Focusing issues on Pentax cameras
Re your comparison, the Oly EM-5 only has a contrast detect AF system so doesn't need an AF adjustment method whereas the K-5 has phase detection AF for TTL. If you want contrast AF on the K-5 use liveview making it like using the Oly. You have to set the AF method in the menu system (see page 166 in the manual.)
Contrast AF won't work in TTL as the mirror has to be up for the sensor to see the image!
John K
It's a pain in the backside to do but once it's done then it should end your AF woes.
Pentax hybrid user - Digital K3, film 645 and 35mm SLR and Pentax (&other) lenses adapted to Fuji X and Panasonic L digital
Fan of DA limited and old manual lenses
Larger and larger sensors means we can see the limitations of AF systems on cameras more easily.
When you do your AF tests.....
Tripod/test chart/natural light if possible. Use the widest aperture only to do the tests. Do many tests for each lens, getting the AF system to focus from infinity or nearest setting each time.
Peter
My Flickr page
K-1Gripped K-1 ungripped K-5ii K7 Various lenses
Stuart..
Interesting....Never checked any of my lenses...
I had slight backfocus issues with my lenses on my K10 , but there was no official AF fine tune adjustment so I lived with it as it was minor.
The K1 is different. 100% view on a 36mp vs 10 mp is in a different league. The slightest difference is like night and day. The sensors of today are actually showing up how big the manufacturing tolerances are when it comes to sensor positioning/AF sensor positioning.
Either you are lucky that your lenses/camera are in perfect alignment, or (this is a joke)...you should have gone to specsavers !
Peter
My Flickr page
I noticed the most recent images of wildlife was not always sharp on the eyes even though i focused on the eye (as you should) but found the other side of animals heads were in focus and not the eye closest to the camera and wondered what was the cause... now i know!
Pentax K5D, Pentax 16-45mm f4 DA ED AL, Pentax 55-300mm ED, Pentax 100mm Macro f2.8 D-FA, Tamron 28-200mm, Sigma 170-500mm.
K-3 II, K-3 and a K-70 from SRS



Pentax K5D, Pentax 16-45mm f4 DA ED AL, Pentax 55-300mm ED, Pentax 100mm Macro f2.8 D-FA, Tamron 28-200mm, Sigma 170-500mm.
Focus manually on the 50cm mark using Live View, and then use the AF mode when you press the shutter button (or, better, use an IR remote) - if the AF adjustment is correct, the resulting image will show the same focus point to be sharp. Otherwise the camera will have focused the lens in front of , or behind, the 50cm mark and then you know how to dial in the adjustment.
OTOH, if you get several lenses which all want the same nearly +/- 10 adjustments then suspect that the camera body itself needs recalibration.
Simples, when you get used to it (and I must do that with the 17-70 Sigma I just got from another forum member!).
K-3 II, K-3 and a K-70 from SRS

Well I have tried it and it does what it says in the manual, thanks to those who advised me about the AF fine tune calibration.
Pleased you have it resolved now.
John K
FWIW, you don't need to buy any special kit to do the adjustment - just get a 1m aluminium rule from your local DIY place, put a piece of masking tape on it to indicate the 50cm point, and set it at around 45 degs to the vertical at a suitable distance (will depend on the lens in question - I used a 10-15m distance for my long lenses) from the camera/lens.
Good idea.
What's the vibe on distance to the subject? Do the results work better if it's up close than further away etc?
And What's the consensus around zoom lenses? If you have a 55-300, where does one look across the focal range to undertake this test?
If it's front focusing do you dial in plus or minus?
Front focussing...... use minus adjustment
Peter
My Flickr page
Yecora99
Member
Manchester
Has anyone had any focusing issues on Pentax cameras?
I have had a Pentax K5 for some time now and have found my sharpness hit rate has dropped, even when using a tripod.
So I bought one of these Camera/lens calibrator card kits, which sit on top of a table at an angle with a flat plane of focus and a ruler and square marks along both outside edges to test the camera.
I set the camera on a tripod and tried different lenses through the aperture range and even though the auto-focus system said the focus point was on a barcode printed on the flat focal section of the card at the 0 mark the actual point of sharp focus was 1cm behind where the auto-focus system had said the focus point was.
Has anyone else had similar issues or is it just my camera?
I also own an Olympus OM-D EM-5 DSLR and the focus point on that is spot on.
Any suggestions as to what might be the cause and is there anyway I can adjust the focal point? note I have tried various lenses and they are all doing the same thing. The only time the 0 mark is sharp is when i stop the lens down to f16.
Pentax K5D, Pentax 16-45mm f4 DA ED AL, Pentax 55-300mm ED, Pentax 100mm Macro f2.8 D-FA, Tamron 28-200mm, Sigma 170-500mm.