[Simon]

Those who shoot sports in dimly lit arenas with tele lenses and wide open apertures would get few usable shots with an AF system that performs like this.

I think you are on the right track. When the technological solution to a problem isn't up to the task then you fall back on the manual method (see Dana's post above).

Let's say for argument's sake that in the days before AF a good sports photographer may score one good photograph in 100. With AF, in conditions where the AF is working well he may now be up to 1 in 50. If the conditions are not appropriate for AF (low light, little contrast, etc. - RTFM ) then he may get no good results... until he goes back to manual focus, when he will be back to 1 in 100! It's a matter of knowing the right tool for a particular job - and if that means using a film camera to get better manual focus (larger viewfinder, split screen, etc.) then so be it - horses for courses.

I think it was Patrick Litchfield (glamour photographer, not sport) who said he was amazed to hear snap-shooters who were disappointed to get one "bad" photo from a roll of 36 - he on the other hand was pleased if he could get one good one out of a roll!

Simon

[Voe]

Since I had back focusing issue with my K10D I left it in Pentax Repair Center in Melbourne on Monday and today I picked it up considered to be fixed.
I did not have the change to test it in daylight but as soon as I got back home I tested it with the focus chart. Lo and behold, now it is front focusing within the same 6mm distance as before.
Tomorrow I will test it again in daylight but with not much hope because so far I found out that my focusing issue was not caused by the different type of lightning.

[jnorth]

What's the big whoop...
If you don't like the camera's focus choice, just turn it yourself, it's
so simple. ....!

but it hurts my wrist

[Voe]

I am one of the people in this forum who complained of my K10D back focusing problem.

I am here to tell you that there is a fix for your FF or BF problem! Go to your designated Pentax Service Center and leave your camera for auto focus calibration.
Now my K10D AF is dead on. No more nasty back focusing issues.

Although I had to send it two times, at the end it was fixed.

The first time I left it for BF issues. When I got it back it was front focusing by the same amount/distance. Before I went to pentax service center for a second time I prepared my self with various focus test images.

I was given the BS explanation that FA77 Limited is a film SLR lens and is not optimized for digital SLR. But then I told them that I have tested it with a K100D and the AF was spot on all the time.

He answered that nobody shoots at f/1.8 because the lens cannot deliver a sharp image. Then I answered him that I know this but this lens particularly (FA77 Limited) is sharp even at f/1.8 and I also mentioned that this is one of the best lenses .

After I said that he got p1$$ed off, he took my camera without explanation and disappeared for about 20 minutes. After he came back he showed me images of their focus test chart which he said is from Sigma. Strange but nothing in the chart was in focus, not even BF or FF, everything was blurred except the black and white rectangle piece of paper sticked at 45 degrees angle.

When I saw this I told him that I am not happy with this test, and I want them to calibrate my K10D according the so called Nikon D70 Focus test chart (http://www.focustestchart.com/chart.html). They agreed and after two days I took it back with AF spot on in no matter what light.

Now my K10D focuses properly not only on the focus test chart but also in real world scenarios.

So my advice is whoever has BF or FF problems don't wait anymore but leave your K10D for a couple of days and get it back with a spot on AF (and just in case bring your test focus chart with you).

[jfdavis58]

Hi Mike, should you happen back this way ponder this:

Your into auto racing, need tires right. Do you take tire advice from someone who street races illegally or the pit crew three down who runs the same tires? Do you listen to the hop-head fan who suggests brand X or get a real spec sheet from the manufacturor?

There is no proclivity here to bash good information from reliable sources. There is an outright hatred for and complete contempt of those with hearsay, pseudo science and 3rd hand anecdotal gossip when the intent is clearly to bash a product or product line or the march of technology simply because the basher has fallen behind the times and doesn't agree with the technological advance because it upsets his perfect little world.

Mixing BS into truth doesn't make the BS better, it makes the truth unbelievable.

[Ray Pulley]

I am one of the people in this forum who complained of my K10D back focusing problem.

I am here to tell you that there is a fix for your FF or BF problem! Go to your designated Pentax Service Center and leave your camera for auto focus calibration.
Now my K10D AF is dead on. No more nasty back focusing issues.

Although I had to send it two times, at the end it was fixed.

The first time I left it for BF issues. When I got it back it was front focusing by the same amount/distance. Before I went to pentax service center for a second time I prepared my self with various focus test images.

I was given the BS explanation that FA77 Limited is a film SLR lens and is not optimized for digital SLR. But then I told them that I have tested it with a K100D and the AF was spot on all the time.

He answered that nobody shoots at f/1.8 because the lens cannot deliver a sharp image. Then I answered him that I know this but this lens particularly (FA77 Limited) is sharp even at f/1.8 and I also mentioned that this is one of the best lenses .

After I said that he got p1$$ed off, he took my camera without explanation and disappeared for about 20 minutes. After he came back he showed me images of their focus test chart which he said is from Sigma. Strange but nothing in the chart was in focus, not even BF or FF, everything was blurred except the black and white rectangle piece of paper sticked at 45 degrees angle.

When I saw this I told him that I am not happy with this test, and I want them to calibrate my K10D according the so called Nikon D70 Focus test chart (http://www.focustestchart.com/chart.html). They agreed and after two days I took it back with AF spot on in no matter what light.

Now my K10D focuses properly not only on the focus test chart but also in real world scenarios.

So my advice is whoever has BF or FF problems don't wait anymore but leave your K10D for a couple of days and get it back with a spot on AF (and just in case bring your test focus chart with you).

My original K10D is not back from service, but a co-worker owns a K10D bought through the same dealer mine came from and just a few serial numbers away from mine and it focuses well.

I have also since purchased another K10D (what can I say? a good deal popped up and I took it...) and it seems to focus perfectly, both in some portraits I took yesterday and on the infamous test chart.

It is looking more and more like a simple issue of less than stellar quality assurance at the Pentax non-Japanese factories.

I guess I am not shocked by that.

Ray