Auto-Focusing Problem with K-7 and SMC Takumar F 70~200mm Lens.

**Tonytee** · 07-20-2020, 08:49 PM

Greetings all,

Yesterday I was out shooting around the neighborhood. I was working in one neighbor's garden taking what I thought were darn good images. Images looked very sharp

in the rear monitor, however when I transfered images to my computer, just about the whole shootin' match was soft. Okay, I did not shoot until the all clear light had given

me the go ahead and as usual I was using my tripod. I am aware that my gear is Old School, and like me, it cannot remain focused consistently for very long.

Now my thinking is that since just about all of them were soft, the Auto-Focus must be out of whack because of its age. If need be, I will be happy to upload an image here.

Many thnx for any helpful hints and suggestions.

Cheers Mates.

) Tonytee

Last edited by Tonytee; 07-20-2020 at 09:18 PM.

MarkJerling · 07-20-2020, 08:52 PM

Post a few examples with the EXIF data intact, Tony.

**Tonytee** · 07-20-2020, 09:18 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by MarkJerling

Post a few examples with the EXIF data intact, Tony.

AllrighteethenIwill.

tt

**Tonytee** · 07-20-2020, 09:21 PM

Here is #1.

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

**Tonytee** · 07-20-2020, 09:23 PM

Here is Number 2.

**Tonytee** · 07-20-2020, 09:24 PM

Here is number 3.

MarkJerling · 07-20-2020, 09:28 PM - **1 Like**

Thanks Tony. How far were you from your subject(s)?

**Tonytee** · 07-20-2020, 09:46 PM

Originally posted by MarkJerling

Thanks Tony. How far were you from your subject(s)?

That's just exactly what I was thinking. I moved back far enough ( I thought) until the Auto-Focus indicator gave me the green light to go ahead and shoot. However, I am

wondering if perhaps I could or should have moved back a little more. The one issue is, the subject appeared to be in sharp focus through the viewfinder and again, on the

rear monitor. I haven't used this lens for quite some time, so the years may be catching up to it. I paid only $13.00USD on ebay about seven years ago, so not a big loss if it has

given up the ghost. I will try again to move back further with it and see what happens. BTW I need to send you a PM. Alright?

Cheers,

tt

MarkJerling · 07-20-2020, 10:03 PM

I wonder if you were far enough back for the thing to focus. In your first image, the flower, behind, appears to be in focus, but the foreground not.
May I suggest that you try LiveView and confirm your subject is in focus there? (As you're using tripod anyway, that would be easy to do.)

Sure, feel free to PM me.

pschlute · 07-20-2020, 10:05 PM

That lens has a minimum focus distance of 1.1 metres. If you are at say 1.5 metres away from the subject, at f5.6 you have razor thin depth of field, about half an inch !!

So your focussing is critical. What did you focus on in the first picture ? The stamens or the petals ? You cant have both in focus. There is some detail in the petals where they fall in the focus plane.

This kind of shot you will do best getting the camera on a tripod and use magnified live view so you can see exactly what is in focus and what isn't. If you do use AF then use single point only and be careful where you point it. Multiple AF points will fail most of the time to get this kind of shot correct.

---------- Post added 07-21-20 at 06:19 AM ----------

The other thing to bear in mind when shooting flowers is if there is the slightest breeze you will get motion blur when shooting at 1/20 second.

Also make sure the Shake Reduction is turned OFF when using a tripod, and that you use the self timer or a remote release. Pressing the shutter button by hand with the camera on a tripod can lead to blur too, but this time from the camera movement.

Wasp · 07-20-2020, 10:22 PM

I second the idea of using single point AF. Otherwise the camera decides and it can get it wrong. That seems to be the case here. I don't think there is any problem with the gear. Just a small error between camera and ground.

**Tonytee** · 07-20-2020, 10:34 PM

Originally posted by pschlute

That lens has a minimum focus distance of 1.1 metres. If you are at say 1.5 metres away from the subject, at f5.6 you have razor thin depth of field, about half an inch !!

So your focussing is critical. What did you focus on in the first picture ? The stamens or the petals ? You cant have both in focus. There is some detail in the petals where they fall in the focus plane.

This kind of shot you will do best getting the camera on a tripod and use magnified live view so you can see exactly what is in focus and what isn't. If you do use AF then use single point only and be careful where you point it. Multiple AF points will fail most of the time to get this kind of shot correct.

---------- Post added 07-21-20 at 06:19 AM ----------

The other thing to bear in mind when shooting flowers is if there is the slightest breeze you will get motion blur when shooting at 1/20 second.

Also make sure the Shake Reduction is turned OFF when using a tripod, and that you use the self timer or a remote release. Pressing the shutter button by hand with the camera on a tripod can lead to blur too, but this time from the camera movement.

Unfortunately I cannot pin the blame on wind, perhaps a little hot air from me. I do use a tripod exclusively and the self-timer automatically turns off the SR. I did aim directly at dead center on all of these. The mystery is that the subject appeared to be in perfect focus prior to taking the shot. Well, tomorrow is another day, so I will give it a go, as they say down under. Many thanks for your contribution.

Tony

pschlute · 07-20-2020, 10:54 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Tonytee

The mystery is that the subject appeared to be in perfect focus prior to taking the shot

Looking at the image through the viewfinder or even on the rear LCD screen in it's entirety is not the same as viewing it on a computer monitor.

As I said earlier, at f5.6 you cannot have everything in focus, that is simple physics. You need to move further back to increase DOF, or use a narrower aperture to increase DOF or both.

**Tonytee** · 07-20-2020, 11:16 PM

Originally posted by pschlute

Looking at the image through the viewfinder or even on the rear LCD screen in it's entirety is not the same as viewing it on a computer monitor.

As I said earlier, at f5.6 you cannot have everything in focus, that is simple physics. You need to move further back to increase DOF, or use a narrower aperture to increase DOF or both.

Many thanks to you sir.

tt

Wasp · 07-21-2020, 03:59 AM

Originally posted by Tonytee

Unfortunately I cannot pin the blame on wind, perhaps a little hot air from me. I do use a tripod exclusively and the self-timer automatically turns off the SR. I did aim directly at dead center on all of these. The mystery is that the subject appeared to be in perfect focus prior to taking the shot.

It appears to be in focus, but your eyes and brain are also applying some subtle correction. This is a real hassle with manual focus lenses. Ask me how I know that.

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07-20-2020, 08:49 PM	#1
Tonytee Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 21,469	Auto-Focusing Problem with K-7 and SMC Takumar F 70~200mm Lens. Greetings all, Yesterday I was out shooting around the neighborhood. I was working in one neighbor's garden taking what I thought were darn good images. Images looked very sharp in the rear monitor, however when I transfered images to my computer, just about the whole shootin' match was soft. Okay, I did not shoot until the all clear light had given me the go ahead and as usual I was using my tripod. I am aware that my gear is Old School, and like me, it cannot remain focused consistently for very long. Now my thinking is that since just about all of them were soft, the Auto-Focus must be out of whack because of its age. If need be, I will be happy to upload an image here. Many thnx for any helpful hints and suggestions. Cheers Mates. ) Tonytee Last edited by Tonytee; 07-20-2020 at 09:18 PM.

07-20-2020, 08:52 PM	#2
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,406	Post a few examples with the EXIF data intact, Tony.

07-20-2020, 09:18 PM - 1 Like	#3
Tonytee Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 21,469 Original Poster	Originally posted by MarkJerling Post a few examples with the EXIF data intact, Tony. AllrighteethenIwill. tt

07-20-2020, 09:28 PM - 1 Like	#7
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,406	Thanks Tony. How far were you from your subject(s)?

07-20-2020, 09:46 PM	#8
Tonytee Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 21,469 Original Poster	Originally posted by MarkJerling Thanks Tony. How far were you from your subject(s)? That's just exactly what I was thinking. I moved back far enough ( I thought) until the Auto-Focus indicator gave me the green light to go ahead and shoot. However, I am wondering if perhaps I could or should have moved back a little more. The one issue is, the subject appeared to be in sharp focus through the viewfinder and again, on the rear monitor. I haven't used this lens for quite some time, so the years may be catching up to it. I paid only $13.00USD on ebay about seven years ago, so not a big loss if it has given up the ghost. I will try again to move back further with it and see what happens. BTW I need to send you a PM. Alright? Cheers, tt

07-20-2020, 10:03 PM	#9
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,406	I wonder if you were far enough back for the thing to focus. In your first image, the flower, behind, appears to be in focus, but the foreground not. May I suggest that you try LiveView and confirm your subject is in focus there? (As you're using tripod anyway, that would be easy to do.) Sure, feel free to PM me.

07-20-2020, 10:05 PM	#10
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,204	That lens has a minimum focus distance of 1.1 metres. If you are at say 1.5 metres away from the subject, at f5.6 you have razor thin depth of field, about half an inch !! So your focussing is critical. What did you focus on in the first picture ? The stamens or the petals ? You cant have both in focus. There is some detail in the petals where they fall in the focus plane. This kind of shot you will do best getting the camera on a tripod and use magnified live view so you can see exactly what is in focus and what isn't. If you do use AF then use single point only and be careful where you point it. Multiple AF points will fail most of the time to get this kind of shot correct. ---------- Post added 07-21-20 at 06:19 AM ---------- The other thing to bear in mind when shooting flowers is if there is the slightest breeze you will get motion blur when shooting at 1/20 second. Also make sure the Shake Reduction is turned OFF when using a tripod, and that you use the self timer or a remote release. Pressing the shutter button by hand with the camera on a tripod can lead to blur too, but this time from the camera movement.

07-20-2020, 10:22 PM	#11
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,661	I second the idea of using single point AF. Otherwise the camera decides and it can get it wrong. That seems to be the case here. I don't think there is any problem with the gear. Just a small error between camera and ground.

07-20-2020, 10:34 PM	#12
Tonytee Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 21,469 Original Poster	Originally posted by pschlute That lens has a minimum focus distance of 1.1 metres. If you are at say 1.5 metres away from the subject, at f5.6 you have razor thin depth of field, about half an inch !! So your focussing is critical. What did you focus on in the first picture ? The stamens or the petals ? You cant have both in focus. There is some detail in the petals where they fall in the focus plane. This kind of shot you will do best getting the camera on a tripod and use magnified live view so you can see exactly what is in focus and what isn't. If you do use AF then use single point only and be careful where you point it. Multiple AF points will fail most of the time to get this kind of shot correct. ---------- Post added 07-21-20 at 06:19 AM ---------- The other thing to bear in mind when shooting flowers is if there is the slightest breeze you will get motion blur when shooting at 1/20 second. Also make sure the Shake Reduction is turned OFF when using a tripod, and that you use the self timer or a remote release. Pressing the shutter button by hand with the camera on a tripod can lead to blur too, but this time from the camera movement. Unfortunately I cannot pin the blame on wind, perhaps a little hot air from me. I do use a tripod exclusively and the self-timer automatically turns off the SR. I did aim directly at dead center on all of these. The mystery is that the subject appeared to be in perfect focus prior to taking the shot. Well, tomorrow is another day, so I will give it a go, as they say down under. Many thanks for your contribution. Tony

07-20-2020, 10:54 PM - 1 Like	#13
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,204	Originally posted by Tonytee The mystery is that the subject appeared to be in perfect focus prior to taking the shot Looking at the image through the viewfinder or even on the rear LCD screen in it's entirety is not the same as viewing it on a computer monitor. As I said earlier, at f5.6 you cannot have everything in focus, that is simple physics. You need to move further back to increase DOF, or use a narrower aperture to increase DOF or both.

07-20-2020, 11:16 PM	#14
Tonytee Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 21,469 Original Poster	Originally posted by pschlute Looking at the image through the viewfinder or even on the rear LCD screen in it's entirety is not the same as viewing it on a computer monitor. As I said earlier, at f5.6 you cannot have everything in focus, that is simple physics. You need to move further back to increase DOF, or use a narrower aperture to increase DOF or both. Many thanks to you sir. tt

07-21-2020, 03:59 AM	#15
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,661	Originally posted by Tonytee Unfortunately I cannot pin the blame on wind, perhaps a little hot air from me. I do use a tripod exclusively and the self-timer automatically turns off the SR. I did aim directly at dead center on all of these. The mystery is that the subject appeared to be in perfect focus prior to taking the shot. It appears to be in focus, but your eyes and brain are also applying some subtle correction. This is a real hassle with manual focus lenses. Ask me how I know that.