K-x... Slow to focus in Liveview

DaveHolmes · 05-28-2011, 07:16 AM

Hi... Although I rarely use liveview I do find that the K-x is really slow to lock focus... It doesnot seem to matter which lens I mount...

My firmware is 1.01...

Also... After pressing the liveview button there is a kind of 'whirring' sound and the K-x sort of rattles when you move... Normal?

Advance thanks
Dave

selar · 05-28-2011, 07:32 AM

Originally posted by DaveHolmes

Also... After pressing the liveview button there is a kind of 'whirring' sound and the K-x sort of rattles when you move... Normal?

Its the Shake reduction.

Gareth.Ig · 05-28-2011, 08:26 AM

The AF in liveview is slow. Not much you can do about it, has to do with the limitations the camera has when focusing with the mirror up and sensor exposed. I tend to just go manual focus in liveview, much faster.

macky112 · 05-28-2011, 09:09 AM

live view is slow, one should not expect point and shoot/four thirds live view performance from an DSLR's live view

BirdDude007 · 05-30-2011, 06:07 AM

I rarely use live view on my K-x, I guess it is because I am used to using a film SLR and using the view finder. I have a point and shoot and I always use the LCD screen on the other hand.
I only used the live view maybe a handlful of times on the K-x but that was just to play around with it and see what it can do, I noticed that the focusing was extremely slow.
If you want to use the live view on this camera then I suggest you use the manual focus.
I always have the screen shut off on my camera as much as possible, I really don't have a use for it other than to occasionally check exposure, but I am also the type of person who is still kind of locked in the film era where you shoot your photos and wait until it is developed to see the results of your handiwork, I still apply it to digital photography, I have faith in my shots enough to not have to "chimp" after every shot. Once I load up the images in my laptop it is like opening a gift and being surprised at what I get. Ya sometimes I don't get the shot off just the way I like but then again it is chalked up to a learning experience and I strive to do better the next photo shoot I go on.
In my own opinion if you want to learn photography then stop relying on the LCD screen altogether and go with your gut instinct as you learn, I find it more rewarding that way.
But that's just me and my old school ways

DaveHolmes · 06-06-2011, 12:52 PM

Originally posted by macky112

live view is slow, one should not expect point and shoot/four thirds live view performance from an DSLR's live view

Surely for the amount we paid for a dslr body should we not be asking 'why is the liveview focusing performance not as quick as on considerably cheaper P&S cameras?'

twitch · 06-06-2011, 04:01 PM

Contrast AF (which is the AF used in liveview) is considerably faster in the K-r and K-5.

Marc Sabatella · 06-06-2011, 04:12 PM

Originally posted by DaveHolmes

Surely for the amount we paid for a dslr body should we not be asking 'why is the liveview focusing performance not as quick as on considerably cheaper P&S cameras?'

Well, they can either spend the money on improving the liveview AF, or they can spend the money on improving the things most people who buy DSLR's use them for. Me, I'd feel ripped off if they cheated some other feature just make P&S shooters happy.

rawr · 06-06-2011, 04:55 PM

Originally posted by DaveHolmes

should we not be asking 'why is the liveview focusing performance not as quick as on considerably cheaper P&S cameras?'

Because in P&S liveview is all you have to focus with, and the P&S has the easy job of just working with one lens specifically engineered for that P&S.

A DSLR has viewfinder based phase-detect AF as it's primary focus system, with liveview based contrast AF, and eyeball based manual focus as secondary options, so a DSLR does more than a P&S. Liveview AF is also a relatively recent addition to DSLR's.

Liveview also eats batteries, fwiw.

yusuf · 06-07-2011, 08:05 AM

yes, it's slow. I don't even remember using it except for a macro shot.

05-28-2011, 07:16 AM	#1
DaveHolmes Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 1,501	K-x... Slow to focus in Liveview Hi... Although I rarely use liveview I do find that the K-x is really slow to lock focus... It doesnot seem to matter which lens I mount... My firmware is 1.01... Also... After pressing the liveview button there is a kind of 'whirring' sound and the K-x sort of rattles when you move... Normal? Advance thanks Dave

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05-28-2011, 07:32 AM	#2
selar Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,042	Originally posted by DaveHolmes Also... After pressing the liveview button there is a kind of 'whirring' sound and the K-x sort of rattles when you move... Normal? Its the Shake reduction.

05-28-2011, 08:26 AM	#3
Gareth.Ig Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cochrane, AB Photos: Gallery Posts: 508	The AF in liveview is slow. Not much you can do about it, has to do with the limitations the camera has when focusing with the mirror up and sensor exposed. I tend to just go manual focus in liveview, much faster.

05-28-2011, 09:09 AM	#4
macky112 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Irvine, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 45	live view is slow, one should not expect point and shoot/four thirds live view performance from an DSLR's live view

05-30-2011, 06:07 AM	#5
BirdDude007 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Las Vegas NV Photos: Albums Posts: 784	I rarely use live view on my K-x, I guess it is because I am used to using a film SLR and using the view finder. I have a point and shoot and I always use the LCD screen on the other hand. I only used the live view maybe a handlful of times on the K-x but that was just to play around with it and see what it can do, I noticed that the focusing was extremely slow. If you want to use the live view on this camera then I suggest you use the manual focus. I always have the screen shut off on my camera as much as possible, I really don't have a use for it other than to occasionally check exposure, but I am also the type of person who is still kind of locked in the film era where you shoot your photos and wait until it is developed to see the results of your handiwork, I still apply it to digital photography, I have faith in my shots enough to not have to "chimp" after every shot. Once I load up the images in my laptop it is like opening a gift and being surprised at what I get. Ya sometimes I don't get the shot off just the way I like but then again it is chalked up to a learning experience and I strive to do better the next photo shoot I go on. In my own opinion if you want to learn photography then stop relying on the LCD screen altogether and go with your gut instinct as you learn, I find it more rewarding that way. But that's just me and my old school ways

06-06-2011, 12:52 PM	#6
DaveHolmes Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 1,501 Original Poster	Originally posted by macky112 live view is slow, one should not expect point and shoot/four thirds live view performance from an DSLR's live view Surely for the amount we paid for a dslr body should we not be asking 'why is the liveview focusing performance not as quick as on considerably cheaper P&S cameras?'

06-06-2011, 04:01 PM	#7
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	Contrast AF (which is the AF used in liveview) is considerably faster in the K-r and K-5.

06-06-2011, 04:12 PM	#8
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Originally posted by DaveHolmes Surely for the amount we paid for a dslr body should we not be asking 'why is the liveview focusing performance not as quick as on considerably cheaper P&S cameras?' Well, they can either spend the money on improving the liveview AF, or they can spend the money on improving the things most people who buy DSLR's use them for. Me, I'd feel ripped off if they cheated some other feature just make P&S shooters happy.

06-06-2011, 04:55 PM	#9
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by DaveHolmes should we not be asking 'why is the liveview focusing performance not as quick as on considerably cheaper P&S cameras?' Because in P&S liveview is all you have to focus with, and the P&S has the easy job of just working with one lens specifically engineered for that P&S. A DSLR has viewfinder based phase-detect AF as it's primary focus system, with liveview based contrast AF, and eyeball based manual focus as secondary options, so a DSLR does more than a P&S. Liveview AF is also a relatively recent addition to DSLR's. Liveview also eats batteries, fwiw.

06-07-2011, 08:05 AM	#10
yusuf Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Palo Alto, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,497	yes, it's slow. I don't even remember using it except for a macro shot.