Help requested for k7 AF and power issues

candgpics · 03-12-2010, 12:21 AM

Hi all:

Work has kept me busy these last few days. I received a new K7 from Amazon on Tuesday, replacing the one I sent back.

I only have tested it briefly with two lenses, but it looks great so far. No lens calibration is necessary and the images are in focus. Everything seems to be working properly. I am gald I got a new body as I clearly received a defective one--or at least "out of sync" body.

I appreciate everyone's help and comments!!!

Gregg

ManOf7 · 03-12-2010, 03:33 PM

I don't suppose there is a lens calibration charts that can be downloaded and printed?

candgpics · 03-12-2010, 05:28 PM

Hi:

There are charts out there. I know Kunik wanted me to use a chart and normally I would have. I only have 4 lenses, though, and all four could not reach focus even at the greatest micro-adjustment. At +10 the images were close--but no cigar. Plus, the batterty ran out awfully fast--too fast.

Having a k20d for more than a year and having to wait 7 weeks while my DA* 16-50 was repaired for the infamous autofocus issue I simply did not want to take a chance. And, as stated, use of the micro adjustment did not completely fix the problem. There may be some "hack" out there that might have addressed the issue, but for a brand new camera to require that is just not for me.

I have no doubt that other brands of DSLRs have quality control issues, so I do not think it is a K7 or Pentax thing.

I used the K7 today for a bit and it is very "snappy." It is noticebly quicker than the k20d. Image quality appears about the same with perhaps a bit of additional perceptible noise than the k20d at ISO 400 and at ISO 800 a bit more noticable--but the noise is more grainy and less color noise; so it has a film look.

If I was a low light/sports/wedding/event photographer the noise might be an issue, but I use the k20d and K7 mainly for fashion/glamour work in my home studiio or on location where I always shoot at ISO 100 and have my own lighting and off camera flashes--so I am really happy so far with what I see with the K7.

Gregg

BobRad · 03-12-2010, 06:15 PM

Originally posted by JeffJS

The power issue alone would be enough for me to return the camera. Even my aftermarket batteries are good for more than 700 shots. OF course, I'm not doing any video in there or doing a lot of in camera playing around with the photos. I have the screen basically shut off (press info button until it turns off).

I don't think I saw it in any of the posts but have you tried Manual focus? Can you get a Sharp shot at ALL?

WRT to the adjustments, someone mentioned calibrating for the entire body and Then for the lens. I don't think the 2 are additive. That is, each lens has it's own calibration regardless of the body (apply all) AF calibration. So, you cannot go more than +/- 10 either way.

There is a similar thread on dpreview ( Re: New K-7 backfocusing. Cannot fully correct). The original poster tried the double adjustment approach and it worked for him. So apparently it is cumulative. I wish I had known that before I spent $40 shipping my K-7 and lenses to Pentax.

Bob

candgpics · 03-12-2010, 07:30 PM

Hopefully, this will be the only major problem I have with the K7. I really like using it so far. It is quicker and just has that extra snap.

Gregg

JeffJS · 03-13-2010, 05:07 PM

Originally posted by BobRad

There is a similar thread on dpreview ( Re: New K-7 backfocusing. Cannot fully correct). The original poster tried the double adjustment approach and it worked for him. So apparently it is cumulative. I wish I had known that before I spent $40 shipping my K-7 and lenses to Pentax.

Bob

I can't remember where but I had read that they were not. If someone has discovered that they are, all the better I guess. It seems though that one would not want to to do that unless ALL lenses were missing by more than +/-10. Once you adjust the body AF, you've changed it for all of the lenses. Now you have to go back and calibrate for all the ones that were working before. The manual (p121) doesn't state one way or another.

03-12-2010, 12:21 AM	#16
candgpics Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Maine, USA Posts: 394 Original Poster	New K7 arrived Hi all: Work has kept me busy these last few days. I received a new K7 from Amazon on Tuesday, replacing the one I sent back. I only have tested it briefly with two lenses, but it looks great so far. No lens calibration is necessary and the images are in focus. Everything seems to be working properly. I am gald I got a new body as I clearly received a defective one--or at least "out of sync" body. I appreciate everyone's help and comments!!! Gregg

03-12-2010, 05:28 PM	#18
candgpics Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Maine, USA Posts: 394 Original Poster	Calibration Hi: There are charts out there. I know Kunik wanted me to use a chart and normally I would have. I only have 4 lenses, though, and all four could not reach focus even at the greatest micro-adjustment. At +10 the images were close--but no cigar. Plus, the batterty ran out awfully fast--too fast. Having a k20d for more than a year and having to wait 7 weeks while my DA* 16-50 was repaired for the infamous autofocus issue I simply did not want to take a chance. And, as stated, use of the micro adjustment did not completely fix the problem. There may be some "hack" out there that might have addressed the issue, but for a brand new camera to require that is just not for me. I have no doubt that other brands of DSLRs have quality control issues, so I do not think it is a K7 or Pentax thing. I used the K7 today for a bit and it is very "snappy." It is noticebly quicker than the k20d. Image quality appears about the same with perhaps a bit of additional perceptible noise than the k20d at ISO 400 and at ISO 800 a bit more noticable--but the noise is more grainy and less color noise; so it has a film look. If I was a low light/sports/wedding/event photographer the noise might be an issue, but I use the k20d and K7 mainly for fashion/glamour work in my home studiio or on location where I always shoot at ISO 100 and have my own lighting and off camera flashes--so I am really happy so far with what I see with the K7. Gregg

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03-12-2010, 03:33 PM	#17
ManOf7 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Van Isle Posts: 31	I don't suppose there is a lens calibration charts that can be downloaded and printed?

03-12-2010, 06:15 PM	#19
BobRad Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 80	Originally posted by JeffJS The power issue alone would be enough for me to return the camera. Even my aftermarket batteries are good for more than 700 shots. OF course, I'm not doing any video in there or doing a lot of in camera playing around with the photos. I have the screen basically shut off (press info button until it turns off). I don't think I saw it in any of the posts but have you tried Manual focus? Can you get a Sharp shot at ALL? WRT to the adjustments, someone mentioned calibrating for the entire body and Then for the lens. I don't think the 2 are additive. That is, each lens has it's own calibration regardless of the body (apply all) AF calibration. So, you cannot go more than +/- 10 either way. There is a similar thread on dpreview ( Re: New K-7 backfocusing. Cannot fully correct). The original poster tried the double adjustment approach and it worked for him. So apparently it is cumulative. I wish I had known that before I spent $40 shipping my K-7 and lenses to Pentax. Bob

03-12-2010, 07:30 PM	#20
candgpics Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Maine, USA Posts: 394 Original Poster	Hopefully, this will be the only major problem I have with the K7. I really like using it so far. It is quicker and just has that extra snap. Gregg

03-13-2010, 05:07 PM	#21
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Originally posted by BobRad There is a similar thread on dpreview ( Re: New K-7 backfocusing. Cannot fully correct). The original poster tried the double adjustment approach and it worked for him. So apparently it is cumulative. I wish I had known that before I spent $40 shipping my K-7 and lenses to Pentax. Bob I can't remember where but I had read that they were not. If someone has discovered that they are, all the better I guess. It seems though that one would not want to to do that unless ALL lenses were missing by more than +/-10. Once you adjust the body AF, you've changed it for all of the lenses. Now you have to go back and calibrate for all the ones that were working before. The manual (p121) doesn't state one way or another.