pentax kr problem

Hi, received my kr this morning but the focus seems way out, Ive adjusted the fine focus adjustment, and -10 seems to be about the best but still not quite right, this isn't just in tungsten light, its all lighting, took a few out the garden and was shocked, I have a particular bird feeder that I tend to use for camera testing and they were not as good as any of the cameras I have had recently, including an *ist ds, panasonic fz28 and 38 etc. do you think it should be sent back, have I got a duff model? thanks, jacqui.

Hi Jacqui

It can't be anything simple as you are obviously an experienced photographer. My K-r was perfect (even under tungsten, actually) out of the box with no adjustments needed - except for the viewfinder focus.

It sounds to me that there might be a problem unless someone can suggest anything else. Have you tried it with more than one lens or just the kit lens it came with?

Is it the same in all autofocus modes?

Hi, yes Ive tried it with the kit lens it came with and also with the samsung 50-200mm I bought from a member here a week or so ago, I can see an improvement by taking it to -10 on the fine adjustment, but surely I shouldn't have to do that

Drive yourself bonkers with this test chart and instructions link it was originally designed for the Nikon D70, but pages 13-19 are what you need and will show how far out the focus is when set at 0

Thanks I will give it a try, jacqui.

Closest I can get it to sharp is at -10, but even that doesn't seem quite enough, it still seems very slightly sharper just in front even on that setting.

A lot of people post issues with similar problems; I have had to adjust my K-x to -70 (yes, minus 70) in the debug menu and it now produces excellent sharp shots. I was on the point of sending back my 55-300 lens as I thought it was rubbish. It wasn't - the camera was not focussing it accurately.

I don't know if there's any larger adjustment available on the K-r via a secret debug menu - maybe some of the other members could assist you with this.

Hope you get it sorted, if not send the camera back and ask for a new one.

Regards
David

Oh ok, I didn't know about that on the kx, hopefully someone will know if there is something like that on the kr, thanks, jacqui.

Jacqui,
I would just send it back for an exchange as I think such adjustments should not be necessary and you are always likely to have doubts about the camera. You implied that you purchased it from Clifton Cameras on their interest free deal on another thread. I've had to return an item to them in the past and found their customer service to be excellent.

Dave

Hi, yes I have emailed them and am just waiting for them to get back to me, hopefully there won't be a problem returning it, thanks.

That's the best course of action. In your case it sounds like more than a minor discrepancy.

As it happens using the service menu to adjust the AF isn't available for the Kr (nor the K5), but is fine for pretty much all the others.