[GUB]

As a person very used to manual focusing old fast lenses live view with focus peaking is the most precise way ;

And if the lighting is difficult set your aperture via the aperture ring. That way your live view auto brightens.
The k-1 works a dream this way

[BarryE]

In the old days we used to have focusing screens, split focus or whatever. These days not so much. The one thing I have found on my Pentax is that if I use a purely manual focus lens like a 135mm LS, then the camera focus system will still beep when you achieve focus, and it is accurate if you have the modelling lights on. I always aim for f8 in portraits and start off with a dark frame with the lights off. That way you can control how your backdrop is lit so it doesn't really matter whether it's still in focus because of the depth of field. Just a thought.

Thanks Pops. As I'm using speedlight type flash, I don't have modelling lights that being said, like you choosing a middling aperture and working from a dark frame, bringing the backdrop into the shot with separate lights is the way I too work. I'll play around with focus beep in manual mode as you suggest. I'm currently converting my garage to a small 'studio' so actual practise shooting is not happening. Soon will be, hopefully ...

---------- Post added 05-06-22 at 11:59 AM ----------

As a person very used to manual focusing old fast lenses live view with focus peaking is the most precise way ;

And if the lighting is difficult set your aperture via the aperture ring. That way your live view auto brightens.
The k-1 works a dream this way

Thanks Gub. I'll try that when I get onto the shooting stage (see previous).