Magnified Live View With DA vs. A Lenses

Stone G. · 04-20-2012, 06:41 AM

The other day, I was playing with my K-5 and my newest acquisition, the DA 18-135mm lens.

I then discovered that with AF on, I could only get a magnification up to 6X in live view. I consulted the manual and noted that this was indeed "text-book performance".

However, when I use the AF setting on my K-5 with an A-lens (for Catch-in-Focus) i can have up to a 10X magnification in Live View.

I am not complaining, just curious: What makes the difference?

Docrwm · 04-20-2012, 06:52 AM

Given that its an electronic enlargement it would seem that its simply a firmware choice that Pentax made. No idea why they would have a different magnification under those two conditions though, seems it would require more lines of code to make it different than to have one process for all lenses.

zapp · 04-21-2012, 08:29 AM

The DA lenses can be used for contrast AF. Maybe 6x magnification plus contrast AF is the maximum enlargement that makes sense - besides chance.

Gimbal · 04-21-2012, 10:29 AM

You can zoom in more when focusing manually, I guess they figured you don't need that kind of zoom when using the auto focus.

kh1234567890 · 04-21-2012, 03:34 PM

Past 6x in LV AF the focus area gets bigger than the LCD.

Stone G. · 04-23-2012, 05:26 AM

Thanksto all for comments and suggestions.

I tend to believe that Docwrm is pointing in the right direction about this being a firmware issue. It implies that it is the camera's regognition of the lens rather than the use of the AF function itself that is the determining factor. Well, anyway, I am happy with the "generous" 8X and 10X magnification for critical focusing with MF lenses in astro- and close-up/macrophotography.

04-20-2012, 06:41 AM	#1
Stone G. Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Zealand, Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,516	Magnified Live View With DA vs. A Lenses The other day, I was playing with my K-5 and my newest acquisition, the DA 18-135mm lens. I then discovered that with AF on, I could only get a magnification up to 6X in live view. I consulted the manual and noted that this was indeed "text-book performance". However, when I use the AF setting on my K-5 with an A-lens (for Catch-in-Focus) i can have up to a 10X magnification in Live View. I am not complaining, just curious: What makes the difference?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
So I think maybe I actually like Live View	kenafein	Pentax K-r	7	09-29-2011 04:30 PM
K-r & manual focus lenses - Live view vs viewfinder	figmental1978	Pentax K-r	32	04-10-2011 11:18 AM
Live view: K-x, K-r	WMBP	Pentax DSLR Discussion	8	09-18-2010 04:51 PM
AF in Live View with K-7	Kameraten	Pentax DSLR Discussion	11	08-12-2010 09:15 PM
K7 live view	sdh87	Pentax DSLR Discussion	3	06-07-2010 10:22 PM

04-20-2012, 06:52 AM	#2
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Given that its an electronic enlargement it would seem that its simply a firmware choice that Pentax made. No idea why they would have a different magnification under those two conditions though, seems it would require more lines of code to make it different than to have one process for all lenses.

04-21-2012, 08:29 AM	#3
zapp Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,385	The DA lenses can be used for contrast AF. Maybe 6x magnification plus contrast AF is the maximum enlargement that makes sense - besides chance.

04-21-2012, 10:29 AM	#4
Gimbal Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 2,106	You can zoom in more when focusing manually, I guess they figured you don't need that kind of zoom when using the auto focus.

04-21-2012, 03:34 PM	#5
kh1234567890 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Manchester, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,653	Past 6x in LV AF the focus area gets bigger than the LCD.

04-23-2012, 05:26 AM	#6
Stone G. Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Zealand, Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,516 Original Poster	Thanksto all for comments and suggestions. I tend to believe that Docwrm is pointing in the right direction about this being a firmware issue. It implies that it is the camera's regognition of the lens rather than the use of the AF function itself that is the determining factor. Well, anyway, I am happy with the "generous" 8X and 10X magnification for critical focusing with MF lenses in astro- and close-up/macrophotography.