Completely Dejected (auto focus K5)

Had my K5 for a few months now but haven't used it a great deal compared to my previous camera. I have noticed that I have struggled to focus on poorly lit subjects.

I've spent the last 4 hours with the camera on a tripod and photographing the same sheet of newspaper over and over again. My K5 tends to front focus on all my lenses apart from the SMC FA 1.4 50mm. I fine tuned the focus so that it was focusing correctly but when I apply a brighter light source to the subject rather than the tungsten it now back focuses.

I'm really peed off about it and feel like selling up and moving to Canon.

How can I get round a problem that changes under different light intensities?

k-5 is known for this issue, that what the latest firmware update is mainly for....

Is that a firmware that is yet to be released or one that has already been released? I am on 1.03

that is 1.03
here is all updates
http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/digital/k-5_s.html

I am already on 1.03 and therefore it hasn't cured the problem. Googling it finds loads of people with the same issue. Proper cheesed off right now.

are you using auto 5 point setting or 11 point setting(auto af),
try both see if this helps,or try liveview.

The latest firmware update was to correct problems with the O-GPS1 GPS unit.

The firmware dealing with the focusing issues helped but was not 100% successful.

Possibly a white balance problem?
i don't think auto wb can guess every setting.

I'm wondering if there is a clue in your mention of tungsten light. I would reset factory defaults and try again using daylight. If you have correct focus in daylight then any problem may be restricted to extremely dull and coloured light, such as tungsten.

It's more usual to be taking photos in brighter light. Any errors can be corrected using QuickShift. In any event depth of field will cover most small errors.

Otherwise, if there's a real fault then returning under warranty seems to be the best option.

I always use my HTC desire for photographing newspapers. Either that or I scan them before using them to light the fire.

Could you put some of your images on here moght help..

Haven't got time to read all that now but I read the "Conclusion" and it pretty much says it all.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I'm sure you could find a work around with some additional lighting.

John

I found using the kr with af360 flash the preflash focus assist solves the problem, and though I've not tested this, I think the ftz flash unit set to spotbeam never seems to miss focus...
not experienced any ff issues using video lights either..

some one with the time or inclination could thouroughly test this.... but try popping up your flash to prefocus, then dial down your flash exposure so it doesn't over power the ambient light... or pop the flash down before shooting after focussing..