Focusing issues with a K-m (K2000)

BerndM · 11-05-2012, 03:53 PM

I seem to having issues with getting a really sharp picture.
I have the Diopter adjustment on the viewfinder set perfectly so when I focus something it looks razor sharp in the viewfinder, however, the resulting highest Quality JPG or RAW picture is simply not very sharp at all.

I have tried refocusing ever so slightly one way or the other from the sharpest view in the finder, but that makes it even worse.
Seems like a perfect example of "What you see is NOT what you get"
Is it possible the 2 systems are somehow out of whack with each other? is it something that may be adjusted or do I simply toss the camera as junk?
I'm close to that point now.
BTW....it doesn't seem to matter which of my lenses or telescopes I use, including the 18-55 lens the camera came with. I use mostly older Pentax mount lenses in the Aperture Preferred or Manual modes.
Your comments or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Bernd

Adam · 11-05-2012, 04:46 PM

Let's see some sample photos!

BerndM · 11-05-2012, 05:07 PM

Here's a couple that I took great pains to get razor sharp in the viewfinder, and the results are very disappointing to me.
The insulator is about 250 feet away and the neighbors license about 100 feet. The little serial number under the 2013 on the orange tag
was absolutely crystal clear in the viewfinder.
Like I said....disappointing

Ole · 11-05-2012, 05:11 PM

Your shutter speed is too slow. The EXIF shows you used an 800 mm lens. The longer focal length, the faster shutter speed is required - even with shake reduction turned on.

It could also be - since you used an old lens - that you had shake reduction turned on but the wrong value entered for focal length.

**paulh** · 11-05-2012, 05:14 PM

Are those crops or are they the whole photo? Were these taken with a manual lens, since the aperture isn't showing in your exif ? Also, are you getting focus confirmation (green hexagon) in the viewfinder? When you adjust the diopter, are you setting it so that the grid lines in the VF are sharp?

edit: 800mm lens?? If so, what Ole advises is correct - you need a much faster shutter speed. And make sure the correct value is entered if SR is enabled.

BerndM · 11-05-2012, 05:41 PM

As mentioned in the original post, the lens in this case is a 5" (127mm lens diameter) Telescope with a 1250mm FL at f10. It is 100% manual.
The mount the telescope was on is as solid and vibration free as any camera tripod available at virtually any price.
I take long exposures of the heavens with other cameras that come out sharp, so the slow shutter speed should not be an issue at all given the mounting.
I just think there is a problem with the camera.

BTW...these are NOT crops of the original 3+ mp pics, but the Pentax server sort of squeezed them down.
However, the poor sharpness is VERY accurate and representative of the original pics.

**Bruce Clark** · 11-05-2012, 07:39 PM

Just a stab in the dark so to speak but is the shake reduction turned off? If you a re shooting on a tripod SR must be off.

BerndM · 11-05-2012, 11:16 PM

The camera automatically turns that off with these manual lenses

Marc Sabatella · 11-06-2012, 10:59 AM

No it doesn't. You need to explicitly turn it off. It is automatically turned off if you use the 2-second timer, though.

BerndM · 11-06-2012, 05:15 PM

Oh, OK. I was using the 12 second timer and the camera's screen shows the anti shake is grayed out

GibbyTheMole · 11-06-2012, 05:39 PM

If all of your lenses are out of focus, including your AF lenses, you might need to tweak your AF settings in the debug menu. In my experience, the MF focus lock indicator and the AF are linked. (on a K-x, and an *ist DS, anyway) So when you adjust the AF point correctly, the MF focus lock indicator will be accurate as well.

According to poster "AlwaysAl": "The proper way to set the diopter adjustment is to remove the lens and look towards a light source. Adjust the slide until the focus lines appear clearest in the viewfinder." I would do this before you perform the adjustment procedure. I wouldn't go by the focusing screen to adjust. It could be slightly off. I'd go by the focus lock indicator.

This will show you how to get into the debug mode on your K-m.

I've tweaked a couple of cameras this way, and it made a big improvement. Just use your fastest lens wide open to verify & adjust with.

Good luck,
Bobbo :-)

11-05-2012, 03:53 PM	#1
BerndM Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Placentia, California Posts: 86	Focusing issues with a K-m (K2000) I seem to having issues with getting a really sharp picture. I have the Diopter adjustment on the viewfinder set perfectly so when I focus something it looks razor sharp in the viewfinder, however, the resulting highest Quality JPG or RAW picture is simply not very sharp at all. I have tried refocusing ever so slightly one way or the other from the sharpest view in the finder, but that makes it even worse. Seems like a perfect example of "What you see is NOT what you get" Is it possible the 2 systems are somehow out of whack with each other? is it something that may be adjusted or do I simply toss the camera as junk? I'm close to that point now. BTW....it doesn't seem to matter which of my lenses or telescopes I use, including the 18-55 lens the camera came with. I use mostly older Pentax mount lenses in the Aperture Preferred or Manual modes. Your comments or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks Bernd

11-05-2012, 04:46 PM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	Let's see some sample photos! Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

11-05-2012, 05:14 PM	#5
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,263	Are those crops or are they the whole photo? Were these taken with a manual lens, since the aperture isn't showing in your exif ? Also, are you getting focus confirmation (green hexagon) in the viewfinder? When you adjust the diopter, are you setting it so that the grid lines in the VF are sharp? edit: 800mm lens?? If so, what Ole advises is correct - you need a much faster shutter speed. And make sure the correct value is entered if SR is enabled. Last edited by paulh; 11-05-2012 at 05:20 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Focusing issues with K-5 & 35/2.4?	treebeard	Pentax K-5 & K-5 II	11	09-02-2012 07:26 AM
For Sale - Sold: Pentax K-m ( k2000 ) with Da-L 18-55mm + box (US/CAN)	suzuki-j	Sold Items	3	03-12-2011 08:26 PM
Is my K-m/K2000 a aps-c DSLR?	gardengirl	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	6	11-25-2010 11:23 AM
Help with focusing K-m	hashira	Pentax Camera and Field Accessories	3	11-22-2010 04:09 PM
Focusing Screen for K2000/K-M	eyou	Pentax Camera and Field Accessories	28	09-17-2009 07:31 PM

11-05-2012, 05:11 PM	#4
Ole Administrator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,408	Your shutter speed is too slow. The EXIF shows you used an 800 mm lens. The longer focal length, the faster shutter speed is required - even with shake reduction turned on. It could also be - since you used an old lens - that you had shake reduction turned on but the wrong value entered for focal length.

11-05-2012, 05:41 PM	#6
BerndM Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Placentia, California Posts: 86 Original Poster	As mentioned in the original post, the lens in this case is a 5" (127mm lens diameter) Telescope with a 1250mm FL at f10. It is 100% manual. The mount the telescope was on is as solid and vibration free as any camera tripod available at virtually any price. I take long exposures of the heavens with other cameras that come out sharp, so the slow shutter speed should not be an issue at all given the mounting. I just think there is a problem with the camera. BTW...these are NOT crops of the original 3+ mp pics, but the Pentax server sort of squeezed them down. However, the poor sharpness is VERY accurate and representative of the original pics.

11-05-2012, 07:39 PM	#7
Bruce Clark Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Ocean Grove, Victoria Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,458	Just a stab in the dark so to speak but is the shake reduction turned off? If you a re shooting on a tripod SR must be off.

11-05-2012, 11:16 PM	#8
BerndM Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Placentia, California Posts: 86 Original Poster	The camera automatically turns that off with these manual lenses

11-06-2012, 10:59 AM	#9
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	No it doesn't. You need to explicitly turn it off. It is automatically turned off if you use the 2-second timer, though.

11-06-2012, 05:15 PM	#10
BerndM Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Placentia, California Posts: 86 Original Poster	Oh, OK. I was using the 12 second timer and the camera's screen shows the anti shake is grayed out

11-06-2012, 05:39 PM	#11
GibbyTheMole Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Iowa Photos: Albums Posts: 2,275	If all of your lenses are out of focus, including your AF lenses, you might need to tweak your AF settings in the debug menu. In my experience, the MF focus lock indicator and the AF are linked. (on a K-x, and an ist DS, anyway) So when you adjust the AF point correctly, the MF focus lock indicator will be accurate as well. According to poster "AlwaysAl": "The proper way to set the diopter adjustment is to remove the lens and look towards a light source. Adjust the slide until the focus lines appear clearest in the viewfinder."* I would do this before you perform the adjustment procedure. I wouldn't go by the focusing screen to adjust. It could be slightly off. I'd go by the focus lock indicator. This will show you how to get into the debug mode on your K-m. I've tweaked a couple of cameras this way, and it made a big improvement. Just use your fastest lens wide open to verify & adjust with. Good luck, Bobbo :-)