Catch In Focus question

**Wingincamera** · 01-30-2016, 02:50 PM

I have a Asahi SMC Takumar 50mm 1:1.4 lens that I'm using with K-S2. I've taken a few shots with it, trying to see if my eyes are good enough for manual focus with the VF.
I turned on "Catch in focus" in the camera, set to manual focus. The way I understand how it works, while holding down the shutter release when the subject comes into focus the shutter releases and the picture taken. When I try to do this, as soon as I press down the shutter release the camera immediately fires, before the subject is in focus. This was with a stationary target and I was turning the focus adjustment ring, also the focus confirmation icon does not show when doing this. While just turning the focus ring without pressing on the shutter button the focus confirmation icon in the VF does light up.

What am I doing wrong?

---------- Post added 01-30-16 at 01:55 PM ----------

OK, I should have done a search first. I found this statement:

Originally posted by kmurphy220

Catch in focus is nice. Switch the camera to AF, hold down the shutter button and focus close to the area and then fine focus. It will fire for you. Burst shooting helps too. It works for all the K mount lenses, although not very good for M42 lenses since they don't have a metal connection right on top of the connections in the mount.

I did not have the camera in AF mode. I will try it again.

**sergysergy** · 01-30-2016, 03:10 PM

If lighting is not good enough catch in focus may not work either.

cpobuttons · 01-30-2016, 04:45 PM

Originally posted by Wingincamera

I have a Asahi SMC Takumar 50mm 1:1.4 lens that I'm using with K-S2. I've taken a few shots with it, trying to see if my eyes are good enough for manual focus with the VF.
I turned on "Catch in focus" in the camera, set to manual focus. The way I understand how it works, while holding down the shutter release when the subject comes into focus the shutter releases and the picture taken. When I try to do this, as soon as I press down the shutter release the camera immediately fires, before the subject is in focus. This was with a stationary target and I was turning the focus adjustment ring, also the focus confirmation icon does not show when doing this. While just turning the focus ring without pressing on the shutter button the focus confirmation icon in the VF does light up.

What am I doing wrong?

---------- Post added 01-30-16 at 01:55 PM ----------

OK, I should have done a search first. I found this statement:

I did not have the camera in AF mode. I will try it again.

amazing...i was fooling around with a 50mm 1.4 with catch in focus today and did the exact same thing

alamo5000 · 01-30-2016, 06:20 PM

I have tried to use catch in focus and my experience is that if I rely ONLY on that none of my shots come out in focus. I have much better luck using live view.

**Canada_Rockies** · 01-30-2016, 09:33 PM

Catch in Focus was Snap in Focus when I owned an SF-1. If your M42 lens is not working, you just might have a painted mount on the lens. That will defeat it.

**Wingincamera** · 01-31-2016, 01:57 PM

Originally posted by alamo5000

I have tried to use catch in focus and my experience is that if I rely ONLY on that none of my shots come out in focus. I have much better luck using live view.

If at all possible I too like LV, but I can only manage that when using a tripod. I was wanting to use the catch in focus with things that like to move around. I do have AF lens that I normally would use, but I wanted to play around with a 1.4 lens. I might end up looking for a FA 1.4 or the Sigma 50 1.4.

Stone G. · 02-01-2016, 04:14 AM

Originally posted by Wingincamera

I have a Asahi SMC Takumar 50mm 1:1.4 lens

Asahi Takumar (M42) lenses aren't good for Catch-in-Focus, because they do not provide metallic contact between the lens base and mount/contacts on the camera body.

CIF is intended for manual focus K-, M- and A-mount lenses plus modern AF-lenses that have an MF/AF switch on the lens. Also remember that the AF-mode on the camera body has to be AF.S.

If you haven't found them already, I suggest you read these two tutorials:

Catch-in-Focus Tutorial - Articles and Tips | PentaxForums.com

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/53-pentax-dslr-camera-articles/51036-how-...tch-focus.html

AdrianM · 02-01-2016, 04:40 AM

The answer depnds on the Pentax camera in use. I don't know the KS2, but the K3 functions differently than the K5 series for CIF. On the K5 series, it has to be AF.S (single shot) for catch-in-focus to work. In AF.C, the camera will fire when the shutter is depressed regardless of focus. On the K3, the 'info' should just show MF.

01-30-2016, 02:50 PM	#1
Wingincamera Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pine Haven, Wyoming Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,182	Catch In Focus question I have a Asahi SMC Takumar 50mm 1:1.4 lens that I'm using with K-S2. I've taken a few shots with it, trying to see if my eyes are good enough for manual focus with the VF. I turned on "Catch in focus" in the camera, set to manual focus. The way I understand how it works, while holding down the shutter release when the subject comes into focus the shutter releases and the picture taken. When I try to do this, as soon as I press down the shutter release the camera immediately fires, before the subject is in focus. This was with a stationary target and I was turning the focus adjustment ring, also the focus confirmation icon does not show when doing this. While just turning the focus ring without pressing on the shutter button the focus confirmation icon in the VF does light up. What am I doing wrong? ---------- Post added 01-30-16 at 01:55 PM ---------- OK, I should have done a search first. I found this statement: Originally posted by kmurphy220 Catch in focus is nice. Switch the camera to AF, hold down the shutter button and focus close to the area and then fine focus. It will fire for you. Burst shooting helps too. It works for all the K mount lenses, although not very good for M42 lenses since they don't have a metal connection right on top of the connections in the mount. I did not have the camera in AF mode. I will try it again.

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01-30-2016, 03:10 PM	#2
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,175	If lighting is not good enough catch in focus may not work either.

01-30-2016, 04:45 PM	#3
cpobuttons Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Norwich, Ct Posts: 139	Originally posted by Wingincamera I have a Asahi SMC Takumar 50mm 1:1.4 lens that I'm using with K-S2. I've taken a few shots with it, trying to see if my eyes are good enough for manual focus with the VF. I turned on "Catch in focus" in the camera, set to manual focus. The way I understand how it works, while holding down the shutter release when the subject comes into focus the shutter releases and the picture taken. When I try to do this, as soon as I press down the shutter release the camera immediately fires, before the subject is in focus. This was with a stationary target and I was turning the focus adjustment ring, also the focus confirmation icon does not show when doing this. While just turning the focus ring without pressing on the shutter button the focus confirmation icon in the VF does light up. What am I doing wrong? ---------- Post added 01-30-16 at 01:55 PM ---------- OK, I should have done a search first. I found this statement: I did not have the camera in AF mode. I will try it again. amazing...i was fooling around with a 50mm 1.4 with catch in focus today and did the exact same thing

01-30-2016, 06:20 PM	#4
alamo5000 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 2,962	I have tried to use catch in focus and my experience is that if I rely ONLY on that none of my shots come out in focus. I have much better luck using live view.

01-30-2016, 09:33 PM	#5
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Catch in Focus was Snap in Focus when I owned an SF-1. If your M42 lens is not working, you just might have a painted mount on the lens. That will defeat it.

01-31-2016, 01:57 PM	#6
Wingincamera Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pine Haven, Wyoming Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,182 Original Poster	Originally posted by alamo5000 I have tried to use catch in focus and my experience is that if I rely ONLY on that none of my shots come out in focus. I have much better luck using live view. If at all possible I too like LV, but I can only manage that when using a tripod. I was wanting to use the catch in focus with things that like to move around. I do have AF lens that I normally would use, but I wanted to play around with a 1.4 lens. I might end up looking for a FA 1.4 or the Sigma 50 1.4.

02-01-2016, 04:14 AM	#7
Stone G. Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Zealand, Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,516	Originally posted by Wingincamera I have a Asahi SMC Takumar 50mm 1:1.4 lens Asahi Takumar (M42) lenses aren't good for Catch-in-Focus, because they do not provide metallic contact between the lens base and mount/contacts on the camera body. CIF is intended for manual focus K-, M- and A-mount lenses plus modern AF-lenses that have an MF/AF switch on the lens. Also remember that the AF-mode on the camera body has to be AF.S. If you haven't found them already, I suggest you read these two tutorials: Catch-in-Focus Tutorial - Articles and Tips \| PentaxForums.com https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/53-pentax-dslr-camera-articles/51036-how-...tch-focus.html

02-01-2016, 04:40 AM	#8
AdrianM Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ipswich, Queensland, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 589	The answer depnds on the Pentax camera in use. I don't know the KS2, but the K3 functions differently than the K5 series for CIF. On the K5 series, it has to be AF.S (single shot) for catch-in-focus to work. In AF.C, the camera will fire when the shutter is depressed regardless of focus. On the K3, the 'info' should just show MF.