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04-30-2019, 07:24 AM   #1
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Which AF Microadjustment do you use, by camera and lens ?

Hello !

Recently I received two lenses for my two Pentax cameras (K5-II and K3-II) the lenses were the Pentax 18-135 ED AL DC WR and the Tamron 17-50 2.8 EX DC HSM OS (why do they love those long names?) andI foun d that both ones were with back focus.

Then I decided to check all my lenses with the LensAllign and Focustune. Here are the corrections I'm using with the K5-II.

Sigma 17-50 2.8: +6 (same correstion at 17 and 50 !)

Pentax 18-55 (kit lens) : 0 for 18mm and +2 for 55mm, decided to apply +2 and it's acceptable.

Pentax 18-135: +2

Pentax 40mm Limited: +1


Pentax 50mm 1.8: +2

Pentax 70mm Limited: +1

I still need to work on the Sigma 18-35 1.8 Art. I'll do when a have more time, using the Sigma USB dock.
After this, I'll do the same with the K3-II


Do you use AF microadjustment ? If yes, on which lenses and bodies ?

Cheers !


Last edited by AntonioS; 04-30-2019 at 11:51 AM. Reason: Correction, back focus instead of front focus
04-30-2019, 08:11 AM   #2
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Yes I do use AF fine tune

I have K3, K50 and K30. I always check the auto focus on each lens and body combination. Some lens don't require any adjustments. I have found that the majority of them do need adjustment.
04-30-2019, 08:49 AM   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by AntonioS Quote
Do you use AF microadjustment ? If yes, on which lenses and bodies ?
Yes. On my k1 all my lenses require a +ve adjustment... +6/8 is the usual.

Just something which can catch you out. The menu has three settings: OFF; Apply One; Apply ALL If you do your adjustments per lens "apply one", then you need to have that as the active menu when you use your camera after having done the adjustment.. If the menu is set to OFF or "Apply All" you will not get the adjustment you have set.
04-30-2019, 09:08 AM   #4
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I only conduct a micro-adjustment if I consistently see and can reproduce a front or back focus. So far, of the Pentax lenses I own, only the D FA* 50mm f/1.4 required a calibration (-5) on my K-1ii.

04-30-2019, 10:18 AM   #5
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04-30-2019, 10:45 AM   #6
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That's interesting. I thought that the Pentax brand lenses would require less adjustment. A plus 6 value was a bit shocking.
04-30-2019, 11:44 AM   #7
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If you are finding front focus, you need to apply minus focus correction or you will be compounding the problem.

04-30-2019, 11:52 AM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by jbinpg Quote
If you are finding front focus, you need to apply minus focus correction or you will be compounding the problem.
True, my mistake, already corrected the original post. Thank you.
04-30-2019, 01:35 PM   #9
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I have a Pentax KP.
DA 15mm ltd: +4
DA 21mm ltd: -3
DA 35mm: -4
DFA 100mm WR: +1
DA 18-55mm: +4
M 50mm f1.7: -10 (maybe needs 11)
M 75-150mm: -8
M 200mm f4: -8
Vivitar (Komine) 28mm f2: +2

You can see there's a pretty wide range of adjustments, with the M series glass consistently front focusing.
I'm still a bit unsure about the 15mm's adjustment, but it's at least pretty close. My testing method was kinda messy, but I wanted the results to somewhat match real-world usage, and all the values have held up perfectly so far.
04-30-2019, 03:16 PM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by AntonioS Quote
That's interesting. I thought that the Pentax brand lenses would require less adjustment. A plus 6 value was a bit shocking.
FWIW, my DA 55-300 PLM required -7. The DA 18-55 PL; -10.
04-30-2019, 04:16 PM   #11
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This is with the KP. Method used: "DOT-Tune" for focus confirmation.

DA 18-135mm F3.5 – 5.6 No adjustment at 3 feet & 23 feet
DA 15mm F4.0 No Adjustment 2.5 feet
DA 35mm F2.8 Macro No Adjustment 6 feet
DA 70mm F2.4 No Adjustment 11.5 feet
DA 20-40mm F2.8 – 4.0 No Adjustment both ends checked. 3.5 & 6.5 feet
FA 50mm F2.8 Macro No adjustment 8 feet
DA 50mm F1.8 -3 adjustment 8 feet
Tamron 70-200 F2.8 -10 adjustment on both ends. at 70mm 11.5 & 24.5 feet,. at 200mm 32 & 150 feet
DA *55mm F1.4 -1 adjustment. 7 & 10 feet
04-30-2019, 08:58 PM   #12
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This thread is giving me PTSD. As much as I loved my Pentax cameras, this is one aspect of DSLR's I do NOT miss now that I've mostly transitioned to m43 and Sony.

I could deal with adjusting lenses on my own cameras, but I was always afraid that when I sold a lens, the new buyer would complain about front/back focus issues. And if they filed a complaint with eBay and/or PayPal, you would probably be forced to take a perfectly good lens back, and paying the return-shipping in the deal. I actually ran into this with a Sigma 100-300mm f4 that I sold. The original owner had used it without issues, and I had used it for years with great results on two bodies. But my buyer claimed focus adjustment issues. After I was forced to take it back, I resold it and my new buyer was delighted with the lens.

Anyway, didn't mean to rant, and I still miss a lot of things about my Pentax cameras. I just wish they had found a way to be successful in mirrorless.

Last edited by Edgar_in_Indy; 05-01-2019 at 04:17 AM.
04-30-2019, 09:31 PM   #13
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@Edgar

Yes, I know this feeling. That's why I ended ordering a split/microprism focusing screen for my Pentax cameras. Specially beacuse of the Sigma 18-35 F1.8, awesome lens, dreadful autofocus.

My previous Canon lenses also had front/back issues but nothing like large correction numbers I see with Pentax with some people setting to -10 and up !!!! This is crazy.
04-30-2019, 09:37 PM - 1 Like   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by Edgar_in_Indy Quote
I just wish they had found a way to be successful in mirrorless.
Given the recent sharp drop in profits from the photographic divisions of Sony and the other "big" manufacturers, I bet they too wish they had found a way to be successful in mirrorless
04-30-2019, 09:59 PM   #15
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I am not certain mirrorless is a guarantee of focus accuracy. I know for a fact rangefinder film cameras were not.

---------- Post added 04-30-19 at 10:12 PM ----------

QuoteOriginally posted by Wingincamera Quote
This is with the KP. Method used: "DOT-Tune" for focus confirmation.

DA 18-135mm F3.5 – 5.6 No adjustment at 3 feet & 23 feet
DA 15mm F4.0 No Adjustment 2.5 feet
DA 35mm F2.8 Macro No Adjustment 6 feet
DA 70mm F2.4 No Adjustment 11.5 feet
DA 20-40mm F2.8 – 4.0 No Adjustment both ends checked. 3.5 & 6.5 feet
FA 50mm F2.8 Macro No adjustment 8 feet
DA 50mm F1.8 -3 adjustment 8 feet
Tamron 70-200 F2.8 -10 adjustment on both ends. at 70mm 11.5 & 24.5 feet,. at 200mm 32 & 150 feet
DA *55mm F1.4 -1 adjustment. 7 & 10 feet
I do not have the DA 35mm f/2.8 macro or the last four lenses listed here. The rest I do have, and I have found no need for adjustment with my KP. I have a number of other lenses, including the Sigma f/2.8 EX DC, and have found no issue. I have used it, the DA 20-40 Limited, and the DA 18-135mm on my KP, KS-2 and K-5 IIs as well as numerous other lenses without any problems.

The first thing I do when getting a new lens is to line up objects at very close varying distances from each other to check for focus accuracy. If I get dead on results using wide open aperture with the object I train on being sharp compared to the others, I see no need for doing more definitive testing.

So far I have been fortunate. I did have a problem emerge with my long-time owned FA 43mm Limited on my original K-5. But not with the K-5 IIs.

Last edited by mikesbike; 04-30-2019 at 10:17 PM.
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