K20D viewfinder accuracy help

greaserlee · 07-01-2009, 06:33 PM

i recently picked up a K20D body, and i noticed that the shot i take versus what i see in the viewfinder is a bit inaccurate.

example: if i take a photo of a soda can and i intentionally want the top of the can clipped, but when i take the shot, the photo shows the can without any clipping.

my K100D does not do this, so i'm assuming there's something wrong with the K20D.

is this something we could calibrate ourselves, or am i better off exchanging it for another?

pbo · 07-01-2009, 06:40 PM

The viewfinder's coverage is less than 100%, so what you get is actually not what you see, but a little bit larger area of what you see.
On K20D, area covered by viewfinder is 95%, on K100D it's 96%, and there's no way of calibrating that. Exchanging probably wouldn't give you better results, either.

greaserlee · 07-01-2009, 07:01 PM

i see. thanks for the info. (did i post my question in the right forum?)

pbo · 07-01-2009, 07:11 PM

no problem, and you did post in the right forum (I think).

Damn Brit · 07-01-2009, 08:49 PM

Yeah, you posted in the right forum

Welcome.

mikeSF · 07-01-2009, 10:01 PM

for me, more often than not, this little "discrepancy" has been a blessed relief. it is forgiving if i frame the shot a little too tightly or fail to notice a part of the subject that hangs off the edge of my shot, etc. later, in reviewing my RAW shots, i've often been able to use that extra little sliver of image around the perimeter.
YMMV.

Daveinozbikes · 07-03-2009, 05:51 AM

The Pentax viewfinder magnifier should give you a more accurate view. That is ,of course, if your viewfinder shows less than the picture produced. I bought one for close-ups but I've left it on the camera (K200d) permanently.

WheresWaldo · 07-03-2009, 07:00 AM

Originally posted by Daveinozbikes

The Pentax viewfinder magnifier should give you a more accurate view. That is ,of course, if your viewfinder shows less than the picture produced. I bought one for close-ups but I've left it on the camera (K200d) permanently.

This accessory, while never leaving my camera does not change the % of view of the viewfinder. I can make manual focusing more accurate for some.

Daveinozbikes · 07-04-2009, 04:54 AM

Sorry WheresWaldo...I have to disagree..it brings the subject 20% closer in the viewfinder thereby enlarging it. Look at your PC screen on wide angle and take the edges of the screen to the edges of the viewfinder. Take the magnifier off and look again from the same spot. The screen is smaller (Not much but 20% ain"t much...)

flyer · 07-04-2009, 05:29 AM

Originally posted by Daveinozbikes

The Pentax viewfinder magnifier should give you a more accurate view. That is ,of course, if your viewfinder shows less than the picture produced. I bought one for close-ups but I've left it on the camera (K200d) permanently.

It doesn't improve accuracy. It can't add to the viewfinder the part that's not in. It enlarges what you see, and that's all. The viewfinder shows only 95% of what the sensor will record, and nothing will change that.

mattdm · 07-04-2009, 06:00 AM

Except, it must be pointed out, buying a K-7, which features a 100% viewfinder.

flyer · 07-04-2009, 06:26 AM

Originally posted by mattdm

Except, it must be pointed out, buying a K-7, which features a 100% viewfinder.

I should have it on Monday. Why are week ends so long?

WheresWaldo · 07-04-2009, 06:46 AM

Originally posted by Daveinozbikes

Sorry WheresWaldo...I have to disagree..it brings the subject 20% closer in the viewfinder thereby enlarging it. Look at your PC screen on wide angle and take the edges of the screen to the edges of the viewfinder. Take the magnifier off and look again from the same spot. The screen is smaller (Not much but 20% ain"t much...)

Wow, this is so wrong on so many counts. The OP complained that the viewfinder does not show the entire scene, you suggested the magnifier, but it doesn't work for what the OP asked about. If you have 95% coverage with a viewfinder and you magnify it, you have an enlarged version of 95%, that's it, end of story.

See flyer's comment too!

07-01-2009, 06:33 PM	#1
greaserlee Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: TX Posts: 5	K20D viewfinder accuracy help i recently picked up a K20D body, and i noticed that the shot i take versus what i see in the viewfinder is a bit inaccurate. example: if i take a photo of a soda can and i intentionally want the top of the can clipped, but when i take the shot, the photo shows the can without any clipping. my K100D does not do this, so i'm assuming there's something wrong with the K20D. is this something we could calibrate ourselves, or am i better off exchanging it for another?

07-03-2009, 05:51 AM	#7
Daveinozbikes Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Dawesville,Western Australia. Photos: Gallery Posts: 128	Try This....... The Pentax viewfinder magnifier should give you a more accurate view. That is ,of course, if your viewfinder shows less than the picture produced. I bought one for close-ups but I've left it on the camera (K200d) permanently.

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07-01-2009, 06:40 PM	#2
pbo Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 891	The viewfinder's coverage is less than 100%, so what you get is actually not what you see, but a little bit larger area of what you see. On K20D, area covered by viewfinder is 95%, on K100D it's 96%, and there's no way of calibrating that. Exchanging probably wouldn't give you better results, either.

07-01-2009, 07:01 PM	#3
greaserlee Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: TX Posts: 5 Original Poster	i see. thanks for the info. (did i post my question in the right forum?)

07-01-2009, 07:11 PM	#4
pbo Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 891	no problem, and you did post in the right forum (I think).

07-01-2009, 08:49 PM	#5
Damn Brit Guest	Yeah, you posted in the right forum Welcome.

07-01-2009, 10:01 PM	#6
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,620	for me, more often than not, this little "discrepancy" has been a blessed relief. it is forgiving if i frame the shot a little too tightly or fail to notice a part of the subject that hangs off the edge of my shot, etc. later, in reviewing my RAW shots, i've often been able to use that extra little sliver of image around the perimeter. YMMV.

07-03-2009, 07:00 AM	#8
WheresWaldo Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery Posts: 498	Originally posted by Daveinozbikes The Pentax viewfinder magnifier should give you a more accurate view. That is ,of course, if your viewfinder shows less than the picture produced. I bought one for close-ups but I've left it on the camera (K200d) permanently. This accessory, while never leaving my camera does not change the % of view of the viewfinder. I can make manual focusing more accurate for some.

07-04-2009, 04:54 AM	#9
Daveinozbikes Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Dawesville,Western Australia. Photos: Gallery Posts: 128	Sorry WheresWaldo...I have to disagree..it brings the subject 20% closer in the viewfinder thereby enlarging it. Look at your PC screen on wide angle and take the edges of the screen to the edges of the viewfinder. Take the magnifier off and look again from the same spot. The screen is smaller (Not much but 20% ain"t much...)

07-04-2009, 05:29 AM	#10
flyer Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ste-Anne des Plaines, Qc., Canada Posts: 2,013	Originally posted by Daveinozbikes The Pentax viewfinder magnifier should give you a more accurate view. That is ,of course, if your viewfinder shows less than the picture produced. I bought one for close-ups but I've left it on the camera (K200d) permanently. It doesn't improve accuracy. It can't add to the viewfinder the part that's not in. It enlarges what you see, and that's all. The viewfinder shows only 95% of what the sensor will record, and nothing will change that.

07-04-2009, 06:00 AM	#11
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	Except, it must be pointed out, buying a K-7, which features a 100% viewfinder.

07-04-2009, 06:26 AM	#12
flyer Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ste-Anne des Plaines, Qc., Canada Posts: 2,013	Originally posted by mattdm Except, it must be pointed out, buying a K-7, which features a 100% viewfinder. I should have it on Monday. Why are week ends so long?

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07-04-2009, 06:46 AM	#13
WheresWaldo Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery Posts: 498	Originally posted by Daveinozbikes Sorry WheresWaldo...I have to disagree..it brings the subject 20% closer in the viewfinder thereby enlarging it. Look at your PC screen on wide angle and take the edges of the screen to the edges of the viewfinder. Take the magnifier off and look again from the same spot. The screen is smaller (Not much but 20% ain"t much...) Wow, this is so wrong on so many counts. The OP complained that the viewfinder does not show the entire scene, you suggested the magnifier, but it doesn't work for what the OP asked about. If you have 95% coverage with a viewfinder and you magnify it, you have an enlarged version of 95%, that's it, end of story. See flyer's comment too!