DA35 sharpness issue (with K-X)

ericsu99 · 01-23-2013, 02:23 PM

I recently took some pictures with DA35 2.4 and found some problem. The pictures are usually blur. not sure if the pictures are out of focus or there is a problem with the lens. I attached two pictures below (with crop). Both were taken with f/4.0 iso 100, center focus, but had big difference on sharpness. Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks.

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

View Picture EXIF

enoeske · 01-23-2013, 03:16 PM

The soft one (the first one) is simply out of focus. You can see up in the top right corner that the focus landed beyond the intended subject. The buildings in the back are in focus. Its not a softness issue -- its a focus issue. Probably not a camera issue either, but a user issue.

Na Horuk · 01-23-2013, 03:28 PM

You could also use the 2sec timer and stop down more (bigger f-number) to widen DoF. You just have to learn to use the camera/lens combo. I find this lens to be tricky at (near) infinity.
You can also print out an AF chart and use a tripod to test your AF to see if its maybe front- or back-focusing. Do that in good light. But I think the lens is good, just a little more experience

Docrwm · 01-23-2013, 03:49 PM

Loved my K-x but, the K-x does not have a visual focus confirmation indicator. So, the first one is out of focus and the second is in focus. It's not a lens problem. It appears to be a focus issue on what the camera selected as the focal point.

D1N0 · 01-23-2013, 04:20 PM

Maybe just an AF-misfire but if it happens often you should test the camera/lens combination for back focus with a focus chart. There is a guy on the Dutch forum, who has the same problem. (also on a k-x). This lens may not have a happy marriage with the camera. Sometimes focus is right, but a lot of back focus. I had to calibrate it on my k10d as well (and the k-5 but much less). Maybe you should set the af to the center focus point when you shoot with this lens. Then you are sure at which point the camera tried to focus. You can work from there.

ericsu99 · 01-23-2013, 04:59 PM

Thank you for all the reply. The reason that I doubt the lens is because it happens too often on this DA35mm lens but not on other lenses. I always use center focus for the target and then composite the photo so. For the two pictures I posted, the crop sections are the spots where I focused so both of them should be sharp. Maybe it would be better to use MF for this lens.

steve1307 · 01-23-2013, 06:42 PM

I agree with previous, and the second one looks pretty good on my screen anyway.

Also, with plenty of light you could have used a higher f-stop to get more dof if you wanted too.

Did you get any other shots that didn't contain that hideous yellow Toyota 4WD

. That thing is going to be a bugger to clone out in pp.

Na Horuk · 01-24-2013, 09:53 AM

Originally posted by steve1307

Did you get any other shots that didn't contain that hideous yellow Toyota 4WD . That thing is going to be a bugger to clone out in pp.

lol just desaturate the yellows

Or make photo bw.

johnmflores · 01-24-2013, 10:14 AM

Originally posted by steve1307

Did you get any other shots that didn't contain that hideous yellow Toyota 4WD

. That thing is going to be a bugger to clone out in pp.

LOL. I see it the other way - boring gray car, boring white car, boring gray car.... YELLOW! ... boring gray car, boring gray car, boring white car...

steve1307 · 01-25-2013, 04:41 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by johnmflores

LOL. I see it the other way - boring gray car, boring white car, boring gray car.... YELLOW! ... boring gray car, boring gray car, boring white car...

Hmmmm.... yes I suppose you would.....

Lookey likey ?

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01-23-2013, 03:16 PM	#2
enoeske Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Surprise, Az Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,136	The soft one (the first one) is simply out of focus. You can see up in the top right corner that the focus landed beyond the intended subject. The buildings in the back are in focus. Its not a softness issue -- its a focus issue. Probably not a camera issue either, but a user issue.

01-23-2013, 03:28 PM	#3
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	You could also use the 2sec timer and stop down more (bigger f-number) to widen DoF. You just have to learn to use the camera/lens combo. I find this lens to be tricky at (near) infinity. You can also print out an AF chart and use a tripod to test your AF to see if its maybe front- or back-focusing. Do that in good light. But I think the lens is good, just a little more experience

01-23-2013, 03:49 PM	#4
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Loved my K-x but, the K-x does not have a visual focus confirmation indicator. So, the first one is out of focus and the second is in focus. It's not a lens problem. It appears to be a focus issue on what the camera selected as the focal point.

01-23-2013, 04:20 PM	#5
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	Maybe just an AF-misfire but if it happens often you should test the camera/lens combination for back focus with a focus chart. There is a guy on the Dutch forum, who has the same problem. (also on a k-x). This lens may not have a happy marriage with the camera. Sometimes focus is right, but a lot of back focus. I had to calibrate it on my k10d as well (and the k-5 but much less). Maybe you should set the af to the center focus point when you shoot with this lens. Then you are sure at which point the camera tried to focus. You can work from there.

01-23-2013, 04:59 PM	#6
ericsu99 New Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 2 Original Poster	Thank you for all the reply. The reason that I doubt the lens is because it happens too often on this DA35mm lens but not on other lenses. I always use center focus for the target and then composite the photo so. For the two pictures I posted, the crop sections are the spots where I focused so both of them should be sharp. Maybe it would be better to use MF for this lens.

01-23-2013, 06:42 PM	#7
steve1307 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,130	I agree with previous, and the second one looks pretty good on my screen anyway. Also, with plenty of light you could have used a higher f-stop to get more dof if you wanted too. Did you get any other shots that didn't contain that hideous yellow Toyota 4WD . That thing is going to be a bugger to clone out in pp.

01-24-2013, 09:53 AM	#8
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Originally posted by steve1307 Did you get any other shots that didn't contain that hideous yellow Toyota 4WD . That thing is going to be a bugger to clone out in pp. lol just desaturate the yellows Or make photo bw.

01-24-2013, 10:14 AM	#9
johnmflores Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Somerville, NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,361	Originally posted by steve1307 Did you get any other shots that didn't contain that hideous yellow Toyota 4WD . That thing is going to be a bugger to clone out in pp. LOL. I see it the other way - boring gray car, boring white car, boring gray car.... YELLOW! ... boring gray car, boring gray car, boring white car...

01-25-2013, 04:41 AM - 1 Like	#10
steve1307 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,130	Originally posted by johnmflores LOL. I see it the other way - boring gray car, boring white car, boring gray car.... YELLOW! ... boring gray car, boring gray car, boring white car... Hmmmm.... yes I suppose you would..... Lookey likey ?