K10D - Sloping Horizon

Ryan Trevisol · 09-15-2010, 11:44 AM

I think this is fairly common, even with film SLR's. A friend shot my wedding with a film Rebel (in 2006) , and when going through the scanned negatives it boggled my mind how she could take *every* shot crooked. The lean in her camera was pretty severe but it was never beyond fixing - it was just annoying to have to straighten every shot she took with that camera (read: not every shot she took, so I couldn't batch it) in Aperture.

Lloydy · 09-15-2010, 02:07 PM

I download, and do any quick adjustments, with Faststone. The levelling function is very quick and easy. And best of all, it's free.

It is a nuisance, but after a while I've got used to the tilt and when I remember I tilt the camera.

pschlute · 09-15-2010, 04:01 PM

I have the same with my K10. I only noticed it after updating to firmware 1.3

An easy workaround... as i process everything in Silkypix Pro, I just set my defaults to compensate for the shift.

Northern Soul · 09-15-2010, 04:23 PM

Mine does it too, although it seems to be a recent phenomenon, so perhaps it took a knock and I didn't notice.

frattofoto · 09-15-2010, 06:52 PM

Here I thought it was just me! So I not nuts!! lol

stevebrot · 09-15-2010, 10:18 PM

Just to be contrary, mine does not do it and this is the first I remember hearing about the issue.

Steve

Bramela · 09-15-2010, 10:27 PM

You are not nuts, and now I know, neither am I. My k20d does it all the time and I have been quite frustrated by it.
I will do a couple of tests now, to see just how much mine is out.

bymy141 · 09-16-2010, 02:32 AM

Depending on your skills, you can do a "DIY" job.
The K10D service manual can be downloaded here: http://www.pentax-hack.info/firmware/k10_gx10/k10d_sm.zip

Good luck!

- Bert

Spongefingers · 09-16-2010, 03:17 AM

Originally posted by Ryan Trevisol

I think this is fairly common, even with film SLR's. A friend shot my wedding with a film Rebel (in 2006) , and when going through the scanned negatives it boggled my mind how she could take *every* shot crooked. The lean in her camera was pretty severe but it was never beyond fixing - it was just annoying to have to straighten every shot she took with that camera (read: not every shot she took, so I couldn't batch it) in Aperture.

It's possible that the focusing screen was misaligned (a slight twist on the Y axis) - that could account for the slope. Otherwise, she may have just been stabbing the shutter release or handling it improperly.

My K10D has always had a slope. I had to send it away for servicing twice, and they didn't fix it either time, despite my detailed list of the problems! Not impressed, Pentax. Maybe it was a sensor alignment problem that they couldn't fix somehow... The SR works, though, and I still like the camera. I just have to be mindful of the slope when I shoot anything with obvious horizontal or vertical lines, and tilt my view clockwise very slightly in my hand; Not an ideal fix, but it usually helps.
Good thing I don't shoot landscapes much.

henryk · 09-16-2010, 03:21 AM

My K10D was sent in to CRIS for repair. They fixed the tilt for $250. (Also I noticed an improvement in AF but it might just be in my mind.)

Six months after the K10D came back the tilt has returned, about 4 degrees. CRIS guarantees are for 90 days. Not gonna send it back.

But I live with it -- my tilted horizons easily are fixed with Photoshop Elements 8.

My K20D shows no tilt.

Ryan Trevisol · 09-17-2010, 05:14 AM

Originally posted by Spongefingers

It's possible that the focusing screen was misaligned (a slight twist on the Y axis) - that could account for the slope. Otherwise, she may have just been stabbing the shutter release or handling it improperly.

My K10D has always had a slope. I had to send it away for servicing twice, and they didn't fix it either time, despite my detailed list of the problems! Not impressed, Pentax. Maybe it was a sensor alignment problem that they couldn't fix somehow... The SR works, though, and I still like the camera. I just have to be mindful of the slope when I shoot anything with obvious horizontal or vertical lines, and tilt my view clockwise very slightly in my hand; Not an ideal fix, but it usually helps.
Good thing I don't shoot landscapes much.

Quite possible, but she did my cousin's wedding and . . . same thing! I think she might have scoliosis!

NRM7000 · 09-17-2010, 09:15 AM

Wow - this is a very common issue... I wonder if it is limited to Pentax only..?

jeffkrol · 09-17-2010, 11:06 AM

Originally posted by NRM7000

Wow - this is a very common issue... I wonder if it is limited to Pentax only..?

No............ not historically but currently????

Quote:

I've yet to see a Nikon viewfinder perfectly aligned (try it
> without gridlines using the bottom edge of the viewable area as the
> "guide"; same problem). On one of my cameras it was so frustrating
> that I finally just created a Photoshop Action and lived with the
> reduced image size ;~(. The thing that's curious to me is that
> EVERY Nikon DSLR I've used has the problem in the same direction.
> You'd think if it were really an alignment problem that some
> viewfinders would slant left and some right. "

Re: D200 Grid Lines - Off? Not quite right?: Nikon D300 - D100 Forum: Digital Photography Review
http://www.bythom.com/

**tomwil** · 09-17-2010, 01:58 PM

Originally posted by NRM7000

Wow - this is a very common issue... I wonder if it is limited to Pentax only..?

I also wonder if it is only on the SR cameras? In other words, are the fixed-sensor cameras (istD, istDL, istDS, K110D) excluded from this problem?

glasbak · 09-17-2010, 02:06 PM

Originally posted by tomwil

I also wonder if it is only on the SR cameras? In other words, are the fixed-sensor cameras (istD, istDL, istDS, K110D) excluded from this problem?

My K10D got the same problem, camera's without floating sensor at least do not get it over time, they have it , or they dont have it.

09-16-2010, 03:21 AM	#25
henryk Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Evanston IL Posts: 62	Tilt-a-whirl My K10D was sent in to CRIS for repair. They fixed the tilt for $250. (Also I noticed an improvement in AF but it might just be in my mind.) Six months after the K10D came back the tilt has returned, about 4 degrees. CRIS guarantees are for 90 days. Not gonna send it back. But I live with it -- my tilted horizons easily are fixed with Photoshop Elements 8. My K20D shows no tilt.

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09-15-2010, 11:44 AM	#16
Ryan Trevisol Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: South Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 312	I think this is fairly common, even with film SLR's. A friend shot my wedding with a film Rebel (in 2006) , and when going through the scanned negatives it boggled my mind how she could take every shot crooked. The lean in her camera was pretty severe but it was never beyond fixing - it was just annoying to have to straighten every shot she took with that camera (read: not every shot she took, so I couldn't batch it) in Aperture.

09-15-2010, 02:07 PM	#17
Lloydy Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Shropshire, UK Posts: 1,114	I download, and do any quick adjustments, with Faststone. The levelling function is very quick and easy. And best of all, it's free. It is a nuisance, but after a while I've got used to the tilt and when I remember I tilt the camera.

09-15-2010, 04:01 PM	#18
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,216	I have the same with my K10. I only noticed it after updating to firmware 1.3 An easy workaround... as i process everything in Silkypix Pro, I just set my defaults to compensate for the shift.

09-15-2010, 04:23 PM	#19
Northern Soul Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The North of England Photos: Albums Posts: 494	Mine does it too, although it seems to be a recent phenomenon, so perhaps it took a knock and I didn't notice.

09-15-2010, 06:52 PM	#20
frattofoto Closed Account Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: new jersey Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 189	Here I thought it was just me! So I not nuts!! lol

09-15-2010, 10:18 PM	#21
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Just to be contrary, mine does not do it and this is the first I remember hearing about the issue. Steve

09-15-2010, 10:27 PM	#22
Bramela Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Newcastle Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,284	You are not nuts, and now I know, neither am I. My k20d does it all the time and I have been quite frustrated by it. I will do a couple of tests now, to see just how much mine is out.

09-16-2010, 02:32 AM	#23
bymy141 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,563	Depending on your skills, you can do a "DIY" job. The K10D service manual can be downloaded here: http://www.pentax-hack.info/firmware/k10_gx10/k10d_sm.zip Good luck! - Bert

09-16-2010, 03:17 AM	#24
Spongefingers Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 237	Originally posted by Ryan Trevisol I think this is fairly common, even with film SLR's. A friend shot my wedding with a film Rebel (in 2006) , and when going through the scanned negatives it boggled my mind how she could take every shot crooked. The lean in her camera was pretty severe but it was never beyond fixing - it was just annoying to have to straighten every shot she took with that camera (read: not every shot she took, so I couldn't batch it) in Aperture. It's possible that the focusing screen was misaligned (a slight twist on the Y axis) - that could account for the slope. Otherwise, she may have just been stabbing the shutter release or handling it improperly. My K10D has always had a slope. I had to send it away for servicing twice, and they didn't fix it either time, despite my detailed list of the problems! Not impressed, Pentax. Maybe it was a sensor alignment problem that they couldn't fix somehow... The SR works, though, and I still like the camera. I just have to be mindful of the slope when I shoot anything with obvious horizontal or vertical lines, and tilt my view clockwise very slightly in my hand; Not an ideal fix, but it usually helps. Good thing I don't shoot landscapes much.

09-17-2010, 05:14 AM	#26
Ryan Trevisol Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: South Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 312	Originally posted by Spongefingers It's possible that the focusing screen was misaligned (a slight twist on the Y axis) - that could account for the slope. Otherwise, she may have just been stabbing the shutter release or handling it improperly. My K10D has always had a slope. I had to send it away for servicing twice, and they didn't fix it either time, despite my detailed list of the problems! Not impressed, Pentax. Maybe it was a sensor alignment problem that they couldn't fix somehow... The SR works, though, and I still like the camera. I just have to be mindful of the slope when I shoot anything with obvious horizontal or vertical lines, and tilt my view clockwise very slightly in my hand; Not an ideal fix, but it usually helps. Good thing I don't shoot landscapes much. Quite possible, but she did my cousin's wedding and . . . same thing! I think she might have scoliosis!

09-17-2010, 09:15 AM	#27
NRM7000 New Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Bucks Posts: 11 Original Poster	Wow - this is a very common issue... I wonder if it is limited to Pentax only..?

09-17-2010, 11:06 AM	#28
jeffkrol Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wisconsin USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,434	Originally posted by NRM7000 Wow - this is a very common issue... I wonder if it is limited to Pentax only..? No............ not historically but currently???? Quote: I've yet to see a Nikon viewfinder perfectly aligned (try it > without gridlines using the bottom edge of the viewable area as the > "guide"; same problem). On one of my cameras it was so frustrating > that I finally just created a Photoshop Action and lived with the > reduced image size ;~(. The thing that's curious to me is that > EVERY Nikon DSLR I've used has the problem in the same direction. > You'd think if it were really an alignment problem that some > viewfinders would slant left and some right. " Re: D200 Grid Lines - Off? Not quite right?: Nikon D300 - D100 Forum: Digital Photography Review http://www.bythom.com/

09-17-2010, 01:58 PM	#29
tomwil Site Supporter Join Date: May 2009 Location: Maryland USA Posts: 778	Originally posted by NRM7000 Wow - this is a very common issue... I wonder if it is limited to Pentax only..? I also wonder if it is only on the SR cameras? In other words, are the fixed-sensor cameras (istD, istDL, istDS, K110D) excluded from this problem?

09-17-2010, 02:06 PM	#30
glasbak Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Netherlands Posts: 369	Originally posted by tomwil I also wonder if it is only on the SR cameras? In other words, are the fixed-sensor cameras (istD, istDL, istDS, K110D) excluded from this problem? My K10D got the same problem, camera's without floating sensor at least do not get it over time, they have it , or they dont have it.