Usage problems K200D

I have a relatively recently acquired K200D. I've done a couple of shoots with models, and it's been great, except for....

Quite a few shots are out of focus.

Quite a few times, the lens, whichever is fitted, seems to hunt for the autofocus, and then, when it finds it (or seems to) the shutter won't fire.

Any help would be much appreciated.

If the shutter won't fire, it's because the lens is NOT in focus.

You are presumably shooting indoors, perhaps with flash. The ambient light may well be fairly low, and if you focus on, say, the model's cheek, the camera will find it difficult to focus - it needs an area of high contrast.

Try to focus on something else the same distance away, and then, keeping the shutter button half-depressed to lock the focus, reframe and shoot. When you get the knack, it will become second nature.

But try to increase the ambient light if you can.

G

Thanks. I thought that might be the case. It's bloody annoying.

What do you find annoying, Sdeve? The camera, or your focussing technique?

My understanding is that any auto-focussing camera needs a high contrast area to focus on, and it just takes some practice to get it right. George's advice is well put and to the point.

All the Pentax DSLRs have a custom option to "unhook" the autofocus-on-half-press. To AF you either press the "AF" button (if there is one) or the "OK" button on the lower end versions.

Saves a ton of messing about - especially in studio environments. Focus once, and the shoot away!
Matt

Thanks for your helpful post. I hadn't realised that George's advice was well put and to the point. Thanks also for repeating the advice.

MattMatic.
Thanks for that. Looks like another long session over the manual. So many buttons, so many options.

don't forget your external flash units have af assist lights to help you get focus!

And in any case, there is always old good manual focus... and very often as fast as AF. At least at the MZ-5n and with some experience.
Second thing: allow some time to get used to the AF. It's not straight forward as on would say if used to MF.

Just thinking a little laterally I have experienced a similar problem where I couldn't get an AF focus on a smooth block of even colour. I just put my finger on the area I wanted in focus (I was close enough as I'm not twizzle - anyone remember him) got focus, held on half press and removed finger. Model could help by placing finger on cheek?

Mike

Wise words indeed.

The "Auto" in "Auto-focus" does not mean "no technique required".