Failure to Fire

Chaos_Realm · 03-02-2011, 05:49 PM

Hi guys,
I am a bit of a beginner when it comes to shooting with a DSLR, (I have the K-7) but i keep finding myself having my camera pick and choose when it wants to shoot.

Ie I press the shutter release..... Nothing. I have tried switching between different modes to stop this but nothing seems to fix the problems.
It tends to do this when i shoot in low light.
My feeling was it might have had some limiter that would stop it shooting if there wasnt enough light but i couldnt find anything in the manual about it!

I know its gonna be some silly little check box somewhere :/

Thanks to who ever can enlighten me

Cheers,
Scott

**boriscleto** · 03-02-2011, 05:53 PM

Originally posted by Chaos_Realm

Hi guys,
I am a bit of a beginner when it comes to shooting with a DSLR, (I have the K-7) but i keep finding myself having my camera pick and choose when it wants to shoot.

Ie I press the shutter release..... Nothing. I have tried switching between different modes to stop this but nothing seems to fix the problems.
It tends to do this when i shoot in low light.
My feeling was it might have had some limiter that would stop it shooting if there wasnt enough light but i couldnt find anything in the manual about it!

I know its gonna be some silly little check box somewhere :/

Thanks to who ever can enlighten me

Cheers,
Scott

If the camera doesn't achieve focus lock it won't fire. If the green hexagon doesn't appear on the info line in the viewfinder, the camera isn't focused. If you put the camera in MF mode it will fire when there is no focus lock.

Chaos_Realm · 03-02-2011, 06:09 PM

Hmm I will have to check that.
I am too used to the old Point and shoot camera taking a photo when ever I wanted it to.

I knew it would be something stupid!

Cheers

**Lowell Goudge** · 03-04-2011, 09:21 AM

In AF-S mode, the camera needs focus confirmation to trip the shutter, in AF-C it does not.

Also, you can enable the requirement for focus confirmation in manual mode by selecting the menu item catch - in - focus, where the camera will then need focus confirmation to fire (menu item 35 on the K7)

Chaos_Realm · 03-06-2011, 06:02 PM

Thanks for the tip Lowell.

I must read the manual and not absorb anything! I have read the thing cover to cover twice. and didn't pick up on this either.
Cheers

bymy141 · 03-07-2011, 01:36 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Chaos_Realm

Ie I press the shutter release..... Nothing.

It tends to do this when i shoot in low light.

Hi Scott,

The problem is likely to be the auto focus that is not able to catch focus as the others explained.

The main symptom to look for is called "focus hunting", the lens is constantly moving back and forward trying to find a focus lock.
Does that happen when you experience this problem?

The AF mechanism requires a contrast change at the focus point in use, this means that the camera cannot lock focus when there is no contrast. Not even when the light is great.
For instance, if you'd try to make a photo of a white wall, Auto Focus will fail.
Also, in low light, it is much harder for the AF mechnism to find contrast, there is simply less light to work with.

Your K-7 is equiped with an AF assist light. A sort of green light that should be turned on by the camera in very low light.
Can you see that happen? If not, it might be turned of in the menu.
Turn it on, it does help a lot in low light situations.

Success, Bert

**Lowell Goudge** · 03-07-2011, 06:24 AM

Just to add one point here, and at the time I thought it was wrong, ad still do...

On my PZ-1 there was an option to allow over-riding the AF interlock.

Although this is the case between AF-C and AF-S I still believe you should be able to set the camera to fire when you pussh the button regardless of focus mode.

JeffJS · 03-07-2011, 07:14 AM

Originally posted by Lowell Goudge

Just to add one point here, and at the time I thought it was wrong, ad still do...

On my PZ-1 there was an option to allow over-riding the AF interlock.

Although this is the case between AF-C and AF-S I still believe you should be able to set the camera to fire when you pussh the button regardless of focus mode.

Not on the K7.

5300

**Lowell Goudge** · 03-07-2011, 11:42 AM

Jeff

No not the K7 no override function. seems to have disappeared between *istD and K10D at least in my bodies

JeffJS · 03-08-2011, 01:50 AM

Originally posted by Lowell Goudge

Jeff

No not the K7 no override function. seems to have disappeared between *istD and K10D at least in my bodies

I didn't think the K10 had it either. The K5 does (and maybe the Kr?) and to Me, it's a new feature. It isn't one I Use but it's nice to know I have it. AF-C on the K5 can also be set to fire only if in focus. Haven't really tried that one out yet though. (that is of course assuming we're talking about the same thing).

Chaos_Realm · 03-08-2011, 06:37 PM

Thanks guys,

Though the problem is not "solved" I have decided that i will just shoot manual focus In low light. That way it takes this worry out of the equation, so I don't look stupid again

"err hold on to that pose for a minute guys. I don't know how to use my camera!"

Cheers

03-02-2011, 05:49 PM	#1
Chaos_Realm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,251	Failure to Fire Hi guys, I am a bit of a beginner when it comes to shooting with a DSLR, (I have the K-7) but i keep finding myself having my camera pick and choose when it wants to shoot. Ie I press the shutter release..... Nothing. I have tried switching between different modes to stop this but nothing seems to fix the problems. It tends to do this when i shoot in low light. My feeling was it might have had some limiter that would stop it shooting if there wasnt enough light but i couldnt find anything in the manual about it! I know its gonna be some silly little check box somewhere :/ Thanks to who ever can enlighten me Cheers, Scott

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
DA* 50-135mm failure	sean	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	47	05-19-2011 08:47 PM
Failure to Launch	hriddle	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	7	01-09-2011 03:52 PM
Failure to fire/display problem	smf	Pentax DSLR Discussion	2	11-09-2009 10:51 AM
K10D failure?!	time-snaps	Pentax DSLR Discussion	8	07-28-2007 06:11 AM

03-02-2011, 05:53 PM	#2
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,477	Originally posted by Chaos_Realm Hi guys, I am a bit of a beginner when it comes to shooting with a DSLR, (I have the K-7) but i keep finding myself having my camera pick and choose when it wants to shoot. Ie I press the shutter release..... Nothing. I have tried switching between different modes to stop this but nothing seems to fix the problems. It tends to do this when i shoot in low light. My feeling was it might have had some limiter that would stop it shooting if there wasnt enough light but i couldnt find anything in the manual about it! I know its gonna be some silly little check box somewhere :/ Thanks to who ever can enlighten me Cheers, Scott If the camera doesn't achieve focus lock it won't fire. If the green hexagon doesn't appear on the info line in the viewfinder, the camera isn't focused. If you put the camera in MF mode it will fire when there is no focus lock.

03-02-2011, 06:09 PM	#3
Chaos_Realm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,251 Original Poster	Hmm I will have to check that. I am too used to the old Point and shoot camera taking a photo when ever I wanted it to. I knew it would be something stupid! Cheers

03-04-2011, 09:21 AM	#4
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,892	In AF-S mode, the camera needs focus confirmation to trip the shutter, in AF-C it does not. Also, you can enable the requirement for focus confirmation in manual mode by selecting the menu item catch - in - focus, where the camera will then need focus confirmation to fire (menu item 35 on the K7)

03-06-2011, 06:02 PM	#5
Chaos_Realm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,251 Original Poster	Thanks for the tip Lowell. I must read the manual and not absorb anything! I have read the thing cover to cover twice. and didn't pick up on this either. Cheers

03-07-2011, 01:36 AM - 1 Like	#6
bymy141 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,563	Originally posted by Chaos_Realm Ie I press the shutter release..... Nothing. It tends to do this when i shoot in low light. Hi Scott, The problem is likely to be the auto focus that is not able to catch focus as the others explained. The main symptom to look for is called "focus hunting", the lens is constantly moving back and forward trying to find a focus lock. Does that happen when you experience this problem? The AF mechanism requires a contrast change at the focus point in use, this means that the camera cannot lock focus when there is no contrast. Not even when the light is great. For instance, if you'd try to make a photo of a white wall, Auto Focus will fail. Also, in low light, it is much harder for the AF mechnism to find contrast, there is simply less light to work with. Your K-7 is equiped with an AF assist light. A sort of green light that should be turned on by the camera in very low light. Can you see that happen? If not, it might be turned of in the menu. Turn it on, it does help a lot in low light situations. Success, Bert

03-07-2011, 06:24 AM	#7
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,892	Just to add one point here, and at the time I thought it was wrong, ad still do... On my PZ-1 there was an option to allow over-riding the AF interlock. Although this is the case between AF-C and AF-S I still believe you should be able to set the camera to fire when you pussh the button regardless of focus mode.

03-07-2011, 07:14 AM	#8
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Originally posted by Lowell Goudge Just to add one point here, and at the time I thought it was wrong, ad still do... On my PZ-1 there was an option to allow over-riding the AF interlock. Although this is the case between AF-C and AF-S I still believe you should be able to set the camera to fire when you pussh the button regardless of focus mode. Not on the K7. 5300

03-07-2011, 11:42 AM	#9
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,892	Jeff No not the K7 no override function. seems to have disappeared between *istD and K10D at least in my bodies

03-08-2011, 01:50 AM	#10
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Originally posted by Lowell Goudge Jeff No not the K7 no override function. seems to have disappeared between *istD and K10D at least in my bodies I didn't think the K10 had it either. The K5 does (and maybe the Kr?) and to Me, it's a new feature. It isn't one I Use but it's nice to know I have it. AF-C on the K5 can also be set to fire only if in focus. Haven't really tried that one out yet though. (that is of course assuming we're talking about the same thing).

03-08-2011, 06:37 PM	#11
Chaos_Realm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,251 Original Poster	Thanks guys, Though the problem is not "solved" I have decided that i will just shoot manual focus In low light. That way it takes this worry out of the equation, so I don't look stupid again "err hold on to that pose for a minute guys. I don't know how to use my camera!" Cheers