1 ? Can the SMC Pentax-FA 31mm focus to infinity ? Whats your secret ?

07-05-2018, 02:46 PM - 1 Like	#3
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,843	I never use AF for fireworks. Position, position, position (get a good position!) Tripod f/11 ISO 100 MF; focus on a feature (building say) at similar distance to the fireworks B mode IR trigger, 1-6 sec exposure to deliver length of trails to your taste. Works every time for me. If you are using MF, I don't understand your statement "I could not get the 31mm to focus to infinity". https://www.flickr.com/gp/63496775@N05/829h44 Last edited by Paul the Sunman; 07-05-2018 at 04:25 PM.

07-05-2018, 04:35 PM	#8
honey bo bo Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 768	Different Approach with wider angle lens not worrying much about exact infinity focus No Pixel Peeping just trying for a different affect to make a small private Canada Day Display look like downtown Bejing on May Day ! DA 10-17 mm ED IF @ 17mm / Manual infinity focus, / holding manually / multiple exposure (4) / f8 for star affect /see exif for rest of exposure details Note: bonus creepy smoke pressure patterns. Last edited by honey bo bo; 08-07-2018 at 04:34 AM.

07-05-2018, 08:03 PM - 1 Like	#13
Mallee Boy Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,904	Shot these with the DA* 50-135. tripod. f8 bulb exposure times varied from 1.3 > 3.1 secs. Can not see why that would not work with FA 31. Initial shot at 50mm to get my focus and approximate range.... then got in tighter, missed a few, but results not too bad I think. The rangefinder and general check everything shot. Then I get in tighter, sometimes it works, sometimes not, takes a few to work out whats happening, wind, smoke etc etc.

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07-05-2018, 02:42 PM	#2
bschriver11 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 558	Maybe try going full manual and setting the aperture on the lens itself and use the focus scale on the lens.

07-05-2018, 02:48 PM	#4
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,620	perhaps your infinity focus is slighty out of calibration. You may try stopping down a few clicks to increase depth of field until you can get it dialed in. good luck

07-05-2018, 02:49 PM - 3 Likes	#5
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,403	I've done handheld fireworks at ISO 3200 with the FA 35 and like the people above I simply put it in manual focus mode and focused on something close to the fireworks or focused on the lighted clouds of smoke from the previous explosions. Some lenses are misadjusted - do you have any problems getting infinity focus outside of this context with that lens?

07-05-2018, 04:01 PM	#6
hyyz Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 478	I too found that sometimes I could not auto focus at infinity when using FA31 and FA24 on K-1. I couldn't figure out why. But this did surprise me. Both lenses work fine at infinity on K-3.

07-05-2018, 04:20 PM	#7
richandfleur Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Palmerston North, New Zealand Photos: Albums Posts: 1,788	SR still on whilst on a tripod?

07-05-2018, 04:55 PM - 1 Like	#9
eyrr Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 318	I have neither this lens nor that camera, but I do like to photograph fireworks. I use a tripod and bulb mode, autofocus during the first salvo and check the result on playback to make sure it's in focus and I'm stopped down far enough. Assuming it is, I then switch the control on the camera to manual focus so it doesn't change. Even if you miss the second salvo, the time to figure it out and make adjustments is at the beginning. Focusing on the fireworks gets you in-focus fireworks.

07-05-2018, 05:00 PM	#10
Mallee Boy Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,904	Originally posted by eyrr I have neither this lens nor that camera, but I do like to photograph fireworks. I use a tripod and bulb mode, autofocus during the first salvo and check the result on playback to make sure it's in focus and I'm stopped down far enough. Assuming it is, I then switch the control on the camera to manual focus so it doesn't change. Even if you miss the second salvo, the time to figure it out and make adjustments is at the beginning. Focusing on the fireworks gets you in-focus fireworks. ditto to what eyrr said. Not with the 31, but cant see how that should produce anything other than great results.

07-05-2018, 05:33 PM	#11
KDD Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 403	When you set up AF to focus to pole with light about 100 feet then change from AF to MF. Take pictures. Easy.

07-05-2018, 06:26 PM	#12
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by csandeep a tripod, remote trigger, manual focus to infinity and wait With the FA 31 on the K-1 what you describe should work just fine from a focus point of view. Attaining infinity on the lens without AF is as simple as turning the focus ring to the right until it stops (opposite direction of Canon). Do you have an example that you could share? Intact EXIF would be nice, but since that is sort of hard to do with a Web-size file, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO along with the image file would be helpful. Steve

07-06-2018, 07:32 AM	#14
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,594	Very interesting fireworks set!

07-06-2018, 02:05 PM	#15
MJKoski Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 1,784	Even with some wide angles fireworks may be too close to the camera for infinity focusing to produce best results. Modern sharp designs shot with nearly open aperture are very tricky. Thus, always manually focus at known distance where the fireworks are beforehand and you are set. This means magnified liveview. OVF is not enough.