K5 focus issues

billy moon · 08-22-2011, 05:29 AM

Having some intermittent soft focus issues with both the two lenses I own, the FA43mm and FA31mm on my K5. Some are sharp some are not. On one occasion at a sunset/dusk photo shoot ALL were soft although focus conformation was showing in viewfinder. Not good in low light I guess. Any others having poor results?

bymy141 · 08-22-2011, 06:05 AM

Can you show some examples with Exif info?

Tnx Bert

Wheatfield · 08-22-2011, 06:37 AM

The K5 is known to have some problems with focusing below EV 4 or so, especially with artificial light. There have been firmware upgrades that have improved things, but I don't think it is perfect. The imaging sensor is much more capable than the AF sensor.

billy moon · 08-22-2011, 06:52 AM

how do I do that? original is dng. so how do I resize and upload for this site?

Wheatfield · 08-22-2011, 09:31 AM

Open the file in an editor and resize it. When saving, if there is a "save for web" (or similar) option, don't use it as it will strip out the exif, which is already embedded in the file.

Marc Sabatella · 08-22-2011, 03:27 PM

Focus confirmation tells you *something* is in focus, but unless you carefully controlled exactly where the focus was, it might not be where you want it. and in low light, you are presumably using a large aperture and hence have a shallow DOF, meaning very little of a photo will be in focus. Sorry if this is all old news to you, but you didn't provide much information to go on here, so I'm just guessing at the most likely explanation.

billy moon · 08-23-2011, 10:40 AM

thanks for your input but I was shooting at f8 on the FA43mm using flash through large brolly at 1/30 for background/sky and no there is no motion blur. Cheers

Marc Sabatella · 08-24-2011, 08:36 AM

I don't know what "brolly" is, but if it's something you have to shoot "through", then that could be your problem - the camera may have focused on it instead of your target. Also, the flash would have illuminated the foreground but not the background, meaning the background really is getting the full 1/30" exposure. Meaning camera shake is qute likely. Again, though, we're just gessing until we see actual pictuees.

audiobomber · 08-24-2011, 10:00 AM

Originally posted by Marc Sabatella

I don't know what "brolly" is, but if it's something you have to shoot "through", then that could be your problem

Translation: "using flash through large umbrella"

Billy Moon, have you upgraded the firmware to V1.03? That helped for some people. It did nothing for my camera, and I ended up sending it back. Have you tried AF adjust? It didn't help me, because focus was fine under good light, off under tungsten light.

If none of this works, the problem is confirmed and you're still under warranty, send it in for repair.

08-22-2011, 05:29 AM	#1
billy moon Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Gulf Coast Posts: 45	K5 focus issues Having some intermittent soft focus issues with both the two lenses I own, the FA43mm and FA31mm on my K5. Some are sharp some are not. On one occasion at a sunset/dusk photo shoot ALL were soft although focus conformation was showing in viewfinder. Not good in low light I guess. Any others having poor results?

08-22-2011, 06:52 AM	#4
billy moon Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Gulf Coast Posts: 45 Original Poster	exif file? how do I do that? original is dng. so how do I resize and upload for this site?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
KX and Focus Issues	dmfw	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	7	07-29-2011 02:26 AM
New K-5- I need help with focus issues	Kini62	Pentax K-5 & K-5 II	27	10-25-2010 10:12 PM
Focus Issues	JohnKSA	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	4	06-11-2010 04:39 AM
Focus issues	bethtphotos	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	27	03-02-2010 09:01 AM
Focus issues	VincenTC	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	5	02-09-2010 01:49 PM

08-22-2011, 06:05 AM	#2
bymy141 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,563	Can you show some examples with Exif info? Tnx Bert

08-22-2011, 06:37 AM	#3
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,991	The K5 is known to have some problems with focusing below EV 4 or so, especially with artificial light. There have been firmware upgrades that have improved things, but I don't think it is perfect. The imaging sensor is much more capable than the AF sensor.

08-22-2011, 09:31 AM	#5
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,991	Open the file in an editor and resize it. When saving, if there is a "save for web" (or similar) option, don't use it as it will strip out the exif, which is already embedded in the file.

08-22-2011, 03:27 PM	#6
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Focus confirmation tells you something is in focus, but unless you carefully controlled exactly where the focus was, it might not be where you want it. and in low light, you are presumably using a large aperture and hence have a shallow DOF, meaning very little of a photo will be in focus. Sorry if this is all old news to you, but you didn't provide much information to go on here, so I'm just guessing at the most likely explanation.

08-23-2011, 10:40 AM	#7
billy moon Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Gulf Coast Posts: 45 Original Poster	thanks for your input but I was shooting at f8 on the FA43mm using flash through large brolly at 1/30 for background/sky and no there is no motion blur. Cheers

08-24-2011, 08:36 AM	#8
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	I don't know what "brolly" is, but if it's something you have to shoot "through", then that could be your problem - the camera may have focused on it instead of your target. Also, the flash would have illuminated the foreground but not the background, meaning the background really is getting the full 1/30" exposure. Meaning camera shake is qute likely. Again, though, we're just gessing until we see actual pictuees.

08-24-2011, 10:00 AM	#9
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by Marc Sabatella I don't know what "brolly" is, but if it's something you have to shoot "through", then that could be your problem Translation: "using flash through large umbrella" Billy Moon, have you upgraded the firmware to V1.03? That helped for some people. It did nothing for my camera, and I ended up sending it back. Have you tried AF adjust? It didn't help me, because focus was fine under good light, off under tungsten light. If none of this works, the problem is confirmed and you're still under warranty, send it in for repair.