K5 and image sharpness

Afternoon all,
getting used to my K5 but one issue id appreciate some thoughts on is image sharpness and stabilisation. There will be time the sharpness is spot on and others where it just doesn't seem to focus just quite enough. This is even at speeds over 1/500. Should I turn off stabilisation? Can this effect focusing if you don't really need it?

I've used a camera for years so know all about basic holding technique, just wondered if there are specific settings to improve this with this camera. Getting a bit cheesed of with friends with canons etc getting pin sharp images with very similar optics. I tend to use a sigma 70-300 dl macro f4-5.6

All constructive thoughts gratefully received

Rockingdad

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Pentax K3 & K5 currently
Used a Pentax all my life!

Some thoughts:

Check your firmware version (hold MENU as you power up). You should be using the latest firmware as Pentax/Ricoh update SR algorithms. Seem to remember that the early K5 SR had some issues (or was it the K7??)

Do you have any image examples? It could be focus issue rather than SR, could be moving subject, or a number of other things. Seeing some 'problem' images will go a long way to giving meaningful comments.

Matt

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http://www.mattmatic.co.uk
(For gallery, tips and links)

And you could be pressing the shutter button before the IS has kicked in. I turn it off whenever I can

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Alan


PPG
Flickr

I'll get an image up. Thanks for the replies.

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Pentax K3 & K5 currently
Used a Pentax all my life!

Yes, being an impulse shooter I've fallen foul of this a few times. I wish you could set it to come on under a designated shutter speed.

You should also update to at least V1.03 as this addressed some AF problems, especially in low light with early K-5's

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[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

Hi,

I have the stabilisation on all the time to no ill effect (12,000 plus images with K5). It turns itself off when on timer for tripod. I don't use the level adjust option though.

The lens you are using is a budget one and not as good as Pentax 55 - 300 DA equivalent, in my opinion, which also has in camera lens corrections to improve things further.

I have always gone for 1/500th second at 300mm when light allows.

You don't say if you are shooting jpeg or RAW. The former can be modified over a wide range and images can be quite soft by default but easily corrected.

Hi,

Has any K5 owner used the AF Fine Adjustment option or is this only for Front/Back focus issues.

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EddieD


K5
Tamron Di11 SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR
Sigma 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS HSM

I've got sharpnes, fine and extra fine all set a couple of notches up, it can only affect Jpeg though, RAW is RAW is RAW, I think.

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Lurking is shirking.!

Hi Doug,

Thanks for response, can I say, I was referring to option 26 in the custom settings, AF fine adjustment ,

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EddieD


K5
Tamron Di11 SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR
Sigma 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS HSM

Dunces hat on....

As for the AF adjustment. YES for a couple of lenses that I wasn't happy with, I got a lens and it should have been spot on, out for a walk I realised it was front focussing and adjusted it there and then.

The other Tamron 17-50mm, it seems everybody adjusts this one if they can.

There are one or two old threads with info about AF adjustments.

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Lurking is shirking.!

Yes, most definitely. If you do not calibrate your lenses to each camera body you own, you run the risk of a lot of shots being off focus. It depends on the lens / camera body combination as to how critical this is, but if both lens and camera are a bit out, the net result will be out of focus images more often than not.

Regards
David

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Flickr

Nicola's Apartments, Kassiopi, Corfu

Some cameras, some lenses, some bits 'n' bobs

Hi Doug

Thanks again for responses, something there to think about for my Tamron 17-50. Will look for the older threads you mention.

Regards

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EddieD


K5
Tamron Di11 SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR
Sigma 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS HSM

Thanks also David, looks like I need to do much more testing etc.

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EddieD


K5
Tamron Di11 SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR
Sigma 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS HSM