help FA 50 1.4 Focus issues

qksilver · 06-16-2008, 07:59 PM

So I have noticed many of my 50 1.4's pictures to be front focused. So last night under tungsten light I grab a magazine page and set the focus perfect with my k20D at -10. take some test shots indoors, they all look sharp. Then today I used it in the shade and everything was backfocusing. i readjusted it to 0 and it got the focus right about 60% of the time. Is there a solution to make it focus right all the time under both artificial and natural light???

Alfisti · 06-17-2008, 06:59 AM

In short, no. It's just a quirk of the lens I am afraid, it drove me BEZERK when I first got it. I sent it and my body in to be fixed, it took weeks and the shipped it to the wrong address but it now works.

Originally posted by qksilver

So I have noticed many of my 50 1.4's pictures to be front focused. So last night under tungsten light I grab a magazine page and set the focus perfect with my k20D at -10. take some test shots indoors, they all look sharp. Then today I used it in the shade and everything was backfocusing. i readjusted it to 0 and it got the focus right about 60% of the time. Is there a solution to make it focus right all the time under both artificial and natural light???

Mechan1k · 06-17-2008, 07:18 AM

I guess I have been lucky with my FA50 ... although trying to get focus right at f/1.4 is not easy at the best of times. But can't say I ahve had BF or FF problems with it on my K10D.

Quicksand · 06-17-2008, 02:46 PM

Originally posted by Alfisti

In short, no. It's just a quirk of the lens I am afraid, it drove me BEZERK when I first got it. I sent it and my body in to be fixed, it took weeks and the shipped it to the wrong address but it now works.

Sorry Alfisti, but I'm confused by your response -- did they fix something? My understanding of your first sentence was "In short, no . . ." there is NO solution to make it focus correctly. But then you say it now works.

My n00bie experiences with the FA 50 are here:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/26337-50mm-f-1...us-issues.html (sorry, the pictures are gone)

Now I often manual-focus it because AF doesn't work that well, as qksilver (no relation) noted. Like qksilver, with indoor lighting, I ended up with -9 or -10 on the K20D lens compensation scale myself.

qksilver · 06-17-2008, 07:42 PM

I am confused too. So sending it in will fix this issue???

qksilver · 06-18-2008, 07:14 PM

anyone know??????

Alfisti · 06-23-2008, 01:37 PM

I meant there is no easy solution. It is far better after repair but till a tad quirky at times.

It is worth sending in under warranty but be very, very aggressive in order to speak to the actual technician. If you rely on the numb nut behind the counter then good luck.

Be ultra specific, if it is at all possible to screw things up they will do it. My repair experience was a fiasco. At first they fixed nothing, then shipped to the wrong address, it was just a mess.

Originally posted by Quicksand

Sorry Alfisti, but I'm confused by your response -- did they fix something? My understanding of your first sentence was "In short, no . . ." there is NO solution to make it focus correctly. But then you say it now works.

My n00bie experiences with the FA 50 are here:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/26337-50mm-f-1...us-issues.html (sorry, the pictures are gone)

Now I often manual-focus it because AF doesn't work that well, as qksilver (no relation) noted. Like qksilver, with indoor lighting, I ended up with -9 or -10 on the K20D lens compensation scale myself.

Wheatfield · 06-23-2008, 06:21 PM

Originally posted by qksilver

So I have noticed many of my 50 1.4's pictures to be front focused. So last night under tungsten light I grab a magazine page and set the focus perfect with my k20D at -10. take some test shots indoors, they all look sharp. Then today I used it in the shade and everything was backfocusing. i readjusted it to 0 and it got the focus right about 60% of the time. Is there a solution to make it focus right all the time under both artificial and natural light???

You could try an 80A filter under tungsten light to correct the light before the AF has a chance to do the wrong thing with it.

06-16-2008, 07:59 PM	#1
qksilver Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northern Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 131	help FA 50 1.4 Focus issues So I have noticed many of my 50 1.4's pictures to be front focused. So last night under tungsten light I grab a magazine page and set the focus perfect with my k20D at -10. take some test shots indoors, they all look sharp. Then today I used it in the shade and everything was backfocusing. i readjusted it to 0 and it got the focus right about 60% of the time. Is there a solution to make it focus right all the time under both artificial and natural light???

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06-17-2008, 06:59 AM	#2
Alfisti Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748	In short, no. It's just a quirk of the lens I am afraid, it drove me BEZERK when I first got it. I sent it and my body in to be fixed, it took weeks and the shipped it to the wrong address but it now works. Originally posted by qksilver So I have noticed many of my 50 1.4's pictures to be front focused. So last night under tungsten light I grab a magazine page and set the focus perfect with my k20D at -10. take some test shots indoors, they all look sharp. Then today I used it in the shade and everything was backfocusing. i readjusted it to 0 and it got the focus right about 60% of the time. Is there a solution to make it focus right all the time under both artificial and natural light???

06-17-2008, 07:18 AM	#3
Mechan1k Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,891	I guess I have been lucky with my FA50 ... although trying to get focus right at f/1.4 is not easy at the best of times. But can't say I ahve had BF or FF problems with it on my K10D.

06-17-2008, 02:46 PM	#4
Quicksand Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Ohio (formerly SF Bay Area) Posts: 1,519	Originally posted by Alfisti In short, no. It's just a quirk of the lens I am afraid, it drove me BEZERK when I first got it. I sent it and my body in to be fixed, it took weeks and the shipped it to the wrong address but it now works. Sorry Alfisti, but I'm confused by your response -- did they fix something? My understanding of your first sentence was "In short, no . . ." there is NO solution to make it focus correctly. But then you say it now works. My n00bie experiences with the FA 50 are here: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/26337-50mm-f-1...us-issues.html (sorry, the pictures are gone) Now I often manual-focus it because AF doesn't work that well, as qksilver (no relation) noted. Like qksilver, with indoor lighting, I ended up with -9 or -10 on the K20D lens compensation scale myself.

06-17-2008, 07:42 PM	#5
qksilver Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northern Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 131 Original Poster	I am confused too. So sending it in will fix this issue???

06-18-2008, 07:14 PM	#6
qksilver Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northern Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 131 Original Poster	anyone know??????

06-23-2008, 01:37 PM	#7
Alfisti Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748	I meant there is no easy solution. It is far better after repair but till a tad quirky at times. It is worth sending in under warranty but be very, very aggressive in order to speak to the actual technician. If you rely on the numb nut behind the counter then good luck. Be ultra specific, if it is at all possible to screw things up they will do it. My repair experience was a fiasco. At first they fixed nothing, then shipped to the wrong address, it was just a mess. Originally posted by Quicksand Sorry Alfisti, but I'm confused by your response -- did they fix something? My understanding of your first sentence was "In short, no . . ." there is NO solution to make it focus correctly. But then you say it now works. My n00bie experiences with the FA 50 are here: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/26337-50mm-f-1...us-issues.html (sorry, the pictures are gone) Now I often manual-focus it because AF doesn't work that well, as qksilver (no relation) noted. Like qksilver, with indoor lighting, I ended up with -9 or -10 on the K20D lens compensation scale myself.

06-23-2008, 06:21 PM	#8
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,986	Originally posted by qksilver So I have noticed many of my 50 1.4's pictures to be front focused. So last night under tungsten light I grab a magazine page and set the focus perfect with my k20D at -10. take some test shots indoors, they all look sharp. Then today I used it in the shade and everything was backfocusing. i readjusted it to 0 and it got the focus right about 60% of the time. Is there a solution to make it focus right all the time under both artificial and natural light??? You could try an 80A filter under tungsten light to correct the light before the AF has a chance to do the wrong thing with it.