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Forum: Pentax K-5
03-30-2012, 07:00 AM
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Forum: Pentax K-5
01-09-2012, 07:21 PM
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It's pretty straightforward... Screen is easily scratched, and a steady hand will help to place the screen in place. Also dust can be a nuisance...
Katz Eye instructions here:
Focusing Screen Installation Guides - KatzEye Optics
Just chose your camera, click and detailed instructions arrive in the form of a pdf file.
Dick
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Forum: Pentax K-5
01-09-2012, 11:04 AM
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This discussion got me thinking...
Seems to me there are probably three methods of achieving in focusing manual lenses...
1. Sharpness of the subject in the viewfinder.
2. AF adjustments made to the Pentax AF system
3. As determined by high contrast in the Live view system.
In 1, exact focus will be dependent on placing the camera's focus screen in the correct position. There are various thickness of shims to set this value correctly.
In 2., the camera can be calibrated by setting offsets in the K5 AF Adjustment settings. This will determine when to turn on the green hexagon indicating the lens is focused. In my experience there seems to be quite a bit of hysteresis in rocking the lens barrel for exact focus...
In 3. Focus accuracy as determined by highest contrast on the sensor appears to be the highest probability of getting a sharp image. This method does not depend on a calibrated AF system or focus screen position. The final result should match the exact focus precisely. But this method is slower, and not feasible for fast moving subjects.
After installing a Katz Eye focus screen on my K20d, I found a discrepancy between focus methods 1 and 2. The split image of the Katz Eye clearly shows incorrect focus. The adjusted AF focus point did not match the visible focus point in the viewfinder. I then discovered that the Katz Eye screen was a tiny amount thicker than the Pentax screen, and I had to change the shim in the viewfinder to match. After that proper focus in both methods were identical.
After reading the thread on capture in focus:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-k-5-forum/170765-catch-focus-accuracy-solved.html
I was also surprised to learn that the AF adjustments that would trigger the shutter when doing capture in focus did not seem to change the focus point. I only tried +/- 5 settings from both directions, but the focus point on my focus chart did not seem to move. I suspect that is probably attributable to the hysteresis I referred to above.
I love my manual focus lenses, and they provide an affordable way to hand held low light photography. I look forward to reading more about the experience of others in achieving sharp focus.
Dick
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Forum: Pentax Lens Articles
08-12-2010, 09:52 AM
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Nicely written Adam!
I've just come across a Super Tak 35mm f3.5 with the adapter and having a grand time with it. You might like to add the convenience of using m42 lenses with the camera in Aperture mode! One of the advantages of the m42 adapter is there is NO communication between camera and lens. This allows you to use the camera in Aperture mode, and the camera will set the shutter speed automatically. Of course it is your responsibility to make sure your lens is set to manual mode... I set the lens to auto mode to focus in full open aperture, then move to manual mode to stop down to my selected aperture. The camera's metering will choose the correct shutter speed.
Saves having to press the green button with the camera in manual mode...
Dick
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Forum: Photographic Technique
08-12-2010, 09:32 AM
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-24-2010, 02:33 PM
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That was not my experience... The Pentax factory focussing screen was noticeably thinner than the Katzeye screen. It had a 0.30mm thick shim installed. Rachel at Katzeye confirmed my findings, and recommended a thinner Pentax shim to fix the problem. I ordered a set of shims from Pentax and found the 0.20mm shim was best with the Katzeye screen.
Without the thinner shim, the autofocus lenses displayed slightly out of focus on the focussing screen when focused, but perfect on the image.
Dick
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
05-08-2010, 08:30 AM
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
02-03-2010, 08:59 PM
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I had similar problems with my Katz Eye on a k20d.
I emailed them and Rachel replied:
"The manual focus calibration is corrected by changing shims, as you have
already found. The shims come in a variety of thicknesses and are available
directly from your local Pentax dealer. The part numbers are as follows:
76830.M02200A - 0.15mm
76830.M02200B - 0.20mm
76830.M02200C - 0.25mm
76830.M02200D - 0.30mm
76830.M02200E - 0.35mm
76830.M02200F - 0.40mm
The 0.25mm and 0.30mm are the ones most commonly supplied with the camera.
A front focus condition will require a thinner shim, as you have observed in
your test without any shim at all. The parts are very inexpensive (less
than $1 each), so it is probably best to just order one of each... or at
least the ones from 0.15mm to 0.30mm. "
Now these part numbers are for a k20d. I don't know if they will fit a K7. My manual focus tests did indeed confirm that my Katz Eye was a small amount off. After calibrating my autofocus lenses, I found the focus point in the viewfinder was slightly off. Replacing my factory 0.30mm shim with a 0.20mm shim resulted in the auto focus point matching the manual focus perfectly. This was critical for my manual focus lenses....
Check with customerservice@katzeyeoptics.com... Rachel may be able to help you with the K7 part numbers...
Hope this helps,
Dick
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
11-20-2009, 09:29 AM
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I guess aspect ratio comes in to this. You never mentioned what camera you were working with, but if it is a point and shoot, many use an aspect ratio of 4:3, and that does not quite fit a 3:2 aspect ratio paper like 4"X6"...
For printing, Qimage does a great job. I've used it for many years, and it gives you all the flexibility you want... For example it will zoom and crop to fill the whole paper size if you want, or leave white borders to be cut later to fill the paper size if the aspect ratio does not fill the entire paper size.
If you are interested, look here: DDI Software Home
Dick
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
10-21-2009, 06:22 PM
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I always use P mode. Of course one can select Mode Av when depth of field is key or Tv mode when shooting sports, and a fast shutter speed is critical. In P mode, the camera responds to both and more! Change front e-dial, camera selects Tv mode - Change the rear edial, camera selects Av mode. Want the default exposure settings? press the green button. It will set the camera to your choice of default settings in set in Menu Custom settings/1. Program line - where you can choose your most favorite mode... Normal, Hi speed shutter, Max Depth of field or best apperture setting for the lens you have on (MTF). What could be easier? I think Pentax is unique in supplying this hyper programming option. I first saw it described when the Dpreview assessment of the K10d came out:
Pentax K10D Review: 5. Operation & Controls: Digital Photography Review
Dick
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
05-10-2008, 07:27 AM
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Hi David,
I also tried this program and was alarmed when I could not turn off debug mode on my K10d. Then I read Mskad's response.
I thought possibly it was yet another Vista anomaly, so loaded the program on my notebook running XP Pro - No problem. It turned off debug mode (and on) very nicely.
Not sure if this is the issue, but after successfully turning debug on and off in XP, I went back to my desktop Vista installation, and it remained stuck with debug mode on. It could be a hardware problem, but I thought you might like to see my experience to recover your camera if it is stuck in debug mode.
Dick
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