645Z - Catch-in-focus?

**iCrop** · 10-16-2014, 06:49 AM

Catch-in-focus, or trap focus, has been available in every higher end Pentax DSLR since the *istD. I haven't been able to figure out how to get that to work on the 645Z. Has anyone tried it and been able to get it to work?

**iCrop** · 10-20-2014, 03:25 PM

OK, either no one else has tried it, or they have and it doesn't work for them either. (Or, ..., they're just not responding.

)

Has anybody else noticed that, with a manual focus lens, or an auto-focus lens in manual mode, that the camera can be fired even if focus has not been obtained? This, even with C-3, #15, AF.S Setting is set to Focus-Priority in the menus, and on page R-40 it says "The shutter is not released until the subject is in focus."

I think we need another firmware update.

**unkipunki** · 10-22-2014, 05:10 AM

Hi,

It seems 'Catch in Focus' is not a function in the menu at all. A very strange omission IMO

**iCrop** · 10-26-2014, 01:03 PM

Originally posted by unkipunki

Hi,

It seems 'Catch in Focus' is not a function in the menu at all. A very strange omission IMO

Indeed. Especially with the 645Z's operational similarity to the functionality with the K3.

elsdad · 10-26-2014, 01:46 PM

Pardon my ignorance. What is Catch-in-focus?

**unkipunki** · 10-26-2014, 02:56 PM

Originally posted by elsdad

Pardon my ignorance. What is Catch-in-focus?

It's an In Camera function that allows you set the camera up focusing to a given distance where you anticipate a subject to pass the focus point at that distance whereby the camera gains focus and fires the shutter with your given settings. It's extremely useful with manual focus lenses when you can hold the centre spot on the subject and focus the lens. When the subject comes into focus the exposure is taken.

elsdad · 10-26-2014, 05:24 PM

Originally posted by unkipunki

It's an In Camera function that allows you set the camera up focusing to a given distance where you anticipate a subject to pass the focus point at that distance whereby the camera gains focus and fires the shutter with your given settings. It's extremely useful with manual focus lenses when you can hold the centre spot on the subject and focus the lens. When the subject comes into focus the exposure is taken.

thanks!

**iCrop** · 10-27-2014, 09:38 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by elsdad

Pardon my ignorance. What is Catch-in-focus?

It is a feature I've used on all my Pentax DSLRs to capture images like this, and I'd like to use the 645Z to try to do better:

Thomasbrowphoto · 07-01-2015, 10:40 PM

Has anyone had any luck with this yet? Surely the 645Z has got this in it somewhere
?

**unkipunki** · 07-02-2015, 04:31 AM

Originally posted by Thomasbrowphoto

Has anyone had any luck with this yet? Surely the 645Z has got this in it somewhere
?

Not that I've managed to find. I can't help but think it must be possible, but it isn't in the menus anywhere ☹

thomaskplee · 07-02-2015, 08:04 PM

Not quite sure I understand correctly of the catch-in-focus, as I did not use Pentax camera other than 645Z. What I set on my camera (like in my Canon 1Dx), I use thumb to press AF-on for focus ( with continue focus), set no AF for half shutter release, such that with a moving object, I thumb press to get focus and then release thumb to let the focus distance stays on same place, for re-framing or for waiting for the object to get in the "focus net". I use this way to shoot flying dragon-flies, because they have certain flying path pattern, so the only way catch them in focus is to stay focus on one of the "air path" that they tend to station, and wait for the fly to come. Before the latest firmware release of Pentax 645Z, there is a problem on this operations, but its been corrected in the latest firmware, and now can operate correctly, please check if you have up-dated to the latest firmware version.

thomaskplee · 07-03-2015, 01:20 AM

The latest firmware version is 1.21, it is an upgrade from version1.20 which did not allow shutter release when off focus when the lenses are at AF mode ( But when using LV, then it is OK to have shutter release when AF is not locked on, so obviously there was an error on the firmware 1.20). In 1.21 you can do the pre-focus and re-frame or else.

Kolor-Pikker · 07-03-2015, 01:21 AM

Combed the camera settings yesterday and no dice. catch focus would logically have be under AF modes where you set single/continuous/timer, but other than interval and composite shooting modes, there's nothing else.

**iCrop** · 07-03-2015, 10:48 AM - **1 Like**

The 2003 vintage *istD, and the K-10D, don't have a 'Catch-In Focus' menu item, but that function can be implemented on them by setting focus mode to AF.S, and in the menus setting 'AF by Press Halfway' to On and 'AF Button Function' to 'Enable AF', and using a manual focus lens or AF lens set to manual focus. With those cameras, and those settings, when the shutter release button is fully pressed, or a cable remote is locked (the preferable way to do this), the camera will not fire until it achieves focus. It'll sit there all day and not fire until something comes into focus, and will repeatedly fire while focus is achieved. The flaw in the 645Z is that it fires whether focus has been obtained or not.

The menu item 'Catch-In Focus' did not appear in Pentax DSLR menus until the K20D arrived.

**unkipunki** · 02-17-2019, 11:01 AM

Bumping this in case anyone has found a work around to catch in focus for the 645Z

10-26-2014, 01:46 PM	#5
elsdad Junior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Central Florida Posts: 38	What is Catch-in-focus? Pardon my ignorance. What is Catch-in-focus?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Catch in Focus,	Wingincamera	Pentax K-5 & K-5 II	7	03-21-2014 11:19 AM
Catch In Focus	Neville	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	18	02-12-2014 07:22 PM
Catch in focus	tuggie76	Pentax K-30 & K-50	6	07-01-2013 01:15 PM
Sports Catch In Focus	troika	Post Your Photos!	5	05-27-2013 10:33 PM
Focus Trapping (aka Catch-In Focus)	regor	Pentax K-01	7	01-05-2013 11:32 PM

10-16-2014, 06:49 AM	#1
iCrop Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tucson Photos: Gallery Posts: 292	645Z - Catch-in-focus? Catch-in-focus, or trap focus, has been available in every higher end Pentax DSLR since the *istD. I haven't been able to figure out how to get that to work on the 645Z. Has anyone tried it and been able to get it to work?

10-20-2014, 03:25 PM	#2
iCrop Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tucson Photos: Gallery Posts: 292 Original Poster	OK, either no one else has tried it, or they have and it doesn't work for them either. (Or, ..., they're just not responding. ) Has anybody else noticed that, with a manual focus lens, or an auto-focus lens in manual mode, that the camera can be fired even if focus has not been obtained? This, even with C-3, #15, AF.S Setting is set to Focus-Priority in the menus, and on page R-40 it says "The shutter is not released until the subject is in focus." I think we need another firmware update.

10-22-2014, 05:10 AM	#3
unkipunki Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: South Lochaweside, Argyll Photos: Gallery Posts: 615	Hi, It seems 'Catch in Focus' is not a function in the menu at all. A very strange omission IMO

10-26-2014, 01:03 PM	#4
iCrop Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tucson Photos: Gallery Posts: 292 Original Poster	Originally posted by unkipunki Hi, It seems 'Catch in Focus' is not a function in the menu at all. A very strange omission IMO Indeed. Especially with the 645Z's operational similarity to the functionality with the K3.

10-26-2014, 02:56 PM	#6
unkipunki Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: South Lochaweside, Argyll Photos: Gallery Posts: 615	Originally posted by elsdad Pardon my ignorance. What is Catch-in-focus? It's an In Camera function that allows you set the camera up focusing to a given distance where you anticipate a subject to pass the focus point at that distance whereby the camera gains focus and fires the shutter with your given settings. It's extremely useful with manual focus lenses when you can hold the centre spot on the subject and focus the lens. When the subject comes into focus the exposure is taken.

10-26-2014, 05:24 PM	#7
elsdad Junior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Central Florida Posts: 38	Originally posted by unkipunki It's an In Camera function that allows you set the camera up focusing to a given distance where you anticipate a subject to pass the focus point at that distance whereby the camera gains focus and fires the shutter with your given settings. It's extremely useful with manual focus lenses when you can hold the centre spot on the subject and focus the lens. When the subject comes into focus the exposure is taken. thanks!

10-27-2014, 09:38 AM - 1 Like	#8
iCrop Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tucson Photos: Gallery Posts: 292 Original Poster	Originally posted by elsdad Pardon my ignorance. What is Catch-in-focus? It is a feature I've used on all my Pentax DSLRs to capture images like this, and I'd like to use the 645Z to try to do better:

07-01-2015, 10:40 PM	#9
Thomasbrowphoto Veteran Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: NSW, Australia Posts: 335	Has anyone had any luck with this yet? Surely the 645Z has got this in it somewhere ?

07-02-2015, 04:31 AM	#10
unkipunki Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: South Lochaweside, Argyll Photos: Gallery Posts: 615	Originally posted by Thomasbrowphoto Has anyone had any luck with this yet? Surely the 645Z has got this in it somewhere ? Not that I've managed to find. I can't help but think it must be possible, but it isn't in the menus anywhere ☹

07-02-2015, 08:04 PM	#11
thomaskplee Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 38	Not quite sure I understand correctly of the catch-in-focus, as I did not use Pentax camera other than 645Z. What I set on my camera (like in my Canon 1Dx), I use thumb to press AF-on for focus ( with continue focus), set no AF for half shutter release, such that with a moving object, I thumb press to get focus and then release thumb to let the focus distance stays on same place, for re-framing or for waiting for the object to get in the "focus net". I use this way to shoot flying dragon-flies, because they have certain flying path pattern, so the only way catch them in focus is to stay focus on one of the "air path" that they tend to station, and wait for the fly to come. Before the latest firmware release of Pentax 645Z, there is a problem on this operations, but its been corrected in the latest firmware, and now can operate correctly, please check if you have up-dated to the latest firmware version.

07-03-2015, 01:20 AM	#12
thomaskplee Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 38	The latest firmware version is 1.21, it is an upgrade from version1.20 which did not allow shutter release when off focus when the lenses are at AF mode ( But when using LV, then it is OK to have shutter release when AF is not locked on, so obviously there was an error on the firmware 1.20). In 1.21 you can do the pre-focus and re-frame or else.

07-03-2015, 01:21 AM	#13
Kolor-Pikker Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 344	Combed the camera settings yesterday and no dice. catch focus would logically have be under AF modes where you set single/continuous/timer, but other than interval and composite shooting modes, there's nothing else.

07-03-2015, 10:48 AM - 1 Like	#14
iCrop Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tucson Photos: Gallery Posts: 292 Original Poster	The 2003 vintage *istD, and the K-10D, don't have a 'Catch-In Focus' menu item, but that function can be implemented on them by setting focus mode to AF.S, and in the menus setting 'AF by Press Halfway' to On and 'AF Button Function' to 'Enable AF', and using a manual focus lens or AF lens set to manual focus. With those cameras, and those settings, when the shutter release button is fully pressed, or a cable remote is locked (the preferable way to do this), the camera will not fire until it achieves focus. It'll sit there all day and not fire until something comes into focus, and will repeatedly fire while focus is achieved. The flaw in the 645Z is that it fires whether focus has been obtained or not. The menu item 'Catch-In Focus' did not appear in Pentax DSLR menus until the K20D arrived.

02-17-2019, 11:01 AM	#15
unkipunki Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: South Lochaweside, Argyll Photos: Gallery Posts: 615	Bumping this in case anyone has found a work around to catch in focus for the 645Z