K20d focus issue.

Just upgraded to a k20d this week and after a good couple of days using it i noticed alot of the shots were very soft and oof compared to my k10d i shot in raw in both camera`s and sharpen up in pp so you can expect a little softness.So downloaded a focus chart and using a tripod set at 45 degrees to the chart tried my lenses. Each lens needed about -5 to -6 on the focus adjustment just wandering if thats about normal adjustment or was it a long way out.Mainly use sigma lenses so thought it might have been them but tried a pentax f 50mm 1.7 and that needed -6.Glad i sorted it as i was pretty p****d off when i first tried it.

hi there i dont know alot about the k20d but i know they had focusing issues with the k10 when it come out as i had the same problem when i got my k200d mine would focus but it was set to focus just in front of where it was supposed focus to making pics soft i tried different lense this was the same i know they brought out a debug mode for the k10d
but i did read somewhere you could fine tune the autofocus of the k20d yourself not sure how true this is i ended up taking mine back at getting another one this k200d is fine i did contact pentax they said i could send it back with a lens and they would fine tune it for me post some pics

try this might help http://photo.net/pentax-camera-forum/00PMR0 http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=29601945
also if you type in on goggle k10d focusing issues this might help.
also have you done the K20D firmware update to v1.01

I would say you were the exception rather than the rule, as I haven't heard of too many people bemoaning front or back focus issues with thier K20.

I have had no issues at all with mine, and its seen a number of lenses in the time I have had it.

So each time you put a lens on now, do you have to go through the menu and find the setting you made for that particular lens : Or does the camera know what the lens is and makes the adjustment for you : Just curious

Clarky I believe if you use the focus adjustment on a Pentax lens the camera will recognise the lens and adjust accordingly. Of course it will apply the same adjustment to any Pentax lens of the same type, as it can't read the serial number.
I'm not sure it works for third party lenses. It'll be in the handbook somewhere, but i don't have that handy.

Thanks Gwyn. It would be a right pain if you had to go through menus each time you changed lenses

I don't have a K20D, so not sure, but isn't there an option for applying the same adjustment to all lenses? it sounds as if your K20D just needs a global ~-5?

The K20d (and K10D) recognizes third party lenses, but it sometimes sees different lenses from a given manufacturer as all the same. It comes from the fact that third party lenses are reversed engineered, so third party manufacturer sometime use the same I.D. chip in more than one lens model.

I feel some deja vu here. Similar comments previously in this? forum. I have a number of sigma lenses and my K20D automatically adjusts focus for each lens. No problems!
cheers
bb2

And some older Sigma lenses incorrectly identify themselves as Pentax lenses of a similar type. For example, my Sigma UC 28-200 used to identify as a Pentax SMC 28-135.

Yes, thats right but the focus adjustment for that specific lens is retained by the K20D, even if it can't tell the difference between a pentax and a sigma. This is my experience.
cheers
bb2

Can I just ask, how do you find the focus adjustment menu, and how do you know what firmware you are running? Can not find reference to either in teh K20d manual. I have performed a focus chart test, and it is ever so slightly back focussing with my DA* 16-50. No massive biggie if I can make the adjustment.

Firmware on K20D,
Hold/press the menu button and turn camera on, Firmware version 1.01 is the latest

Thanks, will update that.

Only answered half the question!...lol...my K20 was miles out when I bought it,,,a friend of mine corrected it for me ,but I've never found out how he did it!....It must be hiding inside the K20 somewhere!........