Focus peaking can be done through firmware update?

LFLee · 09-12-2012, 01:15 PM

From my understanding, focus peaking is a software implementation.
So why it can't be added through a firmware update for K5??

Lee

vonBaloney · 09-12-2012, 01:17 PM

I can see not wanting to add it to old models, but it does seem strange they didn't put it on the K-5 II. Maybe the processor isn't up to it...

**boriscleto** · 09-12-2012, 01:22 PM

Because Pentax doesn't add features through firmware updates. Unless you count SDM for the K10D and SDXC for the K-x, K-r, & K-5. Did the K-7 get SDXC?

HSV · 09-12-2012, 01:48 PM

Maybe it's because there's the notion that "pro's" don't use those technologies.

So far, only Sony and Pentax have implemented this, and on lower end cameras. Being realistic, I haven't seen any "pro" using Pentax and Sony.

Na Horuk · 09-12-2012, 01:53 PM

I was really hoping peaking would be on those K-5ii's.. since I have it on my K-01, I almost can't imagine buying a DSLR without it.

Nass · 09-12-2012, 01:56 PM

Originally posted by HSV

Maybe it's because there's the notion that "pro's" don't use those technologies.

So far, only Sony and Pentax have implemented this, and on lower end cameras. Being realistic, I haven't seen any "pro" using Pentax and Sony.

Any notion that pros don't use focus peaking is only partially accurate. Focus peaking comes from the video world and it's on all high end field monitors. It's on my DP6. Maybe still photography is just a bit behind the moving image in this case.

Ubuntu_user · 09-12-2012, 02:30 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

...Did the K-7 get SDXC?

I think so.

rawr · 09-12-2012, 03:56 PM

When I bought my (used) NEX-5 it didn't have focus peaking. Then Sony did a firmware upgrade and added it as a feature. So yes, I think Pentax could make it available via firmware.

I don't think it is CPU intensive - some of those $100 eBay field monitors have focus peaking built-in, and I doubt they have a lot of CPU horsepower in them.

Having said all that, I don't find focus peaking terribly useful as a focus aid - zooming in on the focus target is usually a better way to nail focus for me with manual lenses on the NEX, and you can do that now with the K-5 via liveview.

kh1234567890 · 09-12-2012, 04:03 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by LFLee

From my understanding, focus peaking is a software implementation.
So why it can't be added through a firmware update for K5??

What would be the point of having it ?

The whole idea of a DSLR is that you have an optical viewfinder so that you can actually see what you taking a shot of, rather than watching some time delayed low resolution bastardised version of reality, usually at arms length. It is not that hard to focus accurately with the existing system or even (god forbid) manually

jimr-pdx · 09-12-2012, 04:10 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

Because Pentax doesn't add features through firmware updates. Unless you count SDM for the K10D and SDXC for the K-x, K-r, & K-5. Did the K-7 get SDXC?

The K-7 did get the 2-way level as a parting gift; not sure about SDXC.

Na Horuk · 09-13-2012, 04:42 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by kh1234567890

What would be the point of having it ?

The whole idea of a DSLR is that you have an optical viewfinder so that you can actually see what you taking a shot of, rather than watching some time delayed low resolution bastardised version of reality, usually at arms length. It is not that hard to focus accurately with the existing system or even (god forbid) manually

I'm sorry, you're just wrong. First of all, the viewfinders are not really that great for checking focus, especially if your vision is anything but perfect. Even then a lot of people buy focusing screens and viewfinder enlargers just to have a better chance at nailing the focus. Modern DSLR's are made under the assumption that everyone uses AF, that AF works perfectly and people only use the viewfinder for general composition and not for checking exact focus.
Secondly, sometimes you are in a position where you cannot put your face right behind the camera, but with live view, you can still see the composition (and focus, if you have peaking). Peaking is a very useful tool and if its implementation doesn't cost an arm and a leg, I see no reason why it isn't included.

L33tGreg · 09-13-2012, 06:36 AM

I bet the hardware (Prime II) is not fast enough for the software to support focus-peaking in realtime. It would be unusable if it took several seconds from twisting the focus ring until the reading was updated on the LCD.

kh1234567890 · 09-13-2012, 07:06 AM

Originally posted by Na Horuk

Peaking is a very useful tool and if its implementation doesn't cost an arm and a leg, I see no reason why it isn't included.

Having used it on a Sony bridge camera I can assure you that it is not the ultimate answer to accurate focussing - just another software gimmick, a bit like the stupid superimposed one third composition grid feature ...

**boriscleto** · 09-13-2012, 07:35 AM

Originally posted by L33tGreg

I bet the hardware (Prime II) is not fast enough for the software to support focus-peaking in realtime. It would be unusable if it took several seconds from twisting the focus ring until the reading was updated on the LCD.

I think that's the point. In the past Pentax has updated the firmware with a feature if the hardware supported it. SDHC for the *ist, SDXC, 2-way level, etc. Another clue is that the K-5 II has Prime II and doesn't have focus-peaking.

Na Horuk · 09-13-2012, 10:14 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by kh1234567890

Having used it on a Sony bridge camera I can assure you that it is not the ultimate answer to accurate focussing - just another software gimmick, a bit like the stupid superimposed one third composition grid feature ...

Having used it on my K-01 I can assure you that it helps nail focus with manual lenses more consistently than with my K-r. Sure, its not useful when focusing to infinity or taking landscape photos, it doesn't help with hyperfocal or zone focusing, it doesn't give accurate DoF, it isn't perfect when taking photos of very busy scenes, but I think it is a useful tool and many of its kinks can be fixed. Gimmicky or not, it helps people, and people would like to see it. It is something that differentiates a product from another. It could be a nudge for someone who has a K-5 to decide to get a K-5ii.
Oh well.

09-12-2012, 01:15 PM	#1
LFLee Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,292	Focus peaking can be done through firmware update? From my understanding, focus peaking is a software implementation. So why it can't be added through a firmware update for K5?? Lee

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09-12-2012, 01:17 PM	#2
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	I can see not wanting to add it to old models, but it does seem strange they didn't put it on the K-5 II. Maybe the processor isn't up to it...

09-12-2012, 01:22 PM	#3
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Because Pentax doesn't add features through firmware updates. Unless you count SDM for the K10D and SDXC for the K-x, K-r, & K-5. Did the K-7 get SDXC?

09-12-2012, 01:48 PM	#4
HSV Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 321	Maybe it's because there's the notion that "pro's" don't use those technologies. So far, only Sony and Pentax have implemented this, and on lower end cameras. Being realistic, I haven't seen any "pro" using Pentax and Sony.

09-12-2012, 01:53 PM	#5
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	I was really hoping peaking would be on those K-5ii's.. since I have it on my K-01, I almost can't imagine buying a DSLR without it.

09-12-2012, 01:56 PM	#6
Nass Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The British Isles Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,402	Originally posted by HSV Maybe it's because there's the notion that "pro's" don't use those technologies. So far, only Sony and Pentax have implemented this, and on lower end cameras. Being realistic, I haven't seen any "pro" using Pentax and Sony. Any notion that pros don't use focus peaking is only partially accurate. Focus peaking comes from the video world and it's on all high end field monitors. It's on my DP6. Maybe still photography is just a bit behind the moving image in this case.

09-12-2012, 02:30 PM	#7
Ubuntu_user Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,545	Originally posted by boriscleto ...Did the K-7 get SDXC? I think so.

09-12-2012, 03:56 PM	#8
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	When I bought my (used) NEX-5 it didn't have focus peaking. Then Sony did a firmware upgrade and added it as a feature. So yes, I think Pentax could make it available via firmware. I don't think it is CPU intensive - some of those $100 eBay field monitors have focus peaking built-in, and I doubt they have a lot of CPU horsepower in them. Having said all that, I don't find focus peaking terribly useful as a focus aid - zooming in on the focus target is usually a better way to nail focus for me with manual lenses on the NEX, and you can do that now with the K-5 via liveview.

09-12-2012, 04:03 PM - 2 Likes	#9
kh1234567890 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Manchester, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,653	Originally posted by LFLee From my understanding, focus peaking is a software implementation. So why it can't be added through a firmware update for K5?? What would be the point of having it ? The whole idea of a DSLR is that you have an optical viewfinder so that you can actually see what you taking a shot of, rather than watching some time delayed low resolution bastardised version of reality, usually at arms length. It is not that hard to focus accurately with the existing system or even (god forbid) manually

09-12-2012, 04:10 PM	#10
jimr-pdx Pentaxian Join Date: May 2010 Location: now 1 hour north of PDX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,897	Originally posted by boriscleto Because Pentax doesn't add features through firmware updates. Unless you count SDM for the K10D and SDXC for the K-x, K-r, & K-5. Did the K-7 get SDXC? The K-7 did get the 2-way level as a parting gift; not sure about SDXC.

09-13-2012, 04:42 AM - 2 Likes	#11
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Originally posted by kh1234567890 What would be the point of having it ? The whole idea of a DSLR is that you have an optical viewfinder so that you can actually see what you taking a shot of, rather than watching some time delayed low resolution bastardised version of reality, usually at arms length. It is not that hard to focus accurately with the existing system or even (god forbid) manually I'm sorry, you're just wrong. First of all, the viewfinders are not really that great for checking focus, especially if your vision is anything but perfect. Even then a lot of people buy focusing screens and viewfinder enlargers just to have a better chance at nailing the focus. Modern DSLR's are made under the assumption that everyone uses AF, that AF works perfectly and people only use the viewfinder for general composition and not for checking exact focus. Secondly, sometimes you are in a position where you cannot put your face right behind the camera, but with live view, you can still see the composition (and focus, if you have peaking). Peaking is a very useful tool and if its implementation doesn't cost an arm and a leg, I see no reason why it isn't included.

09-13-2012, 06:36 AM	#12
L33tGreg Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Charleston, SC Photos: Gallery Posts: 369	I bet the hardware (Prime II) is not fast enough for the software to support focus-peaking in realtime. It would be unusable if it took several seconds from twisting the focus ring until the reading was updated on the LCD.

09-13-2012, 07:06 AM	#13
kh1234567890 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Manchester, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,653	Originally posted by Na Horuk Peaking is a very useful tool and if its implementation doesn't cost an arm and a leg, I see no reason why it isn't included. Having used it on a Sony bridge camera I can assure you that it is not the ultimate answer to accurate focussing - just another software gimmick, a bit like the stupid superimposed one third composition grid feature ...

09-13-2012, 07:35 AM	#14
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by L33tGreg I bet the hardware (Prime II) is not fast enough for the software to support focus-peaking in realtime. It would be unusable if it took several seconds from twisting the focus ring until the reading was updated on the LCD. I think that's the point. In the past Pentax has updated the firmware with a feature if the hardware supported it. SDHC for the *ist, SDXC, 2-way level, etc. Another clue is that the K-5 II has Prime II and doesn't have focus-peaking.

09-13-2012, 10:14 AM - 1 Like	#15
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Originally posted by kh1234567890 Having used it on a Sony bridge camera I can assure you that it is not the ultimate answer to accurate focussing - just another software gimmick, a bit like the stupid superimposed one third composition grid feature ... Having used it on my K-01 I can assure you that it helps nail focus with manual lenses more consistently than with my K-r. Sure, its not useful when focusing to infinity or taking landscape photos, it doesn't help with hyperfocal or zone focusing, it doesn't give accurate DoF, it isn't perfect when taking photos of very busy scenes, but I think it is a useful tool and many of its kinks can be fixed. Gimmicky or not, it helps people, and people would like to see it. It is something that differentiates a product from another. It could be a nudge for someone who has a K-5 to decide to get a K-5ii. Oh well.