Perfect focus everytime

magkelly · 10-03-2013, 10:03 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by monochrome

Way too easy.

Much better for your character and personal growth to meditate like a monk control breathing, heart rate and autonomous muscle twitches, control the incipient motion of the earth moving under your feet and learn to shoot.

Grin. That was beautiful. You just said that a lot more eloquently and amusingly than I was about to. Mind you my eyes are not as good as they could be lately and I do have to rely some on AF these days when I am really having trouble with them, but if we're going to be like that, be obsessive with getting "perfect" focus every single time, why not just turn the damned AF OFF and actually learn to look through the VF and focus the camera lens without it? Honestly if I have to work that hard to get my AF to work then I'd rather just do it myself.

FYI, I have never recalibrated a lens. Never really needed to, but if I am working with a lens that isn't giving me the best results with AF then I just turn it off and try to fine tune it by focusing manually. AF is a nice thing, but it's not perfect 100% of the time. No type of focusing is perfect all the time. No matter how good you are, or your AF is you will have the odd blurry shot. It's just inevitable and I refuse to worry about it. That's why I take a few shots of each subject, not just one.

FYI, my could keep rate is probably 85% of what I shoot. That's probably better than some people, maybe not as good as some, but I think that's mostly because I don't rely on the camera to do all my shooting FOR me. AF is a convenience. It's nice. It can help a lot under the right circumstances when my eyesight is crappy, but I believe in actually using my camera the old fashioned way. As bad as my eyes can be there are times when they are still just plain better at it than my camera's AF is and I would have to say that about every DSLR camera I've ever worked with no matter what the brand. Seeking perfect focus 100% of the time is just asking for miracles, I think.

jake14mw · 10-04-2013, 01:22 PM

Originally posted by carrrlangas

yes, hitting the green button happens to me often...
I noticed another great benefit of using the AF button and disabling the halfpress:
Quickshift is much easier to use! If using a DA lens, the system is in manual focus unless you presst the AF button. Pretty cool
I still wish the halfpress of the shuter could be configured to lock exposure

I thought you had to have the half press focus disabled to use quick shift? If not, wouldn't the camera try to refocus when you pressed the shutter?

carrrlangas · 10-04-2013, 01:32 PM

Originally posted by jake14mw

I thought you had to have the half press focus disabled to use quick shift? If not, wouldn't the camera try to refocus when you pressed the shutter?

Depends. If you are using AF-S (Single), you can halfpress the shuttter release and use quickshift after the AF has locked or not. It won´t attempt to refocus. If using AF-C (Continuous), the AF will try to refocus every time you touch the focus ring, while halfpressing the shutter release.

Fat Albert · 10-04-2013, 01:56 PM

Originally posted by Fat Albert

Is there any way to do this with a K-30?

.....

Wired · 10-04-2013, 02:10 PM

Originally posted by Fat Albert

.....

Sorry I do not know

**savoche** · 10-04-2013, 02:19 PM

Originally posted by Fat Albert

Is there any way to do this with a K-30?

Not sure, but I do believe you can reprogram the green button to function as the AF button does on the K-5 (and friends).

bossa · 10-04-2013, 03:16 PM

I normally shoot using the AF for focus but I just tried setting the Shutter Button to OFF(Live view only) and it still keeps focusing using the shutter button when not using Live View. This appears to be a bug, perhaps in the latest firmware.

**wizofoz** · 10-04-2013, 03:46 PM

Originally posted by Wired

Semi correct. The SR turns on when the shutter is half depressed. So no, you do not need to switch to AF-S. The idea is that on release of AF button your camera for "still life" is the same as using AFS.

It does take some getting used to and the shooting method may not be for everyone. But I personally can't got back now

I use exactly the method described and can vouch for it as a very comfortable, intuitive method of getting many more shot focussed where I want them. I hardly ever switch the camera to Af-S

Just a small point though, the SR mechanism on my K-5 instigates all by itself, I don't need to press the shutter button to have it come on shortly after the camera has come to relative rest.

WA-surfer · 10-04-2013, 07:10 PM

A few questions implementing this on a K30 please.

If you are using the four select buttons to chose the metering point how can you change the ISO setting (or white balance, flash etc)?

AF button customized no problems but can't see where to tun off the half shutter focus? Thanks

Rnovo · 10-05-2013, 12:25 PM

Just checked in on this incredible thread, thanks to everyone for the discussion. This makes me happy to be part of this forum!
This points out to the fact that there are too many things out there that are not explained in the manual: the manual is just...a manual! This reminds me of this procedure on the K5 whereby you set a fixed aperture for any number of bracketed shots, that was shown to me by PanoGuy - absolutely required for HDRI. I couldn't find any thing in the "manual" as I kept on getting 5 proper exposures but, all with a different apertures!
Anyway, when I first entered the digital world after film with the K10D on October 2008 I was really happy to check in on the Dikigii (or whoever it was...) tutorials on the Pentax web site who explained to me all the digital subtleties of the K10D and digital photography and how to operate it.
Maybe we should start another one like that...?
My 2 cents.

dcBear78 · 10-05-2013, 11:13 PM

Originally posted by WA-surfer

A few questions implementing this on a K30 please.

If you are using the four select buttons to chose the metering point how can you change the ISO setting (or white balance, flash etc)?

AF button customized no problems but can't see where to tun off the half shutter focus? Thanks

"Enable AF2" in your button customisation menu disables the half press.

Shake reduction happens automatically for me too after focus.

Thanks, this technique is new for me. Makes a lot of sense. Still cant see myself moving away from centre point focus for the majority of what I shoot, but I will more than likely use SEL a bit more. Especially for staged shots.

Not sure with the other cameras but you lose exposure lock ability with this method on K-30.

Culture · 10-06-2013, 12:55 AM

Is it really possible that I dont have the "shutter button half press" setting in my K-30.

I cant seem to find it. I remember having this on my k-m.

Culture · 10-06-2013, 12:58 AM

Originally posted by dcBear78

"Enable AF2" in your button customisation menu disables the half press.

Shake reduction happens automatically for me too after focus.

Thanks, this technique is new for me. Makes a lot of sense. Still cant see myself moving away from centre point focus for the majority of what I shoot, but I will more than likely use SEL a bit more. Especially for staged shots.

Not sure with the other cameras but you lose exposure lock ability with this method on K-30.

Sorry I didnt get to your post before posting the above.

I see somebody had the same problem and it has been explained. I will go check it out.

cream · 10-07-2013, 12:38 AM

Interesting. Thank you for sharing

**maxfield_photo** · 10-07-2013, 08:17 PM

Wow, it's Like Pentax read my post about the placement of the AF button and fixed it on the K-3. I'm slightly more interested in the camera now.

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10-03-2013, 10:03 PM - 2 Likes	#46
magkelly Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,901	Originally posted by monochrome Way too easy. Much better for your character and personal growth to meditate like a monk control breathing, heart rate and autonomous muscle twitches, control the incipient motion of the earth moving under your feet and learn to shoot. Grin. That was beautiful. You just said that a lot more eloquently and amusingly than I was about to. Mind you my eyes are not as good as they could be lately and I do have to rely some on AF these days when I am really having trouble with them, but if we're going to be like that, be obsessive with getting "perfect" focus every single time, why not just turn the damned AF OFF and actually learn to look through the VF and focus the camera lens without it? Honestly if I have to work that hard to get my AF to work then I'd rather just do it myself. FYI, I have never recalibrated a lens. Never really needed to, but if I am working with a lens that isn't giving me the best results with AF then I just turn it off and try to fine tune it by focusing manually. AF is a nice thing, but it's not perfect 100% of the time. No type of focusing is perfect all the time. No matter how good you are, or your AF is you will have the odd blurry shot. It's just inevitable and I refuse to worry about it. That's why I take a few shots of each subject, not just one. FYI, my could keep rate is probably 85% of what I shoot. That's probably better than some people, maybe not as good as some, but I think that's mostly because I don't rely on the camera to do all my shooting FOR me. AF is a convenience. It's nice. It can help a lot under the right circumstances when my eyesight is crappy, but I believe in actually using my camera the old fashioned way. As bad as my eyes can be there are times when they are still just plain better at it than my camera's AF is and I would have to say that about every DSLR camera I've ever worked with no matter what the brand. Seeking perfect focus 100% of the time is just asking for miracles, I think.

10-04-2013, 01:22 PM	#47
jake14mw Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 977	Originally posted by carrrlangas yes, hitting the green button happens to me often... I noticed another great benefit of using the AF button and disabling the halfpress: Quickshift is much easier to use! If using a DA lens, the system is in manual focus unless you presst the AF button. Pretty cool I still wish the halfpress of the shuter could be configured to lock exposure I thought you had to have the half press focus disabled to use quick shift? If not, wouldn't the camera try to refocus when you pressed the shutter?

10-04-2013, 01:32 PM	#48
carrrlangas Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Joensuu (Finland) Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,761	Originally posted by jake14mw I thought you had to have the half press focus disabled to use quick shift? If not, wouldn't the camera try to refocus when you pressed the shutter? Depends. If you are using AF-S (Single), you can halfpress the shuttter release and use quickshift after the AF has locked or not. It won´t attempt to refocus. If using AF-C (Continuous), the AF will try to refocus every time you touch the focus ring, while halfpressing the shutter release.

10-04-2013, 01:56 PM	#49
Fat Albert Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 966	Originally posted by Fat Albert Is there any way to do this with a K-30? .....

10-04-2013, 02:10 PM	#50
Wired Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Edmonton, AB Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,519 Original Poster	Originally posted by Fat Albert ..... Sorry I do not know

10-04-2013, 02:19 PM	#51
savoche Master of the obvious Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Lowlands of Norway Posts: 18,311	Originally posted by Fat Albert Is there any way to do this with a K-30? Not sure, but I do believe you can reprogram the green button to function as the AF button does on the K-5 (and friends).

10-04-2013, 03:16 PM	#52
bossa Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Adelaide Posts: 4,546	I normally shoot using the AF for focus but I just tried setting the Shutter Button to OFF(Live view only) and it still keeps focusing using the shutter button when not using Live View. This appears to be a bug, perhaps in the latest firmware.

10-04-2013, 03:46 PM	#53
wizofoz Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne, Outer east. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,695	Originally posted by Wired Semi correct. The SR turns on when the shutter is half depressed. So no, you do not need to switch to AF-S. The idea is that on release of AF button your camera for "still life" is the same as using AFS. It does take some getting used to and the shooting method may not be for everyone. But I personally can't got back now I use exactly the method described and can vouch for it as a very comfortable, intuitive method of getting many more shot focussed where I want them. I hardly ever switch the camera to Af-S Just a small point though, the SR mechanism on my K-5 instigates all by itself, I don't need to press the shutter button to have it come on shortly after the camera has come to relative rest.

10-04-2013, 07:10 PM	#54
WA-surfer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 118	A few questions implementing this on a K30 please. If you are using the four select buttons to chose the metering point how can you change the ISO setting (or white balance, flash etc)? AF button customized no problems but can't see where to tun off the half shutter focus? Thanks

10-05-2013, 12:25 PM	#55
Rnovo Closed Account Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 415	Just checked in on this incredible thread, thanks to everyone for the discussion. This makes me happy to be part of this forum! This points out to the fact that there are too many things out there that are not explained in the manual: the manual is just...a manual! This reminds me of this procedure on the K5 whereby you set a fixed aperture for any number of bracketed shots, that was shown to me by PanoGuy - absolutely required for HDRI. I couldn't find any thing in the "manual" as I kept on getting 5 proper exposures but, all with a different apertures! Anyway, when I first entered the digital world after film with the K10D on October 2008 I was really happy to check in on the Dikigii (or whoever it was...) tutorials on the Pentax web site who explained to me all the digital subtleties of the K10D and digital photography and how to operate it. Maybe we should start another one like that...? My 2 cents.

10-05-2013, 11:13 PM	#56
dcBear78 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Gladstone, QLD Photos: Gallery Posts: 823	Originally posted by WA-surfer A few questions implementing this on a K30 please. If you are using the four select buttons to chose the metering point how can you change the ISO setting (or white balance, flash etc)? AF button customized no problems but can't see where to tun off the half shutter focus? Thanks "Enable AF2" in your button customisation menu disables the half press. Shake reduction happens automatically for me too after focus. Thanks, this technique is new for me. Makes a lot of sense. Still cant see myself moving away from centre point focus for the majority of what I shoot, but I will more than likely use SEL a bit more. Especially for staged shots. Not sure with the other cameras but you lose exposure lock ability with this method on K-30.

10-06-2013, 12:55 AM	#57
Culture Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Vaasa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 818	Is it really possible that I dont have the "shutter button half press" setting in my K-30. I cant seem to find it. I remember having this on my k-m.

10-06-2013, 12:58 AM	#58
Culture Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Vaasa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 818	Originally posted by dcBear78 "Enable AF2" in your button customisation menu disables the half press. Shake reduction happens automatically for me too after focus. Thanks, this technique is new for me. Makes a lot of sense. Still cant see myself moving away from centre point focus for the majority of what I shoot, but I will more than likely use SEL a bit more. Especially for staged shots. Not sure with the other cameras but you lose exposure lock ability with this method on K-30. Sorry I didnt get to your post before posting the above. I see somebody had the same problem and it has been explained. I will go check it out.

10-07-2013, 12:38 AM	#59
cream Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 91	Interesting. Thank you for sharing

10-07-2013, 08:17 PM	#60
maxfield_photo Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 1,216	Wow, it's Like Pentax read my post about the placement of the AF button and fixed it on the K-3. I'm slightly more interested in the camera now.