Smeggy

I didn't think that the 'Apply All' and individual AF adjustments were cumulative?

Do we have any proof that this is so, other than me doing another barrage of test (I think I might use sausages next time instead of batteries !! )

I assumed that any 'Apply All' setting was overridden by the individual setting and only used if you hadn't done an individual setting for that lens?

I do also wonder if the occasional 'reset' in this menu helps too.

I don't suppose, when it remembers for a given lens that it *is* basing that on the focal length used at the time?

Lee

Just another comment. Whilst I was doing my somewhat desperate set of 'is the middle battery in focus' tests earlier, (18-135) there was one set where they were *all* way out of focus, i.e. for 0,5 10 adjustment. I could put that down to perhaps I was kicking the tripod except the live view shot was fine. Sadly, I deleted them and haven't been able to repeat it.

And yet, a trip out to Exmoor this PM, where it was cold and windy, with '0' adjustment on my 18-135, most of the shots, even at longer focal lengths seem mostly fine ...

I am also not sure if 'AF adjusment Off', 'AF Adjustment On but 'Unset' and 'AF Adjustment On and set to 0' mean the same thing ...

And sometimes I wonder if I don't have the shutter speed high enough, or the higher ISO settings that are now so easy to use are somehow softening the image (I have all the NT things Off).

And sometimes I wonder if the SR is even battling against me - I tend to focus, recompose, hold shutter half way down and then shoot - because I am in 'old timer' mode in the days before SR when I had to try to get the camera steady before shooting.

And sometimes I just think I need to readjust to using an SLR again after mostly using smaller sensor cameras.

Is it any wonder I don't sleep well?

Lee

Thanks for the responses; makes me feel slightly better.

My questions now are:

(a) where do I send my Pentax lenses for calibration?

(b) What do you mean, Smeggy, that you can adjust the overall AF? Is this some debug mode thing and is it available for the K5. if so, how?

Thanks, I am fed up with 'testing' and just want pictures that look sharp enough.

With a zoom like the 18-135, how should I test it? If it needs +10 at close quarters but then is OOF for distance shots, it makes me want to scream ...

And I wonder if I should have gone for another micro four thirds instead ... but those K-5 images are so nice, if only I was happy with the sharpness overall.

Lee

Hi Ken

I really only have the 43mm and the 18-135 for my K-5. I get 'soft' shots from the latter too sometimes but am not sure if that is user error.

I tried setting the calibration with that at various focal lengths and decided that it too needed +10 for table-top battery shots at around 35mm but longer than that it seemed to make little difference.

Trouble is that with +10 on that one, my middle-long distance shots are OOF for all focal lengths.

Getting a little frustrated but am happy to be told I am doing something wrong.

Lee

I have finally worked out that my 43mm ltd is back focusing and the '3 battery test' reveals that it needs +10 units of correction. At first I thought it was an issue with my K-5 but it is the same on my K20D.

It seems right at the limit of what we can adjust in camera.

Is there anyway to adjust the lens? I guess, if it works at +10 I should be satisfied but I am curious.

P.S. I have had the lens for a long time but am tending to use it more on the K-5 and I had noticed that some images, especially those at relatively short distances were 'soft'.

Lee

I have a K20D too. I was never that happy with it (inconsistent exposure) so I went the Panny G1 way. Nothing wrong with the Panny G1 but ... and I also revisited using the K20D and it is actually a great camera ... however ...

For image quality, this (K5) is the first digital camera that I think makes the pictures truly 'sing' from the screen.

Just my brief experience and opinion ...

K5 and be there.

Lee

http://forum.getdpi.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21823

http://soundimageplus.blogspot.com/2011/01/cotswolds-with-k-5.html

On the one bright and sunny day this year that happened to coincide with a non-work day I had one or two of these overexposed shots but in my case I had accidentally pressed the AE lock button before framing the shot.

Lee

Looks like it may be a problem with the glass covering the sensor:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=37177457

I was ready to plump for it but may wait a while. I wonder if Pentax will extend the cashback period?

I wonder if Chris at SRS will announce here when he has known good stock available?

Lee

Anyone have the Tamron 17-50? I am considering it againts the Pentax 16-45 as a possible 'kit' with the K20D and would value opinions.

Cheers
Lee