K-x: can't get sharp pictures, I am about to give up

manteiv · 01-20-2010, 09:27 AM

I used to have the K110D and upgraded to K-x. I have been getting familiar with the K-x for 2 weeks now but I can't seem to shoot sharp pictures.

The image seems to be good until you zoom in to see the details. The details seems blurred compared to my former K110D which had only 6MP

What are your tricks to get sharp pictures with the K-x?

I have tried the following:
- setting sharpness to maximum
- fast shutter speed (faster than 1/90 on stock zoom lens)
- play with SR ON and OFF
- set ISO to minimum possible, around 200-400

update: please see samples pics further down, thanks

Last edited by manteiv; 01-20-2010 at 07:14 PM.

dragonfly · 01-20-2010, 09:36 AM

Are you referring to the LCD screen, or the pixels on your computer monitor?

You really need to post pics for better advice.

JasonA · 01-20-2010, 09:51 AM

You might also mention what lens you are using, and if you have tested it's focus on the K-x for back/front focusing.

manteiv · 01-20-2010, 09:55 AM

I am referring to the soft images I got when viewed on the computer screen afterward

I am using the 18-55mm DAL stock lens. I also tried an old A-lens 70-210mm F4.

How do I adjust for back/front focus?

dreilly · 01-20-2010, 09:55 AM

Another forum member here had the same problem with the K-X...nothing was sharp. Upgrading to the latest firmware solved the problem for him. But I agree with above posters, please tell us more (what lens, other settings) and please post a few samples. It could be anything from a defective camera or lens to a slight front/back focus issue which can be corrected for in the camera's menu, or anything in between.

dreilly · 01-20-2010, 09:56 AM

Did the same softness issue occur with the 70-210? If so I might tend to think it's not a back/front focus issue.

**dcmsox2004** · 01-20-2010, 10:15 AM

i have a new k-x as well, and previously had the k200d... i never used the auto pic mode... i used and currently use the 'p' mode with the k-x, i use the natural setting, and increase the sharpness +2, and the contrast +1.... i also use exposure compensation when needed...
i set the focus to 'center', not the 11 or 5 point settings.... always have sr enabled... so far, the pics have been satisfactory.... mind you, i have used my 55-300mm , tamron 28-75mm, as well as my old 35-105mm f3.5 pentax smc a lens....
hope this helps you.... keep shootin'.....

Marc Sabatella · 01-20-2010, 12:06 PM

I'm guessing you're simply seeing the limits of your lens. With your Kx, zooming to 1005 means you're magnifying the image twice as large. Of course any inhenrent limits in the lens are going to be twice as obvious. But when comapring images at the same size, images shoudl be comparable - and if youtried blwoing up images from the K100D as large as you are the K-x, they'd surely look worse.

While it's *possible* there is a focus issue, I really really doubt it. At least, not a focus issue with the equipment - only the operator. Camera/lens focus problems tend to be expressed in millimeters, and the DOF would not be shallow enough on the 18-55 to ever expose them. People are far too ready to blame the equipment, but most focus errors are a simple case of the camera not reading your mind about where you wanted the focus to be.

Without images to look at, it's impossible to say if we're talking anything to do with focus or simply the difference in magnification as I suggested, but my money is on the magnification difference.

**Ash** · 01-20-2010, 12:38 PM

The kit lens should still give you sharp images, even if not the best lens.
SR will make no difference for a shutter speed of >1/90 but ISO can be moved to 800 without appreciable loss of detail to get an even faster shutter speed (all depends on what you shoot).

Don't play around with AF adjustments until you're sure the camera is consistently to giving you acceptably sharp images despite all your appropriate efforts.

fstdslrkx · 01-20-2010, 12:48 PM

Hello.
From my experience - it is kit lens. Other brands may be worse, but i did not succeed to get a sharp picture out of it. 55-300 and DA 40 were much sharper. Loaned 100mm Macro - and it was extremely sharp.
So to me it was not K-X, but 18-55 kit lens. I do not know anything about 70-210, but suggest you try it with a prime.

Alfisti · 01-20-2010, 01:00 PM

Usless without pics .. really need some with the EXIF intact to see what is going on please.

manteiv · 01-20-2010, 01:45 PM

Can someone please point me to the Sticky that explains how to post images. I can't find that sticky post.

Also, how do I keep the exif data intact? let's say I upload an image to a service like ImageShack, will it keep the exif data intact?

thanks

Edit:
Testing posting a pic from my former K110d, does this work, is the exif data preserved?
It seems so big, how do I post a collapsed size and when you click on the image, it expands to full size?

here again:

bullwhip · 01-20-2010, 02:02 PM

Interesting. Both of my kit lens give sharp pictures, almost always. Posted pics would certainly help identify the issue.
Thanks

bullwhip · 01-20-2010, 02:03 PM

A smaller pic would help, but yes, I think you've got it and the exif detail is intact.

**Ash** · 01-20-2010, 02:06 PM

Please either resize your images for web or use the [IMGWIDE] tags for large prictures, and do this for the image you successfully linked from your K110D to bring the screen size back to normal..
Then post one from your K-x for us to have a glance over - use the [IMGWIDE] feature (linking your photo's URL using the icon showing a B&W landscape with a double headed red arrow in it)...

01-20-2010, 09:27 AM	#1
manteiv Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Montreal Canada Posts: 39	K-x: can't get sharp pictures, I am about to give up I used to have the K110D and upgraded to K-x. I have been getting familiar with the K-x for 2 weeks now but I can't seem to shoot sharp pictures. The image seems to be good until you zoom in to see the details. The details seems blurred compared to my former K110D which had only 6MP What are your tricks to get sharp pictures with the K-x? I have tried the following: - setting sharpness to maximum - fast shutter speed (faster than 1/90 on stock zoom lens) - play with SR ON and OFF - set ISO to minimum possible, around 200-400 update: please see samples pics further down, thanks Last edited by manteiv; 01-20-2010 at 07:14 PM.

01-20-2010, 01:45 PM	#12
manteiv Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Montreal Canada Posts: 39 Original Poster	Can someone please point me to the Sticky that explains how to post images. I can't find that sticky post. Also, how do I keep the exif data intact? let's say I upload an image to a service like ImageShack, will it keep the exif data intact? thanks Edit: Testing posting a pic from my former K110d, does this work, is the exif data preserved? It seems so big, how do I post a collapsed size and when you click on the image, it expands to full size? here again: Last edited by manteiv; 01-20-2010 at 02:32 PM.

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01-20-2010, 09:36 AM	#2
dragonfly Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: on the wall Photos: Gallery Posts: 715	Are you referring to the LCD screen, or the pixels on your computer monitor? You really need to post pics for better advice.

01-20-2010, 09:51 AM	#3
JasonA Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 70	You might also mention what lens you are using, and if you have tested it's focus on the K-x for back/front focusing.

01-20-2010, 09:55 AM	#4
manteiv Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Montreal Canada Posts: 39 Original Poster	I am referring to the soft images I got when viewed on the computer screen afterward I am using the 18-55mm DAL stock lens. I also tried an old A-lens 70-210mm F4. How do I adjust for back/front focus?

01-20-2010, 09:55 AM	#5
dreilly Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Geneva, NY Posts: 72	Another forum member here had the same problem with the K-X...nothing was sharp. Upgrading to the latest firmware solved the problem for him. But I agree with above posters, please tell us more (what lens, other settings) and please post a few samples. It could be anything from a defective camera or lens to a slight front/back focus issue which can be corrected for in the camera's menu, or anything in between.

01-20-2010, 09:56 AM	#6
dreilly Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Geneva, NY Posts: 72	Did the same softness issue occur with the 70-210? If so I might tend to think it's not a back/front focus issue.

01-20-2010, 10:15 AM	#7
dcmsox2004 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: rhode island Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,522	i have a new k-x as well, and previously had the k200d... i never used the auto pic mode... i used and currently use the 'p' mode with the k-x, i use the natural setting, and increase the sharpness +2, and the contrast +1.... i also use exposure compensation when needed... i set the focus to 'center', not the 11 or 5 point settings.... always have sr enabled... so far, the pics have been satisfactory.... mind you, i have used my 55-300mm , tamron 28-75mm, as well as my old 35-105mm f3.5 pentax smc a lens.... hope this helps you.... keep shootin'.....

01-20-2010, 12:06 PM	#8
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	I'm guessing you're simply seeing the limits of your lens. With your Kx, zooming to 1005 means you're magnifying the image twice as large. Of course any inhenrent limits in the lens are going to be twice as obvious. But when comapring images at the same size, images shoudl be comparable - and if youtried blwoing up images from the K100D as large as you are the K-x, they'd surely look worse. While it's possible there is a focus issue, I really really doubt it. At least, not a focus issue with the equipment - only the operator. Camera/lens focus problems tend to be expressed in millimeters, and the DOF would not be shallow enough on the 18-55 to ever expose them. People are far too ready to blame the equipment, but most focus errors are a simple case of the camera not reading your mind about where you wanted the focus to be. Without images to look at, it's impossible to say if we're talking anything to do with focus or simply the difference in magnification as I suggested, but my money is on the magnification difference.

01-20-2010, 12:38 PM	#9
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	The kit lens should still give you sharp images, even if not the best lens. SR will make no difference for a shutter speed of >1/90 but ISO can be moved to 800 without appreciable loss of detail to get an even faster shutter speed (all depends on what you shoot). Don't play around with AF adjustments until you're sure the camera is consistently to giving you acceptably sharp images despite all your appropriate efforts.

01-20-2010, 12:48 PM	#10
fstdslrkx Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Israel Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 55	Hello. From my experience - it is kit lens. Other brands may be worse, but i did not succeed to get a sharp picture out of it. 55-300 and DA 40 were much sharper. Loaned 100mm Macro - and it was extremely sharp. So to me it was not K-X, but 18-55 kit lens. I do not know anything about 70-210, but suggest you try it with a prime.

01-20-2010, 01:00 PM	#11
Alfisti Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748	Usless without pics .. really need some with the EXIF intact to see what is going on please.

01-20-2010, 02:02 PM	#13
bullwhip New Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Eustis, Florida Posts: 17	Interesting. Both of my kit lens give sharp pictures, almost always. Posted pics would certainly help identify the issue. Thanks

01-20-2010, 02:03 PM	#14
bullwhip New Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Eustis, Florida Posts: 17	A smaller pic would help, but yes, I think you've got it and the exif detail is intact.

01-20-2010, 02:06 PM	#15
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Please either resize your images for web or use the [IMGWIDE] tags for large prictures, and do this for the image you successfully linked from your K110D to bring the screen size back to normal.. Then post one from your K-x for us to have a glance over - use the [IMGWIDE] feature (linking your photo's URL using the icon showing a B&W landscape with a double headed red arrow in it)...