Pentax, please give us a focus assist lamp for the K20d!

johnmflores · 10-18-2009, 09:50 AM

I know that all your efforts are on the new bodies, but please give us one more firmware change for the K20d:

- add a "Focus Assist" setting on the Flash options menu

With this simple change, hopefully I'd be able to use the flash as a focus assist lamp without committing to taking a flash photo.

Right now, if you want to take a photo with low available light and are having trouble focusing, you have to open the flash, focus (with the flash acting as focus assist), and then close the flash. This takes way too much time for moving subjects.

With the "Focus Assist" setting, the flash can still act as a focus assist, but it won't fire when the shot is taken, and all exposure settings are based on available light.

Please make this one firmware change and I'll never say a bad word about the K20d again. Ever.

Please? Pretty please?

[If you think this is a good idea, please leave a comment - it will increase the odds of Pentax seeing this...]

LeDave · 10-18-2009, 10:07 AM

Yeah but I think if it's on for too long, it might melt some plastic. Flashes are pretty strong. If I put my Metz 48 close right at my skin and set the EV at +3.0 then fire it, I could feel the heat at my skin. Might also be a bit too powerful and battery consuming, you'll be blinded like crazy if that thing is on your face for awhile.

Shibby3.8 · 10-18-2009, 10:07 AM

definitely a good idea. I wonder if its completely doable with just a firmware upgrade

LeDave · 10-18-2009, 10:09 AM

I always kept a LED flashlight in my backpack when I had my K-m. Only thing is you have to use one handed on the camera as you flash the light directly at someone.

Shibby3.8 · 10-18-2009, 10:09 AM

Originally posted by LeDave

Yeah but I think if it's on for too long, it might melt some plastic. Flashes are pretty strong. If I put my Metz 48 close right at my skin and set the EV at +3.0 then fire it, I could feel the heat at my skin. Might also be a bit too powerful and battery consuming, you'll be blinded like crazy if that thing is on your face for awhile.

focus assist doesn't leave the lamp on, it flashes for maybe a 1/4 of a second, just enough for the AF to get an idea of the focus needs.

LeDave · 10-18-2009, 09:40 PM

Originally posted by Shibby3.8

focus assist doesn't leave the lamp on, it flashes for maybe a 1/4 of a second, just enough for the AF to get an idea of the focus needs.

Oh okay, I thought you meant as in shining it for a long time with flash. I didn't know the K20D couldn't flash really fast for AF assisting since my old K2000 has it and I thought maybe if it had it, the bigger and better K20D would too.

**Ash** · 10-18-2009, 09:47 PM

Not a bad addition, although I wouldn't use it as I'd have an external unit giving me a spotbeam for AF. Not fast by any means, but more reliable than the on-board flash AF assist.

dlacouture · 10-18-2009, 11:48 PM

You can always set the on-board flash as a Wireless Commander, so it won't actually fire during the shot... It's a little bit buried in the custom menu, but it's there...

audiobomber · 10-19-2009, 05:12 AM

Originally posted by johnmflores

I know that all your efforts are on the new bodies, but please give us one more firmware change for the K20d:

- add a "Focus Assist" setting on the Flash options menu

Totally agree. Even my Canon p&s has this feature, it's inexcusable that my K20D doesn't.

johnmflores · 10-19-2009, 07:59 AM

Originally posted by dlacouture

You can always set the on-board flash as a Wireless Commander, so it won't actually fire during the shot... It's a little bit buried in the custom menu, but it's there...

That doesn't work because the camera sets exposure assuming a flash will go off. I'm not a strobist by any means, but that appears to happen.

XATN3q · 10-20-2009, 08:28 AM

this is a small mod I've made for my k20, it is event better when attached to a grip.
all together they cost me about 8$

10-18-2009, 09:50 AM	#1
johnmflores Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Somerville, NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,361	Pentax, please give us a focus assist lamp for the K20d! I know that all your efforts are on the new bodies, but please give us one more firmware change for the K20d: - add a "Focus Assist" setting on the Flash options menu With this simple change, hopefully I'd be able to use the flash as a focus assist lamp without committing to taking a flash photo. Right now, if you want to take a photo with low available light and are having trouble focusing, you have to open the flash, focus (with the flash acting as focus assist), and then close the flash. This takes way too much time for moving subjects. With the "Focus Assist" setting, the flash can still act as a focus assist, but it won't fire when the shot is taken, and all exposure settings are based on available light. Please make this one firmware change and I'll never say a bad word about the K20d again. Ever. Please? Pretty please? [If you think this is a good idea, please leave a comment - it will increase the odds of Pentax seeing this...]

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10-18-2009, 10:07 AM	#2
LeDave Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,067	Yeah but I think if it's on for too long, it might melt some plastic. Flashes are pretty strong. If I put my Metz 48 close right at my skin and set the EV at +3.0 then fire it, I could feel the heat at my skin. Might also be a bit too powerful and battery consuming, you'll be blinded like crazy if that thing is on your face for awhile.

10-18-2009, 10:07 AM	#3
Shibby3.8 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 81	definitely a good idea. I wonder if its completely doable with just a firmware upgrade

10-18-2009, 10:09 AM	#4
LeDave Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,067	I always kept a LED flashlight in my backpack when I had my K-m. Only thing is you have to use one handed on the camera as you flash the light directly at someone.

10-18-2009, 10:09 AM	#5
Shibby3.8 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 81	Originally posted by LeDave Yeah but I think if it's on for too long, it might melt some plastic. Flashes are pretty strong. If I put my Metz 48 close right at my skin and set the EV at +3.0 then fire it, I could feel the heat at my skin. Might also be a bit too powerful and battery consuming, you'll be blinded like crazy if that thing is on your face for awhile. focus assist doesn't leave the lamp on, it flashes for maybe a 1/4 of a second, just enough for the AF to get an idea of the focus needs.

10-18-2009, 09:40 PM	#6
LeDave Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,067	Originally posted by Shibby3.8 focus assist doesn't leave the lamp on, it flashes for maybe a 1/4 of a second, just enough for the AF to get an idea of the focus needs. Oh okay, I thought you meant as in shining it for a long time with flash. I didn't know the K20D couldn't flash really fast for AF assisting since my old K2000 has it and I thought maybe if it had it, the bigger and better K20D would too.

10-18-2009, 09:47 PM	#7
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Not a bad addition, although I wouldn't use it as I'd have an external unit giving me a spotbeam for AF. Not fast by any means, but more reliable than the on-board flash AF assist.

10-18-2009, 11:48 PM	#8
dlacouture Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Var, South of France Photos: Albums Posts: 1,074	You can always set the on-board flash as a Wireless Commander, so it won't actually fire during the shot... It's a little bit buried in the custom menu, but it's there...

10-19-2009, 05:12 AM	#9
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by johnmflores I know that all your efforts are on the new bodies, but please give us one more firmware change for the K20d: - add a "Focus Assist" setting on the Flash options menu Totally agree. Even my Canon p&s has this feature, it's inexcusable that my K20D doesn't.

10-19-2009, 07:59 AM	#10
johnmflores Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Somerville, NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,361 Original Poster	Originally posted by dlacouture You can always set the on-board flash as a Wireless Commander, so it won't actually fire during the shot... It's a little bit buried in the custom menu, but it's there... That doesn't work because the camera sets exposure assuming a flash will go off. I'm not a strobist by any means, but that appears to happen.

10-20-2009, 08:28 AM	#11
XATN3q Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 92	this is a small mod I've made for my k20, it is event better when attached to a grip. all together they cost me about 8$

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