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K10D Focus Adjustment

Mongoose
Posted 14/08/2013 - 12:18 Link
I have an increasing nagging feeling that my trusty if somewhat aged K10D is back-focussing (not sure I have the terms the right way around, I mean it's focussing further away than the subject actually is).

I seem to recall there used to be a way to get the K10D into an advanced debug mode which allowed focus adjustment, does anyone have any links to the best (read easiest and least risky) way to do this?
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Father Ted
Posted 14/08/2013 - 13:17 Link
I need this info too.
Mine won't focus to infinity with zoom lenses when they are at their minimum ( 28 - 80mm & 70 - 300mm lenses).
Getting there! Thanks to you guys

Pentax K3ii, Pentax K10d, Kit lens ( 18-55mm ), 50mm f1.7 lens, Tamron 70-300mm lens, Prinzflex 70-162 manual lens, Various old flashes.
Mongoose
Posted 14/08/2013 - 13:38 Link
Father Ted wrote:
I need this info too.
Mine won't focus to infinity with zoom lenses when they are at their minimum ( 28 - 80mm & 70 - 300mm lenses).

it hadn't occured to me until now that this might be the same issue, but mine also jams against the stop trying to focus past infinity on my 16-45 at 16.
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but it does help
vic cross
Posted 14/08/2013 - 14:03 Link
There used to be an advanced debug mode written I think by a Russian. [The K10 didn't have it built in as per the K5 and later]. I used it on my K10 and it worked OK. I deleted it from my computer when I sold the K10. Keep asking, I'm sure someone will still have the information available. OR try to find it via GOOGLE.
CHEERS Vic.
Born again biker with lots of Pentax bits. Every day I wake up is a good day. I'm so old I don't even buy green bananas.
Father Ted
Posted 14/08/2013 - 14:19 - Helpful Comment Link
Getting there! Thanks to you guys

Pentax K3ii, Pentax K10d, Kit lens ( 18-55mm ), 50mm f1.7 lens, Tamron 70-300mm lens, Prinzflex 70-162 manual lens, Various old flashes.
Father Ted
Posted 14/08/2013 - 14:51 Link
Another site
http://photographybanzai.com/2010/11/06/fixing-k10d-back-focusing/

But I would like some feedback if possible before I start tampering with my camera.
Getting there! Thanks to you guys

Pentax K3ii, Pentax K10d, Kit lens ( 18-55mm ), 50mm f1.7 lens, Tamron 70-300mm lens, Prinzflex 70-162 manual lens, Various old flashes.
Smeggypants
Posted 14/08/2013 - 19:25 - Helpful Comment Link
Father Ted wrote:
Is this the answer?

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/32676684

Yup that's the method.

I used to leave my K10D in debug mode so I could change AF setting when changing lenses.

It was a PITA.

I'd never buy a DSLR without AF adjustment memory slots of individual lenses again
[i]Bodies: 1x K-5IIs, 2x K-5, Sony TX-5, Nokia 808
Lenses: Pentax DA 10-17mm ED(IF) Fish Eye, Pentax DA 14mm f/2.8, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8, Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8, Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.2, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8, Sigma 135-400mm APO DG, and more ..
Flash: AF-540FGZ, Vivitar 283
Edited by Smeggypants: 14/08/2013 - 19:27
vic cross
Posted 15/08/2013 - 08:13 Link
There you go. I knew someone would still have the info.
A bit more complicated than the modern built in prog. but it works.
CHEERS Vic.
Born again biker with lots of Pentax bits. Every day I wake up is a good day. I'm so old I don't even buy green bananas.
Mongoose
Posted 15/08/2013 - 08:33 Link
perfect, thanks guys I'll have a play later on, perhaps I can stave off the urge to buy a K5-II for a few more months!
you don't have to be mad to post here



but it does help
Father Ted
Posted 15/08/2013 - 08:41 Link
If that's the one, then I might have a go tonight, then I can test it when we are away next week.
Getting there! Thanks to you guys

Pentax K3ii, Pentax K10d, Kit lens ( 18-55mm ), 50mm f1.7 lens, Tamron 70-300mm lens, Prinzflex 70-162 manual lens, Various old flashes.
stevejcoe
Posted 15/08/2013 - 11:55 - Helpful Comment Link
Father Ted wrote:
If that's the one, then I might have a go tonight, then I can test it when we are away next week.

Make sure you carry out all tests in good natural light and remember that the adjustment will affect all of your lenses. Looking at your signature the 50mm F1.7 tested wide open is where you will notice the biggest difference.

Regards - Steve
Mongoose
Posted 15/08/2013 - 12:10 Link
I don't know if it's an artifact of the fact that I'm more likely to be at wide aperture, but the issue seems worse on my K10D in poor tungsten lighting.

I think it might be of value to do the experiment under poor lighting as well, and if the results are significantly different then keep a note of both values.

Certainly I'll be testing with my 50mm 1.4 wide open anyway.
you don't have to be mad to post here



but it does help
stevejcoe
Posted 15/08/2013 - 12:52 - Helpful Comment Link
Mongoose wrote:
I don't know if it's an artifact of the fact that I'm more likely to be at wide aperture, but the issue seems worse on my K10D in poor tungsten lighting.

I think it might be of value to do the experiment under poor lighting as well, and if the results are significantly different then keep a note of both values.

Certainly I'll be testing with my 50mm 1.4 wide open anyway.

I found the K10 to be very inconsistent under Tungsten lighting. Even after I had developed a tightly controlled and robust process the results were quite frankly all over the place.

From memory, in good natural light my zoom lenses nearly all back focussed, but the FA 50, FA 35 and F31 all front focussed. Since the zooms had smaller maximum apertures, I settled on a compromise setting for the three primes above, but that it what it was a compromise. The FA 50 only really came to life on the K5.

Regards - Steve
Mongoose
Posted 15/08/2013 - 14:07 Link
thanks Steve that's good to know, I'll probably still try both types of light but if I can't get a consistant reading under tungsten I'll know why!

don't suppose you'd be interested in outlining your tightly controlled and robust process to save us re-inventing the wheel?
you don't have to be mad to post here



but it does help
Edited by Mongoose: 15/08/2013 - 14:08
Father Ted
Posted 15/08/2013 - 14:38 Link
I haven't noticed the effect on the 1.7, but then, I seldom use that ( well, not enough) and when I do, it is rarely focussed to infinity and, as it is manual focus, I go by eye as well as confirmation.
But, it's a good point and I'll throw that in the mix too.
Getting there! Thanks to you guys

Pentax K3ii, Pentax K10d, Kit lens ( 18-55mm ), 50mm f1.7 lens, Tamron 70-300mm lens, Prinzflex 70-162 manual lens, Various old flashes.

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