Need help with my K-X

Randolph Arends · 03-27-2013, 10:37 AM

After a few cold months I decided last night to try out my new 500 mm with the coverter at 1000mm to take pictures of the full moon. I was using the screen instead of the view finder to focus on the moon, and I had two issues. One I could not zoom in on the shot with the dial to focus and I had to close the mirror to take the shot and I could not take the pictures in the screen mode. I had the camera in manual mode because the lens and converter are both manual. I have been taking pictures for a while but I am new to this camera and Digital photography and I am slowly discovering a whole new world of photography.

Due to surgeries in both eyes, it is very difficult for my to set the diopter for the view finder and take shots with manual focus lenses so I try to use the screen instead to focus and I try to zoom in on the subject to focus in as accurate as possible. I hope to get an answer before night fall in a few hours so I can give it another shot today while the moon is still visible.

Thanks for helping me out.

vladimiroltean · 03-27-2013, 10:51 AM - **1 Like**

Not sure this is what you are asking, but zooming in in live view is done by pressing the Info button. To go back, you'd have to press Menu.
Why couldn't you take the picture from live view?

Randolph Arends · 03-27-2013, 11:42 AM

My issue is not being able to take the picture in live view. When I press the button for the shot it will close the mirror, but no shot is taken. Thanks for the zooming in part I will try it again. I took a few shots after focusing with the live view but then had to switch back to take the shot. However I thought I was able to take the picture in the live view but somehow it did not work. I will dive into the manual to see where it takes me. Thanks for helping.

DaveHolmes · 03-27-2013, 04:37 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Randolph Arends

Due to surgeries in both eyes, it is very difficult for my to set the diopter for the view finder and take shots with manual focus lenses so I try to use the screen instead to focus and I try to zoom in on the subject to focus in as accurate as possible. I hope to get an answer before night fall in a few hours so I can give it another shot today while the moon is still visible.

I'm sorry I've got no fixes in the short term but it sounds like the K-01 would be a much better camera for you in the long-term mate...

**Just1MoreDave** · 03-27-2013, 07:03 PM - **1 Like**

Maybe it doesn't think you're in focus? The moon fools AF sensors frequently. For most people it is too small in the frame for the sensors, but at 1000mm, it should be big enough. The sensors may not detect enough contrast if they are only seeing the moon's surface. Mirror lenses are often bad at contrast anyway. The moon may move across the frame too quickly at 1000mm for the sensors to decide. I would turn the AF-MFswitch to MF just before shooting, see if that works.

**Kerrowdown** · 03-28-2013, 02:36 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Just1MoreDave

turn the AF-MFswitch to MF

+1, I was going to suggest the same thing try it on manual focus, good luck tonight.

Randolph Arends · 03-28-2013, 07:53 AM

Thanks for the hints. I scaled down to a manual 135mm lens and practiced with the cat and it worked fine took some shots with the lens and was able to press the info button to bring in the image to focus better. In all got some pretty decent shots with that. Tonight I will try out with the other lens.

Thanks

Randolph Arends · 03-31-2013, 07:08 PM

Ok here is the deal, I used the manual lenses because after my trip my lenses were dirty and need to be cleaned and/or fixed. The Iris on my lenses are not operating to well and I think I need to have these looked at or just buy new ones. I opted for the latter. Anyway back to taking shots in live view. You have to hold the button in and for the mirror to go down and the shutter to release. I was only waiting to hear the one click and was not waiting to hear the shutter release to work. That solves this and I am a happy person now.

03-27-2013, 10:37 AM	#1
Randolph Arends Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Hillsborough, NJ Photos: Albums Posts: 30	Need help with my K-X After a few cold months I decided last night to try out my new 500 mm with the coverter at 1000mm to take pictures of the full moon. I was using the screen instead of the view finder to focus on the moon, and I had two issues. One I could not zoom in on the shot with the dial to focus and I had to close the mirror to take the shot and I could not take the pictures in the screen mode. I had the camera in manual mode because the lens and converter are both manual. I have been taking pictures for a while but I am new to this camera and Digital photography and I am slowly discovering a whole new world of photography. Due to surgeries in both eyes, it is very difficult for my to set the diopter for the view finder and take shots with manual focus lenses so I try to use the screen instead to focus and I try to zoom in on the subject to focus in as accurate as possible. I hope to get an answer before night fall in a few hours so I can give it another shot today while the moon is still visible. Thanks for helping me out.

03-27-2013, 11:42 AM	#3
Randolph Arends Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Hillsborough, NJ Photos: Albums Posts: 30 Original Poster	Thanks My issue is not being able to take the picture in live view. When I press the button for the shot it will close the mirror, but no shot is taken. Thanks for the zooming in part I will try it again. I took a few shots after focusing with the live view but then had to switch back to take the shot. However I thought I was able to take the picture in the live view but somehow it did not work. I will dive into the manual to see where it takes me. Thanks for helping.

03-28-2013, 07:53 AM	#7
Randolph Arends Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Hillsborough, NJ Photos: Albums Posts: 30 Original Poster	Thank you Thanks for the hints. I scaled down to a manual 135mm lens and practiced with the cat and it worked fine took some shots with the lens and was able to press the info button to bring in the image to focus better. In all got some pretty decent shots with that. Tonight I will try out with the other lens. Thanks

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03-27-2013, 10:51 AM - 1 Like	#2
vladimiroltean Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bucharest, Romania Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,465	Not sure this is what you are asking, but zooming in in live view is done by pressing the Info button. To go back, you'd have to press Menu. Why couldn't you take the picture from live view?

03-27-2013, 04:37 PM - 1 Like	#4
DaveHolmes Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 1,501	Originally posted by Randolph Arends Due to surgeries in both eyes, it is very difficult for my to set the diopter for the view finder and take shots with manual focus lenses so I try to use the screen instead to focus and I try to zoom in on the subject to focus in as accurate as possible. I hope to get an answer before night fall in a few hours so I can give it another shot today while the moon is still visible. I'm sorry I've got no fixes in the short term but it sounds like the K-01 would be a much better camera for you in the long-term mate...

03-27-2013, 07:03 PM - 1 Like	#5
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	Maybe it doesn't think you're in focus? The moon fools AF sensors frequently. For most people it is too small in the frame for the sensors, but at 1000mm, it should be big enough. The sensors may not detect enough contrast if they are only seeing the moon's surface. Mirror lenses are often bad at contrast anyway. The moon may move across the frame too quickly at 1000mm for the sensors to decide. I would turn the AF-MFswitch to MF just before shooting, see if that works.

03-28-2013, 02:36 AM - 1 Like	#6
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,867	Originally posted by Just1MoreDave turn the AF-MFswitch to MF +1, I was going to suggest the same thing try it on manual focus, good luck tonight.

03-31-2013, 07:08 PM	#8
Randolph Arends Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Hillsborough, NJ Photos: Albums Posts: 30 Original Poster	Ok here is the deal, I used the manual lenses because after my trip my lenses were dirty and need to be cleaned and/or fixed. The Iris on my lenses are not operating to well and I think I need to have these looked at or just buy new ones. I opted for the latter. Anyway back to taking shots in live view. You have to hold the button in and for the mirror to go down and the shutter to release. I was only waiting to hear the one click and was not waiting to hear the shutter release to work. That solves this and I am a happy person now.